Around the area

Johnson headed to Furman Hall
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Former Furman head football coach Bobby Johnson headlines a class of three former greats selected for induction into the Furman University Athletics Hall-of-Fame.

Currently the head coach at Vanderbilt, Johnson, who spent 24 years as a member of Furman’s football staff in the capacities of assistant coach (1976-80, 82-92), defensive coordinator (1984-92), and head coach (1994-01), will be enshrined along with one of his former players, All-America return specialist/wide receiver Des Kitchings, and All-America soccer performer Emily Turgeon.

Induction ceremonies are scheduled for July 25.

Bike decoration on the Fourth
The Unitarian Fellowship Church parking lot will be the site of the Fourth of July Parade & Bike Decoration Extravaganza.

The event begins at 1:45 p.m. and runs for an hour before the parade begins at 3 p.m.

Globetrotters select 49ers standout
CHALROTTE — Charlotte 49ers 6-7 forward Charlie Coley, III was among five players taken by the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters in the team's third annual draft. Coley, who awed crowds with his amazing dunking ability, finished his two-year 49ers career second all-time with 102 career dunks.

Coley won back-to-back 49ers Slam Dunk contests at the 49ers annual Basketball Madness and finished as runner-up in the 2009 ESPN Slam Dunk Championship. Coley was featured in several game broadcasts with his variety of dunks that include windmill, tomahawk, breakaway and alley-opp jams. During the 49ers Slam Dunk contest, Coley jumped over 6-10 center Phil Jones for one dunk, over DiJuan Harris riding a stationary bike for another and over a chair set on a folding table.

This past year, Coley averaged 8.9 points and a team-high 6.8 rebounds. He added 31 blocks along with his 55 dunks.

Coley was joined in the draft by Oklahoma senior Taylor Griffin, brother of expected #1 NBA draft choice Blake Griffin, ESPN slam dunk champion Tony Danridge, 2009 Patriot League Player of the Year Derrick Mercer and acrobatic U.S./Premier League goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Roberts, Trivette win at WRP
WILKESBORO — Frank Roberts, driving his Corvette, finally got his first win of the 2009 season in Top ET this past Saturday night when he took out the hard charging dragster of Morganton's Bobby Buchanan.

Boone's Michael Trivette drove his wheel standing Mercury Comet to victory over last week’s winner Randy Richardson and his bad Vega from Fancy Gap, Va.

In Jr. Dragsters, Millers Creek’s Travis Yates beat WRP points leader Tom Beasley of Taylorsville. This was Yates' first points race win of the season.

In the Classic Gear Jammers, it was all bowtie cars when Rick Smith and his classic Chevy Wagon ended the Hull family domination at WRP by taking the win over Bill Hull and his ’69 Camaro. This was Smith's first WRP victory.

Former GSU ace promoted to Double-A
SPRINGDALE, Ark. - Former Georgia Southern standout Everett Teaford was promoted over the weekend to Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals.