17 FEB 06: ICE ICE, BABY?
The annual "Tip-a-Snake" fund-raising dinner took place Thursday night at the Columbus Civic Center -- with Columbus Cottonmouths acting as servers, accepting tips for their work. Hopefully none of the diners asked the hockey players if they take checks....
Some news surfaced before the dinner which might have had people giving in a different direction. The Columbus Cottonmouths are willing to put up $200,000 to help build a new ice rink between the Civic Center and Golden Park. They apparently decided global warming is ending the alternative - an annual ice storm.
Only a couple of years ago, Columbus city officials said a "skate park" would be built next to Golden Park. In fact, the ground was cleared and prepared for it - but it still sits untouched today. It hasn't even been claimed by one of those vagabonds selling Confederate flags on weekends.
The dream was to have a place for skateboarders to skate, the Cottonmouths to practice - and perhaps have other things as well. But I started hearing talk about 18 months ago that the city of Columbus wanted extra money for the ice rink. Sales tax money apparently didn't provide enough cold hard cash.
City officials apparently don't think a skate park in South Commons would generate enough money to pay for itself. But Civic Center manager Dale Hester said otherwise Thursday - claiming it could make the city $100,000 per year. Or in the language of the moment, it's about one Frosty for every two residents.
Dale Hester says the Civic Center has to turn down several events a week, because the arena is booked. He contends the skate park could be rented for birthday parties, youth hockey leagues -- and who knows, maybe even a stray pro basketball team which wants to move to Columbus.
But Columbus city officials apparently say the current budget is too tight to operate a skate park. They fear the upkeep will cost more than rentals and events would bring in. For instance, the Civic Center zamboni would burn a lot of fuel going back and forth across the parking lot....
The Columbus Cottonmouths would like a skate park, because they can't always practice at the Civic Center. For instance, there's an indoor football preseason game tonight, a Brad Paisley concert Saturday, a circus on Sunday -- and besides, there will be a ton of peanut shells to clean up.
I didn't realize until Thursday the Cottonmouths have spent almost $35,000 this season to rent other rinks for practice. The obvious question is - WHAT other rinks? At least around Columbus? Does some wealthy executive have a big backyard shed in Harris County?
The rental cost explains why the Cottonmouths are willing to put up the money to operate the skate park next to Golden Park for one year. But will Columbus Council be willing to fulfill its promise, and build it? Or instead, will they offer to fill city swimming pools with bags of Buck Ice?
Someone predicted to me Thursday the skate park will become a reality, because a lot of wealthy Columbus residents have children in youth hockey programs. Of course, that budget decision might upset a lot of police officers - and patrols in the east half suddenly will increase.
YOUR UNCHALLENGED A-PLUS LOCAL BLOG WINTER OLYMPIC COVERAGE: No one from Columbus competed in the Winter Olympics Thursday. Without that skate park, the chances of Columbus getting the winter games are sinking. After all, they can manufacture snow and spread it on Summerville Road for snowboarding.
BLOG UPDATE: A group from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had its protest Thursday, outside the KFC on Macon Road. Oh no - don't tell me the restaurant had THEIR orders wrong, too [6 Feb]....
The PETA protesters handed out fliers outside KFC on Macon Road. In fact, some of them dressed in yellow bikinis to do it. On Macon Road, this is attention-getting -- while on Victory Drive after dark, it probably would blend in with the
crowd.
PETA claims KFC is cruel in how chickens are slaughtered, for shipment to restaurants. I didn't hear the exact accusation - but you'd think the rotisserie wouldn't be used until after the chicken is dead.
BLOG BAFFLER: We had a couple of correct responses to our question, about the source of Thursday's blog title. Former TV sportscaster Kirsten Olesen was first to e-mail us, knowing it came from "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John -- or as a radio buddy long ago liked to call her, Olivia Neutron Bomb.
Now a quick check of other interesting items from Thursday:
+ The touring "Ebony Fashion Fair" appeared at the Bradley Theater, raising money for the Columbus Urban League. But if Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell aren't there to start a catfight, something's missing for me.
+ Instead, a high temperature of 76 F. allowed me to go running on the Riverwalk after dark - and I topped three miles nonstop for the second night in a row! It's been countless years since I had back-to-back runs like that. So I'm now ready for the desperate single women to begin chasing me....
+ Hurricane survivors at a state park near Eufaula complained federal officials have told them to move by February 28. They're being offered four options in Alabama - which seems strange, because Columbus has several abandoned mobile home parks which could take them perfectly.
+ Barbour County downed Dale County in the Alabama high school girls' basketball playoffs. This had to be a difficult game to play - since some of these girls live right next door to each other.
+ An Atmore, Alabama man was arrested in Pensacola, Florida on bribery charges. Police say Terence Braxton allowed middle students to get out of physical education class if they paid him a dollar. Braxton is free on his own recognizance - although I suspect Krispy Kreme or McDonald's would have posted bond.
+ Instant Message to Auburn University trustee Bobby Lowder: Here's your chance for redemption. This time, fly to Indianapolis instead of Louisville. Get Mike Davis to coach basketball, not football. And quietly bring him down with a signed contract before Jeff Lebo suspects anything....
SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND: A T-shirt about losers.... and a strange way to sell a circus....
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