Old neighbors meet again at McKechnie Field

While Carol McKechnie Montgomery signs her book, "The Deacon’s Daughter" at McKechnie Field Saturday, there might be a reunion with Bob Blalock.
The Blalocks were neighbors of the McKechnies, who lived in Bradenton from 1947 until 1965 when Bill, a Baseball Hall of Famer, died in 1965. His wife, Beryl, died a few years earlier.
It was McKechnie who influenced Blalock to chair the task force that kept the Pittsburgh Pirates downtown and developed the plans for the current McKechnie Field.
"Bill McKechnie was one of the finest men ever," Blalock said.

Deputy Police Chief J.J. Lewis is retiring after 27 years with the city of Bradenton.

Big doings for Brian and Julia Schultz’s family.
Daughter Jessica and husband Troy Langford gave the folks another grandchild, Noah David, whose siblings are Addison and Nathan. Younger daughter Kristine got engaged to Derrick Gorris.
And the ol’ man, a restaurateur for years, just hired on at the Salvation Army as kitchen/commissary manager.

Steve Ramsey sings our national anthem Friday at McKechnie and Heather Wainscott does the honors for the Pirates Grapefruit League home finale Saturday.

Read more Friday in Vin's People on Bradenton.com.