I've yet to check things out. What's the status?

My feet are itching to go, but . . . my back might be another story.

Bart, the warming house is not open yet and the sled run is a work in progress. However, the rink is in pretty pretty good shape and skateable.

Thanks. I'm there!

Now, not to make people mad at me, but I hope the weather stays cold. Not bitter, just in the 20s,

Right on Bart! Love the outdoor rink.

Got back a little while ago and can report the ice is good. Still early and not all the rink is ready, but that's the case in December. Anytime we can skate around Christmas I consider myself fortunate.

I love the smell of that river bank area and with the temps. hovering 32 degrees it was just right.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a little colder, but still well worth the trip to the rink. So, go down into the basement, out in the garage, or across the street (which we did for one kid) and borrow some skates. Then head down to the rink and enjoy.

Bart, if you're talking about the Agri-Sports Complex ice rink: It's up and running! The Miles City Generals U-19 Girls had their first game there yesterday. Come check out all the hockey action! I believe there is public skating today (Sunday). If not today, then for sure over the Christmas holiday!
For more hockey action go to:
http://www.mcgenerals.org.

No, I'm talking about the outdoor city rink.

But, I am glad to hear the hockey rink is going. I've got a young friend who skates with one of the younger teams and knew some work was having to be done on getting the chillers chilling the ice. Sidney is a nice play to visit, but not for practice. The Miles City hockey rink is a pretty impressive piece of work. In fact, I commend the folks that take care of all that pipe.

The Agri-Sports Complex is a huge jump from the days of the wood paneled rink down by the tennis courts.

As the city's outdoor rink, hope to be down there this afternoon.

Maybe, today, we'll just skate on the sidewalks.

Bart, we are going to scrape it and give it a shot tomorrow- so hopefully good ice for Christmas Break.

The place was jumping Sunday afternoon. A good sight.

The ice rink was busy again this afternoon -- Tuesday the 29th. Good to see. The ice is really getting good.

Now, one big question kept coming up. That's right -- the warming house. I understand the parks department is down a man. How is that going to effect hours this year? Any chance of a volunteer program?

A Midrivers man was installing a new phone in the warming house and had people trying to follow him inside.

Bart, the warming house opens this Sunday from noon till seven every day of the week until the ice melts. Hope to see you soon.

We recently got a new Parks employee but he is with other departments part of the time. So, went went from five full time employees to 2-1/3. We have enough manpower to cover the rink.

Two frozen thumbs up to the news!

We just got back -- trying to get one more skate in for 2009. That south end is getting good.

I was hoping the full moon would come out tonight. The last time we a Blue Moon on New Year's Eve we were skating in Bozeman and it was beautiful. I wanted to repeat it here in My Old Silly, ah, Miles City. Every 19 years, means I'd be pushing 70 the next Blue Moon. I'll need more than the warming house.

Warming house is open!

Man, was it nice to put on skates inside -- and it's not even very cold today. Later this week, that warming house is really going to be appreciated.

The rink was packed like the old days on Saturday.

Ice-hope to see you at the rink later today.

I love Ice Skating, that is with shoes on. If I were to try with skates on, I would eat it... Over and over... Balance + Me = Not happening.

Talk about nostalgia! Maybe it's because i can no longer get out there on the ice or maybe it's because of my 6th birthday on this day back in 1950...I had been pretending to be a skater for two years by hitting the rink across the street in my 8 bladed skates..but this was different; my very own pair of hockey skates, skates that Santa never brought in 1949. I must have fallen a hundred times that day so long ago but did it discourage me...not by a long shot! We lived at 115 N Strevell and the entire block across the street where Jefferson School is now located was vacant. The City made a great 1 foot wall around a quarter of that block..(big rink) and flooded it with the smoothest ice on the planet! Well, at least i thought so. In those days everyone and their whole family skated. Every night after school the rink would fill up with probably a hundred or so kids and when their were Christmas trees to burn skating would go on into the night.

I sometimes wonder what kind of trouble i could have gotten into had that rink not been there for me. When i got into high school the neighborhood rink was gone...replaced by Jefferson School but there was always the Bowl at the high school..Hockey! Ice Racing! Wow! Good thing i practiced when young because now there were the big boys that had been brought up on different neighborhood rinks all over the city and these guys were freakin fast boy!

I remember one race in particular., a big one. There were the guys who knew who was going to win but wanted to race anyway and then there were guys like me who wanted to win. Eddie Harris was the champ. No one skated as fast as Eddie did..even I, who was lightening fast could never hope to beat Eddie Harris (played later for Burch's band, The Walkers) even me. Well the race was one time around the bowl and coming up to the finish line were scores of spectators cheering us on. It was me and Eddie Harris at the end and when i made my move to go around him his skate caught me in the shin and i went down with a two inch gash in my bloody leg.

Ahhh the memories! I hope that all of you skaters in Miles City have good ice all season and that you cherish the memories of the present time spent on the rink. btw/Happy New Year

Richard,

The avoiding the "big kids" is how I learned to skate as well . . . at the present rink site. All of us learned to skate by getting the heck out of the way, or being plowed over/under. As a kid, it was less racing and more of a game that was a cross of tag and hockey with people skating from end to end. It got crazy. I don't remember any injuries, but I'm sure there were a few.

I'm thankful the city has continued to have an interest in the outdoor rink. It's a great place.

I absolutely LOVE the outdoor rink! My daughter and I are there as much as possible. Now I think we need to find an area to have a roller rink for the summer. That would be AMAZING!!!! Any ideas? Anyone else interested??

Does anyone know the hours that the warming house is open?

Noon till 7pm, 7 days a week
Closed on Holidays

Looking forward to getting out there Saturday afternoon -- when the temp. isn't below zero!

What a difference a few years of ice makes. This afternoon we hit the city rink for the first time this year and it was busy. With good reason, lots of ice on the main rink and the ice hills. Plus, we've had a handful of good skating years and people have rediscovered the city rink!

Yes, it's early in the season and things are pretty rough in spots, but that is understandable. Overall, I was impressed with the early conditions. If this weather holds, I bet the skating will be great during Christmas.

Now . . . about that . . . .

What are the odds of having the warming house open -- regular day-time hours -- during Christmas break? Last year there were a good number of people and kids at the rink putting on skates outside of the warming house. It would be great if that "skate putting on" could be done inside the warming house. I understand that man power and hours are limited, so how about the warming house open just during daytime hours from say December 23rd to Jan 2nd.? Even the regular M-F from Christmas to New Years would be good. With school kids on break, this would be much appreciated.

Oh yea, I forgot to ask. What happened to the big tree? Victim of last summer's winds?

There used to be a big tree that you could skate around on the edge -- river-side of rink. This was great for escaping when playing tag and also made for a good place to pile snow. The old cotton wood will be missed.

Bart, only you would have noticed the tree. Victim of liability.

One thing I miss about MC winters (and there isn't much) is outdoor skating. We only have indoor rinks here and it is in no way the same. I also miss Mrs. Griffith making cookies and hot chocolate for the skaters gathered around the rink on the north side near Roosevelt school. Ah, the memories of trudging home with frozen feet and hands.

Where is the outdoor rink? I would love to take my kids!

Stacie

It is located just south of the tennis courts, by the Tongue River.

Okay, great! Thanks!

I am looking for a pair of size ten mens, and size 8 in lady's ice skaates if anyone has a line on a pair I would appreciate the help.

When is the ice rink open between Dec. 26-Jan. 10 please? Does anyone have any ice skates which I could get for some children and maybe a couple adults? We don't need anything fancy, just for skating... although I know two young hockey players who can always use more skates. Hope the raffle went well for hockey association. Thanks again.

Sounds like time for a skate swap.

As for the question on warming house hours, don't know the answer. It was in the Star. I didn't read the item and I just picked up and removed the Stars from a convenient spot (under my feet) and into the recycle bag. See, that's why I don't like picking up.

Open Dec 26th noon-7:00. See ya there Bart.

The ice and snow hills were a lot of fun -- all the better with the warming house open ! A great December 26th. I was glad to see a pretty good group of folks taking advantage of the rink.

My fingers thank the city for having the warming house open.
That's why I'm able to type this note.