a professional surfer who survived a shark attack and became the inspiration for the 2011 film “Soul Surfer,” will share her story at 7 p.m at the Chester Fritz Performing Arts Center the event – focused on how to live an “unstoppable life” – is free and open to the public The presentation is made possible with support from the sorority foundation’s Everson Family Lectureship in Values and Ethics The lectureship was established in 2011 with a lead gift by Jacque Geving Everson Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions by sharing her story of determination she survived a shark attack by a 14-foot tiger shark that resulted in the loss of her left arm seeming to end her career as a rising surf star she realized her dream of surfing professionally and her story has been told in the New York Times bestselling biography and in the 2011 film “Soul Surfer.” Her resilience and determination have made her a symbol of courage worldwide Using her platform as a professional athlete to promote living a fit and healthy life Hamilton wrote the book “Body and Soul,” published in 2014 She is “devoted to inspiring and equipping you and your families to overcome and live an unstoppable life,” she said in the event announcement That is the message at the heart of her 2019 documentary “Unstoppable,” which chronicles her journey as one of the world’s top female surfers has been sharing her message globally for years Driven by her passion for family and helping young women be unstoppable in life and faith she launched the Unstoppable Living online courses in 2019; a mother-daughter mentorship program Hamilton is involved in numerous charitable efforts including her Beautifully Flawed Foundation through which she supports amputees and youth as they overcome challenges through faith furthering her mission to inspire others to live healthy and meaningful lives Monday’s event at the Fritz auditorium is the sixth in a series of lectures supported by the Everson Family Lectureship in Values and Ethics Past speakers include abduction survivor Elizabeth Smart Olympic gold medalists Monique Lamoureux-Morando and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson Video used with permission of Aaron Lieber and Lieber Films Game Recap: Baseball | 4/30/2025 8:34:00 PM – In their final midweek game of the season the Wheeling University Baseball team (13-31 Seven of the nine Cardinal starters got at least one hit on the day as the team heads into their final weekend of the regular season Johnson advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a Craig groundout that made it a 5-0 Cardinal lead Schulz followed with a single and a sacrifice bunt moved rubbers to second and third Lentz would walk to load the bases and Floyd sent a two-RBI double to left that scored two more and made it a 11-1 game Ancelet would draw a bases loaded walk to bring home the final run of the game and despite a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh The Wheeling University Baseball team returns to action on Fridayon May 2nd when they host West Liberty in doubleheader action with first pitch at 7 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here We are pleased to announce Georgia State Rep Bethany Ballard as the ALEC State Legislator of the Month for April 2025 Ballard quickly emerged as a leader committed to advancing state-driven solutions that strengthen families and expand opportunities reinforcing her commitment to free-market solutions that remove barriers to economic opportunity Ballard’s leadership extends beyond legislation She serves as Chairman of the Education Curriculum Subcommittee and a member of the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee She was also appointed by the House Speaker to represent Georgia on the Education Commission of the States where she works to advance education excellence and innovation Ballard exemplifies the spirit of collaboration willingness to champion ALEC model policies and strong commitment to limited government make her a standout example for the next generation of state leaders Representing Middle Georgia’s House District 147 Ballard continues to demonstrate the impact dedicated principled lawmakers can have in shaping policy solutions that strengthen communities and drive meaningful change Showers this evening becoming less numerous overnight 5 in Bethany listen to town officials at Wednesday night’s meeting BETHANY — The town of Bethany says a $21.68 million project in Water District No 5 will have to be redesigned before it can move forward because eight property owners did not sign easement agreements The town of Bethany Community Center was crowded and most of the seats were taken Wednesday night 5 were able to ask questions of town officials and representatives Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist  Would you like to receive our daily news? Sign up today Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with deep sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved Bethany Celeste Bauer 2025 due to complications from diabetes and heart failure.She was born in Tallahassee She is preceded in death by her father Gary Bethany is survived by her loving mother Lucinda; her siblings Adam Bauer and Anne Lally (Martin); nieces Ashlyn Bauer (20); Brooke Lally (12); nephew Michael Lally (9).Bethany attended IPS 55 Cathedral High School and Purdue University.Her interests included: ice skating which she loved playing with her dad.So many things brought Bethany joy Michigan; with friends she traveled to Branson She enjoyed fun outings with her Best Buddy Lisa She had a joyful spirit and was always looking forward to her next adventure!Bethany enjoyed her work life including a recent job at McAllister’s Deli Her memory was phenomenal-she could remember any fact you needed from the past and all kinds of trivia and giving birthday cards was a top priority and was known to break out in song at any time.She meant the world to her family; a wonderful sister and a precious daughter a loving aunt.Bethany’s Celebration of Life will be held Saturday IN 46074.Memorial contributions in Bethany’s memory are suggested to Thrive Christian Church Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page « All Events This year we want this event as fancy as possible and we want you to dress your very best – Black Tie attire encouraged.Celebrate with the entire Bethany family (students 7:30-12pm Dance.Menu: Green Bean Almandine with your choice of entrée: Bruschetta Chicken (Gluten Friendly) or Eggplant Portobello Strata (Vegan)Cost: The cost for this event is $15 for BLC students or $25 for Non-BLC guests.Deadline: Registration closes April 11 Bethany Lutheran College provides Christian higher education in a challenging academic environment where personal mentoring guides students to pursue knowledge and discernment for productive and fulfilling lives Social Media Directory Bethany Ehlmann has been named director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder LASP’s mission is to advance scientific discovery and inspire the next generation through forefront research currently a professor of planetary science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Director of Caltech’s Keck Institute for Space Studies will begin her role as LASP’s director on September 1 Ehlmann will also hold the roles of Provost Chair in the Research and Innovation Office and affiliate Professor of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences to the University of Colorado Boulder,” said Senior Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation and Dean of the Institutes Massimo Ruzzene Ehlmann's expertise and compelling vision will be invaluable for LASP as it carries forward CU Boulder's legacy as a leading institution in the space sciences.” “It’s an honor to be appointed to lead such a distinguished institution as LASP with its long history of innovation in the space sciences,” said Ehlmann “I’m excited to embrace this opportunity to work alongside LASP’s dedicated employees and leadership team to advance LASP’s mission and vision and to help guide this renowned institution into the future." Ehlmann’s research focuses on water in the solar system and remote sensing techniques and instruments for planetary missions She is a science team member of multiple missions including the Earth-orbiting EMIT imaging spectrometer; the Jupiter-bound Europa Clipper which carries the LASP-built Europa Surface Dust Analyzer (SUDA) instrument; the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover; the Mars2020 Perseverance rover; and the upcoming ExoMars rover She is the principal investigator of Lunar Trailblazer a NASA small satellite mission to study water on the Moon that launched earlier this year she was a science team member for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM instrument the Dawn mission during its exploration of the asteroid Ceres and the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity Ehlmann is president of the board of directors of The Planetary Society She served as a member of the National Academies Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey and the National Academies Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science She is a fellow of both the American Geophysical Union and the Mineralogical Society of America E's Super Stellar Solar System,” with National Geographic Ehlmann earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington University where she double majored in Earth & Planetary Sciences and Environmental Studies with a minor in math; two master’s degrees from the University of Oxford in environmental change & management and geography; and master’s and doctoral degrees in geological sciences from Brown University I’d like to extend our congratulations to Dr Ehlmann on her appointment and welcome her to our institute where we look forward to working with her to deliver the future of space science,” said Frank Eparvier who will continue to serve as interim director until Ehlmann starts Founded a decade before NASA, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder is revolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos LASP is deeply committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of space explorers From enabling the first exploratory rocket measurements of Earth’s upper atmosphere to trailblazing observations of every planet in the solar system and the search for evidence of habitable worlds   Search Faculty Experts    Research Institutes  Our 12 research institutes conduct more than half ofthe sponsored research at CU Boulder   Research Centers  More than 75 research centers span the campus,covering a broad range of topics   Research Computing  A carefully integrated cyberinfrastructure supports CU Boulder research   rio@colorado.edu  303-492-7401  View RIO Organizational Chart University of Colorado Boulder Privacy • Legal & Trademarks • Campus Map University of Colorado Boulder Bethany Rhea Lawrence was unexpectedly called home by her Lord and Savior She was born on August 21,1955 in Montgomery County and was just 69 years of age but we know with certainty that she is singing and praising her God in heaven along with so many of her friends and family that have gone before and she served as her church pianist for more than 30 years butterflies and the deer that inhabited the Mathis family farm where she lived for almost 50 years She especially loved her beautiful black cat flavored coffee and she delighted in sitting on the front porch with her morning cup watching the hummingbirds buzzing the feeders and Charlie hunting in the nearby pastureland and she rarely met anyone that wasn’t a friend As the years passed and her spiritual maturity grew she served as a prayer warrior and confidant for so many in her community She knew all of her neighbors personally and had a special way of bonding with people that crossed her path Beth was blessed to share her life with 2 families that loved her and each other one consisting of her blood relatives in the Lawrence family and another in the Mathis family that shared their lives with her for over 50 years Perhaps her greatest gift to others was in serving as the full-time caregiver for Jewel Mathis in the final years of her life as dementia slowly took its toll This gift allowed Jewel to live out the remainder of her life on the farm that she loved Beth loved the members of our police force and fire department She posted pictures of Bible verses on her Facebook page and pictures of missing children in the hope that she might contribute to their safe return She would fuss at you if you killed a bee and even advocated for non-poisonous snakes although we know that she secretly disliked them She loved Dutch apple pie from Shangri La and disliked the heat in summer She wasn’t much for travel as she didn’t want to leave her cat Charlie But you were always welcome to come visit and stay awhile with her More than anything else at this point in her life Beth had an early career in the insurance industry and retired from the Montgomery County Sheriff/Collector’s Office in more recent years She was born to the late James Raymond Lawrence and Flora Lawrence She is survived by her brother Ray Lawrence and wife Sue of Oden Arkansas and her sister Wilma Raney and husband Ralph of Benton Beth is also survived by her brothers-in-love Mark Mathis (Sally) and Curtis Mathis (Kari) as well as many beloved nieces and nephews She was also preceded in death by Kenneth and Jewel Mathis who too loved her as family And she was truly loved by many more friends and relatives Overachieving Coal Battle  a $70,000 purchase for Norman Stables at the Texas Thoroughbred Association summer yearling sale has to be the greatest feel-good story of the 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) The dark bay or brown son of Coal Front is trained by 72-year-old Lonnie Briley and will be ridden by Juan Vargas Each will be making his first Derby appearance Vargas was so lightly regarded when he arrived in the United States from his native Peru in 2008 that no agent was willing to represent him He lined up mounts on his own while working primarily as an exercise rider to compensate for his minimal earnings as a jockey Former jockey Bethany Taylor has played a major role in Coal Battle's development as a traveling assistant for Briley She gets a leg up on the spunky colt each morning for training and is aboard for his workouts Coal Battle swept four consecutive starts, culminating in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park before he finished third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) He has won five of eight races overall for $1,188,875 in earnings Sign up for BloodHorse Daily spoke of the thrill of her first Derby experience and provided insight into the hard-hitting youngster that has taken the small Louisiana-based stable to great heights as part of a diary written with Tom Pedulla for America's Best Racing: even though I arrived at Churchill Downs with Coal Battle on April 6 None of us expected  this is where this colt would take us There are stables who expect to compete in the Derby year after year They are backed by owners who spend millions with the hope of getting here That is not the case with our stable and with so many like ours across the country There is a chance we will have another Coal Battle someday The only experience I have that compares to this—and it doesn't compare all that much—came when I was a jockey and an owner asked me to ride a filly for him in a maiden race at Pimlico on Black-Eyed Susan day It was not like being there for the Preakness the following day but the Black-Eyed Susan draws a big crowd and I was excited to have the experience of riding away from home I am all about having as many experiences as I can in this business and I never hesitate to hit the road when Lonnie needs to ship a horse out of town She was as silly as they come even with the most careful handling The trip to Maryland was more exciting than the race I think Coal Battle settled into Churchill Downs more easily than I did Reporters stop by every day wanting to know every detail on how he is doing and that is new for me Coal Battle has a ton of personality and is loving the scene I never rush him and allow him to do whatever he needs to do to feel comfortable He likes people and he especially likes photographers He's kind of a showoff and I swear he will pose for pictures Everyone in our barn is really happy with how he is doing While not every horse takes to the Churchill Downs surface I don't have any doubt that he is moving forward in his training We were a little disappointed when he ran third in the Arkansas Derby only because he had won four in a row and seemed to do it with such ease He was more on the muscle before the Arkansas Derby than we wanted him to be it was not a race we had to win since he already had enough Derby qualifying points Photo: Linda DoaneCoal Battle and Taylor breezing at Churchill Downs April 28 He showed how good he is feeling when he worked four furlongs in :47.80 on April 22 at Churchill without my urging him It was probably a little faster than we wanted but he showed the next day that it had not taken anything out of him because he was bucking and playing I had been to Churchill Downs before to watch races and I have visited the museum But I had never worked here before and we never had a horse anywhere close to this caliber in my 15 years with Lonnie He likes to joke around and keep the atmosphere light But he's very hands on and he's on top of everything Just because he has never had a horse capable of reaching the Derby does not mean he doesn't know what to do with one I also am especially happy for Juan Vargas It has been a long and difficult road for him to get to his first Derby Competing in even one Derby is the highlight of any rider's career and most will never make it Although Juan does not have the reputation of many of the riders in the field he's ridden Coal Battle in seven of his eight starts and knows him well I think that is extremely important and I see that as an advantage for us because some of the big-name riders are just getting familiar with their mounts The mile-and-a-quarter distance is a question for Coal Battle and every horse in the field I am confident he will handle it because we train up to two miles every morning and his gallop outs at the end of his works are always pretty strong The Derby is so hard to win and this is such a good field Coal Battle has a ton of heart and he always shows up I know he will give us everything he has and make us proud Liberty University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through residential and online programs Choose from more than 700 programs of study find out everything you need to know about getting into the program you want and how much it will cost for tuition and other fees Grow in your faith as you participate in the wide variety of ministry and mission opportunities at Liberty University but make sure you take some time to clear your head with one of the many recreational activities going on at Liberty University A thriving athletics program has been an integral part of Liberty University’s vision from the beginning and today Liberty has 20 NCAA Division I athletic teams Get a world-class education with the solid Christian foundation you’re looking for at Liberty University and skills you’ll need for success in every aspect of life ‘Soul Surfer’ Bethany Hamilton says choosing to adapt in trials is key to finding peace Liberty University welcomed professional surfer and author Bethany Hamilton to the Vines Center stage during Convocation on Wednesday morning who lost her arm during a shark attack at the age of 13 but continued winning awards in her sport spoke about how she learned to adapt to her trials and challenges and focus on God Hamilton recalled the time she attempted to surf her dream wave — a large wave she called Jaws the size of a house — but was sucked under and pulled around “I had a lifetime of preparation for a moment like that,” she said “Sometimes when you’re out in the surf it can be complete mayhem I feel like sometimes life feels like these chaotic moments in the ocean I want you to be ready for the five-wave set.” Hamilton shared clips from her 2018 documentary “Unstoppable” which told her story of overcoming the tragedy of losing her arm “This was not the plan I had for my life,” she said “There’s likely going to be things in your life that aren’t a part of your plan So how can we turn this chaos and overwhelm into peace How can we adapt when life gets crazy and super hard?” which focuses on five key steps to help handle trials and live a resilient life The first step is “appreciation,”  waking up and being grateful for the life we have She said when she woke up in the hospital after losing her arm She told the students that God has never said life would be easy but He calls them to be grateful and know that His grace is sufficient “One thing that can be bring peace amongst all the chaos is knowing God’s grace “That is what will change you to face the adversity with a whole new level of appreciation.” The second step is “direction,” and she pointed the students to find direction in Scripture and trust God “God has a plan for each and every one of you to know Him and to be loved by Him,” she said “(God) wants you to have a good and healthy direction so dive into God’s Word and know His plan for you Thirdly is “associate,” which means finding community for support to face adversity and have resilience she leans on her family and friends to face trials she can’t overcome on her own The fourth step is “perseverance.” She read from Hebrews 12:1-2 and James 1:12 to encourage students to run with endurance and persevere through hardship “It’s so easy to get caught up in the here and now and the little things each and every day But take some time to ponder what you want for your life,” she said it’s not going to last 15 minutes like it does in the ocean Sometimes it can be years of trial and challenge and hardship and that’s when the true persevering kicks in.” She said she could have given up on surfing but decided to persevere and that led her to see God work through her life in beautiful ways “When each of us keeps going through those hardships we have a ripple effect on one another,” she said Let’s look at God to be the author and finisher of our faith we can keep going because we know that we have a God who has more for our life.” The last step was being “teachable.” She told the students her desire to be the best female surfer in the world motivated her to learn because she knew that if she implemented her coach’s feedback learning from her mistakes and acknowledging when she needed help my life could have gone in so many different directions but because I chose to adapt … and this changed the trajectory of my life The ripple effect that my life had because I was willing to adapt turned into something so beautiful I still had to be willing to show up and do the hard work.” Hamilton shared how she went on to write her book “Soul Surfer,” which was later turned into a movie She showed a video of her surfing the wave Jaws and succeeding because of her perseverance and hard work then closed with a story of a girl named Alice who was suicidal Hamilton mentored Alice and worked with her through the ADAPT framework and Alice became a passionate painter who found hope for her life “The cool thing is it’s not about me at the end of the day,” she said “It’s not about my success but more about what the Lord is doing through my life to work through that five-wave set that feels unbearable at times I want to encourage you to know that you too can adapt you too can allow God to work through your life and to make it something so beautiful and celebrate-worthy.” (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Owner Veronica Bojorquez sits for a portrait at Luna Coffee & Crystals in Salt Lake City on Friday This article is excerpted from the Utah Eats newsletter. To get the full newsletter every Wednesday, subscribe at sltrib.com/newsletters Owner Veronica Bojorquez — who immigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was a kid — said she decided to open her own coffee and crystal shop after getting burned out working for a chain of car dealerships for almost 10 years climbing the ladder from a call center rep to the finance director (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rose quartz crystals available for purchase are displayed at Luna Coffee & Crystals in Salt Lake City on Friday She said she started working on herself and discovered the world of spirituality “They helped me so much; they calm me down and help me with my spiritual journey.” Bojorquez opened Luna Coffee & Crystals officially on Jan choosing to feature the Spanish word for “moon” in the name (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Seating areas are seen at Luna Coffee & Crystals in Salt Lake City on Friday “I wanted to make a change,” Bojorquez said This is the start of something way bigger.” Luna Coffee & Crystals is a cozy but airy space and a bookcase with a variety of books to read with four special drinks: the Blush Chai (a rose syrup chai) the Lucky Irish (an Irish cream latte) and the Pot of Gold (banana-cream matcha) they’re working on planning their summer menu (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) A card deck available for purchase is displayed at Luna Coffee & Crystals in Salt Lake City on Friday The food menu has more variety than a typical coffee shop menu Bojorquez said they wanted to go for an “elevated” experience that also showcases a bit of Mexican culture Dishes like the esquite toast (with avocado and Mexican street corn salad) and summer harvest toast (with prosciutto peaches and balsamic reduction) are some of the standouts To read more about my gorgeous order from Luna Coffee & Crystals check out the “Dish of the Week” section of this newsletter If you want to start your own crystal journey visit Luna Coffee & Crystals on a Tuesday when they give out a free tumbled stone with your purchase The national chain offers over 20,000 unique drink combinations The first 100 guests in line will receive a coupon book for four free medium hot or iced coffees a month for 14 months (valid only at this location) (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) The creamy beet salad, along with the Dubai Dupe latte, is seen at Luna Coffee & Crystals in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 25, 2025. I love beets, and the creamy beets salad ($12) from Luna Coffee & Crystals showcased them in such a beautiful way. Made with ricotta cream, beets, oranges, arugula and pecans, all drizzled with a beet reduction, this was a flavorful and refreshing salad that was perfect for spring. And the way it was plated was so lovely. I paired it with a 12-ounce iced Dubai Dupe ($5), made with housemade pistachio butter and topped with crunchy katafi topping. It wasn’t too sweet, which I liked; instead it was just sweet enough to contrast with the salad, and full of intriguing textures. For e-edition questions or comments, contact customer support 801-237-2900 or email subscribe@sltrib.com sltrib.com © 1996-2025 The Salt Lake Tribune From left: Assistant Professor of Theatre Emily Kimball and VP for Academic Affairs Jason Lowrey during their recording session of the podcast thought-provoking podcast hosted by Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) President Gene Pfeifer The eight-episode series was recorded near the conclusion of a yearlong study examining the role and function of the liberal arts at BLC and features discussion with both current and emeriti Bethany faculty and presently-serving administrators This podcast series is part of a larger study of the liberal arts at BLC that was developed in response to questions posed by alumni and members of the church body that owns and operates the College – the Evangelical Lutheran Synod – after program adjustments in November 2023 resulted in some majors and minors being discontinued due to low enrollment in those programs and budgetary constraints Beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, and continuing throughout the current school year, Bethany administration and faculty have been carefully reviewing the College’s commitment to its Christ-centered mission and identity as a distinctively confessional Lutheran liberal arts college The course of action has included both an effort to ensure a full and deep understanding of the Lutheran Confessions – recognized as the essential documents that serve as a doctrinal foundation for Christian faith – as well as a comprehensive evaluation of the principles of a liberal arts education as defined by the Bethany Lutheran College faculty This ongoing process with the faculty is also scheduled to continue into the future there have been several important steps involved with the broad study including required meetings and relevant assigned readings considering the subject matter and the College’s Board of Regents’ goal was to thoroughly understand what it means for Bethany to be a confessional Lutheran liberal arts college and how to remain so going forward as we seek to serve future generations through our Christ-centered mission and purpose The series is available on Spotify and Apple podcast platforms We invite anyone interested in learning more about the topic to listen Listeners will also have the ability to send questions and comments about the subject to the College administration using the form below Use this form to submit comments or questions about “The Liberal Arts at Bethany – Past View More… This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Menu.page-374440229{--slot3:#f8e9e2;--slot4:#ef8642;--slot5:#222222;--slot6:#b54800;--slot7:#f8e9e2;--slot8:#b54800;--slot9:#ef8642;--slot11:#222222;--slot12:#ef8642;--slot14:#b54800;--slot15:#ef8642;--slot16:#222222;--textShadowColor:#ef864288;--metaColor:#b54800;--navColor:#b54800}ExclusiveBethany Joy Lenz Isn’t Afraid To F*ck UpThe former OTH star talks to Scary Mommy about her time in a cult Catherine Powell When I first received Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir in the mail three thoughts immediately struck me: fantastic color; beautiful headshot; *exceptional* title I turned the bright pink book over in my hands staring at the picture-perfect face of someone I felt like I knew thanks to her time on the beloved teen series One Tree Hill Then I reread the title and was gobsmacked by the realization that Lenz endured a double life for her entire tenure as Tree Hill’s Haley James Scott Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While Also in an Actual Cult!) — that’s the bite-y title of Lenz’s memoir the book covers a period of time in Lenz’s life that most of us are aware of: the nine years she spent on OTH we get to see a behind-the-scenes version of Lenz we didn’t really know existed young actor who got tangled up in a “high-demand group” (also known as a cult) that she identifies in her book as the Big House Family that Lenz managed to un-enmesh herself from the ultra-religious group Now she’s a decade-plus on the other side of it with one hell of a story to tell After making an off-the-cuff comment on the Drama Queens podcast which she currently co-hosts alongside Sophia Bush and Robert Buckley Lenz decided in 2023 to go public about her time as part of the “Family” and why she left the group for her daughter the one silver lining of her marriage with the group leader’s son armed with journals she’d kept throughout the years Lenz packed her decade-long double life neatly between the bright pink cover of her now-bestselling memoir far removed from the ingenue who had more than $2 million “siphoned” from her bank by a cult But as I find out when we sit down over Zoom to catch up the exact same as fans have always seen her: smart if there’s one big takeaway that Lenz’s memoir really reinforces Scary Mommy: What did the behind-the-scenes buildup to writing the book look like BJL: The first thing I had to do was think about how it was going to affect my daughter and if whatever she would have to deal with around this was worth it Or am I just doing this because I want a book deal and I've always wanted to write Am I doing this because I want revenge in some way I sort of had to go through my own emotional internal inventory and wrestle with my own desires .. and when I had some good discussions with my daughter it seemed like this would be something that could potentially really help people and move forward from there reaching out to former members of the group and just trying to catalog and that's really how the journey began — finding journals and talking to old friends framed your independence as a controlled trauma response — you didn’t have control as a child so this is your way of trying to regain control Do you feel like the sort of therapy speak that people are so much more accustomed to now almost makes it easier for them to fall into these cult dynamics BJL: Language is a huge part of any high-demand group dynamic because you feel like you're in the club We experience it with the bullies at school or the group that you want to get in on it or they're using cool lingo that only they use and everybody else tries to attach on It's a very common social dynamic that we grew up with things that you start to attach yourself to in language to identify as new or other or something that you want to be a part of and be associated with and that's a huge part of what happens when you get involved in one of these groups but how do you start the process of preparing her to read between the lines for that kind of language It's got a lot of different assumptions around it where you really want your kid to be independent You want them to be able to critically think and look at the world around them and make wise choices based on their assessments What I do with my daughter — and I don't know that it's any different whether I had been in a cult or not — I think as a philosophy in parenting I just want her to be able to read between the lines she'll come home from school and talk about something that somebody said or something a teacher taught her She's at a private Christian school and in the South so I know there are going to be some things that she's being taught that I don't personally agree with so this was the interpretation of this Bible verse that was given to you What are some other meanings that could have let me give you some cultural context for what was going on at the time that was written It's just more dialogue that you can engage your kids in I wonder what else we could use besides eggs it feels like there are so many echo chambers I had a lot of beliefs growing up that I didn’t break out of until I left for college simply because I didn’t hear any beliefs other than those around me I like the idea of being the one who disrupts that I think playing devil's advocate is a really big deal especially if you know your kid is being raised in an environment that's not super gentrified If you're lucky enough to live in a city where there's a lot of diversity you probably don't have to do as much heavy lifting there you know how this group of people thinks about that topic Have you ever heard that this is how they believe about that in this country Does that make more or less sense to you and why?’ They may not have an answer but getting them used to asking those questions and knowing there’s no shame around asking questions and that it's totally welcome I think that's really valuable as you're raising kids but I wish a lot of other adults in my life had also been very actively engaged in drawing that out I try and do it with my kids' friends when they're in the car teen dramas will always have rumors about cast not getting along — people love to pit women against each other it’s very clear to see that maybe people were picking up on distance but how do you think things would have looked different in regards to the relationships you formed then if only we could all go back to our twenties and change .. There are so many things I would've done differently but you can't because you're 20 — you just don't have the breadth of understanding I do wish that I had felt a freedom to explore and to play And that for all of the faith that I grew up feeling having and also being taught that the actual point of what I now understand the Christian message and gospel to be that you are expected to make mistakes because you're a human being and there's no fear around making mistakes You can't completely fuck up your life unless you're trying to I wish that I had been taught that real sense of actual grace — actual space to play and be and try things and make a total fool out of yourself — and that the responsibility of saving humanity is not on my shoulders I would've felt much more free to befriend people that felt different from me or that I was intimidated by I would've felt more comfortable experiencing my emotions And that actually has probably less to do with my faith and more to do with just being a woman growing up in this world and being so young growing up in Hollywood and a society that [tells you] women can't get angry They're not allowed to be weird or have ADHD You can't have ADHD because then you're just labeled a bitch You're not actually understood as just being neurodivergent If I had been able to really feel my emotions and have the freedom to do so and be just forgiven and encouraged and seen as a kid trying to find my way through life — and even see myself that way — I think things would've been better But I don't know that I even believe in the concept of better because whatever do you feel like you still have trouble fully trusting people But I've seen too much and know too much now to walk through life thinking that everybody feels the same way that I do or has the same philosophy that I do is trying to do the right thing or is looking out for their fellow man There’s integrity: Even if it's at the cost of my pride or embarrassment or finances or whatever it is Not everyone subscribes to that philosophy I can't read anybody else's mind or know their motives for sure But I know that I'm looked after and cared for by a loving God I can use my wisdom and discernment as I build relationships or move through community interactions they don't hold my trust in whether I'm going to be OK or not SM: The way you share your story is so raw and honest and vulnerable that's one of the reasons why I thought this story actually might really help people right now And we're seeing it everywhere in our society right now So I hope that people will think past the initial emotional connections that they have with people or groups or ideas just because they want to belong somewhere and really consider the implications of everything that they're subscribing to I know it's very early and you can't really say much.. I think for the sake of good storytelling .. I would probably start with them split up so that they had time to find their way back to each other because everybody always turns up for a redemption story This interview has been edited for clarity which will highlight and provide support for student scholarships Meet with current scholarship recipients to hear about how you can help make a difference in the lives of students for years to come Join us to learn what Bethany has in store for students and the Mankato community Learn more and register on our Celebrate Bethany homepage hosted by acclaimed journalist Krys Boyd and produced by KERA — North Texas’ PBS and NPR member station listeners across the country tune in to the program to hear thought-provoking in-depth conversations with newsmakers from across the globe Cathell didn’t tell lower-ranking officers that hundreds of overtime shifts were available Bethany Beach's two top cops stole $150,000 in overtime pay Open government advocates say a new governor and potentially more progressive lawmakers would provide a unique opportunity for more transparency The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. Coverage of Delaware's state government is supported by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Christina School Board member Naveed Baqir says that while he no longer lives in Delaware he is still a state resident able to serve on the board Kevin Hensley accepted a plea deal last week for his DUI arrest last November Hensley avoided a harsher penalty because his other offense was more than 10 years ago The legislator says he’s on a “recovery journey.” Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY. It’s how we live. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Bethany-Warr Acres plant employee arrested for discharging raw sewage into local creekby Hadley Waldren OKLA (KOKH) — One Bethany-Warr Acres Water Treatment Plant Employee was arrested for knowingly allowing improperly treated and raw wastewater to be discharged into a nearby creek According to the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office Glenn Brentnell and Anthony Menzie were charged with obtaining property by trick/deception or false representation/pretense and two counts of Violating the Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act Menzie was also charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and a false or forged instrument for recordation investigators responded to a report of flowing and standing sewage around the Bethany-Warr Acres Wastewater Treatment Plant investigators found sewage around the headworks building A witness stated Brentnell and Menzie were responsible Investigators received reports stating Brentnell knew about the treatment plant failures and did not take steps to make repairs Menzie was interviewed and admitted to altering laboratory reports to reflect a lower fecal count The falsified reports were submitted to DEQ and the U.S and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center For more local news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter by clicking here. The 78th North Carolina Azalea Festival queen has been crowned, and the party has officially started who lived and worked in Wilmington for years as a star of the series "One Tree Hill," was crowned this year's Queen Azalea on April 2 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater The festival represents people celebrating community She said the city became a safe haven and inspiration for her "This place became a seedbed for my own creativity and inspiration because there is poetry and beauty everywhere here," she said Her childhood dream of becoming a queen had finally come true during the queen's coronation I accept with the deepest gratitude and sincerity and honor because the Tar Heel State means the world to me," Lenz said Lenz's duties as queen include riding in the Azalea Festival parade attending most festival functions and making other festival-related appearances Coronation attendees also celebrated Lenz's birthday by singing her happy birthday before she was crowned thank you for holding me when I was at my most vulnerable and giving me a place to grow and learn how to be like the azalea," Lenz said Lenz played the singer Haley James Scott on the show "One Tree Hill," which ran from 2003-2012 Lenz has also appeared in the series "Dexter," "Grey's Anatomy," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" and Asheville-shot Hallmark movie "A Biltmore Christmas." Lenz also co-hosts the podcast "Drama Queens" with fellow "One Tree Hill" stars Hilarie Burton and Sophia Bush "Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)." Lenz was announced as this year's Queen Azalea on Feb The 78th N.C. Azalea Festival is being held April 2-6 in and around Wilmington and New Hanover County Savanna Tenenoff is a reporter for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@gannett.com Thanks for visiting — Residents of the Ohio Valley celebrated the grand opening of a new distillery The event offered guests the opportunity to sample over 10 flavors of moonshine The grand opening coincided with Fowler Farms' annual yard and plant sale allowing visitors to enjoy a unique combination of plant shopping and moonshine tasting Although Sugar Pappy's Shine has not yet announced its operating hours the distillery's Facebook and Instagram pages advise followers to stay tuned for more details to come (Editor’s note: This article contains descriptions of child sexual abuse that some readers may find disturbing.) BETHANY — A local pastor was arrested after accusations that he sexually abused a teenage church member while claiming to be working through God was arrested by Oklahoma City police and booked into the Oklahoma County jail Thursday on a $250,000 bond Jail officials confirmed he had not been released as of Tuesday morning According to an arrest warrant affidavit, the Oklahoma City Police Department was contacted in early January about a church possibly being involved in human and labor trafficking. Records list Flores as the owner of a nonprofit church called Ministerio Levantando Adoradores Para Cristo Two fathers called police to report their wives had taken their children to the pastor's house in Bethany and had not returned or made contact with their husbands Police said they found several families and single women living in Flores' home with him and his family The children were all being kept together in a separate room and the fathers who had reported the situation to the police were allowed to take their children home they learned a 16-year-old girl had been forced to sleep in the pastor's bedroom with him who had been members of the church for years that Flores had sexually abused her since she was 15 More: Gateway megachurch founder, former Trump spiritual adviser, indicted on charges of lewd acts with Oklahoma girl The girl alleged that she would often stay the night at the pastor's trailer because of her friendship with his daughter She further alleged Flores claimed he was “a speaker for God” and that he would administer “tests” during youth and women’s classes because “members needed to prove their loyalty to him,” according to the affidavit Flores persuaded the then-15-year-old girl to come to his bedroom “because he wanted to test her.” The affidavit details an inappropriate massage from Flores with him allegedly telling her “to close her eyes and think of him as a young boy.” The affidavit also states that he told the girl that if she let anyone else know what had happened her parents would be kicked out of the church and their souls condemned to hell because of her “betrayal.”  During another night at the trailer in April last year Flores began another massage on the girl and kissed her neck The girl said she told him to stop and pushed him away deciding afterward to stop going to the trailer to stay the night Later that summer, church members had gathered for service at a public place, identified in the affidavit as Harlow Park on NW 19 when the pastor told the same girl to come sit with him on a park bench he told the girl he wanted to give her "another test to show her how to resist the temptation of the flesh." He then attempted to persuade her to return to his home so they could have sex As the girl became uncomfortable with the conversation Flores told her "it would be fine because that is what she is made for" and that she "could not get pregnant with him like she would with younger boys because he was working through God," according to the affidavit She told investigators that after she turned 16 last fall Flores forced all of the church families to move into his trailer he told the families that the now 16-year-old girl was "the chosen one" and that God could speak through her to them More: Southern Baptists' list of alleged abusers contains at least 20 people with Oklahoma ties so that she wouldn't have to sleep in his room anymore the girl told her parents about the incidents she said she finally felt safe to tell her parents once she realized he was a liar and not following the Bible Investigators also wrote that multiple families came forward saying the pastor had forced them to quit their jobs Online records did not list an attorney for Flores as of Tuesday He is accused of indecent proposals and lewd acts Two fathers told investigators that he and his bodyguards were ex-gang members Game Recap: Baseball | 4/18/2025 8:39:00 PM Thanks for visiting Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is pleased to announce that counsel Bethany Frank was named a 2025 Woman of Influence in the Rising Star category by GlobeSt spanning the entire commercial real estate spectrum “shines a light on the individuals that have personally impacted the market and significantly driven the industry to new heights via their outstanding successes.” regularly representing some of the largest and most experienced lending institutions in their multi-faceted real estate transactions Her practice includes a variety of commercial real estate transactions including construction and real estate finance credit facilities and co-lending and participation arrangements as well as loan workouts and restructuring.  Bethany will be highlighted in a feature article on GlobeSt.com and will also be honored at an awards dinner during the annual GlobeSt The complete list of 2025 Women of Influence award recipients can be found here Jeremy HeallenPublic Relations Senior Managermediarelations@Hunton.com We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Bethany Norris Bishop created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Bethany Hall-Long is the fourth Delaware lieutenant governor to briefly take on the role after the sitting governor resigns early Bethany Hall-Long takes the oath to become Delaware's 75th governor The two-term New Castle County Executive cruised to victory in the general election after surviving a contentious three-way primary Federal dollars the state is losing come from bipartisan legislation passed after a Texas school shooting that left 19 children dead The governor’s predecessor worked on enacting the controversial requirement for nearly two years Members of the public voiced concerns about cuts to emergency aid and pushed for 1960s-style civil disobedience Sarah Mueller is WHYY News’ Delaware politics reporter WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY Prayers going up for the family and friends We will keep you and your family in our prayers I want you to know that God loves you and do not doubt it for a second I was absolutely devastated to hear of Bethany passing We had so many fun memories together that I will always cherish I can’t imagine the pain you all are going through and Bri your mother was a precious person and she lived and loved you guys so much and she was a proud momma of each of you Cherish the memories that you have of her and keep shooting for the stares like she wanted y’all to My thoughts and prayers are with each one of you and if there is anything I can do just let me know She was like my own child I love and miss her so much She had a heart of gold and would help anybody she could I’m sad to hear of her passing but we had a lot of great memories I am SO very sorry that I just found out about her passing .My prayers n Sympathy… and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Phone: 8288740411 Fax: (828) 874-5390 Visit our Granite Falls location Thanks for visiting Fish and Wildlife Service has determined the Bethany Beach firefly — a nocturnal beetle found in coastal Delaware and Virginia — is likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future due to existing and emerging threats.  The Service announced today a proposal to list the species as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act with a Section 4(d) rule. We invite public comments on this proposal until December 2 Named for the coastal town in Delaware where it was discovered in 1949 the Bethany Beach firefly is distinguished from similar species by its small size — less than half an inch long — a black marking on its head The Bethany Beach firefly is found only in low-lying freshwater marsh areas near coastal dunes located within 500 meters of the Atlantic shoreline in Delaware which the species needs in all its life stages in addition to more frequent and severe storm events threaten to first degrade and then destroy the species’ habitat somewhere between 76% and 95% of swales could be lost to high-tide flooding by 2100.  and invasive plant species are other stressors to the firefly and its habitat the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has conducted annual surveys for this species documenting it in three Delaware state parks the firefly was discovered on Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland including Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.  the Service is soliciting any available knowledge about the location of firefly sightings and habitat to better understand the species’ range and habitat needs Those who believe they have observed a Bethany Beach firefly may make a report by contacting the Chesapeake Bay Field Office at: (410) 573-4599 The proposed rule to list the Bethany Beach firefly as threatened is available for public inspection today in the Federal Register reading room Tomorrow, Tuesday, October 1, the document will publish in the Federal Register — https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/current — opening a 60-day public comment period that closes on December 2 Comments can be submitted through regulations.gov under docket number FWS-R5-ES-2024-0080 plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people Amanda Sandoval won the race to become Bethany's next Mayor on Tuesday night beating opponent Jeff Knapp by only 46 votes after having once before served as a Council Member "I mentally prepared myself and physically prepared myself to see is this going to be my next opportunity?'" She said who is a realtor and courtroom interpreter by day said her focus will be on the daily and local issues impacting people in Bethany But her campaign couldn't help but investigate; was her win more historic They believe she is the first Hispanic person to become Mayor in all of Oklahoma and trying to do our own research with a couple of other organizations it looks like that is accurate," Sandoval said her team has enlisted the help of the Oklahoma Historical Society which has not yet officially certified their hypothesis the lack of a longer list of apparent names still seems to indicate a cultural accomplishment "I take pride in being a Latina," she said I take pride in being a daughter of immigrants we're paving the way for the next generation." Among her first priorities will be supporting the purchase of a new car for the police department "We need to make sure that we are working on the issues that affect us on a daily basis making sure your trash is getting picked up making sure that your water — you're liking the water quality Matt McCabe is an award-winning journalist who has worked in Rockford Matt joined the News 9 team in May of 2023 as a multimedia journalist \"I mentally prepared myself and physically prepared myself to see is this going to be my next opportunity?'\" She said it looks like that is accurate,\" Sandoval said \"I take pride in being a Latina,\" she said we're paving the way for the next generation.\" \"We need to make sure that we are working on the issues that affect us on a daily basis and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Join us for the 26th annual Kwik Trip Holiday Basketball Tournament hosted by Bethany Lutheran College Directions and Campus Map Bus Parking for Teams Separate Varsity and Junior Varsity tickets must be purchased daily Kwik Trip Holiday Tournament on Social:  Facebook  |  Twitter Live streaming from spectators or teams is prohibited Thanks for visiting Bethany Lutheran College is pleased to announce the Class of 2025 is the biggest ever to graduate from the institution This comprises both one of the largest baccalaureate undergraduate groups as well as the highest number of master’s degree candidates ever What a blessing this is after years of extraordinary enrollment growth Tickets ARE NOT required to attend Commencement A man crashed into the Bethany Beauty School in Northwest Oklahoma City on Wednesday afternoon according to the Bethany Police Department Officials say an elderly gentleman crashed into the building Thanks for visiting passed away at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence on Friday Northland College (BLC B-ball Alumni and their families get in for free) and then a social in the evening at the Crooked Pint Ale House (located in The Pond on Madison) and we would love to see as many BLC basketball alumni back for this special day as possible Schedule – Saturday, January 18 Bethany Lutheran College – Sports & Fitness Center faculty and alumni of Bethany College spent Friday evening and Saturday discussing networking and connection during the school’s 10th annual Women and Leadership Symposium faculty and alumni of Bethany College gathered Friday and Saturday for a series of talks about “Networking in the 21st Century” at the school’s 10th annual Women and Leadership Symposium staff and faculty gathered in Bethany College’s Commencement Hall Friday night and Saturday for a series of speakers and discussions focused on female empowerment “The concept [for the event when it was born] 10 years ago was that Bethany is kind of isolated,” said Bethany alumna and event organizer Scarlett Foster “So the question was how can we bring alumni here rather than force students to go find alums.” Foster planned the symposium almost entirely on her own for its first five years there is a committee that shoulders many of the planning duties The event started in a time when female students were particularly underrepresented at Bethany College She wanted to create a space for mentorship between women of all ages “So it was a brainstorming idea with a friend of mine over a steak and a glass of wine and we pulled it off within three to four months the first time,” Foster said Foster said she was incredibly grateful for the network of women willing to come back to Bethany and spend some time connecting with current and past students alike leadership coach and Bethany alumna Beth Benatti Kennedy was the keynote speaker at the weekend’s event focusing her address on the importance of personal resilience and connection with others Benatti Kennedy recently published her book “ReThink Resilience: 99 ways to ReCharge Your Career and Life,” which walks readers through strategies for success Attendees of the symposium received a copy of Benatti Kennedy’s book she spoke about lessons learned from her late father and the strategies for human connection that she learned from him Benatti Kennedy led several exercises focused around networking and connection One exercise called “who is in your boat” asked attendees to recognize the important connections in their life and take a look at how they maintain them “I really hope everyone walks away with a few people in what I call their ‘boat,'” Benatti Kennedy said there’s people in their 70s and 60s and 50s I hope people connect and stay connected just like the experience that I had.” Another nugget of wisdom Benatti Kennedy shared with attendees was her “Friday 5,” or taking five minutes to reach out to people and maintain connections at the end of each week “I think what often happens is women get so busy and the first thing that happens to fall is connection Women get so busy with their careers and whether we like it or not we’re managing so much,” she said “So it’s one of these things that just have to happen if we want to have a fulfilled career and a fulfilled life.” Foster emphasized how affirming and validating having a mentorship relationship between two women can be because of the experiences they share particularly when women are still underrepresented in many fields “We need to continually be promoting women into the right positions whether they’re in a corporate position or they’re in academia or they’re in a nonprofit group,” Foster said “Sometimes you need somebody to help you up the ladder and the best person to do that is another woman.” Monroe County’s recent Delinquent Land Tax Sale resulted in a record-breaking $937,416.07 in total sales for 31 .. WEIRTON — A man wanted by Weirton police for allegedly stealing a vehicle and firearm earlier this year was .. | https://www.theintelligencer.net | 1500 Main Street Click here to register for the lectures. (Current BLC students do not need to register to attend.)