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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (June 3, 2016)
JUNE 3, 2016, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5 KeizerCommunity KEIZERTIMES.COM Keizer girl has the world on a leash Sarah Stong shines in largest dog show yet By ERIC A. HOWALD Of the Keizertimes Sarah Stong and the words “Best Junior Handler” are rapidly becoming inseparable. Stong, a McNary High School freshman, recently re- turned from St. Louis, Mo., where she, and her Australian shepherd, Bentley, won the title at her largest dog show competition yet, the United States Australian Shepherd Association Nationals. “We compete almost ev- ery weekend, but this was the farthest we’ve ever gone for a show,” Sarah said. She won the best junior handler title in the showman- ship portion of the contest, but the duo also competed in obedience and rally competi- tions. “We scored a 95 out of 100 in the rally, but obedi- ence didn’t go as planned,” Sarah said. While the obedience com- petition focused primarily on how well Bentley listened to commands, the rally tests a variety of skills ranging from obedience to how well the dogs travel in specifi c pat- terns, i.e. shapes or any letter of the alphabet. The show- manship competition was judged based on Bentley’s physical traits and Sarah’s highly-specifi c knowledge of the breed. “There weren’t a lot of juniors at the competition, but the ones who were there were really good,” Sarah said. Sarah was bitten by the dog show bug while attending similar shows at the Marion County Fair when she was 9 years old. She and her mother, Sharon, started conversations with some of the contestants about what it would take to get started. The next year, she entered her border collie in the show. “He didn’t like it too much, but I started work- ing with a trainer in my 4-H Club and looking for an Aus- tralian shepherd at the shel- ters,” Sarah said. She eventually adopted one, Mac. While he was more suited to being a show dog, he didn’t have the necessary attitude. “Once he gets in the ring, it’s like everything goes in one ear and out the other, af- ter doing it perfectly at home. Bentley is the complete op- posite, he’s all business when we get to a show,” Sarah said. While Mac allowed Sarah to work through some of her own learning curves, things KEIZERTIMES/Eric A. Howald Sarah Stong and her show dog, Bentley, atop the winners’ podium at the United States Australian Shepherd Association Nationals held in late April in Gray Summit, Mo. changed for the better when she took ownership of Bent- ley two years ago. Bentley has more of the conformation judges look for in the breed whereas Mac “is too short and has funny-looking legs.” In 2015, Sarah racked up enough best junior handler awards to qualify for the Eu- kanuba Nationals, but school commitments kept her from going. This year, she already has two to her name. The tally resets annually. Bentley has also become a champion of his breed. In addition to week- ly training sessions with a professional handler, Sarah spends time each day working on the skills she and Bentley are called upon to perform at shows. She has her sights set on becoming a professional handler herself, which will allow her to show her own dogs as well as others – and accept payment for doing so. Thus far, she said, the big- gest lesson has been patience. “They’re not going to learn something the fi rst time, you have to work on it over and over. I also had to learn to trust them because it’s a totally different atmosphere once they are in the ring,” Sarah said. Sharon said she’s seen oth- er changes in Sarah, too. “She has a lot more confi - dence. She speaks openly with the judges now, and that’s not something she did when she was younger. She also is a lot better about her own respon- sibilities. Taking care of the dogs and their grooming is a big part of them doing well in the shows,” Sharon said. Bike-A-Thon Helping hands sought Saturday at K-9 facility June 4 Truth Tabernacle Church is holding its 18th Annual 30 kilometer Bike-A-Thon on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. The route goes through the City of Keizer. This is to help raise money for the Chris- tian School, Truth Tabernacle Christian Academy, and for Community Enrichment. The route begins at the church, 3795 Pleasant View Drive N.E. FOLLOW THE KEIZERTIMES ON: The Salem Police Foundation (SPF) is looking for volunteers to help improve and rebuild portions of the K-9 training facility in Keizer. Work will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4, at 5915 Windsor Island Rd N. – across from the golf course and turn left at the fork past the gates for parking. Police dogs will be interacting with volunteers as they paint and work on small construction projects at the facility. SPF is currently raising $3,000 to add lighting to the course for evening training. For more information on the Salem Police Foundation, visit salempolicefoundation.org. WMS celebrates 50 years June 6 Whiteaker Middle School is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the entire community is invited. The gathering will take place on Monday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the school. Former staff members and students will have opportunities for group photos and to share their memories for Whiteaker’s time capsule. Memorabilia will also be on display. RSVP at the event’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ events/1003410946375522/. Former Whiteaker staff are asked to arrive at 3 p.m. and RSVP at www.facebook.com/events/973483599431690/. For more information, call the school offi ce at 503-399-3224. WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Celebration Services Saturday Evening 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 9:15 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org Jason Lee UMC 820 Jeff erson St. NE Salem OR 97301 9:00 am Dr. Jon F. Langenwalter, Pastor The church with the purple doors 10:45 am Worship at 9:30 am • Child Care Available 6:00 pm Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. Sunday Morning and 503-364-2844 Faith Lutheran Church 4505 River Rd N • 393-4507 Sunday Schedule: 9:00 a.m. Children’s Church 9:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study 9:30 a.m. Children’s Activities Pastor Virginia Eggert 10:30 a.m. Worship with Communion
