Wild, Wild West

This week I chose the song "Wild, Wild West" by Escape Club. The late '80s hit probably doesn't really have anything to do with the old west, but that is what Willow City celebrated this past weekend.
I covered Willow City's "Western Weekend" and have a few pictures to share.

I also did a feature on a local baseball player, as well as a few other stories.

However, all my pics are from Willow City.

Three cars converge during the demo derby late Saturday afternoon as part of Willow City's Western Weekend.

This little cowboy waits on his tiptoes for the parade to begin last Saturday.

Bottineau County Sheriff Steve Watson tosses candy during the parade.

Several kids await goodies being tossed by parade entries.

This kid is an excellent multi-tasker; throw a giant handful of candy, eat a freezie at the same time--check.

These kids get a little competitive when it comes to tootsie rolls.

Horse enthusiast Dave Geiszler smiles as he rides his horse in the parade.

These kids scramble for more candy Saturday afternoon.

This little girl ran out of candy to throw from her parade entry.

Little girls' tiny hands are no place to hold a mess of tootsie rolls, get this girl a bucket, bag, hat or something.

A volunteer looks on during the demo derby as one of the cars shoots up some dirt.

County Fair

This week I chose "County Fair" by Joe Walsh. The Walsh tune off of the Album "So What" is the perfect name for this week, as the majority of my weekend was spent at the Bottineau County Fair--the oldest county fair in the state of North Dakota.

I took all kinds of pictures from the demo derby, rides and entertainment.

I have lots of pictures from Thursday's amateur night and the demo derby that was on Sunday. I have another busy week ahead, and I thought that the summer was going to be easier. I was wrong.

Here are my pics:

Bottineau's Kayla Graber sings on stage to close the night last Thursday at the Bottineau County Fair's 22nd annual amateur night.

Brittain Grubb sings to open the amateur night.

Kendra Slaubaugh of Hazen, who won the junior division, performs Thursday.

A young lady from Westhope belts out her best last Thursday.

Kendra Slaubaugh and her younger sister Crystal do a Justin Bieber imitation.

Bottineau native Kylie Artz sings "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

Maxbass' Chris George, who won the senior division, sings on stage at the fair.

Katja Bartsch belts out a hit last Thursday. Bartsch is a student at Bottineau High School.

Shane Parsons from Sunny 101.9 wows the crowd with his medley of hits.

Parsons tries to pump the crowd up during his performance.

Two derby cars collide back bumpers last Sunday during the Bottineau County Fair demo derby.

Darrin Nelson awaits the green flag to begin the demo derby Sunday.

Wet conditions made the derby pit ripe for mud slinging.

Nelson gets sandwiched by two other derby cars.

This time it was Jackson Bernstein who was in the middle.

This car nearly got tipped during the herby derby portion of the demo derby last Sunday.

Levi Kippen's herby derby car looks in rough shape late in the derby.

Herby derby winner Randy Sivertson plows into second place Travis Wettlaufer near the end last Sunday.

Little Too Late

This week I picked "Little Too Late" by Toby Keith. I chose this because today is Friday and I am just posting my blog now. I had a busy Monday and Tuesday this week, so I was unable to get to this until now.

Last week I covered Legion baseball and the races, and have some good pictures from them.

I am having a super busy week thus far, and with more Bottineau County Fair things to cover I'm sure it will be a busier weekend. I should have a lot of pictures from the fair for next week.

Here's this weeks pics:

Bottineau post 42 third baseman Zach Johnson awaits a tag on a Velva runner, who tried to advance to third last Friday in Bottineau.

Bottineau shortstop Devon Bercier about to tag out a Velva player who was attempting to steal.

Bottineau first baseman Cody Brooks connects with a pitch last Friday.

Second baseman Luke Amsbaugh catches a pop up.

Taylor Milbrath delivers a pitch. Milbrath pitched a complete game in game one of a double header.

Bercier hits a grounder in the 2-0 game one loss.

Rick Hammel slides around turn one. Hammel one the 20-lap Midwest Modified feature race last Sunday at Thunder Mountain Speedway north of Bottineau.

Jamie Smith kicks up so mud as he rounds the final turn.

Mike Lemay (left), Russ Reimer and Kevin Smith go three wide into a turn in the second heat last Sunday.

The Wissota Midwest Modified's get the green flag on a restart.

Jarrett Lovcik gets into the rear bumper of Kyle Lovcik last Sunday.

Track manager Jeff Smith tosses out goodies to eagerly awaiting kids at Sunday's race intermission.

LeMay takes the checkered in the 20-lap feature race in the sport stocks.

Tomorrows Dream

This week I picked "Tomorrows Dream" by Black Sabbath because both the Bottineau golf and baseball teams came up short in the quest for a state title. Therefore, they are dreaming of tomorrow (next year) for their next shots at winning.

I covered both state golf and state baseball the past week. Golf finished in sixth and baseball in fifth, both good finishes.

This week I will cover legion baseball and the races (assuming they aren't rained out). Also I have a couple of features that I will hopefully be working on.

Here are my pictures from the state meets:

Bottineau senior Rob Opdahl stares down a putt on hole No. 9 last Wednesday at the state meet in Carrington.

Senior Tyler Neubauer watches his drive off No. 10 tee last Wednesday.

Braves senior Seth Serhienko follows through after teeing off in the final round of the state meet.

Sophomore Zack Monson tees off the first tee last Wednesday.

Opdahl about to to strike his drive on the first tee Wednesday.

Opdahl finishes his swing.

Patrick Nelson, a senior, hits a putt on the 18th green Wednesday morning.

Logan Millican crosses the plate to score the fourth run for the Braves in their 4-1 win over Watford City on day two of the state tournament in Mandan.

Senior Jake Folven applies the tag to a Wolves runner who was trying to steal second.

Junior Justin McCloud throws to first last Friday in Mandan.

McCloud swings last Friday.

Bottineau junior Mark LaCroix assures catcher Andrew Hill after Hill failed to throw out a runner.

LaCroix attempts to coax a ball into his glove after a bunt.

Senior Taylor Milbrath fouls off a pitch last Friday against Watford City.

LaCroix awaits his turn at the plate.

LaCroix delivers a pitch last Friday in Mandan.

Junior Cody Brooks makes a play in foul ground.

The Bottineau bench hangs out on the railing during Friday's win.