Plumbing 
Utopia girls’ golf team members who helped clinch the district tournament championship include (left to right) Lizzy Hryniszac, Danika McCarty, Kinsley Cox, Hallie Moore and Riley McCutcheon.
Utopia High School students have continued their winning streak to capture the girls’ district golf championship with the boys not far behind in second place.
The ladies team of Kinsley Cox, Lizzy Hryniszac, Danika McCarty, Riley McCutcheon and Hallie Moore not only won the tournament but received top medalist awards with Cox placing first and Moore second.
The boys finished as runner-up behind a tough D’Hanis team and will join the ladies in the Region 4 tournament in Manor on April 16-17. Jay Cantu, Brayden Long, Jett Smothers and Cooper Wernette all had good scores and look forward to even better ones at regional.
Utopia boys’ golf team members who contributed toward an overall second-place win at the district tournament include (left to right) Jay Cantu, Jett Smothers, Cooper Wernette and Brayden Long.
One Act Play
Not to be outdone, the one-act play cast and crew did an outstanding job performing “The Hallelujah Girls” in Ingram at the District 31-A contest and will advance to the next level of competition on April 3.
Jacy Hardie was named best actress with Isaac Golden and Kyla Plance on the all-star cast. Nicole Duke received honorable mention. The whole technical crew was considered the best with Sarabeth Tondre named outstanding technician.
Directors Ashleigh Kay and Mindy Harmison were very proud of the students and their performance.
Little League
The opening day of Little League baseball happens April 6 in the Bownds-Burns Youth Complex. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the first pitch thrown by Constable Bob Cook at 11 a.m.
Seven teams of Utopia youngsters will be playing this spring including T-ball, coach pitch, minors and softball games. All these teams have fun names, but it’s hard not to be enticed to attend the ladies softball game with a name like the Lil Heartbreakers.
Thanks to Julie and Kevin Chambers and all the volunteer coaches, umpires and concession workers who make this baseball season fun for our kids.
Around Town
Condolences to Greg Walton and his family on the recent death of his dad Larry Walton. Larry had been an influential and dedicated volunteer in our community for many decades. One doesn’t have to look far to see some aspect of our town that he helped to create from our EMS to the Keep Utopia Beautiful recycling center. The lovely garden at the Utopia Library filled with native plants was a special project of his dedicated to his wife Beverly. Larry was a talented artist and regular participant at the fall Arts and Crafts Fair. Above all else, Larry was a WWII veteran who fought for our freedom. It can definitely be said that Larry Walton left Utopia a better place after having lived here for over 50 years.
It seems many small towns are filled with a group of dedicated volunteers who, like Larry, work tirelessly to improve the community, and a group of non-volunteers who like to complain about what gets accomplished. It’s been almost comical to see what the non-volunteers can find to bash in our town lately. Chill out folks. Our town will still be a Utopia even if we do have a new electronic sign to inform people of happenings of interest. One old timer said that many thought our town was ruined when electricity came in the 1930s, definitely done for when we got sidewalks and one can’t even imagine what was going to happen to us when the store could sell beer. Despite a few changes, we still have a small town with friendly folks who care about each other and will keep on working to make our community a better place.
