For updates on the latest severe weather, Toledo Free Press media partner, FOX Toledo gives you the ability to track the severe weather from their website.

Not only can you stay up-to-date on the latest warnings and radar, but there are links to live webcams in the Toledo area.

On May 25, University of Toledo head football coach Tim Beckman announced that senior Isaiah Ballard had been removed from the team “for violation of team policies.” Ballard is the second Rocket football player this week to be kicked off the team due to assault charges. Junior Damien McIntosh was charged with felonious assault on May 20.

“Isaiah Ballard has been permanently removed from our football program,” Beckman said in a statement released through Toledo Associate Athletic Director of Media Relations Paul Helgren. “We have policies on our team for personal conduct that our players must adhere to. Any and all players must adhere to these policies.”

According to records Toledo Free Press obtained from Toledo Municipal Clerk of Court, Ballard was charged with felonious assault with the victim seriously harmed. The complaint — filed on May 19 — stated that “Isaiah L. Ballard did punch Carlos Ruiz several times in the face causing Medical treatment at Toledo Hospital for a mandible fracture.”

The warrant was returned on May 24, and Ballard’s arraignment took place on the morning of May 25, where he appeared with Attorney Samuel Kaplan. Ballard’s bond was set at that time, and Thomas Lake posted $1,500 cash of the $15,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 7 at 9 a.m. in court room No. 3.

The incident was not Ballard’s first run-in with the law. In addition to his pending felonious assault charge, Ballard has eight priors on his record dating back to Sept. 2007, of which he was found guilty on seven and dismissed on the other. Of his eight priors, Ballard was found guilty on four of five traffic charges (operation of vehicle at stop signs, operating a vehicle without seatbelt, flashing traffic signals; red stop light, driving without license), while the other three were disorderly conduct; engaging in fight/threaten, loitering; obstructing free passage of pedestrians or vehicles and failure to disperse, all of which he was found guilty.

A 2008 graduate of Rogers High School, Ballard was the Toledo City League Co-Player of the Year as a senior, earning first-team all-conference, first-team all-district and first-team Division II All-Ohio honors. Ballard started all 13 games for Toledo last season, replacing Dallas Cowboys’ safety Barry Church at the “star” spot on the Rockets’ defense, which is a hybrid position of linebacker and safety. He finished third on the team with 83 tackles to go along with two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2010.

Beckman did not respond to a phone call and voicemail for further comment on this story.

So, the world didn’t end. Again.

Nope, we’re all still here, having passed yet another date predicted to signify the end of all things. And we still have 2012 to get through next year. Woulda been nice if the apocalyptic crowd coulda died out after the year 2000 came and went without incident, but no. Folks simply migrate to the next available date and start all over again.

Entertainment is not immune to their influence. For as many times as it has been predicted that the world will die, it has actually occurred dozens of times more in the pages and screens of our fiction. So, what better way to celebrate the passing of yet another doomsday than to look at some of the best pop culture apocalypses? Come now, let’s feel alive by looking at all the ways life on Earth can be eradicated.

MOVIES: Nowadays, there’s no more popular apocalypse than a zombie-filled one. Undead humans prowling the streets has been the en vogue society-slayer for almost a decade now, ever since Danny Boyle reinvented the genre with his “28 Days Later” in 2002. But for my money, the best zombie flicks are still made by the one and only George Romero, and his masterpiece remains the original “Dawn of the Dead” from 1978. Both a shockingly gory horror story and a tremendously effective piece of social commentary, the film holds up remarkably to this day and outperforms the 2004 remake for both scares and satire.

But let’s say you want the kids in on the cataclysmic fun. It’s not exactly a tale of apocalypse, more like relocation, but still, the world is rather barren at the beginning of Pixar’s masterpiece “WALL-E” from 2008. The tale of a robot garbage compactor who is the last sentient being on Earth, the film manages to be funny, sad, touching, thrilling and more all at once. A must-see for all ages.

TELEVISION: The small screen has seen numerous tales of humanity’s last days as well, but few have been as well-written and as insightful about the human condition as the ones found among Rod Serling’s classic sci-fi series “The Twilight Zone.” From the sad tale of a lonely bookworm in “Time Enough at Last” to a look at how people’s mistrust of each other can lead to their downfall in “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street,” the show provided many visions of the end, but always used them to give insight into the present. The whole series is currently available on Netflix instant streaming.

For a longer and deeper tale, it’s hard to do better than the 1994 adaptation of Stephen King’s epic endtimes parable, “The Stand.” In a world wiped out by a man-made plague, humanity quickly divides into sects led by representatives of God and the Devil. A thrilling and engaging tale that probably goes on a bit too long, and ends on a somewhat confused note, but still well worth seeing. Also available for streaming via Netflix.

BOOKS: Let’s say you prefer your Armageddon on the printed page. You cannot do better than Cormac McCarthy’s brilliant 2006 novel “The Road.” Adapted into a feature film starring Viggo Mortensen, the original, Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is an epic and grim tale of a man and boy travelling along a barren landscape, fighting to survive. The nature of the apocalypse is unimportant to McCarthy, and doesn’t even warrant mentioning. For him — and us — the story lies in what people will do to survive. A visceral and involving tale that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished.

If you’re looking for a more comedic take on the world’s destruction, the best option is Douglas Adams’s classic sci-fi series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Witty, intelligent and funny as hell, the tale begins with Earth being eradicated to make way for a space highway and goes from there. Completists will want to seek out the original 1978 radio dramas and the original 1981 BBC series (also on Netflix). The 2005 movie isn’t bad, either, but nowhere near as memorable as the books.

COMICS: One of the best stories Marvel has told in the past ten years — and maybe the best Hulk story I’ve ever read — has almost no characters in it other than its big, green protagonist. That’s because “Hulk: The End,” one of a series of what-if tales Marvel released in recent years, takes place long after the human race has been wiped out and only one living thing remains on Earth — Bruce Banner. Because the Hulk will not let him die. The struggle between Banner and his alter ego for peace is one of the most powerful stories I’ve ever seen on a comics page. It’s a bit hard to find, but well-worth seeking out.

Toledo District 3 City Councilman Mike Craig filed a police report on May 18 against a citizen.

The man, whose name was redacted on the police report, allegedly threatened violence against Craig around 6 p.m. on May 17 at Michael’s Bar & Grill on the corner of Michigan and Monroe streets during a fundraiser for TPS School Board Vice President Lisa Sobecki.

“He threatened to beat me up,” Craig said. “He told me I shouldn’t show up to labor rallies anymore because the next time he wouldn’t be talking to me.”

Craig said the man got up from his table as he was preparing to leave, followed him to the door and stopped him.

“He doesn’t like my politics,” Craig said. “That stuff happens but it is inappropriate to make a physical threat on somebody. That’s just all there is to it.”

Craig said the conflict centered around a legislative decision on the council’s agenda about the Marina District. In his five years as councilman, Craig said he has never experienced a threat like that and filed the police report for the purposes of documentation.

“That’s really unfortunate, that should never happen,” Craig said. “Unfortunately my job is to do what’s best for the city of Toledo, not what’s best for any interest group. I was a member of a labor union for 16 years and an officer for 12-13. That’s not my job anymore. I do the best I can but there are times when you have to look out for the best interests of your constituency or the city.”

The report is listed as “cleared, no arrest,” but will serve as documentation in case any future incident occurs.

The latest reinvention of the “Mortal Kombat” game franchise, which began in the early ’90s, keeps fans in mind while ramping up the gore, violent content and, surprisingly, the profanity. Fighting game fans should not have any problems playing this game, as you can randomly “button mash” for a while — until you need to learn special moves, combos and fatalities for each playable character.

A new X-Ray feature lets players see opponents’ insides while fighting them while series standards remain including the shock value character deaths and scantily and impractically dressed female characters. Game features include the traditional 1 vs. 1 match plus online tournaments, “king of the hill” mode, new spectator participation and headset options. Tim Mackley and I weigh in respectively on the Xbox 360 version and the PlayStation 3 version, which includes an exclusive Stereoscopic 3-D feature.
Mackley: “Mortal Kombat” is visually impressive but to me seems very much like the same old fighting game.
Siebenaler: The visual production mixes 3-D action while retaining that 2-D feel. Even the familiar fighting arena format and the timing in the methodical movements feel the same.
Mackley: Players looking for the quick thrill still use great finishing moves and witness progressive damage as they pummel opponents. Clothes rip, muscles bruise and blood flows. As the game mechanic response time and quick reflex increases, so will the level of play. The effort is worth it when you experience the always entertaining results.
Siebenaler: Developers add a few scares for additional shocks. No room for a “gore off” option here. It’s all or nothing as veteran players just get more of the same game elements.
Mackley: Graphics are impressive, with fairly epic settings and backgrounds. Battle sequences are almost too bloody and cut scenes are graphic in the depiction of what would in real life be grievous death-inflicting wounds. It’s disappointing.
Siebenaler: The bone-crunching sound effects and 3-D effects help a little, but are not enough for a high recommendation.
“Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors” music soundtrack is available as are Kollector and Tournament editions of the game (**1/2, rated M for blood and gore, intense violence, partial nudity, and strong language).
— Michael Siebenaler with Tim Mackley

“Dreams are the language of creation.” – Bernie Siegel

Dear Dream Zone,
I dreamt I was with my boyfriend at a convention in a hotel. We had a good time but when we tried to leave through the parking garage we encountered a mob on the street that prevented us from leaving. There were fires and chaos and the police were murdering people. We tried to go back up the elevators through the parking garage but two corrupt cops stopped us and tried to beat us up. That’s when I woke up. – Melanie 29, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Lauri: Sounds like your inner mind is concerned that your relationship with your beau may not be going anywhere! When our dreams take place in a hotel it means our current situation is temporary. Dating is temporary because the couple will inevitably break up or marry. The parking garage also points to your relationship being “parked” and not moving forward. All that chaos surrounding you in the dream reflects your anxiety about the relationship coming to a nasty end if things don’t change and the corrupt police are a definite sign of confusion as to what is the right thing to do. Step outside the situation and try to see if one of you is rushing things or if one of you is holding the relationship back. Hopefully you can find a way to be on the same page, if not then just like in your dream, dooms day may be near! Good luck.

Melanie responds: Wow, I’m so thoroughly impressed! You couldn’t have gotten any closer to the truth with this interpretation! Before even reading your response today I broke up with my beau yesterday. I guess my mind was telling me that it was doomed from the start. Fortunately, we are still really close friends.

Fascinating Dream Fact:
Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones claims he got the riff to “Satisfaction” in a dream … or maybe it was a drunken stupor!

Lauri Quinn Loewenberg is a certified Dream Analyst, author of “Dream On It” and member of The International Association for the Study of Dreams. She joins The Kiss Morning Show on 92.5 every Tuesday morning at 7:10 analyzing listeners’ dreams. You can visit Lauri at www.thedreamzone.com

Episode 17 of Pop Goes the Podcast, Opening Band is now live. You can listen at the shared link or through the player below:

This and previous episodes can be downloaded at: PopGoesThePodcast.podbean.com.

Reach Jeff via email at: PopGoesJeff@gmail.com

Updated: The performance of JaneDear Girls was canceled on May 25. The JaneDear Girls are coming to Toledo on May 26 to kick off the Omni Summer Country Concert Series between tour dates with Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley.

Danelle Leverett and Susie Brown met six years ago when Brown was playing fiddle for a singer-songwriter in Nashville, and the duo was formed.

“Kris [Bergsnes], a mutual friend, dragged me out to her show and introduced us,” Leverett said. “I called her a couple weeks later to go swimming. We both had our instruments in the back of our cars, so we ditched swimming to write our first song together. We called Kris to help us finish the song. He noticed that first day we were a duo.”

The two members of the duo took different paths to their musical careers. Brown began playing fiddle when she was four years old and grew up in a family band. Leverett started in gymnastics when she was three years old and eventually traveled to Germany to train for the pre-Olympic trials. When she was 13 years old, she quit gymnastics in favor of soccer, basketball, volleyball and track.

“I played sports my entire life, and I broke my wrist pole vaulting when I was 17,” Leverett said. “I had my brother show me a couple of chords on the guitar and started writing songs. We come from two different backgrounds. She’s from the performing side of things, and I moved to Nashville mostly just to write songs. We’ve learned a lot from each other over the last six years. I’ve learned how to be a better performer from her, and she’s learned how to co-write. It’s been really fun.”

The band’s self-titled debut album peaked at No. 10 on the US Country charts. Brown wrote the debut single “Wildflower” about growing up in Utah, and the song reached No. 15 on the charts. Leverett wrote the current single “Shotgun Girl,” which has already cracked the Top 40.

“It’s really exciting to see a song you love and believe in get a shot at country radio,” Leverett said. “This song is very autobiographical. I wrote it at a time when I had a boyfriend and I loved riding around in his truck with him. I helped him pick out the truck he had. I found the truck I thought would best suit us. It had a bench seat, and little did I know bench seats aren’t cool anymore.”

The JaneDear Girls have been touring with Jason Aldean on the “My Kinda Party Tour” and are just starting a tour with Brad Paisley.

“Jason Aldean is one of our heroes in country music right now,” Leverett said. “He’s paving the way for new artists like us to do something different. He loves to rock, and so do we. Every night we get to watch and learn from him, and we get to try to keep up with him. He’s really at the top of his game right now. He’s on fire. For us to be part of his really big tour was an honor.”

The Omni is located at 2567 W Bancroft St. Tickets are available for $10.77 and can be purchased through TicketMaster.com, Culture Clash Records and the Omni box office.

Dave Calabrese was born to be an athlete. His family describes him as “naturally athletic” and the “ultimate go-getter.” Growing up, Calabrese played on soccer and baseball teams and also wrestled. He found his true passion when he entered high school and tried out for the football team; he eventually played regional semi-pro ball. That changed in 2008 when Calabrese went to the doctor complaining of slurred speech. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

This May 28, the third Annual Dave Calabrese Football Blitz will take place at the University of Toledo Glass Bowl. The day features a car show, a silent auction and three football games, benefitting the ALS Association.

MVP

By the end of his Maumee High School career, Calabrese had been named MVP, was the Student of the Week and was captain of the football team. After graduating from Maumee in 1991, Calabrese played for several semi-pro teams, including the Toledo Tornadoes and the Glass City Grizzlies.

Today, Calabrese is unable to speak, write or eat on his own. He will be confined to a wheelchair within a year. His life expectancy could be as few as three years.

ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that targets motor neurons, the cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements. Patients with ALS experience a progressive weakening of the muscles. They continuously deteriorate and eventually lose their ability to walk, talk, and eat. At this point there is no cure, and treatment options are few.

Hard but fair

After being diagnosed, Calabrese decided he was going to make the best of his situation. He soon became the owner of the Northwest Ohio Knights, a local semi-pro team.

“He loves his football. That and family are what keep him going,” said Dawn Szymkowiak, Calabrese’s mother. One of his players, Brandon Simmons, said Calabrese is a “hard but fair coach” and is “definitely the best coach [we’ve] ever had.”

Players and family familiar with Calabrese understand his method of communicating through sounds and some words.

“It’s real hard to watch him deteriorate everyday, but he’s got a great sense of humor,” Szymkowiak said. “You’ll never hear him complain.”

Calabrese communicated that the hardest thing about the gradual muscle atrophy isn’t being sidelined from his favorite sport, but “having to depend on other people.”

The Knights will kick off the 2011 season at 7 p.m. May 28 when they face the Detroit Diesels.

“We would like to get everyone out to raise money and increase awareness for ALS,” Szymkowiak said.

The event is “all about supporting ALS and our coach,” Simmons said. Tickets are $10 for all three of the games scheduled, with proceeds going to the ALS Association to aid patients directly and provide funding for research. For ticket information visit www.nwoknights.org.

Maybe Clive Barker isn’t the household name in horror fiction he was in the 1980s, but the grandmaster of scary stuff is still on his game and Jim Collins of JC’s Comic Stop is celebrating Barker’s newest foray into comic books. “Hellraiser,” from BOOM! Studios, marks only the third time the author has been involved with the multimedia franchise he kicked off in 1986.

“Hellraiser’ No. 2 is my pick for this week,” Collins said. “The main reason? It’s co-written by Clive Barker! The ‘Hellraiser’ series that was produced by Marvel in the 1990’s was good, but it was missing the master; other people wrote those stories, so it never truly captured that ‘Barker feel.’ With this new series you can feel your skin crawl and, oh, that sound you heard behind you? Don’t worry about it; it’s probably really nothing. Pinhead and his Cenobite friends only have your best interests in mind. Go back to reading this with the lights dim, phone off the hook and your shades drawn tight. I can only hope BOOM! is able to keep Clive doing what he does best.”
BOOM! has gotten quite a name for itself since it began in 2005, mostly for its all-ages comics, but recently it has amped it up with such older readers fare as “Eureka,” “Malignant Man,” “Irredeemable,” “Dracula: The Company of Monsters” and its latest license, “Planet of the Apes.” Set in the continuity of the original films, the new Apes tale broadens and deepens the mythology. Highly recommended.
Collins also points to another creepy comic to continue with the Halloween-in-May theme: “Vampirella and the Scarlet Legion” No. 1 from Dynamite.’ Written by Joe Harris and illustrated by Jose Malaga, this new companion title to the regular Vampi series continues to interject ‘new Blood’ into the Warren Publishing character created in 1969,” he said. “It seems that the Vatican-sponsored team of vampire slayers calling itself the Sisterhood has set its sights on CHAOS, a vampire cult that seeks humanity’s destruction. Only Vampirella and the newly formed Scarlet Legion stand in the way. The first issue ends with a bang and should only fuel your thirst for the next.”