The Billings Free Press

Here is an entry from October 1, 1954 by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt about her visit to Billings.

It’s a chatty, but interesting entry. One thing I found interesting; Mrs. Roosevelt lists what she feels makes a hotel comfortable and it seems the Northern fit the bill. Who would have thought washcloths, waste baskets and reading lights would be so important. I guess it just reinforces the belief that it’s the simple things in life we miss the most when they’re gone.

TV Barn has a great profile of John Bohlinger, Jr., the current head of the house bands for the television shows Nashville Star, on the USA Network, and The Next GAC Star on the Great American Country Network.

Yes, John, Jr. is the youngest son of our Lt. Governor.

Aaron Barnhart is an old friend of the Bohlinger family and has written an engaging and honest profile of a Billings native who is succeeding in something he loves. John has an album in the works but it has yet to be released. If you check out the music section of John’s website you can get a taste of the type of music John writes and performs. Good stuff all. Hopefully, it will be released soon.

Billings Studio Theatre
has opened their 2008-2009 season with Mel Brooks’ The Producers.

The good Dr. Mueller has a nice review of opening night. Check it out.

KTVQ reports:

The Maize craze on Billings west end is back for an 11th season with a brand new design.

This year, maze-goers can “Get Lost” in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme. The Maize is just north of Grand Avenue on 58th street west. The Severe and Hopkins families partnered with designer Brett Herbst to create this unique source of family fun.

The Maize opens on August 29 and runs through November 1. The cost is $8 for 12 years old and up, $6 for ages 5 to 11, and kids 4 and under get in free.

The hours of operation are: Wednesday and Thursday 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Friday 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.; Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Field trips are welcome to try the maze, but a reservation is required. Those interested should call 247-9998.

UPDATE: Check out the official MAiZE site.

From the Billings Gazette:

• BIG SKY POLKAFEST: Al Bedoo Shrine Auditorium, 1125 Broadwater Ave. 2 p.m., doors open. 3-11 p.m., waltz, two-step, polka, jitterbug, schottische and country dancing. 656-7470.

• BURN THE POINT: Downtown. 5:30 p.m., staging for parade of classic autos. 7 p.m., parade travels west on Third Avenue North from North 26th Street and returns along Second Avenue North. Street dance with Bucky Beaver and the Ground Grippers follows in 100 block of North Broadway.

• “THE PRODUCERS”: Billings Studio Theatre, 1500 Rimrock Road. 8 p.m. Local cast in award-winning show by Mel Brooks, Thomas Meehan about past-his-prime theatrical producer and comeback try. $15. 248-1141.

It’s only offered until 10:00 a.m. so jump on this quick.

Yes, that’s right, Another Billings Blog. Go check them out.

Muellerstuff

I just received an e-mail from Denis Pitman, one of my city councilpersons, and it looks quite interesting:

The Billings Police Department will again be offering their Citizens Police Academy. It is scheduled to begin on September 30, 2008. This hands-on class meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. for 8 weeks. Topics of discussion include: Code Enforcement, DUI and Crime Scene Investigations, K-9, Bomb Squad, S.W.A.T, and Firearms use.

For more information, please contact Lisa Posada-Griffin at 657-8451 or griffinl@ci.billings.mt.us or Sgt. Iffland at 657-8478 or ifflandk@ci.billings.mt.us. Class size is limited to 20 participants.

As you can see class size is limited so get your name in quickly if you are interested. Now be careful out there.

While looking through the newly issued business licenses I came across what may be one of the best business names I have seen yet.

Wandering Wieners.

I don’t know anything about them yet but I’m wondering if it may be the name of one of the vendors who work downtown with their wiener cart.

Does anyone know for sure?

David of Big Sky Blog fame takes note of Sen. Obama
returning to Montana before the Democratic convention in Denver.

He’ll be in Billings August 27th. More details will announced later.