Browning lanes set to close its doors

September 9, 2008

Sad news out of Browning.

Park Lanes owner Don Barcus has decided to close the doors on the historic establishment.

"Since they opened the casino, we've dropped from 250 league bowlers down to 105," said Barcus, on his reason for closing.

Barcus has steadfastly refused to sell beer at the lanes.

"A lot of bowlers go to Cut Bank just to have a beer while they bowl," said Barcus. "I don't want to sell alcohol here until the court system makes people accountable for their actions."

Park Lanes opened in 1960 and Barcus' parents bought the facility in 1963 and ran it until 2001 when Barcus and his wife bought it.

"Forty five years in one family was a pretty good run, now it's over," said Barcus.

Barcus is putting the lanes up for sale, and he can be contacted at 338-2340.

"There are a lot of good bowlers hanging in the air here but I have to do what is right for me," said Barcus.

·  To update an item from last week, Murph's Lanes is dropping from 16 lanes down to 12 and the lanes were certified on Friday, Aug. 29.

For those wondering, certification means that high score awards, like a 300, can be recognized by the USBC.

Thanks to local USBC board member Mike Bowles for giving the updated information.

·  Either because of Hurricane Hanna, the NFL or NASCAR, Sunday's broadcast of the finals of the USBC Women's Open was delayed and moved from its scheduled time.

In Sunday's show, in case you missed it, Kim Terrell-Kearney outlasted Diane Asbaty, 194-192, to advance into the semifinals in Chicago.

Trailing early, Terrell-Kearney, out of Dover, Del., made a ball change that led to a rousing comeback. After starting the match with two splits in the first three frames, she made the change and struck on five of her next eight shots.

"It was a little scary at the start," she said. "But, sometimes that can be to your advantage because you feel like you have nothing to lose."

The second of the five Open telecasts, which are tape delayed, will be Sunday at noon on ESPN, if Hurricane Ike allows it.

On this show, Kristal Wilson, of Lawrence, Kan., takes on Jodi Woessner of Oregon, Ohio, while Shalin Zulkfi of Malaysia battles Tennille Milligan of Costa Mesa, Calif.

Can't stand the suspense, go to bowl.com to find out the winner.

·  League bowling opened last week around the region with a lot of good scores to report.

Les Bruner led the pack the first week.

Bruner, bowling in the Monday 535 at Pin & Cue, reeled off games of 277, 223 and 234 for a 734 three-game set and added a 226 in the fourth game for a lofty 906 set.

Kristen Dehn, competing in the 725 Classified League at Little's, was high for the women with a 668 series, coming on games of 220, 236 and 212.

Tops for the men at Little's was Jim Dixon, who turned in games of 246 and 266 on his way to 728 set in the MixMasters.

Heather Vukasin was high for the women at Pin & Cue with a 536 set in the Wednesday Mixed.

At the Elks, Reid Michel earned men's honors after turning in a 691 set on games of 256 and 255, in the Bull Elks. Barb Baumgartner's 205 game and 605 series gets the nod for the women.

Curt Backa, who will be calling the Bull Elks League his new bowling home this season, is a Tribune sports and news copy editor and women's bowling groupie. Backa, booted out of his last league, can be reached at 791-6569, 800 438-6600 or e-mailed at cbacka@greatfallstribune.com

Here are the rest of last week's honor scores from around the city:

Elks Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

Thursday Ladies— Lisa Dunn 208, Donna Shandley 193 (+68)

Friday Mixed— Nobi Sirucek 198 (sr.), Jean Ostlie 190 (sr.)

Early Birds— Barb Baumgartner 231-605, Carol Tigart 182 (+63), Kally Hasenkrug 156 (+52)

Men's scores

Tuesday Men— Shane Brown 276-654, Rich Rossberg 236, Al Ridder 233, Al DeBortoli 233, Jack Anderson 227, Ken Ferguson 226-225-665, Jim Dixon 225, Bob Standley 211 (sr.), Bill Brown 203 (sr.)

Bull Elks— Andy Atkinson 266, Reid Michel 256-255-691, John Basta 245, Dave Keil 241-659, Talbert Bryan 232-213-621 (sr.), Randy Guill 231-203-201-635 (sr.), Bob Meyers 230, Rich Reeve 227, Norm Miller 223 (sr.), Bill Poser 211 (sr.), Dave Shadrick 206 (sr.), Ron Meyers 204 (sr.), Shane Benton 201 (sr.)

Thursday Seniors— Chuck Dailey 269, Dave Shadrick 218-206, Dave Woolsey 218-204, Sherman Mills 215 (+53), John Ferda 212, Tony Degele 208-203, Len Buls 201

Early Birds— Chuck Bartels 236, Ken Beck 222 (sr.), Josh Lyle 623 (+101), Gary Willits 214 (sr.), Gordon Weninger 202 (sr.)

Friday Mixed— Stephen Bush 238-620 (+122)

Aces High / Malmstrom AFB

Thursday Mixed— George Garber 213 (sr.)

Pin & Cue / Great Falls

Women's scores

Wednesday Mixed— Chris Dittus 203

MFCU— Collette Caffyn 205

Monday 535— Chris Dittus 205, Linda Michel 201, Mary Orham 205

Men's scores

Wednesday Mixed— Jeff Dennen 259-228-657, Al Vukasin 200 (sr.), Sam Hagen 226

MFCU— John Baker 200 (sr.)

Friday Night Mixed— Boomer Bruner 249-246-656, Leonard McNee 210 (sr.)

Sunday Mixed— Jerry Ferderer 216 (sr.), Leonard Peterson 204-200 (sr.), Boomer Bruner 204 (sr.)

Monday 535— Reid Michel 247, Curby Dennis 205 (sr.), Les Bruner 277-234-226-734-960 (4), Mike Bowles 216-235-203-654 (sr.), Randy Guill 206-206-214-243-626-869 (4), Dan Woodcock 236, Bob Orham 208-214 (sr.), T-Bone Williams 204 (sr.), Ken Haugen 225

Black Eagle Lanes / Great Falls

Golden Seniors— Norma Axelson 180 (+65)

B.E.C.C. Seniors— Bob Chesko 226-208-626

Little's Lanes / Great Falls

Women's scores

Casino League— Pam Brendgord 222

Wednesday A.M. Trio— Max Frank 206

MixMasters — Kristen Dehn 232-289-681, Dawn Rambo-Orr 210

725 Classified— Doris Kimmerle 236-200-217-653, Jackie Graham 218, Kristen Dehn 220-236-212-668

Thursday Mixed— Patti Curry 203

Satellite Mixed— Nadine Symonds 181 (+53), Connie Dickman 201-201

Men's scores

Little's City— Andy Anderson 226, Keith Hayes 225

MixMasters— Steve Howse 235, Bob Orham 235-247-698, Bruce Hruska 234-255-711, Jim Dixon 246-266-728, Roger Deitz 258, Brian Lee 242, Steve Martin 244-238-705, Pat Terry 243, Don White 243, Jim Aklestad 247, Brian Christianson 269, Joe Levesey Jr. 233, Mike Christensen 245, Lucas Cyr 233-663, Ross Rambo 230

725 Classified— Don Jordan 232, Mel Willey 223 (sr.), Bruce Hruska 225-664, Jim Kernaghan 233-609 (sr.), Wes Baker 243, Pat Terry 243, Ron Meyers 205 (sr.), Al Pearsall 248-220-656, Mearl Christianson 246, Mark Hewitt 234, Dan Schaff 228

Thursday Mixed— Jon Tovson 214-216-609 (sr.), Jeramy Myers 231, Dan Wilkerson 234-202-621 (sr.)

Straight-A-Way— Lucas Cyr 231, Mike Christensen 228, Bruce Steffani 259-231-226-1097 (5), Eric Crawford 254, Willie McGee 231, Bruce Hruska 233, Mike Carrethers 234, Mike Judd 247

Satellite Mixed— Hank Rimkus 213-213-625 (sr.), Mateo Jara 213 (+72), Jo Ovalle 228, Abe Zigan 254, Lucas Cyr 243-667