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Glove Story: Sweeney gets noticed for defense in Oakland

Former Cedar Rapids Xavier star Ryan Sweeney has been putting on a Gold Glove-caliber show in center field for the Oakland Athletics in 2009.

More Features

‘Primitive’ campsites lure those who really want to get away

Campers who want to commune with nature rather than the occupants of recreational vehicles can find plenty of good places to pitch their tents. Though the trend has been to accommodate RVs by upgrading campsites with electricity, water and sewer hookups and even wireless Internet access, most state- and county-operated parks still provide ample opportunities for campers to rough it, says Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Department of Natural Resources Parks Bureau.

Zach Johnson’s mom gets close look at last

After seeing each of her son’s previous five PGA Tour wins on television, Julie Johnson of Cedar Rapids was present for Zach Johnson’s Texas Open win Sunday in San Antonio.

Work of 100 artists to be featured along Eastern Iowa byway this weekend

This weekend (may 16-17), if you travel the Grant Wood Scenic Byway from Stone City to Bellevue, expect to see signs pointing to nearly 100 area artists.

Covering new ground: Dungy at ease with new life after coaching career

Tony Dungy has quickly found post-retirement to be as fulfilling and maybe more than his time as a highly successful NFL coach.

Big paper plane lets imaginations soar for Tama teens

People laughed at the Wright Brothers. So, why should Ryan Kratoska and Nick Clancy be any different as they set about to fly their approximately 7-foot-long paper airplane? “It took two of us to hold it at the right level and throw it,” says Ryan. “One, two, three,” counted the 16-year-old sophomores at South Tama County High School. “Go!” The airplane fluttered 60 feet behind the school. They wanted more. So off to the Toledo airport they went. “We just did it for something to do,” Nick says. “As we did it, it got more interesting,” Ryan says. The lifelong friends were just being boys in their prep-hour class. Making paper airplanes fascinated them.

Morel hunt tests patience

A morel mushroom hunt in Iowa can be an unfulfilling experience if you find yourself following any skilled mushroom hunters.

Arlo Becker is back, and he wants dirt at Hawkeye Downs

Arlo Becker, who has raced “50-some” years at Hawkeye Downs, is back for another season and says he wants the track to go back to dirt some day.

Mother-daughter bonding reaches new heights

I could feel the color drain from my face as my stomach somersaulted. The light panel glowed red – two minutes to go. As the light switched to green and the door opened I looked over one last time to catch the excitement on my mom’s face. Seconds later we were both falling through the sky at 120 miles per hour.

Latest Star Trek film references Riverside

“Riverside Shipyard.” “Riverside Shipyard.” “Riverside Shipyard.” The whispers rippled through the nearly 300 Riverside residents gathered for a sneak peek at what the future holds for their town – the birthplace of James T. Kirk. Paramount Pictures invited them to gather last night to see “Star Trek” at the Marcus Sycamore Cinema 12, 1602 Sycamore St. in Iowa City. The movie opens at theaters nationwide Friday.

Iowa’s craft breweries celebrate May 11-17

The Iowa Brewer’s Guild announces events for American Craft Beer Week (May 11-17), a national celebration highlighting the culture and contributions of craft beer. Iowa brewers hope the week inspires beer lovers to declare their independence by supporting breweries that produce fewer than 2 million barrels of beer a year and are independently owned. Events across the state are planned including brewery tours, new beer releases, special deals, and more.

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