Interview Transcript (Blog #6)

Interview Transcript

Trevor Walstrom

2-28-11

Interviewee: Ashley Zimmel

1) When did you start playing softball? I started softball in 4^th grade in Ireland then once I moved here I continued to play but didn’t start fastpitch softball til 7^th grade.

2) How did you get into the sport?  First my foster dad told me all these great stories of aport lengends from all over the globe and he told me that I was made to be an athlete and in Ireland softball and soccer are the first two sports you can play so young and I hate soccer of I went with softball.

3) Where do you play and for whom do you play? I played for Dublin Sparks 2 years, Coon rapids/ Coon Rapids High 8 years, Anoka Ramsey CC 2 years

4) What position do you play? I play mostly infield

5) What is your greatest moment on the field? Hitting a home run to win the 18 under USA championship

6) What is your worst moment on the field? Getting hit in the head cause I ran up on a bunt that turned into a slap bunt and nailed me

7) Who is your favorite athlete? Kevin Love Minnesota Timberwolves

8) What is your plan for your future in the game of softball? I want to continue playing next 2 years for the University of Minnesota Morris and after that im hoping to become a coach and one day maybe of fan of my own daughter

9) Have you ever sustained an injury while playing softball? MANY! My famous one is getting 31 stitches on my stomach from blockin home plate and getting a metal calet to my tummy.

10) Have you ever injured another player while playing softball? Yes a few, favorite one has to be hitting my cousin in the state tourney my senior of high school

11) Have you ever hit a home-run? Yes I currently hold most home runs hit for Coon Rapids High at 21

12) Do you bat and throw right or left-handed?  I throw left handed but bat right

13) Has playing this sport had an impact on how you conduct yourself off the field? It actually does makes me really understand that grades count, don’t compete in class wont compete on the field

14) If you have kids, will they play softball? You bet they will

15) Can you recall a time when you were ever a “bad sport”? countless times, I get into games its just who I am

16) Do you now, or have you ever, played any other sports besides softball? Yes, in high school I played tennis, football, basketball, lacrosse, softball…now I play volleyball, softball(for ARCC) rugby

Story #3 (Blog #5)

For many, bicycle riding is a safe and fun hobby, but a leisurely ride quickly became anything but safe, or fun, for one local woman.

            Marsha L. Taylor, a 37-year-old McDonald’s employee, was riding her bike down 72^nd Street, approaching Southland Boulevard, when a vehicle traveling in the same direction struck her from behind, and sent her flying to the pavement. “I was riding down 72^nd Street when a car hit me from behind and sent me flying off my bike. That’s all I remember until I woke up in the hospital”.

            Marsha sustained many serious injuries from her accident including a mild concussion, a broken neck, six broken ribs, a broken arm, and a broken pelvis. According to Marsha, doctors described her most-serious injury, the break in her neck, as being a “hangman’s fracture”. “They said I should have been paralyzed”.

            While at a rehabilitation facility, Marsha’s doctors discovered she had sustained some internal injuries during her accident. Marsha suffered from a perforated intestine, as well as blunt-force-trauma injuries to her liver and gall bladder. This caused her skin color to turn bright orange. “When my mother saw me she said I looked like a Halloween pumpkin”. Marsha’s recovery is going well although, it took her four months to recover, rather than the two months doctors had initially estimated because of her internal injuries.

            Marsha is an expert bicyclist even participating in the annual Governor’s Bicycle Tour, which goes across the entire state, and an event which goes across the entire United States. When asked if she plans to change her attitude about bicycling, Marsha replied “No. I still want to ride. If I could I’d be out there right now…”

            According to Marsha, her helmet is the reason why she was able to survive the accident.  “I never ride unless I have my helmet. It probably saved my life this time”. Marsha went on to say that bicycling is a pretty safe sport as long as the necessary precautions are taken. This includes wearing protective clothing, and above all else, a safety helmet. Marsha Brooks is on the path to a full recovery however, it is unknown whether or not the driver of the vehicle that struck her will face criminal charges.

Blog #4, Obituary

Trevor Lee Walstrom, of 12345 Hanson Blvd., Coon Rapids, MN, died today at the age of 22. Trevor was a warm, charming, loving family-man who was also an avid sports enthusiast. He died this morning in a single car accident heading south on 35W near Washington Avenue. He hit black-ice and lost control of his vehicle, slamming into a concrete barrier. He was killed instantly. Trevor was enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he was studying to become a journalist. He spent much of his life as a resident of Minnesota, although he also spent some of his life living with his mother in Illinois. He was currently employed as a bartender at Olive Garden, but he aspired to become a sports-journalist. Trevor was a gifted athlete, even becoming the captain of many sports teams. Trevor is survived by his girlfriend Alyssa, step-daughter Ava, and many loving friends and family members. Trevor chose to be cremated and to have his ashes spread along the north shore of Lake Superior.

Story 2

A heated argument broke out between the county sheriff and several county commissioners Thursday due to a dispute over equipment and personnel. County Sheriff Gus DiCesari accused the commissioners of “shortchanging” his department to save money.

            The Sheriff’s Department has asked the commission for money to buy new cruisers and hire new deputies, but Commission President Anne Chenn maintains that the county does not have enough money to make the upgrades.

            Commissioners Anita Shenuski and Raymond Laybourne stand behind sheriff Dicesari on the matter. Commissioner Shenuski believes the problem stems from the migrant workers allowed to work in the community. “We never had problems until we began letting migrants come to this county to work” said Shenuski in a heated argument with president Chenn. Shenuski believes the county should spend more money on the Sheriff’s Department rather than the county’s migrant workers.

            President Chenn disagrees, stating “Those people who come here to work are decent, hardworking people… They add a great deal to the local economy and they pay taxes. You are being a hypocrite when you try to blame those people for everything.” According to Chenn, the county is low on money because of the increased cost of both employee health care and fuel. Chenn also stated that the county had to spend $30 million to build a new prison to alleviate crowding in their existing prison.

             According to Sheriff DiCesari, the department needs money to purchase eight new police cruisers to replace eight older cruisers, each of which has more than 150,000 miles. DiCesari has said “My deputies can’t keep driving these old vehicles. Something bad is going to happen.” President Chenn suggested that the deputies not drive their vehicles home at night in order to cut down on the miles. However, Sheriff DiCesari says this practice serves as a crime deterrent.

DiCesari’s warnings fell upon deaf ears as the commissioners voted 5-2 against his request for additional funds. President Chenn said that the department would just have to make due this year because the county does not have the funds necessary to supply new vehicles and hire additional deputies.