Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Two key interests consumed Marianne Elser Crowder as a girl: dancing and Girl Scouts. Dancing became her passion and her career. Scouting taught her lifelong skills and created lasting friendships. Crowder, 100, the nation's oldest living Girl Scout, was the guest of honor recently at the Girl Scouts-Wagon Wheel Council's annual Women of Distinction luncheon. The Colorado Springs, Colo., native joined the Council's Troop 4 in 1918. That was just one year after the council, one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River, began.

Lewis "Bud" Maytag Jr., who walked away from the appliance company founded by his grandfather to pursue an interest in flying that led to his becoming chief executive officer of National Airlines, died of cancer Sunday.His death in Colorado Springs, Colo., at age 64 came after a five-year struggle with cancer.Born in Rochester, Minn., he was heir to the Maytag Appliance Co. fortune when he moved to Colorado Springs while he was in high school. He later attended Colorado College.Shunning the family business, he became a pilot and founded Maytag Aircraft Corp.

Thirty-one years ago this month, Dorothy Hamill felt the weight of Olympic gold around her neck as she stood on the podium in Innsbruck, Austria. Her mind raced. Her emotions soared. Silently, she gave thanks to her parents, her coaches and her teammates. Four Continents Championships Today through Saturday, Colorado Springs, Colo. TV: ESPN, Feb. 18, 8 p.m.-11:30 p.m.

Memorial services for Donald L. Sweat, a Baltimore native who graduated from the Johns Hopkins University and then embarked on a career in electrical engineering, will be held at 4 p.m. today at the Ruck Funeral Home, 1050 York Road in Towson.Mr. Sweat died Wednesday, after a long illness, in Tucson, Ariz., where he had lived and worked the last five years. He was 49.Born in Baltimore and raised in the Northwood section of the city, Mr. Sweat attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the Johns Hopkins University, from which he graduated in 1964 with a degree in electrical engineering.

BaseballCleveland Indians -- Optioned C Eddie Taubensee to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League. Purchased the contract of IF Jose Escobar from Colorado Springs.BasketballNBA -- Fined Benoit Benjamin of the Seattle SuperSonics $1,500 for making an obscene gesture last week to the crowd at the Los Angeles Arena.CollegeCal-Irvine -- Named Rod Baker, assistant coach at Seton Hall, head basketball coach.Colorado State -- Named Stew Morrill, formerly of Montana, head basketball coach.Radford -- Named Ron Bradley, former Maryland assistant, head basketball coach.

BaseballCardinals: Placed IF David Howard (sprained left shoulder) on 15-day DL. Recalled IF Placido Polanco from Triple-A Memphis.Diamondbacks: Optioned P Jeff Suppan to Triple-A Tucson.Dodgers: Optioned OF Paul LoDuca to Triple-A Albuquerque. Activated 3B Bobby Bonilla from 15-day DL.Marlins: Received P Geoff Goetz from Mets as player to be named in Mike Piazza trade and assigned him to Single-A Kane County.Phillies: Signed OF Eric Valent, supplemental draft pick.Rockies: Activated OF Larry Walker from 15-day DL. Purchased contract of P David Wainhouse from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Moves Baseball BRAVES -- Traded OF Ryan Langerhans to Athletics for player to be named or cash. NATIONALS -- Placed P Jerome Williams on 15-day DL with sprained left ankle. Activated P Ray King from 15-day DL. ORIOLES -- Activated P Jaret Wright from 15-day DL. Optioned Jim Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk. ROCKIES -- Optioned P Ryan Speier to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Recalled P Denny Bautista from Colorado Springs. WHITE SOX -- Placed DH Jim Thome on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 28, with muscle strain in right rib cage.

Baseball Blue Jays: Recalled IF Chris Woodward from Triple-A Syracuse. Brewers: Signed P Butch Henry; assigned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. Devil Rays: Recalled 2B Brent Abernathy from Triple-A Durham. Placed OF Jose Guillen on 15-day disabled list. Diamondbacks: Activated IF Greg Colbrunn. Optioned Ryan Christenson to Triple-A Tucson. Mariners: Purchased contract of SS Geoff McCallum from Independent League Fargo-Moorhead. Marlins: Waived P Dan Miceli. Mets: Recalled P Grant Roberts from Triple-A Norfolk.

Brewers: Placed P Kevin Wickander on 15-day DL, retroactive to Thursday. Recalled P Steven Sparks from Triple-A New Orleans. Sent OF David Hulse to New Orleans on 20-day rehab assignment.Cubs: Placed P Mike Campbell (right elbow tendinitis) on 15-day DL, retroactive to June 30. Purchased P Tanyon Sturtze from Triple-A Iowa. Signed P Todd Noel, their top pick in amateur draft.Rockies: Optioned P Bryan Rekar to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Purchased contract of P Jamie Wright from Colorado Springs.