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Toy Scout scours America to buy, restore old playthings for collectors

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – You might want to check those closets and basements for old toys that are not being used anymore; they may be worth money.“I found my G.I. Joe lunchbox at a flea market in Sioux City, Iowa, one time and I didn’t even want to be there,” said Joel Magee, the Toy Scout. “But it took me back to my elementary school and all of those memories. It’s really like a Rolodex file of pictures of memories in your brain. And that’s what it’s about—bringing us to happier times.”Magee scours the country for retro bits of fun, buying toys to restore and sell back to another collector. He’s set up shop in a conference room inside the Holiday Inn Express off Watson Road.But for some, the room might as well be a time machine. Bonne Terre mother nearly loses child to lead poisoning “Unloading some toys that have been in the basement for years and figured to make a few bucks from it,” Charles Rathmell said. “Grandkids are all teenagers now, so I figure I might as well unload it ...

Broomfield man convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to more than 20 years in prison

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

A 24-year-old Broomfield man was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 24 years in prison for the shooting death of 71-year-old Michael Lewis, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced today.Joseph Maestas-Sanchez was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft and criminal trespass after he shot Lewis on Aug. 25, 2021 during a string of car break-ins in the 2200 block of Sunridge Circle in Broomfield.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | DA clears Aurora police officers in killing of 14-year-old Jor’Dell Richardson Crime and Public Safety | Man shot by Colorado Springs police in August dies at hospital Crime and Public Safety | Bennett man charged with attempted murder in park shooting Crime and Public Safety | Woman dies after overnight shooting in north Denver Crime and Public Safety | Fired McAuliffe principal Kurt Dennis sues DPS, alleging di...

High school teacher arrested for sex with underage girl

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

A 38-year-old high school teacher from Altadena has been arrested and is facing several charges related to sexual conduct with a 16-year-old girl, authorities announced on Wednesday. Chad Miller, who teaches at Canyon Oaks High School in Monrovia, is accused of meeting the underage victim on a social media app and corresponding with her from April to August of this year, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.  “Miller also met the victim in person and engaged in several illicit acts with her,” authorities said. On Sept. 6, the 38-year-old was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center where he faces charges of contact with a minor with intent to commit sex offenses, sexual penetration of a minor and oral copulation with a minor. His bail was set at $100,000 and is due to appear in court on Sept. 8.  Chad Miller, 38, a teacher at Canyon Oaks H.S. in Monrovia, was arrested on Sept. 6, 2023, for sexual conduct with an und...

Ventura County man faces life in prison for 1993 double murder

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

A Ventura County man was sentenced to life in prison for the double murder of his estranged wife and her boyfriend in 1993.Everardo Meza Alamillo, 54, from Santa Paula, was found guilty by a jury on May 2, 2023, of two first-degree murder counts for victims Adriana Meza, and her boyfriend, Armando Cauich Jr.He was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole plus 10 years in prison, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.On Oct. 13, 1993, Alamillo went to visit his 2-year-old daughter at Meza’s home. She allowed the visit because she wanted Alamillo to be a part of their daughter’s life, officials said.Alamillo left and returned to her home later that night. He parked his car nearby while waiting with a loaded .22-caliber rifle. He then entered the home through a back door and walked into Meza’s bedroom.Everardo Meza Alamillo as seen in an undated photo. (Ventura County DA)Everardo Meza Alamillo, 54, was sentenced to life in prison...

Hall of Famer Steve Young has ‘full circle’ moment helping coach his daughters’ girls flag football team at Menlo School

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

ATHERTON — This isn’t the first time Steve Young has coached at Menlo School in Atherton.But it’s definitely the most meaningful.Young is coaching under John Paye, his former teammate with the 49ers, to help start the school’s girls flag football program.It’s a gig that means even more to Young because both of his daughters — senior Summer and freshman Laila — are on the team.“It’s been a little emotional because the game has meant so much to me,” Steve Young said. “It teaches incredible values and a sense of teamwork and togetherness. There’s not many games like it. Football runs America in a way, and in that way, they’re now included. I can see that sense of inclusion being so meaningful.“It really has been emotional for me watching them get the opportunity to play the game. There’s a joy that they have about it.”Girls flag football got approval to become an official California Interscholastic Federation sport in February, and schools around the Bay Area have quickly thrown things...

Sale closed in Pleasanton: $2.4 million for a four-bedroom home

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

805 Gray Fox Circle – Google Street ViewThe spacious property located in the 800 block of Gray Fox Circle in Pleasanton was sold on July 21, 2023 for $2,440,000, or $859 per square foot. The house, built in 1988, has an interior space of 2,840 square feet. This single-story home boasts a generous living space with four bedrooms and three baths. On the exterior, the home features tiles on the roof. Inside, a fireplace adds character to the home. The property is equipped with forced air heating and central A/C. Additionally, the home features a garage. The property’s backyard also boasts a pool.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:A 4,257-square-foot home on the 800 block of Gray Fox Circle in Pleasanton sold in October 2022, for $3,800,000, a price per square foot of $893. The home has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.On Gray Fox Circle, Pleasanton, in July 2023, a 3,320-square-foot home was sold for $2,950,000, a price per square foot of $889. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bat...

Carlos Alcaraz averts an early challenge from Alexander Zverev to return to the US Open semifinals

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz found himself in a hint of a predicament 35 minutes into his U.S. Open quarterfinal against Alexander Zverev on Wednesday night.At 3-all in the first set under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium, Zverev earned the first break points of the match. An opening. An opportunity to gain an early edge against the defending champion. And then — poof! — gone. Alcaraz dismissed those chances to hold, then gained a break himself in the next game by depositing an overhead that bounced into the stands. One more service hold arrived and, just like that, the set belonged to Alcaraz, as did, eventually, a spot in the semifinals.The top-seeded Alcaraz pushed aside Zverev 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and moved a step closer to becoming the first man to win consecutive titles at Flushing Meadows since Roger Federer collected five in a row from 2004-08.Perhaps the 12th-seeded Zverev, a 26-year-old German who was the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open, was feeling the after-effects of his 4-...

Tigers pitcher Matt Manning’s right foot broken on 119.5 mph comebacker by Giancarlo Stanton

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit pitcher Matt Manning’s right foot was broken Wednesday night when he was hit by a 119.5 mph comebacker off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton in the Tigers’ 4-3 loss to the New York Yankees.The 25-year-old right-hander will miss the rest of the season. He missed 2 1/2 months this year after being hit on the foot by a comebacker off the bat of Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk.“I was just annoyed that it was the same foot, same spot basically,” Manning said. “There are really no positives out of this. It’s unlucky. It happens. I guess pretty cool to get hit by an MVP. I don’t know.”Stanton’s hardest-hit ball this season rebounded off Manning’s foot, struck the pitcher on the backside and was gloved by Manning, who threw to first for the final out of the first inning. Manning immediately was attended to by an athletic trainer and manager A.J. Hinch, who said it was a different spot.Manning was struck by Kirk’s 97.3 mph comebacker on April 1...

Andrew Vaughn has double, homer, 2 RBIs and two runs scored as White Sox beat Royals 6-4

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andrew Vaughn doubled, homered, drove in two runs and scored two as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-4 Wednesday night to snap a five-game losing streak. Elvis Andrus had four hits, and Yoan Moncada and Oscar Colas also went deep for the White Sox.“We’ve got some guys who’ve got some talent,” Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said. “They’ve got to stay away from the ground. There’s no money in the ground. We’ve got to put the ball in the air. Crooked numbers happen when you get the ball up in the air and you’ve got that kind of pop.”Chicago starter Touki Toussaint (3-7) gave up two runs and two hits with six strikeouts over six innings. Bryan Shaw got the last three outs for his second save of the season.“I think I was just executing pitches when I needed to,” Toussaint said. “I don’t think anything particularly was working. I was behind a lot of guys, but I was able to get weak contact when I needed to....

Abreu hits grand slam and 3-run shot, Astros complete sweep with 12-3 win over Rangers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:29:00 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — José Abreu hit a grand slam and a three-run homer, those among five more long balls for Houston in the pivotal three-game AL West series, and the Astros completed a sweep over the slumping Texas Rangers with a 12-3 victory Wednesday night. Abreu’s grand slam in the third inning was Houston’s third homer against Texas starter Max Scherzer, while fellow three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander (11-7) settled in after giving up a long ball on his first pitch that was the only earned run he allowed over seven innings. Houston hit 16 homers in the series — its most ever in any three-game span — while outscoring Texas 39-10 in their final head-to-head matchup this regular season. Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley also went deep against Scherzer, and Houston tacked on two more homers in the ninth off reliever Brock Burke. Abreu had a three-run blast and matched his career high with seven RBIs, and Chas McCormick also went deep. The sweep put the reigning ...