plus 3, Johnston: Ned Ward benefit ropes around $22,000 - Abilene Reporter-News

Johnston: Ned Ward benefit ropes around $22,000 - Abilene Reporter-News
Happenings across West Michigan: Week of Feb. 28 - MLive.com
Asheville-area motorcycle enthusiast left legacy of caring - Asheville Citizen-Times
Tampering with motorcycle noise control systems is illegal - Sun-Journal

Johnston: Ned Ward benefit ropes around $22,000 - Abilene Reporter-News

Posted: 27 Feb 2010 09:36 PM PST

More than $20,000 was raised in the Ned Ward benefit team roping held last weekend at the Taylor County Expo Center.

Christie Martin said the auction brought in more than $16,000 and another $6,000 was made from the roping.

Ned, 77, and his brother, Jim, 71, started the Senior Team Ropers Association more than 15 years ago. They have their finals in Abilene toward the end of September. Ned has been battling cancer for nearly a year.

Benny Kilpatrick of Abilene and James Allen of Santa Anna handled the auctioneering chores. At one point they had a father and his adult son bidding against each other from their seats at opposite ends of the stands.

Winners in the No. 10 Class that ended late Saturday evening were:

Fastback — 1. Bruce Vinson of Hawley and Bucky Cooper of Hamlin, 5.93 seconds, $564 each; 2. Bruce Vinson and Jeff Bacon of Cisco, 6.82 seconds, $225 each.

Overall — 1. Vinson and son Twister had 35.58, $551 each; 2. Clay Koenig, Cross Plains-Cooper, 35.90, 456 each; 3. T. Vinson-Johnny Northcutt, Eastland, 39.91, $361 each; 4. B. Vinson-Cooper, 41.64, $285 each.

Twister adds to motor pool

Twister Vinson, the eighth-grade son of Bruce Vinson of Hawley, added a half-ton Dodge pickup to the motorcycle and four-wheeler that he won in the previous two Original Team Roping Association Finals held in Abilene.

The lastest win was in the World Series of Roping Tuley Productions event in Glen Rose Feb. 20. He and partner Jim Bynum of Waxahachie had a 5.42 second No. 11 class short go-round time. Twister paid Bynum for his interest in the pickup.

San Antonio Rodeo champions

Trevor Brazile of Decatur continues his hot streak in tie-down with a championship and $16,593 in the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo.

Other event champions were bareback rider Micky Downare of Hartsel, Colo., with $18,408; steer wrestler Luke Branquiinho of Los Alamos, Calif., with $17,112, and team ropers Colby Siddoway of Hooper, Utah, and Matt Zancanella of Aurora, S.D., with $18,159 each.

J.J. Elshere of Quinn, S.D., won the saddle bronc riding and $17,630 while barrel racing champion was Lindsay Sears of Nanton, Alberta, with $17,112. Bull riding champion was Ardie Maier of Timber Lake, S.D., with $19,964.

SHOT clinic, competition

Collegiate individuals will compete within various classes of the Stock Horse of Texas Association with their scores added together for a college championship. Texas Tech won the title last year with nine schools competing.

The clinic will run Friday through Sunday. Individual clinics will be held Friday.

Bozo Rogers, formerly of Lipan and now living in Watrous, N.M., will conduct the cow work class and Chance O'Neal of Guthrie will present the reining clinic.

Jimbo Humphreys will handle the trail class. He works on the Guitar Ranch in Spur.

Laurie Shelton of Brenham will work the pleasure clinic.

The Limited Non-Pro, Novice and Youth Class competition will be held Saturday. The Open Non-Pro and Green Class are set for Sunday.

Murray continues non-traditional appearances

After his successful run for eight weeks on "Dancing With The Stars," Ty Murray has followed up with a Sports Illustrated appearance with his dancing partner, Chelsie Hightower. She is in a bikini and Ty — who is not — is admiring the view.

Murray and his, wife Jewel, recently participated in an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and Monday night, they appeared as co-hosts on the World Wrestling Enterprise telecast with something called WWE Diva Bull Riding.

He has said it all part of his efforts to take the message of the Professional Bull Riders organization to new audiences.

Incidentally, Jewel wrote the theme song "Stay Here Forever" for the recent movie "Valentine's Day." She said it was written with Ty in mind because they travel so much.

Brazile moves outside the arena

During the recent NBA Celebrity All-Star Game in Dallas, reigning PRCA All-Around Champion Trevor Brazile gave roping lessons to Carmelo Anthony of the Denver, Rajon Rondo of Boston and New Orleans player Chris Paul. The quick lessons came during timeouts, breaks between quarters and at halftime.

Schedule update

Send information about your event to Horse Column, P.O. Box 30, Abilene, TX 79604, fax to 325-670-5242 or send an e-mail to sports@reporternews.com.

n Today Dist. 9, National Barrel Horse Association, Taylor County Expo Center Horse

Barn, Abilene

n Wednesday-March 20 Houston Stock Show Rodeo

n Friday-Sunday Stock Horse of Texas Clinic, Taylor County Expo Center Horse Barn, Abilene

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Happenings across West Michigan: Week of Feb. 28 - MLive.com

Posted: 27 Feb 2010 10:05 PM PST

By The Grand Rapids Press staff

February 28, 2010, 1:05AM

IN CONCERT

Gregory Crowell, Paul Austin, 2 p.m. today: Suzanna Bratton, 2 p.m. March 7, Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center NW, adults $8, seniors $7, college students $7, ages 6-17 $5, free to age 5 and younger, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.

Indie Rock Matinee, 5 p.m. today, $8; Attack Attack!, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, $15-$17; Heavyweight Hangover, 8 p.m. Friday, $5; Monte Montgomery, 7 p.m. March 7, front lounge, $10; Halestorm, 7:30 p.m. March 7, $9.79-$12, The Intersection, 133 Grandville Ave. SW, (800) 745-3000 or 451-8232, ticketmaster.com or sectionlive.com.

John Mayer with Michael Franti & Spearhead, 7:30 tonight, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., $46-$66, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com or vanandelarena.com.

Extra Life with The Bangups and Camarie, 8 tonight, Mixtape Cafe & Music Venue, 133 S. Division Ave., $7, mixtapecafe.com.

"Castalia ... Focus on Women Composers," 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aquinas College, Kretschmer Recital Hall, 1607 Robinson Road SE, free, 632-2413, aquinas.edu/music.

Hope College: "Musical Showcase," 8 p.m. Monday, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, $10, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com or hope.edu/arts.

Music at Mid-Day: David Troiano, piano, 12:15-12:45 p.m. Tuesday, First (Park) Congregational Church, 10 E. Park Place NE, free, 459-3203, parkchurchgr.org.

Traditional Irish Music Session, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Fenian's Irish Pub, 19683 Main St., Conklin, free, 899-2640, feniansirishpub.com.

Chris Botti, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, $39.50-$59.50, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

Martina McBride and Trace Adkins with Sarah Buxton, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., $30.25-$62.25, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com or vanandelarena.com.

Grand Rapids Symphony Rising Stars Series with Aviram Reichert: "Latin Rhythms," 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, $26-$34; 8 p.m. Saturday, Greenville Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Hillcrest St., Greenville, adults $22, students $5, 225-6108, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com or grsymphony.org.

Acoustic Stew: Wind & the Wood, 8 p.m. Thursday; The Lazy Blue Tunas, 8 p.m. Saturday, One Trick Pony, 136 E. Fulton St., 235-7669, onetrick.biz.

Grand Rapids Symphony Coffee Classics: "Latin Flavor," 10 a.m. Friday, St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, $12, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com or grsymphony.org.

Friday Nights at GRAM: DJ SuperDre and Clifford Music String Quartet, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center NW, $5, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.

"Friday Night Fun" Open Jam, 7 p.m. Friday, Zellie's Opry House, 230 Edgerton, Howard City, $5, 260-3032, zelliesopryhouse.com.

Pepsi Stadium Club Concert Series: Yancyy, sponsored by WYCE, 7:30 p.m. Friday, $20; Richard Shindell and Antje Duvekot, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, $16, Fifth Third Ballpark, Pepsi Stadium Club, 4500 West River Drive NE, Comstock Park, 459-4788, whitecapsbaseball.com or grcmc.org/radio.

Tim Pepper, 10 a.m. Saturday, Frenz Coffee House, 10 E. Bridge St., in the Rockford Promenade, Rockford, free, frenzcoffeehouse.com.

Grand Rapids Symphony's Lollipops Series: "Ferdinand the Bull," 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunshine Community Church, 3300 East Beltline Ave. NE, $5, (800) 745-3000 or 454-9451, ticketmaster.com or grsymphony.org.

Afternoon with the Arts: "A Celtic Lore," 1 p.m. Saturday, Franciscan Life Process Center, $20, 897-7842, lifeprocesscenter.org.

Greensky Bluegrass, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, $15, 459-4788, grcmc.org.

Bob Marley Birthday Bash with Zion Lion, 8 p.m. Saturday, Billy's, 1437 Wealthy St. SE, $7, 459-5757, billyslounge.com.

Dead Again, Grateful Dead cover band, 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Founders Brewing Co., 235 Grandville Ave. SW, $5, 776-1195, foundersbrewing.com.

Sundays at 2 Concert Series, 2 p.m. March 7, Hope College, Dimnent Memorial Chapel, 277 College Ave., Holland, free, 395-7890, hope.edu/arts.

Interlochen Arts Academy: Jazz Combo, Percussion Ensemble, String Quartet, 3 p.m. March 7, St. Cecilia Music Center, Royce Auditorium, 24 Ransom Ave. NE, free, 459-2224, scmc-online.org or interlochen.org.

Elizabeth Claar: Harpsichord Recital, 3 p.m. March 7, Trinity Lutheran Church, 2700 E. Fulton St., free, www.tlcgr.org.

needs www

"Radisson Idol" finals with John Brown, Janine Decker, Kevin Foley, Amy Hobbie, Luciana LaBoze, Rich Little, Laura Ringler, Cassie Soto, Greg Stankus, Maurice Townsend, 7 p.m. March 7, following 6 p.m. dinner, Radisson Riverfront Grand Rapids, ballroom, 270 Ann St. NW, show only $20, dinner and show $50, 363-9001,

SPECIALS

Gun and Knife Show, 9 a.m. today; Arena Racing, 2 p.m. March 7, adults $8.50-$19, ages 6-12 $4, free to children younger than 6, DeltaPlex Arena & Conference Center, 2500 Turner Ave. NW, Walker, (800) 745-3000 or 364-9000, ticketmaster.com or deltaplex.com.

Downtown Rail Jam, 10 a.m. today, outside The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, free to spectators, $40 to compete, 356-2000, thebob.com

West Michigan Motorcycle & ORV Show, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. today, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, adults $9, children $5, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com or westmichiganmotorcycleshow.com.

John Ball Zoo, 1300 W. Fulton St., re-opening Monday. Spring hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; "Welcome Back" grand re-opening event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Spring admission through May 7 is $3.50 for adults, $3 for children 13 and younger, free to children 2 and younger; 336-4301, johnballzoosociety.org.

Ice skating, noon-9:30 p.m. today, 6-9:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, noon-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Rosa Parks Circle, Monroe Avenue NW at Monroe Center, $1, free skate rental with ID, grand-rapids.mi.us or artmuseumgr.org.

"Butterflies Are Blooming," 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, ages 14-64 $12, age 65 and older $9, students with ID $9, ages 5-13 $6, ages 3-4 $4, free to children 2 and younger, 957-1580 or (888) 957-1580, meijergardens.org or sculpturesitesgr.org.

Red Barn Film Studies Series: "The Informer," 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Saugatuck Brewery, Bier Hall, 2948 Blue Star Highway, Douglas, $5, (269) 857-5300, redbarnsaugatuck.com or saugatuckbrewing.com.

Meanwhile Film Series: "Space Balls," 8 p.m. Tuesday, Koning Micro-Cinema, 1130 Wealthy St. SE, $5, 459-4788, grcmc.org.

Betty Van Andel Opera Center Community Open House, 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, 1320 E. Fulton St., free, reservations requested, 451-2741, operagr.com.

West Michigan Home & Garden Show, 3-9:30 p.m. Thursday, noon-9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 7, DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, adults $9, ages 6-14 $4, free to age 5 and younger, 447-2860, grhomeshow.com, showspan.com or devosplace.org.

Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Manitoba Moose, 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., $5-$30, (800) 585-3737 or 774-4585, startickets.com or griffinshockey.com.

Sports Card and Collectibles Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, West Side Christian School, 955 Westend Ave. NW, 453-3925.

All Day with the Arts, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center NW, adults $8, seniors $7, college students $7, ages 6-17 $5, free to age 5 and younger, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.

ONGOING

Averill Historical Museum of Ada, 1-4 p.m. today-Saturday, 7144 Headley St., Ada, free, 676-9346, adahistoricalsociety.org.

Blandford Nature Center trails dawn-dusk daily; visitor center 1-5 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday, 1715 Hillburn Ave. NW, free, 735-6240, blandfordnaturecenter.org.

Coopersville Farm Museum, featuring "Dolls of our Lives," 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 375 Main St., Coopersville, $4, seniors $3, students $2, free to children younger than 3, 997-8555, coopersvillefarmmuseum.org.

DeGraaf Nature Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; trails dawn-dusk daily, 600 Graafschap Road, Holland, free, 355-1057, degraaf.org.

Dekker Huis Museum, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, 37 E. Main St., Zeeland, free, 772-4079, zeelandmuseum.org.

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, featuring "America and the Cold War," 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 303 Pearl St. NW, adults $7, seniors $6, college students with ID $5, ages 6-18 $3, free to age 5 and younger, 254-0400, www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.

Grand Rapids Art Museum, featuring "Selections from the Museum Photography Collection," and "Calder Jewelry," 101 Monroe Center NW, noon-5 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, adults $8, seniors $7, college students $7, ages 6-17 $5, free to age 5 and younger, after 5 p.m. Friday $5, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.

Grand Rapids Children's Museum, featuring "Happy Animal Clinic," noon-5 p.m. today, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 22 Sheldon Ave. NE, $6.50, 5-8 p.m. Thursday $1.50, free to children younger than 2, 235-4726, grcm.org.

Grand Rapids Public Museum, featuring "Big, Big Bugs," 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, noon-5 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, adults $8, age 62 and older $7, ages 3-17 $3, free to children younger than 3, special exhibits may have additional fees; Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium Sky Theater, museum admission plus $3, 272 Pearl St. NW, 456-3977 or 456-3663, grmuseum.org.

Hackley and Hume Historic Site, noon-4 p.m. today, Wednesday-Saturday, Sixth Street at West Webster Avenue, Muskegon, age 13 and older $3, free to age 12 and younger, (231) 722-0278, muskegonmuseum.org.

Holland Museum, featuring "Archipelago: Indigenous Art of Indonesia and Melanesia," 2-5 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Saturday, 31 W. 10th St., Holland, $7, seniors $6, students $4, free to children younger than 6, families $14, 392-9084 or (888) 200-9123, hollandmuseum.org.

Ice Skating, various hours, Edge Ice Arena, 4444 N. Holland Ave., Holland, adults $5, children 11 and younger $4, 738-0733.

Ice Skating, various hours, Georgetown Ice Center, 8500 48th Ave., Hudsonville, 662-2800, gtwp.com.

Ice Skating, various hours, Griff's IceHouse in Belknap Park, 30 Coldbrook St. NE, $3-$3.50, 235-9940.

Ice Skating, various hours, Kentwood Ice Arena, 6178 Campus Park SE, $3, 698-0100.

Ice Skating, various hours, Southside Community Ice Center, 500 100th St. SW, Byron Center, $4, 878-4567.

Ice Skating, various hours, Walker Ice and Fitness Center, 4151 Remembrance Road NW, Walker, adults $4, teens $3, children 12 and younger $2, 735-6286.

Lowell Area Arts Council, noon-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, 149 S. Hudson St., Lowell, 897-8545, lowellartscouncil.org.

Lowell Area Historical Museum, 1-4 p.m. today and Tuesday, 1-8 p.m. Thursday, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, 325 W. Main St., Lowell, adults $3, ages 5-17 $1.50, free to age 4 and younger, families $10, 897-7688, lowellmuseum.org.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, featuring "Spirit and Form: Michele Oka Doner and the Natural World," and, opening Monday, "Butterflies are Blooming," noon-5 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1000 East Beltline Ave. NE, ages 14-64 $12, age 65 and older $9, students with ID $9, ages 5-13 $6, ages 3-4 $4, free to age 2 and younger, 957-1580 or (888) 957-1580, meijergardens.org or sculpturesitesgr.org.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, noon-5 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 314 S. Park St., Kalamazoo, free, (269) 349-7775, kiarts.org.

Meyer May House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, 1-4 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 450 Madison Ave. SE, free, 246-4821.

Muskegon County Museum, noon-4 p.m. today, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, 430 W. Clay Ave., Muskegon, free, (231) 722-0278, muskegonmuseum.org.

Muskegon County Museum of African American History, 2:30-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 7 E. Center St., Muskegon Heights, free, (231) 739-9500.

Muskegon Museum of Art, noon-4:30 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, 10-8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 296 W. Webster Ave., Muskegon, $5, free to students with ID and age 17 and younger, Thursdays free, (231) 720-2570, muskegonartmuseum.org.

Tri-Cities Historical Museum, 12:30-5 p.m. today, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 12:30-5 p.m. Saturday, Akeley Building, 200 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, free, 842-0700, tri-citiesmuseum.org.

Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, noon-7 p.m. today, noon-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 41 Sheldon Blvd. SE, free, 454-7000, uica.org.

Zeeland Historical Society Museum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, 37 E. Main St., Zeeland, free, 772-4079.

FOR KIDS

"Happy Animal Clinic," noon-5 p.m. today, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday; Family Night, 5-8 p.m. Thursday; Make a Mini-Book, 10 a.m.- noon Friday; Create a Collage, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, 22 Sheldon Ave. NE, $6.50, 5-8 p.m. Thursday $1.50, free to children younger than 2, 235-4726, grcm.org.

Playhouse Disney Live!, 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. March 7, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, $15-$42, (800) 745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

ON STAGE

Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival, 11 a.m. today, Wellspring Theater, Epic Center, 359 S. Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, $10-$18, (269) 342-4354, midwestradfest.org.

"Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," 2 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Saturday, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Meijer Majestic Theatre, 30 N. Division Ave., $16-$30, (800) 585-3737 or 222-6650, startickets.com or grct.org.

"Anne of Green Gables," by Cornerstone University students, 2:30 p.m. today, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Matthews Auditorium, 3000 Leonard St. NE, adults $10, seniors $8, students $8, 254-1661, cornerstone.edu.

"Seussical the Musical," by Byron Center High School Theatre, 7 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Van Singel Fine Arts Center, 8500 Burlingame Ave. SW, Byron Center, adults $9, students $6, family of four $24, 878-6800, www.vsfac.com.

needs www

"Grand Rapids' Got Talent" finals, sponsored by Creative Edge Productions, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Bobarino's, in The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW, free, $1 per vote, 356-2000, etix.com or thebob.com.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, Mexican folk dance concert, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Michigan State University, Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall, East Lansing, $15-$28, (800) WHARTON, whartoncenter.com.

"Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles," 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, sponsored by Broadway Grand Rapids, DeVos Performance Hall, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, $25-$55, (800) 745-3000 or 235-6285, ticketmaster.com or bwaygr.org.

"Much Ado About Nothing," 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Hope College, DeWitt Center, 141 E. 12th St., Holland, $7, seniors $4, students $4, 395-7890, hope.edu/arts.

"Dance 36," 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Knickerbocker Theatre, 86 E. Eighth St., Holland, $7, seniors $5, students $5, 395-7890, hope.edu/arts.

River City Improv, 7:33 p.m. Saturday, Ladies Literary Club, 61 Sheldon Blvd. SE, $8, 752-8570 or 526-6282, rivercityimprov.com.

Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez, Mexican folk dance concert, 3 p.m. March 7, Western Michigan University, Miller Auditorium, 2200 Auditorium Drive, Kalamazoo, $15-$35, (269) 387-2300, millerauditorium.com.

IN A WORD

Great Decisions Foreign Policy Lecture Series with William Harrop, former Ambassador to Israel: "Special Envoys for Diplomacy: Effective Tool or Stumbling Block?," sponsored by World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Aquinas College, Performing Arts Center, 1701 Robinson Road SE, $7-$15, 776-172, worldmichigan.org.

GRAM Conversation with Sheri-Beth Dusek, Lynn Serulla: "History of Jewelry: An Interpretation," 7 p.m. Friday, Grand Rapids Art Museum, 101 Monroe Center NW, free with admission of $5, 831-1000, artmuseumgr.org.

For information on entertainment events in the area, call the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau, (800) 678-9859, visitgrandrapids.org.

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Asheville-area motorcycle enthusiast left legacy of caring - Asheville Citizen-Times

Posted: 27 Feb 2010 09:58 PM PST

SWANNANOA — Gene Lummus, one of the driving forces behind an annual motorcycle run that collected thousands of toys for needy children at Christmas, died Friday after a battle with cancer. He was 64.

Lummus and his wife, Brenda, moved to Swannanoa in 1987 and opened a Harley-Davidson dealership. He soon became active in a variety of civic activities and charities benefitting children and veterans.

"He was a wonderful human being," said his close friend Carroll Hipps. "He was a very civic-minded man. He loved to help people in the community."

During the annual Smoky Mountain Toy Run in December, in which more than a thousand riders ferried some 5,000 toys from downtown Asheville to Lummus' dealership in Swannanoa, Lummus said the charity event brought him great joy.

"This is my spiritual healing," he said.

Lummus grew up in small towns in Texas before moving to Fayetteville at the age of 16 and getting a job at a motorcycle shop, Hipps said. Over the years he became an expert at building custom motorcycles and won trophies racing bikes.

He was president of the Carolina Harley-Davidson Dealers Association and a sponsor of Smoky Mountain Harley Owners Group.

"His life revolved around all aspects of motorcycles," Hipps said. "He just loved the motorcycle community. He loved the camaraderie that comes with riding a Harley-Davidson."

Lummus was still going to work at Parkway Harley-Davidson until just before he checked into Solace Center in Asheville on Feb. 15, said Debbie Brigman, a longtime friend of Gene and Brenda Lummus who worked as office manager at the dealership.

"On the outside he had this hard shell," Brigman said. "On the inside was the biggest heart of gold you've ever seen. He was always thinking of other people.

"He was very giving and caring. That's why he loved doing the toy run every Christmas. He's going to be terribly missed."

Hipps said Lummus also had a terrific sense of humor.

"He never heard a joke he forgot," he said. "He could tell a joke 30 times, and it was funnier the 30th time than it was the first time."

In addition to his wife, Lummus leaves behind a daughter, Taylor Lummus Ledford; a son, Travis Lummus; and two grandchildren.

"He was just a good man, a good husband, a good father, a good grandfather," Brenda Lummus said. "He was very compassionate."

A service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Swannanoa. Burial will be in Green Hills Cemetery. Harwood Home for Funerals in Black Mountain is in charge of the arrangements.

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Tampering with motorcycle noise control systems is illegal - Sun-Journal

Posted: 27 Feb 2010 09:58 PM PST

The only way for a motorcycle to be loud is to violate laws, and loud motorcycles are often in violation of at least four laws.

All motorcycles made after 1982 must have an Environmental Protection Agency noise compliance label attached to the chassis and a matching label stamped into the muffler. It's a violation of federal law to replace the noise-certified exhaust with one that isn't certified, or to tamper with the muffler in order to produce more noise. Under federal law, this information must be included in every owner's manual under the title, Tampering with Noise Control System Prohibited.

This section is very detailed and is very clearly worded as follows: "Federal law prohibits the following acts or the causing thereof; (1) the removal or rendering inoperative by any person other than for purposes of maintenance, repairs, of replacement of any device or element of design incorporated into any new vehicle for the purpose of noise control prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use, or (2) the use of the vehicle after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative by any person.

So there's no excuse for not knowing about it.

You may have heard the silly myth, Loud Pipes Save Lives. There is no credible study that shows that riding a quiet motorcycle is any less safe than riding a loud one. In fact, many thousands of bikers ride their whisper-quiet Honda Gold Wings safely every day. There are many proven ways to improve motorcycle safety; they include attending a safety class taught by a qualified instructor, installing daytime running lights, wearing highly visible, bright colored clothing, not riding when tired and not riding after consuming alcohol.

The Harley Davidson Co. asks its customers to ride quietly, and the two largest motorcycle organizations, the American Motorcyclists Association and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, also urge its members to ride quietly and respectfully.

In 2008, about 50,000 motorcycles were registered in Maine and the required annual safety inspection sticker was issued to only about 32,000. All other motor vehicles are required to display the inspection sticker and Maine Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles believes that motorcycles should also display the sticker. At this time, Maine bikers are only required to have the sticker with them.

All motor vehicles, including motorcycles, operated on public roads, are required to have a muffler. It's illegal to issue an inspection sticker to any vehicle that lacks a muffler or doesn't have an adequate muffler. Maine Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles (MECALM) believes that most of the bikes that aren't inspected couldn't pass because the machines don't have mufflers or have inadequate mufflers.

When the certified exhaust is replaced by an open pipe exhaust which has no muffler, such as drag pipes (which are legal only for off-road use such as racing and must be labeled as such), the air pollution equipment is disabled. This can result in one loud motorcycle emitting as much toxins into the air per mile of travel as 200 or more of today's cars. It's a violation of federal law to disable the air pollution equipment and is a Class E crime in Maine.

MECALM believes that police should consistently stop all loud motorcycles and check for the inspection sticker and the muffler, and write tickets for violations.

It would be even better for Maine to adopt the EPA matching label system, which is what the federal law is designed for. In 2007, Denver adopted the EPA label law despite the vocal opposition by many loud bikers. Thanks to consistent enforcement and substantial penalties, city officials now receive very few complaints about loud motorcycles. Since the police target only the loud bikes, this has resulted in no inconvenience to the quiet bikers.

Denver was in part motivated to enact the EPA label into law because a loud biker died after crashing into the side of a fire truck that was on an emergency call with lights flashing and the siren on. Officials, who investigated the accident, concluded that the motorcycle was so loud, the biker couldn't hear the fire truck!

The city of Green Bay, Wis., also has adopted the EPA label law, where the police like it because it's very easy to enforce.

The problem of loud bikes has spread to most areas of the state and there are now thousands of Mainers who are fed up with loud motorcycles and want something done about it.

This anger will only increase when the loud bikes begin blasting our homes, neighborhoods and communities in May.

Andy Ford is a founder of Maine Citizens Against Loud Motorcycles and is a lifelong resident of Portland; www.mecalm.org.

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