Sometimes referred to as the Super Bowl of bass fishing, the BASSmasters Classic began its three-day run today on Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C. With a $500,000 prize for the first-place finisher, the purse is not quite as big as the $1 million-plus available to the winner of the Bisbee's Black and Blue marlin tournament in Cabo San Lucas. However, far more anglers consider this event to be worthy of becoming a spectator. The contest even merits 13 hours of television programming this weekend on ESPN2.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the 110-angler field contains several current and former Northern California fishermen. One of the favorites to win the overall title is undoubtedly Skeet Reese of Auburn, who also happens to be the reigning Bass Anglers Sportsman Society "Angler of the Year."

Also on the roster are Greg Gutierrez of Red Bluff; Oroville native Gary Klein (currently of Weatherford, Texas); Chico State graduate Mark Tyler (currently of Scottsdale, Ariz.); Fred Roumbanis of Auburn; Ish Monroe of Hughson; and Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande.

Introducing One of the World’s Most Extensive Pillow Menus

To ensure every guest gets superb shut-eye, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, the global contemporary luxury hotel brand, has turned sleep into an experience by pioneering one of the worlds most extensive pillow menus.

Each pillow has its own unique properties, from anti-snore assistance to cold relief, and total relaxation to romance. Some of the pillows, such as the Porcelain Pillow (Conrad Centennial Singapore), the Tiba Pillow (Conrad Cairo) and the Shogun Pillow (Conrad Bangkok) pay homage to the local culture.

St. Lucie files to become a 'green county'

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Guess which driver's facing 21 years in prison — the drunk , rich ...

Considering the date, you might assume that at least one of the drivers was drunk — and you'd be right. Laura Varker was 17 years old, and she'd been tubing down the Salt River all day with her eight best girlfriends. Their T-shirts all read "Cinco de Drinko." Even an hour after the accident, Varker's blood-alcohol level was 0.09, over the legal limit for adults. And, as an underage driver, she was in violation of the law by having any amount of alcohol in her system.

One of Varker's girlfriends, 15-year-old Felicia Edwards, didn't drink a drop. But it was Edwards who died when Varker's Yukon Denali hit another car and flipped over and over like a tumbleweed before coming to a horrifying stop on the Bush Highway north of Mesa. Edwards was thrown from the SUV and pronounced dead at the scene.

Fatal bar beating suspects out on bail

VIROQUA, Wis. Two Gays Mills cousins suspected in the death of a Beloit man in a Readstown bar Thursday morning remained free on bail Monday after a hearing in Vernon County Circuit Court.Sheriff's investigators, meanwhile, are "trying to put together what happened, second by second, in the 23 feet between the barstool and the door ... down five steps and outside" at Pat's Corner Bar that night, said Chief Deputy James Hanson.
David A. Heisz, 26, posted $10,000 cash bond. His cousin, 28-year-old Mikeal E. Heisz, was released on a $10,000 signature bond. Both were ordered to stay away from each other, drugs, alcohol and any place that serves alcohol. Their next court date is Feb. 25.The two were in Pat's Corner Bar, celebrating David Heisz' birthday, on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, when 50-year-old Kelly R.