WASHINGTON (AP) – Robert Bell of Kool and the Gang says he never thought the group would get as much mileage as it did out of the song “Celebration.” But he notes that recently it was used by NASA as part of the final space shuttle flight. Bell says the hit has surpassed the group’s expectations by far. But Bell reminds people it isn’t the group’s only hit – and songs like “Jungle Boogie” and “Summer Madness” are still very popular, too.
NEW YORK (AP) – You might read a rock biography that starts at the beginning and continues chronologically. Neil Young’s autobiography doesn’t do that. Young says if you have a conversation with people, it isn’t always linear. He says they might be distracted by something outside the window, so he thought that was a natural way to write his book. Young says his whole idea was that it would be off the top of his head and he would not spend any time organizing anything, because that’s worked for him on everything else he’s done. The book is called “Waging Heavy Peace” and it’s out now.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Mike Love of The Beach Boys says he did not fire Brian Wilson, doesn’t have the power to do that, and wouldn’t even if he did. Love writes in the Los Angeles Times in response to reports that he kicked Wilson out of the Beach Boys after their 50th anniversary tour wrapped up in Europe. Love says originally Wilson was only going to join the band for a few dates but agreed to 50 dates. They added 25 more dates. Love says Wilson and Al Jardine wanted to keep the tour going, but Love had already booked his own tour. Love says like any good party, no one wants it to end, but no one wants a 50th anniversary tour that lasts 10 years.
BILLY RAY CYRUS SETS NEW ALBUM RELEASE DATE
UNDATED (AP) – Billy Ray Cyrus’s new album “Change My Mind” will be out on October 23. Cyrus says the 10-song CD is a personal one and he’s lived through every emotion expressed in every song. They come to him, he says, when he’s “dealing with heavy stuff.” And if he’s “going through something emotional” he says the songs “pour out.” The only way he knows how to express himself he says is to “write it all down.” “Change My Mind’ the album’s title track is already climbing the charts.
KELLY CLARKSON CELEBRATES 10 YEARS WITH GREATEST HITS
UNDATED (AP) – It’s been over a decade since Kelly Clarkson won the first season of “American Idol” and then watched her career skyrocket. And to celebrate her 10-year anniversary she is releasing a greatest hits album. Clarkson made the announcement on her website last week. She says the last decade “has been tough, but inspiring” and admits in a message to her fans that it was a lot of pressure for a 19-year-old girl to handle. But now she’s 30 and Clarkson says she is smart enough to know it’s time to stop, catch her breath, and be proud of what she’s accomplished. With that in mind, she also announced she’ll be releasing a new song this month. It’s called “Catch My Breath.” It will be included in “Greatest Hits – Chapter 1” which is set for release November 19. On November 1 Clarkson performs at the CMA Awards where she is nominated in the female vocalist of the year category – her first solo nomination.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD CONFESSES TO HAVING A THING FOR BIG HAIR
UNDATED (AP) – Carrie Underwood’s look has evolved and become more sophisticated since her debut on “American Idol” back in 2005, but she tells People magazine she’s not giving up her big hair. Underwood says “the number-one thing” she does when someone fixes her hair, is put her fingers back in and “make it look bigger.” She attributes her fondness for statuesque styles to her childhood idols – Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.
BRAD PAISLEY TO HELP OUT A TRIBE IN AFRICA
UNDATED (AP) – Brad Paisley is planning to donate a cow to a Massai tribe in Kenya. In 2007 Paisley bet a Detroit morning show radio producer that he couldn’t travel to 10 countries in 10 days. That producer headed to Africa with a big Brad cardboard cutout that became a hit in a Massai village near Mt. Kilimanjaro. Last week, Steve Grunwald, the roving radio producer, received a request from the Massai tribe for a cow. Grunwald reached out to Paisley for some help. During a radio interview that aired last week Paisley said he’s “totally game” and “all in.” It’s a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help out” he says and offered to send Grunwald back to Kenya with a cow. The cow has already been named Paisley.
RAILROAD REVIVAL TOUR CANCELED
UNDATED (AP) – Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson and Band of Horses are among the performers whose appearances on The Railroad Revival tour have been canceled. The artists were planning to travel by train from Georgia to California later this month, with concerts in various cities along the way. But, a statement posted on the tour’s website Friday says the tour has been canceled. The statement says it was a difficult decision but it was determined that “certain complications would not permit them to host the shows in the manner intended and that the bands and fans deserved.” Railroad Revival Tour will be giving ticket holders a full refund.
LEE BRICE GETS POLITICAL
UNDATED (AP) – Lee Brice is facing some stiff competition for the best New Artist trophy at the upcoming CMA Awards. In an effort to boost his chances the “Hard to Love” singer has put out some videos – humorous spoofs of political campaign videos that have gone viral. In one ad he defends his position as the leading CMA nominee – and says that “quite frankly” he doesn’t understand why Obama and Romney have to blast each other’s records because as he points out he’s “never heard a record from either of them.” Brice’s opponents in the November 1 “election” for best new artist are Hunter Hayes, Brantley Gilbert, Thompson Square and Love and Theft.
Flags at the South Dakota Capitol are flying at half-staff today in honor of long-time Hot Springs civic leader and former state lawmaker Charles “Eddie” Clay. Clay passed away Thursday at age 90 and his funeral is today.
Clay served in the state House from 1967-1974 and was the 1974 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, but was best known for his work with tourism and public organizations…especially the Hot Springs Mammoth Site, where he was president from 1984 to 2008.
Joe Muller is the Mammoth Site’s longtime business manager. He says Eddie Clay was the go-to guy for projects and programs of all kinds in Hot Springs for decades.
Eddie Clay grew up in Missouri and came to the Black Hills during WWII when he was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base…and where he met his wife Clara…who survives him.
Clay was the owner of Fall River Abstract for 42 years, but was also a realtor, city manager, and ceramic artist.
He was active in the Masons…becoming the state’s longest living Grand Master last year…and served on the boards of the state Chamber of Commerce, Black Hills Playhouse, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, AAA of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society, and the Black Hills Council of Local Governments.
Joe Muller says all those activities and Clay’s natural inclination to help others meant that he developed close relationships with people all across South Dakota…making his passing felt even more deeply.
Still, Eddie Clay may have been most-associated with the Mammoth Site. Muller says it would not be the world-class research facility and popular tourist destination it is today if not for Clay’s leadership.
The Mammoth Site board turned to Clay for fundraising one last time earlier this year, establishing the Charles E. Clay Legacy. with a goal of raising $850,000 for the Mammoth Site by the end of next February.
Muller says membership director Diane Turner came up with the Legacy as a way for the Site and the public to honor Clay’s lifetime of service.
Eddie Clay’s many honors include an honorary doctorate from South Dakota School of Mines in 1983, the South Dakota “Ben Black Elk Award” for Outstanding Service to Tourism in 1995, and induction into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in September 2007.
Survivors include his beloved wife of 66 years, Clara Mae of Hot Springs; on daughter, four grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in Eddie’s name to benefit the Charles E. Clay Legacy at the Mammoth Site, the United Churches, and the Harmony Lodge 110 Scholarship Fund.
LISTEN:
The Carnegie Arts Center is sponsoring a logo contest to help commemorate the quasquicentennial.
The deadline to enter is November 3, and the winner will receive $75 in chamber bucks.
— The logo can be any media including computer generated.
— Logo should be produced in color, but be capable of being produced in black and white.
— Must be submitted in a 9×12 format.
— Keep it simple, but include as much history as possible, such as: the fountain, railroad, agriculture, Carhenge, historic main street — whatever says ALLIANCE to you!
— The theme is 125 years of Building the Best Hometown: 1888-2013.
Submit entries in person or by mail to:
Carnegie Arts Center
204 West Third Street
Alliance, NE 69301
e-mail: carnegieartscenter@bbc.net
The annual Sidney Cross Country Invite was held Thursday, Oct. 4
Alliance Girls
Kelsey Adamson – 6th place – 16:48 (personal best)
Alliance Boys Varsity
7th – Ryan Waggner 18:54
11th – Tristan Stephenson 19:34
13th – Truen Henderson 19:50
16th – Jacob Johnston 21:41
17th – Jose Vasquez 24:23
Team Results
1 – Sidney 13
2 – Chadron 30
3 – Alliance 47
Aliance Boys Junior Varsity
3rd – Gaige Lehl 19:57
8th – Eli Rischling 21:24
Brady Shimp and Colton Rolls did not run due to injury.
Alliance Middle School
22nd – Easton O’Gorman 16:07 (3,000 m)
“Our kids had their best meet of the year so far,” said coach Dan Carlson. “Everyone ran a personal best. The runners ran any where from 20 seconds to one minute faster from a week ago on the same course. The Sidney course is very hilly and challenging. This meet ends our regular season with districts next week and state the following week.”
Wednesday, October 10, 2012, the town of Hemingford will experience an outage to electrical services from 4:00 a.m. MT to 6:00 a.m. MT.
This is required as the Nebraska Public Power District builds a temporary line to feed Hemingford and installs new metering in the substation. They are coordinating with PREMA to complete this work.
Western Sugar Cooperative is delaying full sugar beet harvest. With freezing temperatures and winter conditions predicted for the Wyobraska region harvest is delayed til Monday, October 8th. The start time will be established after agriculturists evaluate the crop for freeze damage.
The annual Western Conference Volleyball Tournament was played Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Alliance High School and Middle School.
Sidney won the championship, with Alliance placing third and Gering finishing 5th.
Pool A at Alliance High School
Alliance defeated Scottsbluff, 25-23, 25-11
Chadron defeated Alliance, 25-14, 25-17
Chadron defeated Scottsbluff, 25-19, 25-20
Pool B at Alliance Middle School
Mitchell defeated Gering, 25-22, 25-23
Sidney defeated Gering, 25-7, 25-17
Sidney defeated Mitchell, 25-13, 25-16
Fifth Place — at Middle School
Gering defeated Scottsbluff, 25-23, 22-25, 28-26
Third Place — at High School
Alliance defeated Mitchell, 25-13, 25-17
Championship — at High School
Sidney defeated Chadron, 25-20, 25-23
