North Platte, Neb.  (May 26, 2015) – There may be some unusual characters hanging out at the Wild West Arena rodeo grounds this June.

Old time characters: a sheriff, saloon keeper, mortician, bank tellers, newspaper boys, dance hall girls, gamblers and poker dealers will be walking the streets of the Dusty Trails Wild West Town in North Platte.

The town, fifteen buildings with false fronts, made to look like an old-time town, will be set up as an attraction during the Buffalo Bill Rodeo June 17-20, and will be located north of the paved parking lot at the arena. It takes the place of the carnival, which, due to scheduling conflicts, will be at NebraskalandDays from June 24-27.

The Wild West Town includes plenty of fun things for kids to do, as well as their moms and dads and grandparents alike. A dance hall, complete with a square dance caller will call dances. The saloon will serve snacks and root beer, and a petting zoo will be on hand, along with pony and saddle horse rides.

For those who love to shoot, there will be three different ranges. A fast draw timed event shoot is available, as well as a sharp shooting contest and archery. The Golden Spike will host the railroad depot, complete with snacks and games, all Nebraska made. “Cookie” the campfire cook will be making goodies and handing out samples.

Other fun activities will take place: gunny sack races, pig races, a greased pig pit, roping dummies and ropers to help out, and a team and wagon that the public can try their hand at driving.

It’s all designed to make it fun for everyone, says organizer Dusty Barner. “We try to hit on things for the entire family, that all ages can participate in.”

A highlight of the Old West town is the Rhinestone Roper, an entertainer who puts on a show with gun and rope tricks. The Roper and his partners throw knives, do quick draw shooting, and also do tricks with their horses. The Rhinestone Roper was featured on America’s Got Talent Season 6 in 2011. The Roper will perform his show at 4:30 pm, 6 pm and 7:30 pm each night, June 17-20.

Vendors will be on hand with antiques, arts and crafts, and leatherwork.

Admission is $4 per person or $20 per family; food and beverages will be for sale.

Dusty Trails Wild West Town will close at 8 pm, in time for fans to attend the Buffalo Bill Rodeo, which will run June 17-20.

Tickets for the Wild West Town can be purchased on-site; rodeo tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online (NebraskalandDays.com) or at the NebraskalandDays office at its new location at 2801 Charlie Evans Drive (at the Wild West Arena). Country music star Thomas Rhett will be in concert at NebraskalandDays on June 26, with Florida-Georgia on June 27. For more information, visit the website or call 308.532.7939.

 

MINNEAPOLIS  – The Michigan baseball team claimed its ninth Big Ten Tournament title, and first since 2008, defeating Maryland 4-3 in Sunday’s championship game. The Wolverines earn the conference’s automatic bid to advance to the NCAA Tournament.

The third-seeded Wolverines (37-23) went undefeated in tournament action, defeating sixth-seeded Indiana in the tournament-opening game, knocking off No. 2 Iowa on day two and eliminating top-seeded Illinois to advance to the championship game.

Maryland was the first to score as Kevin Smith hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Nick Cieri for a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Michigan responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth as Cody Bruder opened the scoring with a single to left center that drove in Jackson Glines. Carmen Benedetti reached on a fielder’s choice and was brought home by a Kevin White single to left center. Bruder crossed the plate on a wild pitch, while Kevin White was walked home.

The Terrapins (39-21) did not let up, cashing in a run in the eighth inning with a pair of walks followed by a Jose Cuas RBI-double to right field. Maryland pulled within one run with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but came up short.

Michigan capitalized on six hits and did not commit an error, while Maryland recorded seven hits and one error. Michigan’s Brett Adcock picked up the win, striking out four batters and allowing one run on two hits in 5.2 innings of work. The tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Jacob Cronenworth was credited with the save. Maryland’s Taylor Bloom allowed only one earned run, striking out three in 3.1 innings of work.

The 2015 NCAA Selection Show will air live on ESPNU at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, May 25.

The conference also announced its All-Tournament team, as selected by a media panel, following the conclusion of the championship game, which can be found below.

All-Tournament Team*
P – John Kravetz, Illinois
P – Kevin Mooney, Maryland
P – Brett Adcock, Michigan
C – Brad Hartong, Indiana
1B – Ryan Krill, Michigan State
2B – Jacob Cronenworth, Michigan
3B – Mark Weist, Michigan State
SS – Nick Ramos, Indiana
SS – Kevin Smith, Maryland
OF – Ryan Nagle, Illinois
OF – Craig Dedelow, Indiana
OF – Jackson Glines, Michigan
OF – Brandon Hughes, Michigan State
DH – Cody Bruder, Michigan

*Additional honorees due to tie

Most Outstanding Player: Jacob Cronenworth, Michigan

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska School Activities Association board of directors has voted not extend the contract of executive director Rhonda Blanford-Green.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports (https://bit.ly/1Fv1TJj ) that the 5-3 vote against extending Blanford-Green’s contract occurred Thursday. The association oversees high school sports competition.

Blanford-Green, who took over the position in July 2012, is currently under contract until June 2016. She said the vote took her by surprise and that nothing in her conversations with board members led her to believe she wasn’t meeting the board’s expectations.

Board chairman Brian Maher Blanford-Green’s contract could be considered again. Blanford-Green said she will consider her options.