Latest news with #Dowell
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lexington men find community at White Castle, spinning yarns and downing sliders
It's 9:30 on a Saturday morning at the White Castle on Reynolds Road, and the party is in full swing. Ten men, several wearing caps noting their military service, are gathered around tables that have been pushed together, and the coffee and conversation are flowing. This group of Lexington White Castle regulars, most of whom are in their 80s and 90s, has become like a family, and some of them have made these chats over breakfast part of their daily morning routine for 30 years or more. 'They just cuss and discuss anything,' Randall Dowell joked. 'Mostly yarn spinning.' 'It's a camaraderie thing,' said Ed Parker. 'I come to White Castle for cheap food and fellowship. The food is great and the fellowship is great,' said Jim Atkins. 'Sometimes I come for breakfast and lunch.' Wayne Tullis says he's 'the baby' of the group, at 82 years old. On May 31, they celebrated their most senior member, John Hughes, who turned 99 May 9. There was cake for everyone, and restaurant employees feted Hughes with a pair of White Castle socks, a White Castle gift card and a cookie jar shaped like a slider in the signature blue and white box. 'Ain't everybody got one of them,' an admirer called from the other end of the table. There were blue and gold tablecloths, streamers hung from the ceiling, and a gold crown was placed atop Hughes' cap. 'You're king of the castle today,' said Gail Gurney, a White Castle district manager who has known the men for years. Hughes said he doesn't know how his 100th birthday could top his 99th. 'I'm shocked,' he said of the celebration. Hughes, a World War II veteran, thumbed through old photos of past gatherings with his buddies at White Castle, including one of another birthday party there years ago. 'I was an old man then,' he said. Bob Niles is a 95-year-old veteran who served during World War II and the Korean War. He said he's been eating sliders at White Castle since he was a youngster growing up in Louisville. 'We were really upset in high school when it went from a nickel to seven cents,' he said. Niles said he thinks the sliders still taste the same as they did back then, though. Dowell said he's been coming to the White Castle on Reynolds Road for 'forever... off and on probably 40 years.' He said he used to live in a complex behind the restaurant, but he now drives over from his home in Versailles to visit with his friends. White Castle, he said, is 'welcoming to service people. It has a good feel about it. We know most of these (employees) by name.' 'I don't think there's any subject that's sacred here,' said Dowell. 'We discuss anything and everything: the media, horse racing, farming.' Ray Wedding gives 'the tomato report.' 'Every year I put out 28, 30 plants or more just to have something to do,' said Wedding, showing off a cell phone photo of the tomato plants lining his backyard fence. When his Big Boys and Better Boys are ripe, he brings them in to share with his breakfast buddies. 'They're a friendly bunch and would do anything for you, I think, if they could,' said Wedding, 88. The men's relationships with the employees are as close as their bonds with each other. 'They're special to us,' said Gurney, the district manager. The regulars always order the same thing, and the staff knows what each wants before he says a word. 'As soon as we see their cars pull in the lot, we start making their food,' she said. 'We are all just like family.' Gurney started working at White Castle as a 16-year-old and has been with the company for 37 years now, working her way up to district manager. Dowell told her Saturday he thinks he can remember her first day on the job. 'She is the cornerstone behind all of this,' Dowell said. 'They've watched me go from this store to the other store' across town, she said. When her son had a bone marrow transplant, she said the morning regulars took up a collection to help out, since Gurney had to be off work for six months. 'They wanted to make sure that I was OK to take off work,' Gurney said. 'My customers took care of me.' And she takes care of them too. Gurney said staff members have contact numbers for some of the guys in the back, and if someone doesn't show up for breakfast for a few days, they'll call to check on them. And they make sure the egg on Hughes' bologna and egg sandwich comes with an unbroken yolk, something not just anyone can get at White Castle. Hughes doesn't come in to White Castle every day anymore, Gurney said, so 'it's a special day when he walks in the store.' Hughes still drives, but not as far as he used to. He said Saturday that he usually spends his mornings at the McDonald's on Winchester Road, because it's closer to his home. But the group at White Castle knows he reserves the last Saturday of every month for them. 'We solve all problems,' Hughes said. The makeup of the White Castle regulars group has changed over the years, as some members have died or moved away. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 12 or 15 guys getting together every morning, Tullis said. 'The pandemic got some of them,' Atkins said. But the regulars didn't let even a pandemic keep them from getting together. Tullis said they sat outside during those days, and the staff brought food out to them. 'We were in our cars and trucks,' Tullis said. 'We yelled at one another,' Parker added. How did they all come together in the first place decades ago? 'It was just a couple people, and they had a friend' who they invited, Tullis said. 'It just kept collecting.' Tullis invited Dick LeMaster, 90. 'I'm here every day, six days a week,' LeMaster said. He always gets the same thing: a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee. LeMaster, in turn, invited Mike Blackard. 'I show up about once a week. It's a fun group,' Blackard said. He said he enjoys the wealth of knowledge the men have accumulated over their lives. 'They've done it all,' he said. LeMaster said his granddaughter, a University of Kentucky student, once brought some of her classmates out to observe the group. And what did they learn? LeMaster, who served in the Army and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War, said her assessment was that the guys liked to talk about the past, not the future. His assessment: 'We're social people. We just like to chat and visit., tell the same stories over and over.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cam Ward practice observations: The good and bad from not-so-sharp Tennessee Titans afternoon
June 3 wasn't the sharpest day of practice for Cam Ward and the Tennessee Titans offense. The team opened OTA practices to media for the second time this offseason on a day where Ward was repeatedly tested with simulated third down scenarios, meaning difficult downs-and-distances and blitz packages to react to. Ward finished his day 11-for-20 passing between 7-on-7 and full team activities. Advertisement This included picking up six would-be first downs in 11 opportunities in the 7-on-7 period and completing a couple of passes into tight windows with pressure in his face against a full defense. He also had one pass dropped, sailed a throw because of a miscommunication with a receiver, had one pass broken up, threw behind receivers on at least two occasions and narrowly missed converting on two open deep shots. The highlight of Ward's day came on his first dropback of the team period. On a first-and-10 rep, Ward took advantage of a play-action look to buy time downfield and fire to receiver Jha'Quan Jackson on a crossing route, who navigated his way through traffic to get open 20-25 yards downfield for a big gainer. BRING BREAKFAST: Why Cam Ward organized 5 a.m. Titans meetings, and what's happening within the inner circle In fact, most of Ward's big gainers in this practice either came as results of play-action or targets over the middle, situations where he also found Calvin Ridley, Colton Dowell, Xavier Restrepo and Chig Okonkwo. His over-the-middle completion to Dowell, thrown in 7-on-7 drills, likely would've gone for a touchdown in live action. Advertisement Still, Ward missed on some of his biggest opportunities. He overthrew Ridley on a deep crossing route where the star receiver had broken open behind the coverage, and he couldn't connect with James Proche II on a go ball that slipped through the diving Proche's outstretched fingers close to the sideline. He also threw behind Ridley on his last throw, one that could be considered a drop but wasn't a perfect throw, and behind Restrepo on a crossing route that Restrepo caught but had to extend to grab. Notably, there were also two throws underneath that Ward forced into tight windows. One fell incomplete and the other was broken up by cornerback Amani Oruwariye. Tennessee Titans news: Other OTA notes, big moments Dowell continues to be more involved in his first live action practices against a defense since injuring his knee at the end of the 2023 season. He faces an uphill battle to making the 53-man roster because of how many receivers the Titans have added this offseason, but remains firmly in competition with the likes of Bryce Oliver, Jha'Quan Jackson and Mason Kinsey for those final spots. Dowell found some success as a special teams gunner in 2023 and has taken some reps at that spot again in practices this offseason. Speaking of receivers coming off injuries with uphill battles: Treylon Burks practiced again as he continues to slowly expand his workload coming back from last fall's knee surgery. Speaking with reporters, receivers coach Tyke Tolbert says he hasn't seen any shift in attitude or demeanor from Burks as the former first-round pick adjusts to competing for a roster spot rather than fighting for No. 1 target reps. The competition for No. 2 inside linebacker is hardly settled, but inside linebackers coach Frank Bush told The Tennessean that second-year players Cedric Gray and James Williams do have a bit of an edge over the likes of waiver claims like Amari Burney and Anfernee Orji based simply on time spent within the system. Several players have taken prominent reps next to expected No. 1 ILB Cody Barton thus far. After practice, Gray told reporters he feels he's developing well despite missing most of his rookie season with injury. Let's give some love to a position it's tough to evaluate without pads on: the folks on the defensive front. Coach Ben Bloom is working hard with his players on hand placement and gap integrity, as well as emphasizing the value of getting off the ball quickly and low to the ground. One way he's emphasized this is through a drill where four players race to see who can get out of their stance and hit a blocking dummy approximately five yards downfield the quickest. Advertisement Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@ Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Cam Ward practice observations: What we're seeing from Titans rookie
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Subsitute ordinance addressing Chicago's teen curfew approved by city committee
CHICAGO (WGN)—The Chicago City Council again debated a controversial curfew ordinance to curb teen takeovers at popular downtown spots. The ordinance gained enough support to clear the city's Public Safety Committee on Tuesday and could go up for a full vote as early as Wednesday. The controversial measure passed on Tuesday, May 20, following a 10-to-7 vote. Many alders and community groups expressed deep concern that the proposed ordinance, if passed, would unfairly impact mostly Black and brown kids. PREVIOUS: Others argue, however, that the implementation will help prevent dangerous situations from happening. Chicago Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) and others on the Public Safety Committee say defusing large, potentially dangerous, and unpermitted teen gatherings in the city is necessary. 'This was driven from the very beginning by the Chicago Police Department,' Hopkins said. 'It has to be the superintendent in consultation with the deputy mayor who has determined there's probable cause,' added 39th Ward Ald. Samantha Nugent. Supporters of the ordinance say they want to avoid a potentially dangerous or deadly 'teen takeover' trend. WGN INVESTIGATES: Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd Ward) is sponsoring the substitute ordinance. Dowell and others point to the ordinance's mandated consultation between the Chicago police Supt. Larry Snelling and the deputy mayor for public safety, with checks and balances for the council to oversee things. 'That is what a superintendent is supposed to do,' Dowell said. 'He runs the police department.' 'We'll have quarterly data provided to this committee on how it's implemented and how it's working, along with an annual meeting where we take a deeper dive,' Hopkins added. Ald. Jason C. Ervin (28th Ward) and many others on Chicago's City Council say they deeply oppose the proposed measure, however. 'I cannot support this ordinance as it stands today,' he said. 'This gives the police department total discretion as to when and how this will be administered.' Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also commented on the debate, saying, 'I do not support lowering the curfew because there's no evidence that lowering curfews prevents violence from happening.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The National
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Factor future of Rangers fringe man 'hinges on' this summer
The midfielder has spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Birmingham City. Dowell has excelled at St Andrew's, scoring five goals and assisting as many in 23 appearances. Read more: His performances have helped Birmingham win English League One and resultant promotion back to the Championship. They finished top of the tree in the third tier with 111 points, a record for a single season across the EFL. When he returns to Ibrox this summer, Dowell will still have 12 months remaining on his Rangers deal. Birmingham boss Chris Davies has outlined his desire to sign the 27-year-old permanently, although any move 'hinges on' Rangers' next manager, claims BirminghamLive. Barry Ferguson is currently in temporary charge at Ibrox, although it remains to be seen who Philippe Clement's permanent successor will be. Elsewhere, Lawrence Shankland is reportedly set to be offered a new contract by Heart of Midlothian. The striker's current deal at Tynecastle expires at the end of the season. Shankland has been widely linked with a move to Rangers in recent transfer windows. Now, however, he could stay in Gorgie, with Hearts set to put a new deal on the table, claims the Hearts Standard. The 29-year-old has made 41 appearances for his club this season, scoring nine goals and assisting as many. His tally has in no manner reached the heights it did last campaign.
The National
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Rangers duo in potential 'straightforward' summer Ibrox exit
The pair are currently on loan at English League One outfit Birmingham City, where they have helped break the record for the number of points gained in a single EFL season. Read more: Birmingham are heading back to the Championship next term, and they have 'discussed' the permanent acquisitions of Dowell and Davies, claims BirminghamWorld. Indeed, it is said that because Rangers weren't keen on keeping the duo when initially loaning them out, transfer negotiations could potentially be 'straightforward'. Davies has spent the full campaign on loan at St Andrew's. Dowell, on the other hand, made the move mid-season after being deemed surplus to requirements at Ibrox. He has since played 23 times for his loan club, scoring five goals and assisting as many. Birmingham boss Chris Davies made his stance on Dowell's situation clear in March: "He's definitely someone I have been really encouraged by since he's come in and from my point of view I want players like that here," he said [Birmingham Live]. "My communication is always around that stuff with Craig (Gardner - director of football), squad management and planning and who I think can really help us, and I think Kieran has done really well. "I don't know the exact context of what's happening there with him, but it's definitely something we will have to look into."
