Brooklyn and Brandon Ortiz, far right, plead with their turtle to move faster during a preliminary heat at the annual Turtle Derby race on Saturday, July 11 at the Alamo Mission Museum.

A church volleyball league is being formed in Mount Vernon. The league is to be for boys and girls ages 15-18 from all local churches. Churches are encouraged to form a team of members from their own church or join members of other smaller churches to create a team. Games will be played in the local churches that have gyms and will be on Thursday nights. Anyone interested in forming a team should contact their church youth leaders or Chuck Mericle at 903-537-3193.

Heidi Hemmingsen sprays not only the car but big sister, Holly, left, and her teammates Sarah Johnson and Roxanne McClenan. Members of the ponytails All Star softball team kept cool while conducting a car wash on Saturday, July 4. The team also had a rummage sale and sold chances to win a trailer. The effort earned them $600 to defray the cost of participating in the State tournament this weekend.

The Franklin County Belles All Star team competed in the All Star Tournament in Mount Vernon Friday and Saturday, June 26-27 and won the sportsmanship trophy.