Monday, May 21st 2012 • 12:24pm

Riverwalk Bird of the Week: Rose-breasted grosbeak

The folks in the Riverwalk Bird Club don't just watch birds. The group includes some excellent photographers.

Portions of North Chickamauga WMA closed to nonhunters during duck season

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency biologists are hoping a new regulation will improve waterfowl hunting on two units of the North Chickamauga Wildlife Management Area this winter.

Ringgold product Kyle Heckathorn returns home for a special start

Ringgold, Ga., native Kyle Heckathorn returned to the Chattanooga area Sunday as a member of the Hunstsville Stars to face the Lookouts at ATT Field in front of friends and family. Despite being stationed with the Huntsville Stars, the Double-A affiliate in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, former Ringgold High School standout Kyle Heckathorn was given the privilege of a midseason homecoming. The Ringgold, Ga., native was penciled in as the Stars starting pitcher for the fourth of a five-game series against the Chattanooga Lookouts. Despite a relatively small Sunday evening crowd at ATT Field, section 104 was filled with family and friends to cheer on the hometown hero. Just minutes before

Spring Fling: State tournament outlook and odds

Baseball Red Bank , Coach Trey Hicks First round McNairy Central What to Expect Red Bank is the only team among eight finalists with a losing record entering the tournament. They wont be favored to win a game, but that hasnt slowed a remarkable run through the postseason thus far. Odds of winning a title 10 percent Baylor , Coach Gene Etter What to Expect Baylor earned the top seed in the Middle/East Region, but was far from dominant. Introduce the top two teams from the west, and the road gets no easier. The Red Raiders open against last years state champion, Christian Brothers. Odds 15 percent Softball Grace Academy , Coach Tina Walker First round Forrest What to expect Grace has finished

UTC hoops update: 2012-13 schedule nearly complete

Chattanooga head coach John Shulman believes the Mocs' 2012-13 schedule could be finalized "possibly by Monday." Chattanoogas 2012-13 mens basketball schedule could be completed possibly by Monday, according to UTC head coach John Shulman. Shulman said the Mocs remaining open slot on the schedule will be a road money game at a high-major school. UTC is asking 80-90,000 for the guarantee game that will not come with a return visit from the opponent. Shulman said the Mocs have a deal in principle with an ACC opponent that he hopes will complete the teams schedule. UTCs 2012-13 schedule is highlighted by a trip to historic Allen Fieldhouse to face the Kansas Jayhawks, a participant in last seas

Local scores and schedules: State tournament field set

Spring Fling starts Monday, and the participants in each sport have been set. For more information, visit tssaa.org. All games are region semifinals, unless otherwise noted. Bolded teams advance to the state tournament. Baseball Boyd-Buchanan 2, Whitwell 1 South Pittsburg 5, Silverdale Academy 0 Region 3-A championship South Pittsburg 3, Boyd-Buchanan 2 Class A sectional Friendship Christian 10, Boyd-Buchanan 0 Red Bank 10 Polk County 9 Sequoyah 9, Central 5 Region 3-AA championship Red Bank 8, Sequoyah 7 Class AA SectionalRed Bank 8, Sequoyah 7 Livingston Academy 3, Notre Dame 2 Smith County 1, Signal Mountain 0 Warren County 4, Ooltewah 3 Walker Valley 13, Cookeville 2 Division II state qu