Bob Labbe

MADISON - For any horseman, young or old, experienced or novice, having the knowledge of knowing the correct riding position, and the skills needed to handle their horse is a must for proper care and safety.

MADISON - Summer is quickly coming to a close, especially within the calendar year of local school systems. Madison City Schools return to the classrooms Aug.6, Madison County Schools’ students go back to the area of learning Aug. 5 and Madison Academy will have their students arrive back on campus with a phase-in Aug. 5 and 6 with all students at their learning locations by Aug. 7.

MADISON – Four days of elite athletes showcasing their best efforts versus just as talented athletes is the best way to describe the annual AHSAA North-South All-Star Week competition scheduled for July 20-23 in Montgomery.

MADISON – Baseball players of all ages and levels of play have been known to be the most superstitious athletes who take pride in competing and pushing their will and talents to the limit in attempts to achieve success for their organization, team and their own self-satisfaction. The athletes in baseball will do whatever it takes in remain in a hot streak. Some of the most common superstitions by baseball players include never stepping on the foul lines, wearing the same clothing, have a certain ritual when batting or even saying a prayer prior to stepping onto the field.

MADISON – Every high school football player has a head coach. Many of those athletes have a head coach who is more in their lives than just a man who gives instructions, forces discipline and watches your every move on and off the playing field. That type of coach-player relationship is special and that special bond can change the life of a student-athlete overnight, but the change will last a lifetime.

MADISON – James Clemens High announced the placement of Jamiee Freeman as the new head coach of the school's volleyball program. The 35-year-old and mother of two, comes to the Jets' high school program from Calhoun Community College where she led that program since 20222. During her stay with the Lady Warhawks, the team earned school historic success including conference and district championships and first-ever National Tournament qualification and first NJCAA Second-Team All-American player.

MADISON – Toyota Field is about to go high-tech and old school at the same time. On Thursday night as part of the current home stand, the Rocket City Trash Pandas host its first-ever Drone Show following its 6:35 p.m. game against the Birmingham Barons as part of Grateful Dead Night.

HARVEST – The anticipated starting offensive line for the Sparkman Senators averages 267 pounds per player with the total weight of 1,335 pounds. The trenches this season, carrying more than his share of load, will be led by the only returning starter on the OL Walter “Big Walt” Pruitt (OL, 6-0, 280, Sr.) at center. The two-sport athlete, who also handles duties of heavyweight on the Sparkman wrestling team, possess an additional talent that can be seen in ways that make everyone around him a better person.

MADISON – Car enthusiasts of all ages have the yearly consumption of fondness, wishes and pure excitement awaiting them just days away as on Saturday, Aug. 15, the sixth annual Rocket City Octane Auto Show in the South Hall of the Von Braun Center, presented by AutoworkZ, which will feature the return engagement of Von Hotrod, a well-known West Coast pin-striper, who carries an old-school vibe, and two of the most famous actresses from the 1973 motion picture American Graffiti, Mackenzie Phillips and Candy Clark. The one-day event is known as one of the most exciting auto shows in the Southeast with people as far away as Kentucky and the Carolinas attending.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The twist and turns journey for Gio Lopez is still in progress. With no regrets from the redshirt-junior, the 22-year old, former three-star, First-Team All-State quarterback at James Clemens High, had his latest turn dropped him off in Winston-Salem, N.C. where he is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Demon Deacons at Wake Forest.