Eight Western New York Army and Air National Guardsmen represented New York at the annual Winston P. Wilson National Shooting Competition in Arkansas the last week in April.

Joe DeLamielleure, the legendary "Joe D" of the Buffalo Bills, is scheduled to be in Lockport on Thursday, May 24, courtesy of the Niagara County Deputy Sheriffs Association. DeLamielleure will sign autographs at the NCDSA Union Office in the Bewley Building from 6 to 8 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Niagara Hospice.

The Mount St. Mary's Hospital Foundation held its second annual Reverse Draw Fundraiser on May 9 and raised nearly $12,000 to benefit The Center for Women at Mount St. Mary's Hospital, a one-stop health care facility for women of all ages.

Before doing battle on the ball diamond, two opposing softball teams joined in a shared effort to honor the memory of one who lost her battle with cancer.

The Niagara team from Gleason's School of Gymnastics, level 5, took home first place in the Spring Graffiti in Hamburg on April 21.

VIDEO: The Niagara Frontier Country Club in Porter will hold an "Open House Golf Tournament" on Saturday, May 19.

Lance Armstrong came to Buffalo for a swim?

Enjoying the outdoors sometimes requires precautions, and here is one of them.

If you have never experienced a black fly bite, try and avoid any and all.

The Jack Beatty Memorial Hospice Regatta, which takes place each summer at the Youngstown Yacht Club, sent the 2011 winning skipper and his crew to represent Niagara Hospice in the National Hospice Regatta Alliance Championship held in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Lance Armstrong competed April 28 against Mary Eggers at the University at Buffalo in a fundraiser dubbed "Duel in the Pool." Proceeds went to Rochester's Teens Living with Cancer organization.

OK, you heard it here.

What is the difference between a steelhead trout and a rainbow trout? Around here in our watershed you could say they are the same, and people like to call them all "steelhead." Maybe it just sounds better. Genetically, they are both the same.

The Niagara Frontier Country Club will hold an "Open House Golf Tournament" on Saturday, May 19.

The Town of Lewiston Recreation Department is now accepting applications for part-time seasonal work.

Ransomville Speedway reports that, in an effort to provide unity between two regional racetracks, both Ransomville and Canandaigua Motorsports Park will be offering a "Friendship Pass" to each of its competitors for the 2012 season.

The program will be allowed for Ransomville Speedway's Sportsman and Street Stock Division along with the Canandaigua Motorsports Park Sportsman and Pure Stock classes only. Each driver who chooses to use the Friendship Pass will be allowed to get a "buy one, get one free" pit pass. Each race team will be able to use the program for up to three of its members, which will allow six persons from each team to benefit.

Lewiston-Porter grades 7 and 8 modified Lancer hockey results this week saw a 1-1 tie with St. Joe's in the league opener.

Boaters interested in recreational port-hopping along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail National Scenic Byway will find a new online resource at the ready with photos and service listings.

The Coyotes had a great run exceeding the expectations of many and finishing their spring season 9-1-1. The team is comprised of players from Niagara Falls, Niagara Wheatfield, Lewiston, Amherst and Grand Island.

Niagara Hospice has announced the creation of the DiMino Lower Niagara 5K Series.

If you know a young person who would like to learn a new sport, why not consider sailing? Sailing is a lifelong sport, and there is no better time to learn it than when you are young.

On March 24, Presti Karate Centers hosted its 12th annual Kid's-only Karate tournament. A total of 150 children, ages 6 to 18, competed in weapons, kata and sparring.

The fourth annual "Run with the Rapids 5K Run/Walk" will be held on Saturday, May 19, in downtown Niagara Falls. This USA Track & Field-sanctioned race benefits the Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association.

The Niagara PAL under-19 boys soccer team announced its fifth annual basket auction fundraiser would take place from 6 until 9 p.m. on Friday, April 13, and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 14. The event will be held at Summit Fitness Center, 6930 Williams Road, No. 3000, Niagara Falls.

The 12th annual Golf Raffle, chaired by Joe Cecconi, is taking place on Sunday, April 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sanborn Fire Hall, 5811 Buffalo St.

Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Rose Harvey has announced the Beaver Island State Park golf courses will reopen on April 5 with new, lower rates and specials in effect.

Smelt started to show up early in the bellies of the trout caught on the bar in front of Fort Niagara. Then, all of a sudden, record breaking temperatures this year created warmer waters than usual. And Lake Ontario temperatures have risen above the magic 42-degree water temperature already, which drives the smelt up the Lower Niagara.

The NC Coyotes Midget 16U team followed a victory in the Gene Harrington Spring Classic Tournament at Hyde Park Arena with an incredible ride to the finals of the New York state championships.

New York state operates 12 fish hatcheries throughout the state, raising muskellunge, walleye, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow, Coho and Chinook salmon.

The 2012 Wheatfield Blades Squirt Minor AAA team won the Western New York Amateur Hockey League Championship by beating the Depew Saints, 4-1, at Cheektowaga Town Rink.

Congratulations to the Holy Ghost girls varsity basketball team for winning the Lutheran School Basketball League Championship.

The Niagara team from Gleason's School of Gymnastics level 5 team took second place overall in the Nickel City Classic meet held in Orchard Park on Feb 12.

Lewiston-Porter Youth Baseball-Softball announced this week it will host tryouts for a new mix 8U/9U player pitch travel baseball team. The Lewiston Lancers will compete in the Sunday travel league and play in one or two tournaments in July.

New Seneca Hickory Stick loyalty card on sale now

The racing season is just eight short weeks away for Ransomville Speedway, which will celebrate its 55th season of operation. The Friesen family will enter their 40th as track operators at the famed one-half Niagara County oval.

As with all racetracks, sponsorship remains a valuable part of the weekly operations. We are blessed to have great companies to work with at Ransomville Speedway. Certainly one of the factors that make my job so enjoyable is the great people I work with from the sponsors, to the drivers, and the fans - they are second to none.

Lewiston & Porter Youth Baseball announces it will host an open registration and coaches' recruitment meeting on Wednesday, March 14, at the Lewiston Senior Center, 4361 Lower River Road. Open registration begins at 6 p.m., and the coaches meeting will be held at 7 p.m.

The Bud Bakewell Bruins won the Western New York Amateur Hockey League Bantam Major AA playoff championship for 2011-12.

Students from the Lewiston Dance Center try on their costumes for the upcoming yearly revue, "Dancin' 2012" taking place this spring at the Niagara Falls High School Performing Arts Center.

The Buffalo Sabres Alumni will play against the Niagara-Wheatfield faculty in a basketball game at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 15, in the high school gym.

CBS Sports and Turner Sports begin the "Road to the Final Four" as CBS Sports broadcasts the exclusive, live first-time announcement of the pairings for the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship on Sunday, March 11 (6 p.m.), during the "NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show."

Turner Sports and CBS Sports announced today their television schedule for the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. All 67 games will again be available live in their entirety across four national television networks: CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, allowing viewers to watch and switch between all of the game action across the four networks.

More than 700 gymnasts are ready to show off their skills on March 9 to 11 as Gleason's School of Gymnastics continues its tradition of excellence by hosting the 31st annual Niagara Cup.