LOVES PARK, Ill. Randy Bush has been called upon to pinch-hit once again. The former Minnesota Twin, now the assistant general manager of the Chicago Cubs, has been announced as the new featured guest for Rockford RiverHawks FanFest 2008. Bush will fill in for Cubs GM Jim Hendry, who will be unable to attend. FanFest will be held 5-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7 at Giovannis Restaurant, 610 N. Bell School Rd. Tickets for the event are $25 and includes dinner, with tables for 10 available. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Rockford Boys and Girls Clubs. Tickets can be purchased at Road Ranger Stadium, Giovannis, Rock Valley Federal Credit Union, Tom Harmer Sports, and Got Quarters in Cherry Vale Mall. A limited amount remains. Bush spent his entire 12-year major-league playing career with the Twins and was part of the 1987 and 1991 world championship teams.

Man pleads not guilty to charge of assaulting Bennington police ...

BENNINGTON — A $10,000 bail was set on a man arraigned in Bennington District Court on Wednesday for assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Christopher Russell, 17, pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, petit larceny and violating his conditions of release. The bail was imposed on him by Judge Katherine Hayes.

"The allegations strongly suggest that Mr. Russell has a pattern of violating court orders," said Hayes of the reason she set the high bail.

Russell also withdrew a guilty plea for burglary.

According to an affidavit by Bennington Police Officer Anthony Silvestro, police responded to South Street on Feb. 17 at around 6:30 p.m. for a report of someone who might be wanted by police.

Confrontation at door

Silvestro said the complainant called and told police that Russell was at his residence, and asked if there was a warrant out for Russell's arrest.

Cleveland State Embarks on Weighty Wisconsin Road Trip

Cleveland State basketball fans are dreaming about what seemed improbable at best before the season started: Their Cleveland State Vikings in the big dance in March. While that sounds wonderful, remember it's still only January and there is a lot of Horizon League basketball to be played. The good news, of course, is that the Vikings are 7-0 and as hot of a team as any in NCAA basketball. The bad news is that the schedule now turns to the road, where conference championships are won and lost.

Gary Waters' squad hits the road for four games. The road swing starts in Wisconsin playing Green Bay and Milwaukee. After Wisconsin it is off to Illinois to play University of Illinois Chicago and Loyola. If the upstart CSU team can take care of business and go a solid 3-1 on the road the chances grow for at least a solid #2 seed in the conference tournament which would automatically put Cleveland State in the semi-finals of the Horizon League tournament and also put pressure on Butler, the overwhelming favorite in the preseason, to keep winning so that the Vikings don't shock the conference and steal home court advantage when not only the most ardent Cleveland State fan would have predicted before the season began.