Santa Barbara, CA

Mountain View, CA

Los Angeles, CA

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Herbie J Pilato

It's been more than four decades since former child star William “Billie” Thomas Jr. died in Los Angeles of a heart attack at only 49 on October 10, 1980. Best known as "Buckwheat," the character he portrayed in the original Hal Roach-ignited Our Gang/Little Rascals classic film shorts from 1934 to 1944, Thomas faced similar challenges and misfortunes of several of his co-stars and other former child actors. This is his story.

Billie "Buckwheat" Thomas - 'Little Rascals'/'Our Gang' Child Star: 44 Years After His Tragic Death

Los Angeles County, CA

It's been eight years since beloved former child star and Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke died from sepsis (a ruptured intestine) at only 69 in 2016. She was also the recipient of two Golden Globes, three Emmys, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In the 1960s, she was the star of her own TV sitcom. In the mid-1980s, she served as President of the Screen Actors Guild. Through it all, she was married four times (including once to actor John Austin), had three sons, and never stopped acting. This is her tragic yet triumphant story.

In Memory of Former Child Star and Oscar-winning Actress Patty Duke: 8 Years After Her Tragic Death

New Jersey State

Glendale, CA

It's been nine years since beloved actor James Avery died due to complications from open-heart surgery in a Glendale, CA hospital. Best known as Judge Philip "Uncle Phil" Banks on Will Smith's hit 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (NBC, 1990-1996), Avery was only 68 years old. This is his tragic story.

In Memory of James Avery (Uncle Phil on 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'): 9 Years After His Tragic Death

South Carolina State

In 1981, pop-music sensation Andy Gibb was at the top of the charts. The younger brother of Barry, Robin, and Maurice, a.k.a. The Bee Gees, commenced a tumultuous romance with actress Victoria Principle, who played Pam Ewing on Dallas, TV's then-Number 1 prime-time series. But after the relationship ended, Andy's life, already challenged by substance abuse, did as well. This is their tragic story.

The Tragic Death of Pop Star Andy Gibb & His Traumatic Romance with 'Dallas' Star Victoria Principle

Kanawha County, WV

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Boone County, WV

South Charleston, WV

Michael Ramsburg

TEEN DEATH: A student from Madison Middle School in Boone County has died after sustaining injuries during football practice on Friday, Aug. 23. Schools throughout the Kanawha Valley are sharing their condolences with family and friends of 13-year-old Cohen Craddock. Students and staff at Nitro High School were asked to wear red and black -- Madison Middle School's team colors -- on Monday in Craddock's memory. South Charleston High School will do the same on Wednesday, Aug. 28. "Our hearts go out to Boone County’s Madison Middle School Redhawks as they face the loss of a young football player and friend, Cohen Craddock," SCHS officials wrote on social media. "The entire SCHS community stands with the Madison Middle community during this difficult time."

Morning Update: Teen athlete's death, 'Mountaineer Main Street', ongoing drought

It's been two decades since beloved actor Brian Kelly died of pneumonia at 73 in 2005. Best known as Porter Ricks in the classic TV family show Flipper(NBC, 1964-1967), Kelly had once suffered a paralyzing motorcycle accident that ended his acting career. However, he rechanneld his creative talent and became a producer. This is his story.

The Paralyzing Accident & Tragic Death of TV's 'Flipper' Father Brian Kelly: Two Decades Later

Anaheim, CA

Tiffany T.

Disneyland is making significant changes to one of its classic attractions, Peter Pan’s Flight, in an effort to remove insensitive racial stereotypes and to better represent indigenous cultures. Walt Disney Imagineering released plans to update the portrayal of Tiger Lily and the Never Land Tribe, ensuring that the characters are depicted with dignity and cultural authenticity and released the below photo of the changes.

Disneyland to Make Big Changes to a Classic Ride

Dennis Weaver, who died of cancer in 2006, was a talented actor who left his indelible mark in three hit TV shows: Gunsmoke (CBS, 1955-1964; 1974), Gentle Ben (NBC, 1967-1969), and McCloud (NBC, 1970-1977). Before and after those iconic programs, Weaver had some hits and misses and some self-doubts about leaving the security of the long-running Gunsmoke series after almost a decade. The actor delivered countless performances before, during, and after that show. Some included small screen appearances in a compelling episode of The Twilight Zone, and the groundbreaking TV-movie Duel (Steven Spielberg's first full-length film). This is his story.

Dennis Weaver Hit the TV Trifecta with Three Top Shows, But Knew Leaving 'Gunsmoke' Was "Risky"

Alabama State

Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Today

On Sunday, a year after a Clay County man drove to their neighborhood to target Black people, the three victims of the mass shooting in Northwest Jacksonville were remembered by their family, friends, loved ones and the wider community.

Soil collection ceremony marks 1-year anniversary of Dollar General shooting

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, quotes and commentary in this article are from interviews conducted by the author with those mentioned.]. The multi-Emmy-nominated actress and political advocate Elizabeth Montgomery (who died of cancer in 1981) was upset upon learning that Jonathan White, the son of her Bewitched co-star David White (who died of a heart attack in 1990), had perished in the horrific Pan-Am incident over Lockerbie in 1988.

Liz Montgomery Was "Furious" 'Bewitched' Co-Star David White Lost Son in 1988 Pan-Am/Lockerbie Crash

Hollywood, CA

Rancho Mirage, CA

Palm Springs Tribune

A rare opportunity has emerged in the heart of Rancho Mirage as a notable Hollywood Producer and his wife list their mid-century modern estate located within the exclusive Historic Estates of Tamarisk Country Club.

Hollywood Power Couple Lists Rancho Mirage Estate Behind the Historic Estates Gates of Tamarisk Country Club

Green Bay, WI

Northern Kentucky Tribune

Joe Heller was the editorial cartoonist for the Green Bay Press-Gazette in Green Bay, Wis., from 1985 until being laid off in July 2013. He still draws several cartoons a week and distributes them through his own syndicate. Through Heller Syndication, his cartoons regularly appear in more than 400 newspapers, making him the most successful self-syndicated editorial cartoonist in the nation. His cartoons are reprinted many times in USA Today, Denver Post, St. Paul Pioneer Press, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek Japan, The Week and The Washington Post. Joe’s cartoons have won numerous distinctions, including 10 Best of Gannett awards, eight Milwaukee Press Club awards and two Honorable mentions for the John Fischetti Award. He lives in Green Bay with his wife, Pamela. He is a regular featured cartoonist for the NKyTribune .

Joe Heller: Cartoonist on news — Off to college, Biden-Harris, aging student, Covid surge

As the quick-witted waitress character Shirley Wilson on TV's beloved sitcom What's Happening!!, charismatic actress Shirley Hemphill gained attention. The series originally aired on ABC and was later rebooted in syndication in the 1980s. In each edition of the show, Hemphill, who died twenty-five years ago at only 52 in 1999, made her mark. This is her story.

The Short Life of TV Star Shirley Hemphill ('What's Happening!!'): 25 Years After Her Tragic Death

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, commentary and quotes in this article are from an interview conducted by the author with those mentioned.]. She was a beloved character actress of the stage, television, and big screen. She was best known as Aunt Harriet in the original 1960s small-screen production of Batman (ABC, 1966-1969). However, she was almost fired from that super hit series before the show's star Adam West stepped up and saved her job. Her name was Madge Blake, she died shortly after the Batman series was canceled, and this is her story.

Original TV 'Batman' Star Adam West Kept Madge Blake (Aunt Harriet) From Being Fired in 1969

Summerland, CA

Goleta, CA

Carpinteria, CA

Ventura, CA

Oak View, CA

Santa Ynez, CA

Ojai, CA

Los Olivos, CA

Solvang, CA

Buellton, CA

NewsBreak

Santa Barbara High Boys Golf Earns Fourth-Place Finish at CIF-SS Div. 5 Team Championships

Santa Barbara High boys golf finished in fourth place at the CIF-SS Div. 5 Team Championships on Monday at Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach. The...

Santa Barbara High Boys Golf Earns Fourth-Place Finish at CIF-SS Div. 5 Team Championships

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