Monthly Archives: February 2017

SANTA CLARA Coming off the least productive season of his six-year career, 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith is eager to hit the ground running the offensive system of coach Kyle Shanahan.

I played in that offense before so I kind of know what it is, and you see what Atlantas doing and its crazy, Smith said Thursday. I saw what he did in Cleveland and Washington, so hes very talented and Im definitely excited.

Smith was joined in the auditorium at the official announcement of the hires of Shanahan and general manager John Lynch by teammates Eric Reid, NaVorro Bowman, Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton and Mike Davis, as well as several 49ers alumni.

Smith had just 20 receptions for 267 yards and three touchdowns in Chip Kellys offense and watched the Falcons closely in the postseason.

There are opportunities for people who play the way I play, Smith said. There are big opportunities. There are chances. They spread it out. They attack the entire field. Its very balanced. Its cool the way he puts it together.

Bowman, rehabbing from a torn Achilles liked the idea that Shanahan and Lynch were given six-year contracts. Shanahan will be the 49ers fourth different coach over the past four seasons.

We have let go of a few coaches the last few years. It shows the organization and Jed is committed to giving guys a shot to show what they can bring to the table, Bowman said. Six years may be a reach, but it shows Jed is committed to two guys that are proven. John has played in the league and is a Hall of Fame (candidate).

Kyle, watching the Falcons move the ball, with my intellect, he had me off my beat. Im glad to have him on our side.

Lynchs background as an NFL safety was intriguing to Reid, a 49ers starting safety.

I think thats awesome to have a former player in the GM role, Reid said. Somebody that not only understands the game of football, but played the game of football.

I think he has a different outlook on things when he makes those decisions. So its pretty cool.

Bowman liked that both the coach and general manager were selling.

Just hearing those guys talk, them understanding there cant be any egos here. Guys have to be open to realizing what we have, Bowman said. If anyone has insight, lets listen to it and see if its the right choice.

We have one goal in mind: to get back to the winning ways and not have to hire a fifth (coach).

Smith missed the last three games with a concussion but has recovered.

If we were in the playoffs, I probably could have played, Smith said. They dragged it out, which was good.

Bowman said rehab on his left Achilles tear is going well.

Im working. Doing everything the trainers ask me to do, Bowman said. No timetable set on when Ill be clear to do every single thing. The Achilles is improving every single day and giving me confidence Ill be back.

See original here:

49ers players optimistic about progress under Shanahan, Lynch - The Mercury News

Tribune, Art Gallery also receive awards

JOSHUA VAIL

Tribune reporter

Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center CEO Dennis Franks received the Chanute Chamber of Commerces 2016 Partner in Progress award at the annual meeting Wednesday.

Speaking on the award announcement, Chamber of Commerce Board Member Ross Hendrickson, filling in for outgoing president Mark Miller, noted that Franks has only been in Chanute for 10 years.

Hendrickson said that in that time, Franks has made a significant impact in volunteerism, leadership, civic involvement and education, economic and cultural contributions.

His understanding of the needs of Chanute has been an asset as our community has grown and prospered over the past several years, Hendrickson said.

Franks has been involved with Court Appointed Special Advocates, the NCCC Foundation Board and the discussions that led to the creation of the CRDA.

Hendrickson also noted that the hospital has won numerous awards, including a spot in Modern Healthcares Top 100 Places to Work in Healthcare list for eight consecutive years.

In accepting the Partner in Progress honor, Franks said it was the best award he has ever received.

I cant tell you how much Ive enjoyed the time here in Chanute, he said. Theres a lot of stuff were going to do thats going to make you very proud of this community.

He said he has been through tough times, but his family has been very supportive.

Franks said the hospital cant provide everything yet, but were moving in that direction, he said. Look at what weve done, its amazing.

Franks said he has been working in Topeka to help get Kansas to expand Medicaid.

Our money is going to Oklahoma, he said, explaining that states that have expanded Medicaid are getting more federal dollars. Id rather have it right here in Chanute, Kansas.

Franks said the hospital spends $6 million every year treating people who cant afford medical care and Medicaid expansion is needed even if Obamacare is eventually repealed.

Franks ended his acceptance speech by saying how thankful he is to be in Chanute. He brought up his family and the hospital staff present at the meeting to accept the award with him.

Business of the Year

The Chanute Tribune was named the 2016 Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year at the annual meeting Wednesday night.

Longevity is on the list of criteria for Business of the Year nominations, Hendrickson said.

With all of the changes in Chanute in the last 125 years, Hendrickson said one of the things that hasnt changed is the commitment of the Chanute Tribune to provide local news on government, community and events.

The Tribune team brings neighbors together, he said. Whether it is good news or bad, they endeavor to bring the facts to their readers. In this age of instant information, the Tribune staff works as one to put out a newspaper that serves its hometown.

Publisher Shanna Guiot accepted the award for the Tribune. In her acceptance speech, she pointed out a recent Placemakers Survey whose directors were surprised to find that people in Chanute still go to the Tribune as their number one source for news.

Theres a lot of bizarre stuff going on in the world right now, with fake news and alternative facts, she said. We are more committed than ever to bringing you real news.

Community Investment Award

The Chanute Art Gallery received the 2016 Community Investment Award. Hendrickson said the gallery took the vision of founder Elly McCoy and increased community involvement and broadened the gallerys scope with a vision for the future of the arts in Chanute.

The Chanute Art Gallery is the largest art gallery in southeast Kansas. It has an extensive core collection of art in many different mediums.

Additionally, it has brought in shows that change monthly to showcase the work of area artists, Hendrickson said.

The gallery is entirely volunteer-operated and no fees are charged. It is supported by donations from businesses and individuals.

Art Gallery Board President Bob Cross accepted the award for the Chanute Art Gallery.

He noted that every board member save one was present at the meeting, as the board is a very involved group.

A special thanks goes out to these people, he said.

As far as changes to the gallery in the last year, Cross mentioned the remodeling in the kitchen and work in the bathrooms to remind people of an old-fashioned outhouse.

Cross invited everyone to become a member and support the Art Gallery.

Without you people, we dont exist, he said.

Cross also said that the award is not a finished product.

Its just a start for us, he said. I think youll see a lot more things in Chanute in the next year.

Original post:

Franks recognized as 2016 Partner in Progress - Chanute Tribune

DENVER Evgeni Malkin wont play when the Penguins face Colorado tonight at 9:08 at the Pepsi Center but could return as early as Saturday.

Malkin went through the Penguins optional game-day skate today and, while coach Mike Sullivan characterized it as a full-contact workout, there actually was very little hitting.

But if Malkin can get through a practice in Glendale, Ariz., Friday with no problem, theres a pretty good chance hell be in the lineup against the Coyotes the next night.

Hes obviously making significant progress, so thats encouraging from our standpoint, Sullivan said.

He added that theres a possibility Malkin, who will miss his sixth game in a row because of an unspecified injury tonight, will rejoin the lineup in Arizona.

Tight-knit group

Washington is starting to tighten its grip on first place in the Metropolitan Division, but the fight for playoff seeding in the rest of the division is intense.

The third-place Penguins trail Columbus by one point and lead the New York Rangers by three, so all three need every victory they can pick up.

The Penguins current trip, then, would seem to have come at an opportune time, since it features games against the Avalanche and Coyotes, the leagues two bottom-feeders.

Nonetheless, the Penguins insist they are not taking success in these two games for granted, that they recognize Colorado and Arizona are capable of denying them those badly needed points.

The league is good nowadays, defenseman Trevor Daley said. Those teams obviously are having tough years, but when the Pittsburgh Penguins come in, I think every team gets up for them.

I think were going to get their best, and I think were going to have to be at our best to beat them.

The games on this trip are part of a stretch of six in a row against Western Conference opponents, sandwiched between showdowns with the Blue Jackets.

Although the Penguins face Western clubs only twice a year and dont have much of a rivalry with most, defenseman Ian Cole said thats no reason to look past them.

I dont think there should be any lack of energy for these games, Cole said. They give you the opportunity to get points and the opportunity to get points should be energizing, in and of itself.

Hey, roomie

The Penguins are conducting their annual Dads Trip, with the fathers of most team members and staffers accompanying the club on the road for a couple of games.

Most players get a room of their own for away games but dont seem to mind sharing that space with a parent.

Perhaps because they get more than just a temporary roommate out of it.

Its an adjustment, but its a really enjoyable time for all of us, center Matt Cullen said. The best part for me is seeing it through their eyes a little bit.

We get caught up in the day-to-day grind of the season sometimes you forget to take a step back and realize youre in the NHL, and this is what you dreamed of your whole life.

To see them come in here and appreciate it so much, see how much it means to them, its a reminder of the fact that youre in the NHL, and its pretty special.

Cullens roomie/father, Terry, coached high school in Minnesota for many years.

Skates? No thanks

There was no news out of Colorados game-day skate, if only because the Avalanche didnt have one.

Late last month, team officials made it known that Colorado would not conduct any more of those in 2016-17.

Not necessarily because they has given up on the season understandable as that might be but because the Avs schedule is so compressed the rest of the way.

Tip-ins

Sidney Crosby, who needs two points to become the 86th player in NHL history to get 1,000, will be appearing in his 754th career game, moving him past Jean Pronovost and into third place on the franchises all-time list. Crosby and right winger Phil Kessel did not go on the ice during the game-day skate. ... Left winger Chris Kunitz has five points in his past five games. Cole has 18 points, a career-high.

Dave Molinari: Dmolinari@Post-Gazette.com and Twitter @MolinariPG

More:

Evgeni Malkin making 'progress,' could return Saturday in Arizona ... - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Minnesota United is now 3 for 3 in producing 1-1 draws in preseason matches ahead of its debut Major League Soccer season, with coach Adrian Heath pleased with thesteady progress since training began Jan. 23.

The Loons latest tie came Thursday against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first of three games in a round-robin tournament in Portland, Ore.

Midfielder Kevin Molino, who was Healths prized and pricey acquisition in late January, put the Loons ahead in the 50th minute when his corner kick deflected off of Vancouvers Erik Hurtados head and into the net.

Here are five of Heaths takeaways from the exhibition:

Heath said the Loons defense was the biggest area of improvement. We were playing a team that is in the (CONCACAF) Champions League and has really quick forwards, Heath said. There were a lot of pleasing aspects to tonights performance.

Molino was one of the most active players on the pitch,but Heath saidthere are more gears for him toupshift.

Hes still not 100 percent, Heath said. He hasnt done an awful lot of competitive football in preseason, so there is a lot more to come from (him). There were glimpses of his talent.

With the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January, United selected Abu Danladi, a junior striker from UCLA. On Thursday, he was involved in some physical play with Whitecaps players and got up gingerly off the Providence Park field turf at least twice.

Heath said that didnt really bother Danladi.

We can be pleased because this is a huge jump playing against Kendall Waston and and (Tim) Parker, who have a very good defensive record in Vancouver, Heath said. This is a big jump up for him from college football, but hes got a nice touch, and we think hes going to be a really good striker.

In the expansion draft in December, United traded with Montreal for attacker Johan Venegas. Heath said Venegas had a little injury when he joined United after international duty with the Costa Rican national team.

He played something like five games in 12 days or something when he was away with Costa Rica, Heath said. So we have a long, long way to go and the last thing we want to do is with how much we want to integrate him is put him under any more stress than hes been under.

United will play the Portland Timbers at 7 p.m. Sunday, and Heath said Venegas could be ready for Wednesdays match against Real Salt Lake.

Just like after the 1-1 draw with the New England Revolution on Jan. 31, Heath said Woodburys Brent Kallmanstood out.

I think Brent Kallman showed again that he has a future again in this club, Heath said.

More here:

United coach Adrian Heath looks at steady progress after third straight draw - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Wall Street Journal

Forecasters See Slow Progress in Labor-Market Measures Favored by Trump Administration Wall Street Journal Broader measures of unemployment favored by President Donald Trump are unlikely to see much improvement in coming years, according to a new WSJ survey of economists. Mr. Trump frequently criticized the official jobless rate on the campaign trail.

Read more from the original source:

Forecasters See Slow Progress in Labor-Market Measures Favored by Trump Administration - Wall Street Journal

Sullilvan, IN - The City of Sullivan continues to make progress, using a blight elimination program to take out eye sores and make way for improvements.

Over the years, Sullivan has used a $1.1 million dollar allowance from the state for improvements.

Since the beginning of the blight elimination project, the city tore down seven on their own.

After joining the state funded program, 10 blighted homes came down.

And now, two more will be completed by the end of this spring, making a total of 11 for 2016.

This plot of land still has a lot of work to be done, but residents are thrilled to see the change.

"I was born and raised here," says Betty Grubaugh. "I'm 86-years-old. And I've seen a lot of North side been changed and a lot of changes in this town since I've been born. And I'm glad to see it growing."

A functional town is capable of rebuilding and renovating without losing its charm.

And as Sullivan Mayor, Clint Lambs, says restoring the beauty of Sullivan also restores something else.

"We are truly making a significant impact in the community," says Mayor Lamb (D). "And we could talk for hours on this subject, but it's basically restoring hope. It's restoring pride."

Yes, removing these problem houses reduces crime and raises the property value but the mayor believes the blight elimination program has done more than that.

"If you drive along East Washington Street or any part of town, you're going to see something coming down," says Lamb. "And what we're finding out now actually, is that some of the homes coming down are not just the homes on the blight elimination program."

"I drive around and see the houses they have torn down and I can remember what they used to look like," says Grubaugh.

The bare plots of ground show residents that this transformation doesn't come without sacrifice.

And residents know that this change is also necessary for progress.

"It makes it, our city look nicer," says Grubaugh. "You go and you drive by these houses that are falling in and think, 'gee, that looks bad.'"

Mayor Lamb knows that patience is a virtue and his message for his citizens is just that: be patient and great things will come.

"If you come in and clean up your neighborhoods, give them a curb appeal, increase the assessed value which funds police and fire, gives them a change to get out and walk, and give them a sense to build themselves up, I think it all starts right there," says Lamb.

Lamb tells me that not only is the City of Sullivan working to rid the town of plagued homes, but it's also working to add new business, upgrade lighting on the square and build and maintain better sidewalks.

And after all that is said and done, properties like this, will be turned into prime housing opportunities for residents.

Several other communities in the Wabash Valley are also taking advantage of the blight elimination program, including Vincennes, Brazil, Washington and Terre Haute.

Here is the original post:

Blight Elimination Progress, Uplifting - MyWabashValley