TCMS Starts Slow Finishes Strong with Win over CCMS

     The Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders took a short trip to Carrollton Thursday August 29 to take on the Carroll County Middle School Football Panthers. The best of each team’s defense was on display for the first quarter of the game by holding each other to minimal gains on offense. It was beginning to look like a punting contest between the teams.

     Just inside the Second Quarter, Raiders’ Quarterback #3 Cole Wright hit #22 Stevie Swanger with a short pass that Swanger turned into a big gain until he was wrestled down at the 6 yard line of the Panthers. But the Raiders drive stalled out and after 4 attempts to get into the end zone, they gave the ball back to the Panthers.  The Raiders defense held strong once again and forced the Panthers to punt after 3 attempts to get a first down. A bad snap from the Panthers gave the Raiders the shot they needed when #45 Nick McCutchen pounced on the Panther punter and the ball at the 5 yard line of the Panthers. The following play, Swanger carried the ball on a sweep to the left to cross the goal line for the first Touchdown of the game. Swanger scored the 2-point conversion making the score the 8-0 with 3:22 left in the second quarter. The Panthers looked like they were going to get something going but the drive stalled out near mid field when they turned the ball over on downs back to the Raiders. A miscue on the offense was all the Panthers needed to cause a Raider fumble and get the ball back with less than 2 minutes left on the clock before halftime. The Panthers took full advantage of the turnover and systematically rushed the ball down the field to score a Touchdown with 5 seconds left on the clock. On their longest run of the drive Panthers Quarterback #38 Jake Robertson twisted his left knee causing him to miss the rest of the game. The Panthers attempt at a 2-point conversion failed leaving the score at 8-6 in favor of the Raiders.

     The Raiders came out after halftime kicking off to the Panthers. Raiders’ kicker #42 Brayden Luckett kicked the ball deep into Panther territory and still made it down the field to stop the Panthers from making any big gains on the return. The Raiders defense drowned out any hope of a Panther come back in the second half by forcing them to go 3 and out before the punt. The Raiders offense could do no better and gave the ball back to the Panthers after 4 tries for a first down. The big momentum change came when 7^th grade Raider Nose Guard #35 Shayman Quire squeezed through the big Panther offensive line to sack the Panthers second string Quarterback for a loss of yards that they could not overcome causing them to punt the ball back to the Raiders.

     After a scoreless third quarter, the Raiders started the 4^th Quarter with a run outside the right tackle for an 80 yard Touchdown run by #22 Stevie Swanger. Swanger was able to score the 2-point conversion with a little push from the Raiders’ offensive line making the score 16-6 with 7:45 left in the game. The Raiders were like sharks with blood in the water against the Panthers offense. Raiders’ Nose Guard #35 Shayman Quire made his second sack of the Panthers Quarterback creating a confusion that would lead to a fumble on the next play to give the Raiders the ball back with 6:16 left in the game. The Raiders took 4 seconds off the clock when they handed the ball off to Swanger who ran for his third Touchdown of the game. The Raiders were not able to convert for extra points after the score leaving the score at 22-6 with 6:12 left in the game. The Panthers started the following drive at the 25 yard line. The Raiders defense was in attack mode when #33 Quinton Gilley tackled a Panther runner behind the line of scrimmage. The following play #24 Joe Pollock sacked the Panther Quarterback for another big loss of yards. The Panthers tried a quick toss outside but the running back was met by Raider defender #49 Chris Perkinson who brought the runner down in his tracks. With nothing else to do, the Panthers dropped back to punt on 4^th down. Raiders Linebacker Joe Pollock made an unbelievable leap in the air to block the punt allowing #93 Tyler Westrick to recover the punt for the Raiders just outside the Panthers 10 yard line. The next play, Raiders Running Back #31 Reese Poe got behind his blockers and found his way into the end zone for a Touchdown. Quarterback Cole Wright connected with Raiders’ Tight End #45 McCutchen for the 2-point conversion that would be the final score of the game with 3:51 left on the game clock.

     The Raiders finished the game beating the Panthers 30-6 for their second win of the season. Their first win came against Switzerland County 46-0 in Vevay, Indiana.  The Raiders only loss of the season came against Walton Verona 18-12 last Tuesday August 15. The next game for the Raiders will be played in Louisville, KY against Kentucky Country Day on Thursday September 5 at 6:00.

Images from the Raiders at Panthers Game.

TCMS fumbles their way to a loss at Walton-Verona

     Last Tuesday, the Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders traveled north to Walton-Verona to take on the Bearcats. The Raiders were holding the Bearcats on first and second down, but gave up big third down yardage to allow the Bearcats to score a touchdown on their opening possession. The extra point try was no good for the Bearcats and the score was 6-0. The Bearcats kick-off after the score was fumbled by the Raiders which gave the ball right back to the Bearcats and a short field to work with. The Raiders defense played tough again on first and second down plays but allowed the Bearcats to move the ball down the field to take the lead of 12-0 before the Raiders offense was able to get one play in the game.

    After half-time, the Raiders offense was able to get into a rhythm and start moving the ball down the field. Quarterback Cole Wright connected with Nick McCutchen for a 32-yard pass, catch, and run. The next play, Reese Poe ran for a touchdown.  Unfortunately, the Raiders were not able to convert for extra points leaving the score at 12-6 with a quarter and a half remaining in the game. The Raiders defense was ready for action and forced the Bearcats offense off the field after four plays when they could not make a first down. Raiders Quarterback Wright was able to get back into action by completing another pass to McCutchen who ran for the 75-yard touchdown that tied the game early in the fourth quarter.  The Raiders were unable to convert for extra points, leaving the score all knotted up at 12 each. It took the Bearcats 4 minutes and 31 seconds to march their way down the field to score for their third time of the game. They could not score the extra point, leaving the score at 18-12. With 3 minutes and 13 seconds left in the game, the Bearcats kicked off to the Raiders who, once again, fumbled the kick-off return. Despite the Raiders great defensive efforts, the Bearcats went on to run out the clock and finish the game beating the Raiders 18-12. 

Photographs from the game.

TCMS Football Raiders Slam SCMS Pacers in Season Opener

    The Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders traveled out of state for their first game of the season against the Switzerland County Middle School Pacers. The Raiders shutout the Pacers 46-0 in Switzerland County’s first ever Middle School football game.

     In first quarter action, Raiders player, #45 Nick McCutchen, caught a pass from #3 Cole Wright to score the first touchdown of the game. #3 Wright connected with #22 Stevie Swanger on a short pass for the conversion to give the Raiders an early lead of 8-0. Near the end of the first quarter, #31 Reese Poe ran for his first touchdown of the day while McCutchen scored the two extra points on the conversion making the score 16-0. It was Poe again in the second quarter for a touchdown and Swanger for the 2-point conversion to take the Raiders into half time with a score of 24-0.

     In the Raiders first possession of the second half, Swanger scored a touchdown, but the two-point conversion was no good. Nevertheless, just a few plays later, McCutchen sacked the Pacer’s Quarterback in the end zone for a safety giving the Raiders the two points they missed on the conversion earlier. With 3:12 left on the clock in the third quarter, #24 Joe Pollock scampered his way into the end zone to score a touchdown and the 2-point conversion. Toward the middle of the fourth quarter, #9 David Duncan scored the final touchdown of the day for the Raiders, but was not able to convert for extra points. After the game, a couple of eighth graders emptied the water cooler on Head Coach Mike Isley to congratulate him for the win in his coaching debut.

     For the TCMS Raiders, this is was their 2013 season opener on a nine game season that stretches through the beginning of October. Their next game is Tuesday, August 20 against Walton-Verona. Their first home game is scheduled against Carroll County on August 29 behind the Trimble County High School at 6:00 PM. 

Pictured above is Joe Pollock running for a touchdown in the 3rd Quarter.

Trimble County Relay for Life 2013

     The Trimble County Relay for Life happened on Friday June 14, 2013. The weather was perfect for cancer survivors, caretakers, and family members to celebrate life and honor the memory of loved ones in the Relay for Life. There were close to 150 people at the event that went on from Friday night at 7pm to 7am Saturday morning.

     The event took place at the Bedford Elementary School on Mount Pleasant Road in Bedford, KY. While many survivors were making relays for life, local citizens, churches, and businesses set up booths to sell food, jewelry, hand-made crochet, cosmetics, handbags, etc. in efforts to raise money for the fight against cancer.

     Caregiver Charlotte Vincent explained her favorite part of the relay as a, “Wonderful way to make a donation for people who are going through this and who have gone through this.”

     Organizer Jackie Armstrong said “Being able to honor the survivors and caregivers and remembering the lost ones,” is what she liked most about the event.

     Tasha Burkhardt said, “The people talking to all the survivors and all the participants,” is what she likes about the relay for life. 

Images from the Trimble County Relay for Life 2013

Out with the Old Shell Station, In with the NEW Valero

     The residents of Bedford get another gas station. After months of having only one place to get fuel and other quick grab food and beverages, the Multani family opens the old Shell station as a Valero gas station in Bedford. The store opened on May 21, 2013 and had an official Grand Opening on Tuesday May 28, 2013.

     The Multani family includes Virsa (Father), Manjeet (Mother), Sandy, Harry, and Franky. Although Virsa is the head of the family, Franky is the man in charge at Valero. He received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Devry University and is currently 26 years old. Although the family has descendants from India, they are American citizens.

     Franky Multani was looking around for a place to open a business when his friend Sukh Bains showed him the Bedford Shell Station. He said having a business at the intersection of two US highways (US HWYs 42 and 421) is what most attracted him to Bedford. He added that he felt he could help the community by providing more than fuel. Providing fuel at the lowest cost around is one of Franky’s top priorities, but he is working on adding a delicatessen with a variety of fresh-cut lunchmeats and cheese soon. He is also working with vendors to sell piping hot pizza and fried chicken in the near future. Currently, he offers hundreds of different bottled soft drinks and assorted snacks as well as milk and bread. Franky added, “I want to deliver a high quality product at an affordable price for the people of Bedford.”

     If you haven’t been in the new Valero station, I highly recommend it. The Multani’s gave the old Shell station a complete remodel and it looks beautiful. Within a month or so, Franky says the Deli will be open and ready to serve fried chicken and fresh hot pizza.

Images of the New Valero Gas Station in Bedford, KY

Trimble County Schools Closer to Having New Athletic Facility

    The Trimble County Board of Education met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday June 5. The board heard from David Eddy, a representative from the Family Resource Center. The Family Resource Center operates under the Kentucky Education Reform Act. Eddy says he helps families with children in grades Kindergarten through Grade 5, while Denise Hall assists students in the middle and high schools. Eddy explained his position within the district as,”30% social worker, 50% educator, and 20% everything else.” He said the main part of his job was to remove barriers for academic success for all students. Eddy said it is alarming how many families in Trimble County truly need assistance. He went on to explain many of the programs that the Family Resource Center offers local families with children enrolled in Trimble County schools. One of the programs includes the weekend backpack program that Eddy explained is to, “help eliminate weekend hunger.”  The backpack program feeds nearly 162 children per week.  In addition to helping the children, the Family Resource Center helps parents earn their GEDs and offers them referrals to help find employment.

     In other news, the board heard from Bob Haferman from K. Norman Berry Associates Architects from Louisville, KY about Phase II of the athletic grounds project. He informed that board that there were some minor changes but everything was going according to plans. He said that after reviewing the cost they are between $85-90 thousand higher than initially expected. Haferman added that contractors will have to pay approximately $75 for plans to bid on the project. Plans will be made available August 6, 2013. Contractors will have 21 days to review the plans and submit sealed bids by August 27. If everything continues to go as planned construction on the new athletic compound is set to begin on Monday, September 30.

     The next school board meeting will be held Wednesday June 19 at 5:30 in the Trimble County Board of Education building. 

God's Practical Joke

     Today I am 44 years old. It's hard to believe, 44 doesn't seem as old to me as it did 30 years ago. It is what it is and the best thing for me to do is go along with it. I am sure you have heard stories from people over 40 saying that once they hit their forties their bodies, respectively speaking, started falling apart. I thought that was a little bit funny since I was in an accident at 38 and my body went through some incredible changes before 40. Thankfully, turning 40 was not a big life changer on my body or my health.

     Other than the fact that I have ocular histoplasmosis and from time to time I deal with double vision from the Traumatic Brain Injury. I am always thankful for my great vision.Other than those minor problems my vision is 20/15 or so it was at my last eye doctor visit. But today when I woke up my vision was drastically altered. Everything was blurry. I couldn't even read the messages inundating my iPhone. As minutes breezed by I started seeing everything else pretty clear, but I still couldn't read the text messages on my phone.

      Anyone who knows me knows I am a textaholic, if there is such a thing. So it was a huge disappointment for me to wake up on my 44th birthday and not be able to read the text and Facebook messages coming in from all my great friends and family wishing me a happy birthday. I kept thinking, maybe I am still sleeping. Maybe I have something in my eyes. Then, I started to recall a flood of stories I had heard from people over the years who told me about their bodies falling apart after their 40th birthday.

     Although I was terribly upset, I started going through my morning ritual but couldn't stop thinking of how depressing it is that my vision would leave me on my birthday of all days. A great friend called while I was in the shower. We spoke for a few minutes before I explained what I was doing and I would call her back.

    After I got out of the shower and dried off, I looked at my phone and could see my messages. I started laughing out loud because I think God was playing a practical joke on me. I guess that is what I get for all the practical jokes I play on my close friends and family all the time. Either way, I am so thankful to God that I can read the text messages on my phone.
Below is a picture of what my retinas look like. The dark area is where there is blood and the only way to stop the bleeding is with Lasers. I have to sit very still during the procedure or I will go blind.