Latest news with #Blevins
UPI
17-06-2025
- Science
- UPI
Two NASA employees cited for their civic service, 'spirit of exploration'
June 17 (UPI) -- Two NASA employees are being cited for their civic work in the nation's space industry. The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, also known as the Sammies, recognize outstanding federal employees addressing many of the country's greatest challenges. Rich Burns from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and John Blevins of Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., were chosen out of 350 nominees and are a part of the 23 individuals and teams to earn this achievement. "Rich and John exemplify the spirit of exploration and service that defines NASA and our nation's civil servants," said acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro. "Their leadership, ingenuity and dedication have not only advanced America's space program but also inspired the next generation of innovators. We are proud to see their achievements recognized among the very best of federal service." Burns worked as a project manager of Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security - Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx). This mission started on Sept. 18, 2016, with a goal of retreiving a sample of an asteroid. "It's humbling to accept an award based on the achievements of the amazingly talented, dedicated, and innovative OSIRIS-REx team," Burns said. "I consider myself privileged to be counted among a team of true explorers who let no obstacle stand in the way of discovery." Blevins was the chief engineer of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. He led the team as part of Artemis l, first test flight on Nov. 16, 2022. He's currently leading the engineering team of Artemis II as that project prepares for the first crewed lunar mission. "This is a reflection on the hard work and dedication of the entire Artemis Team," Blevins said. "I am working with an incredibly competent, dedicated team agency-wide that goes above and beyond to promote the space exploration goals of our nation. I am honored to accept the award on their behalf." A ceremony will be held in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and a live-stream on the Sammies website.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
High school lacrosse: Canton girls lacrosse team's run ends in loss to Cold Spring Harbor in state final
Jun. 14—CORTLAND — This year proved to be a breakthrough season for Sage Blevins and her Canton girls lacrosse teammates. Yet competing in the school's first state final in the sport, the Golden Bears simply met their match in perennial power Cold Spring Harbor of Section 8. Advertisement Ryan Reynolds scored five goals and assisted on two others and Ruby Spielberger supplied four goals to spark the Seahawks to a 19-6 victory in the Class D title game on Saturday morning at SUNY Cortland. With the win, Cold Spring Harbor claimed its second consecutive state championship. Canton, also the first team from Section 10 to reach a final four in girls lacrosse, finishes its season at 17-2. "We did as much as we could and fought and left it all on the field," Canton co-captain Sage Blevins said. "That's all we can ask for." Cold Spring Harbor (17-3) seized the initiative from the start and quickly took control. Advertisement "It was tough," Blevins said of the Seahawks' defensive pressure. "You've just got to work around it and move it (the ball) to the open people." After Cold Spring Harbor jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a goal each from Spielberger and Olivia Maluda within the first two minutes of the game, Blevins scored to draw Canton within a goal. Following an unassisted goal by Maluda for the Seahawks, Elena Abplanalp scored a goal, with Olivia Francey assisting, to draw the Golden Bears within 3-2. But Cold Spring Harbor would respond by generating a five-goal surge to close the opening quarter on two goals from Kelly Callaghan and single tallies from Spielberger, Sienna Koke and Maggie Spehr to build an 8-2 advantage. Advertisement Reynolds opened the second quarter by scoring 46 seconds in and after Blevins scored a goal 37 seconds later, with Vivian Coburn assisting, Reynolds struck again in just 10 seconds by winning the faceoff and scoring an unassisted goal to restore a six-goal lead at 9-3. Canton would close within eight goals at 12-4 later in the quarter, but would get no closer and Cold Spring Harbor would go on to build a 14-4 advantage through the first half. "It was hard-fought game, we knew they were going to be good," Canton coach Murphy Liggio said of Cold Spring Harbor. "We set a couple team goals that we kept to ourselves, we just went in thinking that and we said 'have fun today.' We never made it this far before and we're excited to be here and we wanted to be competitive, but we wanted the girls to have fun, too. So I'm proud of what they did." Reynolds, who also dominated on the faceoff circle, would produce two more goals in the third quarter to forge a 16-6 lead, with Mamie Coburn and Olivia Francey each scoring a goal for Canton. Advertisement Overall, Reynolds won 21 of 28 draw controls on the day to set the tone for Cold Spring Harbor. "It definitely unfolded the way we wanted it to," Reynolds said of the game. "Again, winning this (title) again is not something I could have even dreamed about at the start of training camp." Maluda scored two goals and assisted on five others for the Seahawks and Spehr and Callaghan contributed three goals each. Blevins finished with two goals and an assist for the Golden Bears, while Francey scored a goal and assisted on two others. Canton, which won the Northern Athletic Conference's Central Division title, went on to repeat as Section 10 champion by besting Malone. Advertisement After opening its state playoff run with a 14-1 win over Section 7's Plattsburgh in the first round, the Golden Bears defeated Albany Academy for Girls, 16-3, in a state quarterfinal. Canton advanced to the final by downing Section 4 champion Waverly, 15-8, on Friday. "Absolutely, it was a huge breakthrough season for us, our seniors led the way," Liggio said. "We've had them for four or five years, so we've just been chipping away every year and we've been lucky to bring that same group back and just keep making progress. "And this year we started and you don't know what you're going to have going into the season. But we went with it, we came out strong at the beginning of the season and we just kind of kept rolling and they kept the momentum going." Advertisement The 17 wins is also the most recorded in Canton program history. "Yes, very special to me, I'll never forget it," Blevins said of the season. Blevins, one of eight seniors on the team, attends Heuvelton, but decided to play lacrosse at Canton this season. "It was great," Blevins said. "For my first time being on this team it was such an awesome experience and everybody on the team is just so amazing. It was just awesome." Liggio hopes the experience of making a memorable run through the state playoffs to reach the state final four will resonate and prove valuable not only for the team, but for the program as well. Advertisement "Huge, those girls are going to be hard to replace," Liggio said. "They're eight very strong leaders, you know we look to some more than others, but they all have a very special spot on our team and they lead in different ways, whether it be on the field or off the field. Whether on defense or attack, they're strong personalities and they just mesh well together, and they're really good at including the younger girls, which is huge." "They show the younger girls what to strive for and that's huge for us, too. So hopefully they've paved that way and showed the younger girls what to do and we can capitalize on it."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Group raising funds for school therapy dog
May 26—A group of Hamilton business leaders are raising funds to bring a therapy dog to the Hamilton City Schools through a campaign called Pawsitive Connections. Hamilton does not have therapy dogs at any of their school buildings like other Butler County school districts, according to Associate Superintendent Andrea Blevins. This would be a "district dog," traveling to all school buildings and out to community events, but the goal is not to limit the district to one. Leadership Hamilton Class 33 is raising the funds for the first dog, an $8,500 expenditure, and Blevins said that eventually each school building would develop fundraising initiatives to acquire therapy dogs. The goal is to have one in each of the district's 13 buildings, including the Miami School. "This is completely community-generated, and for us, that was a big factor," said Blevins, who will be Hamilton's next superintendent in August. "To spend the type of money these other programs were looking at was just not something at the time the district could choose." When other Butler County districts were acquiring therapy dogs, Hamilton instead invested in other mental health supports and positive school culture initiatives that they said immediately benefited all school children. "When this process and this program came up," Blevins said, "it was at the right time for us." Leadership Hamilton is a nine-month Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce course that began in 1992, from September to May. It continues today by the philosophy that "the greatest wealth of a community lies not in the amount of its treasure, but in the quality of its leadership." Thus, each class develops a community project. The Pawsitive Connections campaign was chosen because "therapy dogs work," said class member Martina Weber, associate executive director of Addiction Services at Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board. "Research does support the use of therapy dogs," she said. "When therapy dogs are present in the schools, there's a higher motivation for learning." She said research shows children become better readers when they read to dogs instead of a person, and therapy dogs help reduce school-related stress in students who are uncomfortable in social settings. Blevins said the idea for this project was inspired by a conversation with the Hamilton Community Foundation's education committee. The foundation manages the Pawsitive Connections funds. "The Hamilton Community Foundation is honored to assist many Leadership Hamilton classes with establishing funds to support their chosen projects," said foundation President and CEO John Guidugli. "These projects create positive change in the community and help strengthen the relationships developed through Leadership Hamilton. The Pawsitive Connections is a great example of how local leaders are turning big ideas into lasting change." Donations can be made to support the Pawsitive Connections projects through the Hamilton Community Foundation website,
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Newark man who died 2 days after crash near Glasgow is identified by police
A 91-year-old Newark man who died two days after a crash near Glasgow has been identified by Delaware State Police as William Blevins. Blevins, of the Newark area, died on May 12. The crash occurred about 4:30 p.m. on May 10 as Blevis, who was southbound on Sunset Lake Road and approaching Broadleaf Drive, decided to make a wide U-turn, police said. More: Pennsylvania woman killed in Greenville crash on May 10 identified by police As he did, police said Blevis' Honda Accord entered the path of a RAM 150 pickup making a left turn from the south lanes of Sunset Lake Road. After the collision, Blevins was taken to an area hospital, where police said he died two days later. The pickup driver, a 60-year-old Bear man, was not injured. Delaware State Police Troop 2 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this crash. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information is asked to contact Sergeant J. Jefferson at (302) 365-8484. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333. Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Police ID Newark man who died 2 days after crash near Glasgow
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Search continues for Rowan County inmate who escaped custody Tuesday
MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) — A search continued in Rowan County on Wednesday after an inmate escaped police custody early Tuesday morning. The search began around 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday after 35-year-old Anthony Martinez escaped police custody while at the University of Kentucky St. Claire Hospital. This is not the first time the Indiana man has fled police. WDRB, the Louisville FOX affiliate, reported he escaped from custody in 2020. Martinez was being held at the Rowan County Detention Center and was set to spend 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of armed robbery in 2022. He has been connected to at least four bank robberies. New KYTC initiative to shorten lines at driver licensing offices Search continues for Rowan County inmate who escaped custody Tuesday Travelers find smooth Real ID process at Blue Grass Airport 'That's all we really found, a couple of articles of clothing that could be his, and they were found not too far off of where they lost sight of him,' said Morehead Chief of Police Derrick Blevins. The police said Martinez was outside the hospital with detention center guards when he took off running, heading eastbound. Police continued to look for Martinez, and on Wednesday, the Eastern Kentucky K-9 unit stepped in to help. 'We deployed drones to try to look for him, we used some dogs to try to locate him, and we have detectives working with the jail to try and run down any leads there that we can,' Blevins said. Search teams walked miles led by K-9, starting at the hospital, going through nearby neighborhoods, and even searching along Highway 60. With Morehead State University and Rowan County Schools nearby, Blevins said they worked to quickly notify both. Read more of the latest Kentucky Derby news 'On foot in areas, looking in any abandoned structures, areas of agitation where somebody might be able to hide, so that's what we've been focusing on today,' Blevins said. Police said help from the public is important and encouraged anyone who believes they have seen Martinez, whether that be through home security footage or in person, to contact 911. Anthony Martinez is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs around 210 pounds. He no longer has facial hair. FOX 56 asked authorities why Martinez was away from the jail and at the hospital, and has not gotten an answer. 'While the individual was not a patient at the time of the incident, UK St. Claire remains committed to supporting the police as they investigate,' UK St. Claire spokesperson Kristi Willett told FOX 56. Kentucky State Police and the Rowan County Sheriff's Office are also helping in the search. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
