TIDBITS® MOURNS SKATING DISASTERS
by Janet Spencer
Figure skating is seen as a serene and graceful sport, yet it’s seen its share of disaster. Come along with Tidbits as we skate on thin ice!
THIN ICE
• In the middle of London, there was a small boating lake in the middle of Regent’s Park that didn’t always freeze over. However, in 1867, following an exceptionally cold January, the pond froze solid enough to allow ice skating. At the time, ice skating was becoming a raging fad.
• On January 14, the ice cracked as several skaters were twirling around. More than 20 people fell into the icy water but were quickly pulled out unharmed. The hole in the ice froze over again overnight.
• The following day, about 500 people were skating on the ice. Suddenly the ice cracked worse than before. About 200 skaters fell into water that was about 12 feet (3.7m) deep.
• Bystanders quickly pulled most of them out of the water. However, 40 others, weighed down by heavy skates and waterlogged winter coats, were either trapped under the ice or unable to reach the surface. Some who were dragged out died later of hypothermia. It was the worst weather-related accident in Britain’s history at the time. Horrified citizens insisted the lake later be filled in so it was only 4 feet (1.2 m) to ensure it would never happen again. (cont)
Of The Mid-Ohio Valley
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THE FOLLIES
• The concession stand at the Indiana State Fairground Coliseum in Indianapolis ran a lot of its equipment off propane back in 1963. The hot dog cooker, the nacho machine, and the hamburger grill all ran off gas. Dozens of portable propane tanks were kept in a storage room adjacent to the concession stand.
• On Halloween night in 1963, the concession stand was extra busy as the “Holiday on Ice” skating exhibition was in full swing. The stadium was packed. It was 11:00 pm, and the show was about to wrap up with just three minutes left. The skaters linked arms in a grand finale pinwheel, spinning in a circle.
• What no one knew was that one of the propane tanks in the storage room had a faulty valve. It had been leaking liquid propane gas all evening long. At 11:00 pm, that gas met the hot electrical charge running the popcorn machine. The result was catastrophic.
• The concession stand, located under a flank of box seats above, blew upwards with flames shooting 40 feet. Large chunks of concrete rained down. A damaged wall collapsed and the floor caved in. As onlookers rushed in to help the injured, the rest of the propane tanks blew up in a secondary explosion.
• A make-shift hospital was set up in a barn as mergency responders rushed in from all over the city. Nursing students were called to duty from their dorms. Many of the injured were transported to the hospital in private vehicles.
• Of the hundreds in attendance, 54 people died on site; 20 more later succumbed to their injuries; 400 others were injured. The finger of blame was pointed every which way, but in the end, no charges were brought. There were some insurance payouts for victims. The Coliseum was rebuilt and is now called the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The catastrophe remains the largest single disaster in Indiana history. (cont)
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THE COLLAPSE
• The town of Bad Reichenhall sits on the border of Germany and Austria. High in the Bavarian Alps, it’s a noted spa town. In fact, the German word “bad” means “spa.” In 1971, inspired by the 1970 Olympics in Munich, the town built a new sports center. It featured several swimming pools, a large skating rink, a restaurant, assorted dressing rooms and rental facilities, and an underground parking garage, all under a single roof.
• During the holiday season of 2005, it began snowing quite heavily in Bad Reichenhall. Snow was nothing new, but this extraordinarily heavy snowfall continued for days
• On January 2, 2006, managers of the sports complex worried about the snow load on the roof of the complex. It was decided that the facility would close for business after the public skating hours ended at 4:00 pm. The private hockey practice scheduled for that evening was canceled. That would allow experts to examine the roof and estimate the danger. At the time of this decision, 50 people were skating in the rink.
• However, just moments before the facility closed, the roof collapsed. Clocks mounted on the wall stopped at 3:54 pm.
• Rescue efforts, hampered by the continuing snowfall, took three days. Only one survivor was pulled from the wreckage alive. Fifteen skaters died. Of those, 12 were children, while 34 other skaters were injured. None of the dead died of hypothermia while awaiting rescue; all died of injuries incurred by the collapse.
• An inquiry showed that roofing material had been glued to the rooftop using glue that deteriorated when wet. Moisture ran into the steel support girders, causing them to rust. The weakened structure then collapsed under the prodigious load of snow. (cont)
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THE COLLAPSE (cont)
• Many fingers were pointed, blame was variously assigned, and token punishments were handed out.
• In 2007, the remains of the entire complex were demolished. A new sports complex was built. A memorial now stands in that location with the names of those who died.
THE PLANE CRASH
• The U.S. figure skating team of 1961 featured both women and men who were at the top of their game. The team was the first that was ever shown on national TV on CBS’s “Sunday Sports Spectacular.”
• That year, the World Figure Skating Championships were being hosted in Prague, Czechoslovakia On February 15, 1961, 72 people boarded a plane to attend, consisting of 18 skaters, 16 coaches and family members, and 38 other passengers and crew.
• The plan was to fly to Brussels and then switch to a connecting flight that would take them to Prague. However, the captain overshot the runway in Brussels and pulled up to take another try at it.
• But something went terribly wrong with the flight controls. The plane came down in a cabbage field, killing all on board, as well as a farmer in his field.
• The loss of the country’s top skaters was devastating. The championships were canceled that year.
• However, the publicity surrounding the tragedy encouraged other youngsters to try their hand at the sport.
• One of those was a 12-year-old named Peggy Fleming, whose coach was among those killed in the crash. She went on to win five U.S. titles, three World titles, and the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics.
• The exact cause of the crash was never determined.
Home Wine & Beer Making Kits
Curried Cottage Pie with Sweet Potato Mash: A Zesty Twist on Comfort Food
Shepherd's pie is a beloved British classic easy, thrifty and downright comforting. Traditionally made with lamb, it's technically known as cottage pie when prepared with beef, but no matter what you call it, it's the ultimate midweek meal.
This version takes the humble classic to new heights with a flavorful twist, blending warm Indian spices, creamy coconut milk and hearty vegetables. Topped with a luscious sweet potato mash and broiled to golden perfection, it's a fresh, exciting spin on an old favorite.
CURRIED COTTAGE PIE
Yield: 6 servings
Total Time: 1 hour
1 recipe mashed sweet potatoes (recipe follows)
1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef, 85/15% fat
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced, or more to taste
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
Olive oil, as needed
2 tablespoons curry powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon flour
1 (15-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk, minus 1/4 cup for potatoes
3/4 cup frozen peas
Handful fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (optional garnish)
SWEET POTATO MASH
5-6 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Step 1:
Peel and dice your sweet potatoes, then place them in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes until they're fork-tender. Drain the water, then return the sweet potatoes to the pot. While the potatoes are cooking, feel free to move on to preparing the filling (step 3).
Step 2: Make the sweet potato mash
Add butter to the cooked sweet potatoes, then grab your trusty potato masher and get to work. Once they're mashed, stir in 1/4 cup coconut milk, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Stir until smooth, then set aside. Preheat your oven broiler to its highest setting so it's ready when you are.
Step 3: Brown the beef
In a 12-inch cast iron skillet or any ovensafe skillet, heat over medium-high. Add the ground beef and break it into crumbles as it cooks, about 7 minutes.
Step 4: Cook the veggies
Add onion, carrots, garlic and ginger to the beef. If the skillet looks a little dry, drizzle in a bit of oil. Season the mix with curry powder, cumin, salt and black pepper. Stir and cook for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables start to soften and the whole thing smells amazing.
Step 5: Build the curry base
Stir in the tomato paste and flour, making sure both are fully incorporated. Then pour in coconut milk (minus 1/4 cup for sweet potatoes) and add the peas. Stir and bring everything to a gentle boil. Reduce to a simmer and let it bubble away for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Once the mixture has thickened, remove it from the heat. Step 6: Add the sweet potato topping Spoon the mashed sweet potatoes over the curry in the skillet, spreading it evenly. For a little flair, run a fork over the top to create ridges.
Step 7: Broil to perfection
Slide the skillet under the broiler and let the top turn golden and lightly crisp, about 8 minutes.
Garnish with a sprinkling of fresh cilantro, serve it up and watch everyone swoon over this delicious twist on comfort food! Enjoy! ***
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, partyplanning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www.divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
Curry and sweet potatoes bring an exciting twist to a classic.
PHOTO CREDIT: www.JasonCoblentz.com
Sports Stories
THE SAGA OF BILLY MILLS
• Billy Mills was born in 1938 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, a member of the Ogalala Lakota tribe. Orphaned at 12, Billy was sent to the Haskell Indian Nations School in Kansas. There, he distinguished himself by winning the cross-country championship in 1956.
• This win resulted in an athletic scholarship to the University of Kansas. Within short order, Billy was chosen to be on the National Collegiate Athletic Association team, where he began racking up the wins.
• After high school, he joined the military. He was a first lieutenant in the Marines when he qualified for the 1964 Summer Olympics, running the 10,000-meter race. Of the seven races held on tracks, the 10,000-meter is the longest standard track event, measuring just over 6 miles. It requires 25 laps.
• When Mills arrived at the Olympics in Tokyo on October 14, he found he would be competing against 37 other runners. Expected to win was Australian Ron Clarke, who held the world record.
• When the starting gun went off, the runners surged. By the time the race was half over, a pack of five contestants had left the others behind. Ron Clarke was out in front, but the other four, including Mills, dogged his heels
• Coming around the final bend, Clarke, Mills, and one other runner were in a tight knot. On the final stretch, Mills pulled out and sprinted to the finish line, pulling ahead of the other two. In the control booth, sports commentator Dick Bank began screaming into the mike, “Look at Mills! Look at Mills!” while the commentator next to him, Bud Palmer, very sedately droned on about what was happening.
• Billy Mills won the race, crossing the finish line a full second before the expected winner, Ron Clarke, and setting an Olympic record. (Continued page #7)
HENSLER’S HENSLER’S
Puppy's anxiety is a real poo
DEAR PAW'S CORNER: I adopted a puppy about two months ago. "Spencer" seemed to housetrain just fine, but for the last couple of weeks, he has been pooping on the bathroom rug. It's not diarrhea, just regular healthy poos. He does it between walks even though he poops as normal during walks! What is going on?
John D. in Burlington, Vermont
DEAR JOHN: Even though Spencer seems healthy, take him to the vet to rule out any underlying health issues. In the days prior to the vet appointment, get out a notepad and write down his behaviors, what time he poops each day, if he's doing a lot of barking anything. Bring that to the appointment; it might give the vet additional insight.
Puppies go through phases during their growth, and it's not too unusual to see some regression in housetraining periodically. For example, when they're teething, or as they enter their "teen" phase at around 8 months or so, you may see a change in behavior patterns or "forgetting" commands you know they've learned.
If there is no health issue to worry about, focus on training. Go back to basics and teach him how to alert you when he needs to go outside. Work on his basic commands. Observe him closely when you're at home to see whether his behavior is changing.
You may need to adjust your schedule as well. If he's an especially young puppy, his body is changing rapidly and he may need more potty breaks than the training guide says. Be prepared to make those adjustments as you patiently retrain him. And don't worry, he will fully housetrain, as long as you remain diligent.
Send your tips, comments or questions to ask@pawscorner.com.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
THE SAGA OF BILLY MILLS (cont)
• An official rushed up to Mills and asked, “Who ARE you?” to which Billy Mills replied, “A Lakota boy from little Pine Ridge!” The win stunned everyone because Billy Mills was a virtual unknown.
• NBC fired Dick Bank from his job as a commentator because Olympic officials preferred a monotonous drone over excited screaming, which they felt was improper.
• Bank, a long-time sports statistician, had previously noticed Billy Mills rising in the ranks of athletes and noted that he was someone “to keep your eye on.”
• Bank was working as a sales rep for Adidas when Adidas was handing out shoes to the athletes who would be competing in the Olympics. He was standing by when the Adidas representative refused to give a pair to Billy Mills because he’d never heard of the guy. Bank stepped up, ran after Billy as he walked away, and ensured he got his pair of size 12 Adidas track shoes.
• This is why, when Dick Bank was later tapped to be a track and field commentator, he got so excited when he saw Mills take the lead. His excitement, live over the air, cued listeners that something extraordinary had happened. Even his cohort in the announcer’s booth, Bud Palmer, admitted he had no idea who BillyMills was or why his win was so important, even as Mills was barreling down the track
• Since then, no American has ever won the 10,000-meters. Mills later founded the nonprofit “Running Strong for American Indian Youth.” He wrote two books, and does inspirational speaking.
• Dick Bank went on to a successful career as a producer of jazz music, dying at age 90 in 2020. He never again acted as a sports commentator.
• Mills was wearing the Adidas shoes when he won the race.
* Lunchbox tip: Assemble your sandwich the night before (without veggies). Wrap in waxed paper and freeze. Add veggies and a condiment packet in a separate bag Your sandwich will thaw by lunchtime and will stay cold!
* "Plant banana skins in your garden, just below the surface. They rot quickly and provide nutrients for growing plants." A.R. in Ohio
* "My girls get a little crazy with clothes shopping they want everything! Before we go, we pull out all the clothes they have and assess their needs. We keep a count of shirts, skirts, shorts and pants, so we don't overbuy and have too many. They also make outfits out of what they have, so we can see if anything needs to be bought for that purpose. And undergarments and socks are replenished first, so they get included in the budget!" S.S. in South Carolina
* "Always keep two needles threaded, one with black and one with white. When you have a rip, a button comes off or a hem comes out of your clothes, and you are in a hurry, you can use one of these for a quick repair." J.R. in Virginia
* When you get near the end of a roll of paper towels, save it to put in your car. Put together a kit to keep in the car with the following items: a small bottle of Windex or other cleaner, a squeeze bottle of water, some wet wipes and the short roll of paper towels. You will always be ready for a quick on-the-road cleanup.
* To kick the itch from bug bites, make a mixture of half lime juice and half water. Apply to bug bite on a soaked cotton ball.
Send your tips to Now Here's a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
