Drawings Of Lions And Tigers

UWA launches soccer program Sept. 2

Graeme Orr is in unchartered waters.

But that’s okay. He’s got plenty of company. So is his employer. And his players. And most of his assistants.

The Scotsman was hired last year to lead the University of West Alabama’s inaugural soccer team on the field. He’ll do just that Sept. 2 when the Lady Tigers host Judson College.

Orr, native of Eaglesham, Scotland, served as a head coach for the Alabama Olympic Development Program and was an assistant coach at the University of North Alabama for two seasons where he helped orchestrate the turnaround of that school’s program.

He’ll be drawing on that experience this season as he tries to bake UWA’s program from scratch.

“We had eight wins the first year I was there,” he said of his first year with the Lions. “The second year we had 19 wins.”

Those 19 wins earned the 27 year old graduate of Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn. the opportunity to create the ladies soccer program for the UWA Tigers.

“I think my age may be an advantage,” Orr laughed of the project before him and his team. “It’s taken a lot of work and you have to put a lot into it.”

The fruits of that labor will hit the field next month as 25 young ladies from as far away as England and Australia will join sisters from around the United States on UWA’s football/soccer field.

Their work is clearly cut out for them.

“The conference (soccer) rankings came out this week and we were last,” he said. “We’re a first year program, sure, but last?”

Orr’s goals for his first year are high. We wants to win games. He expects to win games and, most of all, he expects the plant seed that he thinks will grow into a solid footing for seasons to come.

“One of the things we want to do is work with the River City Soccer Club in Demopolis,” he said.

Orr said a relationship between the River City league and UWA would be important as those youth players matured and moved onto high school, who then would become potential recruits for the UWA team.

“I would love to be able to recruit players from right here,” he said. “We’ve just got to build that relationship.”

Another key in the program’s success would be community perception and involvement.

Orr has already began several initiatives to educate local little league soccer coaches and parents on the rules and finer points of soccer.

A ROARING GOOD TIME: EAST COUNTY CHAMBER MEMBERS GET UP CLOSE ...

Story by Miriam Raftery; Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2011 (Alpine) -- "Oh, you're beautiful!" San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce President Scott Alevy exclaimed as his wife, Joanne, dished up a forkful of chicken.  But he wasn't complimenting her cooking. Instead, Alevy was admiring Raja--a 500-pound Bengal tiger that Joanne was feeding after winning a drawing at Lions, Tigers & Bears (LTB) in Alpine.

The Chamber hosted a fundraiser to benefit the big cat rescue facility last weekend, donating 100% of proceeds to help this worthy cause while providing a memorable experience for Chamber members. View our video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB-suHr6iUQ

 LTB founder Bobbi Brink wasn't there, however---since she was en route to Oklahoma to rescue Delilah and Blossom, two black bears at a zoo that closed.

"They told her that if she wasn't there by tomorrow, they were going to sell them to a game park," an employee at LTB said.  You can join the "Bears Best Friend Forever" campaign by donating to support the transportation and housing for these animals; cll 619-881-2053 for details.

The new bears will join Liberty, a two-year-old black bear brought here last July after it began foraging in campsites in Riverside County.  A spacious new enclosure large enough for five bears will be finished just in time for the new arrivals, who will be in quarantine for several weeks before joining Liberty in their new home.

The park is one of only 12 no-breed, no-kill rescue facilities in the United States for big cats and now, bears.  You can also see African lions as well as a leopard, bobcat, mountain lion and other fabulous felines--not to mention a precocious domestic cat that seemed to delight in boldly prancing in front of the bigger cats' cages. 

ECM editor Miriam Raftery bought drawing tickets and was also among a winner, choosing to feed a leopard capably of leaping and climbing up the fence.  It was quite an experience to be just inches from this magnificent creature!  (The leopard, born in captivity, was rescued from an owner who was illegally breeding the animals.) 

If you haven't been to LTB in a while, you'll be surprised at all the changes.  Recent additions include a petting zoo completing with animals all named for famous people such as Johnny Cash and Lucille Ball.  Llamas, a pot-bellied pig, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses are among the cuddly critters delighting children and their parents.

Kids Draw Cats, Kittens, Lions & Tigers

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