We had another good evening the other night at the Lower Verde River Valley Hall of Fame Induction Dinner.

Six individuals were added to the list of inductees. They are Bruce Florence, Barbara Whitehead-Patterson, John Rosenquist and Jay Schlum, all of Fountain Hills, Carol Scheuing of Rio Verde and Virginia Mott Begay of Fort McDowell.

The Hall of Fame is sponsored by the River of Time Museum Foundation. President Jerry Miles presented isHisHisHistorical Society President Debbie Skehen with an $8,000 check bringing the total that the foundation has raised from this event to $49,000.

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Speaking of fund-raisers, there are two more this weekend, the Historical Society is holding its popular WisconsinFest on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p..m. and the Fountain Hills Theater has its Broadway in the Hills on Sunday evening starting with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner, dancing and entertainment at 7 p.m. Call 837-9661, Ext. 3, for the theater event reservations. Both events are held at the Community Center.

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Entertainer Jeff Dayton was a big hit, both at the Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and his “Tribute to Glen Campbell” concert at the Fountain Hills Presbyterian Church on Sunday evening.

He reminisced about early-day life in the community at the Hall of Fame dinner. He moved in with his grandmother, Erna Charles, in 1979. She had visited with him in his native Minnesota where he was a struggling young musician.

He could have been part of the Dayton retail family (Target and Dayton-Hudsoudson) but he rejected corporate life to pursue a career in music.

Erna, who was heavily involved in community politics, invited Jeff to move to Arizona.

“At least you can get out of those cold winters,” she said.

He took her advice and he has had quite a career. The former Jeff Dayton Band became the stage band for singer Glen Campbell, touring with him for 15 years.

His tribute to Campbell on Sunday night was nothing short of amazing. His vocals were strong on the Campbell classics and his skill with the guitar was exceptional.

I’d say everyone went away very entertained.

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Those who know me know that I’m particularly happy this time of year. That’s because my two favorite sports are being played. There is the “up close” look at the players at

Spring Training for Major League Baseball and the “root for the underdog” atmosphere of the college basketball tournament, known as “March Madness.”

I’ll be rooting for the Arizona Wildcats though for state pride (Boy, was that tough to say for a Sun Devil!).

Diane and I attended two fun spring training games to watch on Friday night and Sunday at Scottsdale Stadium.

In the Sunday game between the Giants and Angels, Madison Bumgarner looked like he was in mid-season form for the Giants. The World Series MVP gave up only one hit, a home run to Albert Pujols, in six innings of pitching.