John Walton
John Walton is in his eighth season behind the microphone in 2009-10 as the play-by-play voice of the Hershey Bears, and is one of the longest tenured announcers in the American Hockey League.

One of the longest tenured broadcasters in the American Hockey League, Walton called his 500th American Hockey League game on November 20, 2005 against the Rochester Americans at Giant Center. He surpassed another milestone during the 2008-09 campaign with his 800th AHL broadcast on January 18 against Worcester, the same game that Alexandre Giroux broke Brett Hull’s American Hockey League record by scoring in 16 consecutive games. The winner of the 2004 James H. Ellery Award for his radio work by the AHL, Walton celebrated his first Calder Cup championship behind the microphone in 2006 when the Bears defeated the Milwaukee Admirals four games to two at the Bradley Center in Wisconsin. Walton and WHTM-TV sports director Gregg Mace called the action on the telecast back to central Pennsylvania when the Bears claimed their ninth Calder Cup title on June 15, 2006. In 2009, Walton called his third Calder Cup Final in four years as the Bears again emerged victorious with a four games to two win over the Manitoba Moose. He again anchored television coverage back to the midstate, bringing the action of Hershey’s 10th title home to the fans in central PA.

Prior to his arrival in Hershey, Walton served as the public address announcer for the Cincinnati Reds from 1996-2002 at Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field. In a span of less than three weeks in 2002, he was at the microphone for the final game in Riverfront Stadium history and the first game ever played at Giant Center. During his time in Cincinnati, he also was the first play-by-play voice of the AHL’s Cincinnati Mighty Ducks from 1997-2000, and also served as a sports anchor for 700 WLW Radio, the region’s number one news/talk station. He began his hockey broadcasting career at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was the Voice of the Redskins from 1994-1996, and also announced football and basketball at WRBI-FM 103.9 in Batesville, Indiana in 1996. In addition to sports, Walton also was a disc jockey at WOXY-FM in Oxford, a station recognized by Rolling Stone Magazine four times in the 1990’s as one of the magazine’s “15 Best Radio Stations”. During his college days, Walton was sports director of Miami University’s WMSR-AM, and worked with current Fox Sports host Chris Rose and current St. Louis Blues broadcaster Chris Kerber while in Oxford.

It was his tie with Kerber that opened the door in 2008 for Walton’s National Hockey League debut. On December 18, at the invitation from his buddy from college, Walton called the second period for St. Louis against Washington on KMOX-1120 and the Blues Radio Network from Verizon Center in Washington. Walton worked on the broadcast with former NHL enforcer Kelly Chase.
When not immersed in hockey, Walton quietly sits deep inside Nittany Lion country cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes, and spends the summers hoping the Minnesota Twins can find their way back to postseason play.

A Columbus, Ohio native who grew up in the shadows of the University of Minnesota and the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, Walton lives in Lancaster with his wife Julie, and has a daughter Kelsey (15) and son Jack (12). Jack has been known to make cameo appearances on the Bears Radio network from time to time, and is an official spokesperson for Fairview Golf Course in Lebanon.

Don Scott
Don Scott has served as the Public Address announcer for the Hershey Bears since 1991 and was the Associated Press writer for the Bears for 18 years. In 2003 he started doing the game scoring when not on PA and is the Saturday morning newsman for WLBR AM 1270 in Lebanon.

He has covered local and area sports for more than 40 years for Lebanon County radio stations and the Lebanon Daily News. He currently writes the weekly column The Hockey Corner for The Sun of Hummelstown.

Don is the recipient of the 1987 Amateur Softball Association of Pennsylvania Sportscaster of the Year and is a 2001 Central Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame inductee.

J. Michael Sheldon
J. Michael Sheldon, one of three public address announcers for the Hershey Bears, is a former news anchor for WGAL-TV in Lancaster with commercial broadcast announcer and newscaster experience at radio stations ranging from WNUE in Fort Walton, Florida to WFEC and WCMB/WSFM in the Harrisburg area. He’s also worked as a newspaper reporter, a vice president of communications with a large local non-profit agency and as a public relations director for a three-state association.

Sheldon holds four college degrees ranging from associates through a doctorate, including a master’s degree in Journalism with emphasis in public relations from Temple University. At one time, he was one of three national ‘voices’ being considered by NFL films as the replacement for the late-great John Facenda; however, the position was awarded to another late-great, Harry Kalas.

He credits his love of hockey and his devotion to the Bears as the driving force that brought him to the Bears’ announcer’s booth, even though his full-time job is being an attorney. He has been named to the 2009-2010 “Who’s Who in American Law” and has been voted for three consecutive years as the Harrisburg Magazine “Reader’s Choice – Criminal Attorney”. He also enjoys motorcycles, photography and .. of course, the Bears. Sheldon resides in the Harrisburg area.

Game Night MC

Jim Jones
Jim has been involved with the team since the 1994-95 Season. He started out as "Sign Boy" for Let's Make a Deal. Jim has worked with Ed Coffey doing on ice promotions and Youth on Ice in the past. His job now is running the stairs at Giant Center doing the game break promotions in the stands. He is also auctioneer for all of the Bears Charity Jersey Auctions (with Ed) and has filled in doing color commentary with Dan Kamal, Dave Mishkin and John Walton!

Jim is a graduate of Mercersburg Academy and Penn State University (1980), with a degree in Turfgrass Management. In his "spare" time he is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent as well as Vice President and Director of Golf Operations at Fairview Golf Course ... off ice home for many, many Hershey Bears past and present!

Anthem Singers

Leslie Barton
Leslie Barton comes from Mountville, Pennsylvania. She is a Hempfield High School graduate and is currently a senior business student at Millersville University. While growing up, Leslie performed in talent shows, musicals, churches, choirs and even toured Europe with American Music Abroad. In 2005, Leslie was crowned the winner of Lancaster Headliners where she performed at the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA. In 2008, Leslie had the opportunity to perform at Spotlight Live in the heart of Times Square, NYC. She has also been a featured performer for Countdown Lancaster and a national anthem singer for the Philadelphia Eagles. Currently focusing on her song-writing, she hopes to someday become an established singer/songwriter and tour the world with her music. In the meantime, Leslie is thrilled to sing for the Hershey Bears for her fifth season!! She thanks God for blessing her with an amazing gift and the opportunities to share it. She would also like to thank her family and friends for their continued love and support.

Michael Benson
Michael Benson is honored to sing for the Hershey Bears for a sixth season. He is a graduate of Milton Hershey High School and Pennsylvania State University, earned his CPA, and is employed at the Pennsylvania Securities Commission as the Deputy Chief Accountant. Michael attends Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Mechanicsburg and serves as a member of the Praise Team. In addition to singing, Michael and his family actively host foreign exchange students and enjoy teaching them about American life and history. He is a proud father of two sons and two daughters and an exchange daughter from Germany. Michael’s wife and family reside in Enola. The entire family hopes the Bears have another exciting championship season. GO BEARS!!!

Brandon Bitner
Brandon W. Bitner, 25, is a native of Hershey. Brandon has earned an Associate of the Arts degree in Professional Music from the School for Music Vocations at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa. He has also earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mansfield University. Brandon is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and is the new lead singer of local band, Short Bus Heroes.

Lesa Close
Lesa Close is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. After living in California for twenty-five years, she decided to become a Pennsylvania resident in 2008, and proudly calls Harrisburg "home". Lesa has been passionate about music her entire life, and has spent a great deal of time refining and sharing her gift--which includes playing seven instruments--through singing at church, weddings, school choirs, and by giving music lessons. Lesa is very active in her church--East Shore Baptist Church of Harrisburg--and is the guitarist and one of the female lead vocalists on the worship team. Lesa currently works for a lobbying firm in downtown Harrisburg, but would eventually like to spend her time helping and serving others who are in need. She became a regular national anthem soloist while in college, and is thrilled to have been selected as a singer for the Bears!

Laura Delaney
Laura has a passion for singing and doesn’t usually turn down an opportunity to do so. She has been singing ever since she can remember, participating in school choir, church and wedding performances, local sporting events, Lehigh Valley’s May Fair and the Philadelphia 76ers. She also grew up in a family that loves hockey, so singing for the Hershey Bears is always exciting! Laura is a graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Corporate Communication and has worked in the fields of marketing and promotion. Originally from the Lehigh Valley, she is a proud wife and mother who now resides in central Pennsylvania. Laura feels blessed to be able to share her God-given talent and to have the support and love of her family.

Krista Jakubik
Krista Jakubik was born and raised in Hummelstown and lived there most of her life. She attended Shipppensburg University and received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. After teaching in Norfolk City Schools, in Virginia, she moved back home to Hummelstown and currently teaches Kindergarten Readiness at Derry Preschool in Hershey. Krista lives with her three children Andy, Katie and Joe, and her two dogs, Bubba and Booboo! Krista has been singing since she was 10 years old and has been now for 41 years! She is a member of Grace United Methodist church in Hummelstown and is very active with the music program. In addition to being in the adult choir, she sings solos and special music and also produces, directs and sometimes performs in the annual children's spring musical. Musical Theatre has always been a favorite of Krista's. Her Grace family has been such a great support system for her, as well as her children and her "sweetheart" Nelson and for that she thanks them! She feels blessed to be able to share her voice and is glad to be given the chance! This will be Krista's third season with the Bears and she's really looking forward to it! She's honored to be back with the "Calder Cup" Champions!!! Let's go BEARS!!!!

Erin Kelly
Erin Kelly is 14 years old and a student at Orefield Middle School. She sings for numerous charities across the region and is a member of DreamKids--a group of children that raise over $14,000 each year for chronically and terminally ill children to be granted a wish through the Dream Come True Foundation. She opened up at Fallfest in Lancaster at age 10 for radio station WIOV. She has performed at the Capitol in Harrisburg, the Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., and for the Philadelphia Phillies and 76ers. She also performed at half-time at the season opener for the New York Knicks in 2007. She is honored to be singing for the Hershey Bears again this season...GO BEARS!!

Amy Beniston Lambert
Amy Beniston Lambert, who resides with her husband in Hummelstown, has been singing with the Hershey Bears since the good ‘ol days back in the "barn.” Amy holds an associates degree in Theater from Harrisburg Area Community College and has been singing and acting since the age of 10. She has performed in churches, weddings, college productions, and community theater. In addition to singing, she has also been seen in commercials for Lowes, Hersheypark, Stauffers of Kissel Hill, and the movie "Girl Interrupted." Right now she is happily enjoying newlywed bliss. My love goes out to my parents, my brother (my favorite game companion besides my dad), my in-laws, and most of all my amazing husband, Leon. All of you have been such a wonderful support to me and I can't tell you how much I love you for that!! Best of luck to the Bears! Make the season last until June!!

Janelle Sowers
Janelle Sowers, originally from York, Pa., is thrilled to be back for another great season with the Bears!! She is currently a Junior pursuing a degree in Musical Theatre at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa. She has spent the past two summers performing at amusement parks through RWS and Associates, an entertainment company based out of NYC. She spent this past summer in upstate NY performing at Darien Lake Theme Park Resort in the country show and as one of Bob the Builder's Can-Do Crew members! The summer previous, she worked as a performer at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, PA; you may have even seen her in a Dutch Wonderland commercial as one of Thomas the Tank Engine's Engineers! Janelle has been involved in many productions, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, Escape from the Box, Anything Goes, and many more. Janelle feels extremely blessed to be able to pursue her dream, and is grateful for every opportunity that comes her way! GO BEARS!!