Youngstown cop begins her television ‘Race’ tonight

When Kent State University women’s basketball coach Lori Bodnar found out that Jessica Shields – one of her former players – will be a contestant on “The Amazing Race,” she was surprised and not surprised, at the same time.

“I knew she had been trying to get on that show, or ‘Survivor,’ for the past couple of years,” said Bodnar. “It was one of her dreams.”

The longtime coach said that what Shields is doing is “amazing,” and she is definitely going to be watching when the season begins tonight at 10 on CBS.

In an earlier interview, Shields – who is a Howland High School graduate and a Youngstown police officer – credited coach Bodnar with getting her started in weight training and getting into better shape.

“She couldn’t even do one box jump when she first got here,” said Bodnar, referring to the exercise in which a person jumps onto a platform 15- to 17 inches off the ground from a dead stop.

Shields also remembered.

“I couldn’t curl 5 pounds when I started [at Kent State],” said Shields. Now she is so strong, and with such an admirable physique, that she will compete in her first bodybuilding tournament in May.

Shields was a full-scholarship athlete at Kent State. She wasn’t a starter, but she did start a number of games due to other players’ injuries, said Bodnar, and she turned in some successful games.

Shields said going to the police academy also prepared her for “The Amazing Race” – both physically and mentally. Contestants on the show have to overcome challenges of both types as they traverse the globe and try to finish each leg first. The season has 12 weekly episodes.

2DEEP ENTERTAINMENT BUYS DOWNTOWN BUILDING

2Deep Entertainment is moving to downtown Youngstown, a move that reflects its success.

The concert and event promotion company owned by Terrill Vidale had been renting space in Boardman, but on Saturday, it will formally open at its new building at 237 E. Front St. That’s next to Covelli Centre, on the South Avenue side.

Vidale – who called the location “strategic” – bought the building for $360,000. His company will occupy a quarter of the available space, with the rest being rented to tenants, including a credit union and possibly an insurance office.

2Deep has staged concerts and other events at quite a few colleges across the country, including the University of Cincinnati, Alabama A&M and Youngstown State University. But the company is best known locally for its Gospel Fest, which takes place every summer on Central Square.

Gospel Fest has been a huge success from its start a few years ago. Credit goes to Vidale for recognizing – and then filling – this very significant but previously underserved market, and also for pulling together a coalition of community and church leaders in the process.

2Deep will have a grand opening at its new building from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

THE VINDYS TO OPEN SHOW AT HOUSE OF BLUES

The Vindys will be the opening act for the April 21 concert by country music star Hunter Hayes at House of Blues in Cleveland. It marks the first time the Youngstown-based band will share the stage with a national act. It’s also a testament to its ability to fit in on almost any bill, regardless of the music style.

The band will release its next album the day after the House of Blues concert, and will perform that same night at the Federal Frenzy festival on West Federal Street. Its members are Jackie Popovec, John Anthony, Clay Colley, Scott Boyer and Ed Davis.

Guy D’Astolfo covers entertainment for The Vindicator. Follow him on Twitter at @VindyVibe.