The week's good news: August 16, 2018

It wasn't all bad!

Boy shakes hand of boy who gave him foul baseball.
(Image credit: Screenshot/CBS News)

1. Young baseball fan starts 'line of awesomeness' by sharing foul ball with stranger

During Tuesday night's Detroit Tigers game, Travis Blackwell started what he called a "line of awesomeness." When a foul ball flew into the stands, his dad caught it and tossed it to Blackwell. The 10-year-old then ran down to the row of seats where Michael Ogden, 7, was sitting with his family, and handed him the ball. "I wanted to make his day," he told CBS News. Blackwell said that a few years ago, an adult gave him a foul ball at a game, and he wanted to pay it forward. Ogden thought what Blackwell did was "awesome," so at Wednesday's Detroit Tigers game, when a ball came flying over to the stands and a man threw it to him, Ogden passed it along to a girl sitting behind him. "It was her first baseball she has ever had," Ogden said.

CBS News

2. On his adoption day, boy adorably announces he's going to be a big brother

July 16 was a big day for Jeremiah Dickerson. Not only was the 4-year-old adopted by his foster parents, Jordan and Cole Dickerson, but he also got to announce to the world he's going to be a big brother. "It was an emotional day," his mom, Jordan, told Good Morning America. Jordan is a pediatric nurse at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis, and that's where she met Jeremiah in January 2017. He needed foster parents who knew how to take care of his tracheal tube, and after a stint with another family, went home with Jordan and Cole. A year later, after his adoption was official, Jeremiah posed outside the Tennessee courthouse for photos holding a picture of his sister's sonogram behind a sign reading, "Today I became a Dickerson. Up next ... big brother."

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Good Morning America

3. Police in New Jersey rescue bride and groom from floodwaters

On Saturday evening, while driving to their wedding, bride and groom Sabrina Torens and Connor Reilly got caught in a massive storm in New Jersey. Officer Michael Laferrera responded to their call for help, and got his car as close as possible to the stranded vehicle. He climbed on the roof, then reached out to Torens, who had climbed out of her sunroof. Torens was in her wedding gown, which managed to stay dry throughout the entire ordeal. Reilly scrambled out behind her, and the couple went on to continue their wedding festivities. "It was definitely a first for my career and [Laferrera's] career," Sgt. Geoffrey Cole told NorthJersey.com.

NorthJersey.com

4. College student picks up a paintbrush, and 9 months later has a major art exhibit

It started as a whim, and turned into an opportunity all artists dream about. University of Miami student Matthew Hanzman is studying political science, but decided nine months ago that he wanted to "give this art thing a good shot," he told The Miami Herald. The 21-year-old began painting, and now, more than 70 of his pieces will be on display at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, where he is the first painter in the Emerging Artists Showcase. Miami is "eclectic" and "vibrant," Hanzman said, and he told The Miami Herald his artwork "reflects Miami's diversity." Hanzman is about to start his senior year at the University of Miami, and while he's not giving up his political science studies, he's now "completely obsessed with art," he said. "I hope to keep this going in the future."

The Miami Herald

5. First responders take care of family's pet fish during Northern California wildfire

Grant the fish made quite a few friends this summer. The Carr Fire has been burning in Northern California for several weeks, and earlier this month, Grant's family had to evacuate, leaving him behind in their home. Grant's young owner was told by her father that Grant probably did not survive the fire, but "both were in for quite a shock when they returned home to a note and well-fed fish!" Cal Fire shared on its Facebook page. Cal Engine 1489 left a note next to the fish's tank, letting the family know they had "fed your fish a few sprinkles." Underneath that message, someone from the Corning Police Department wrote that they also fed Grant, and wished the family "good luck."

ABC 7

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.