The Brookhaven Skating Rink closed last year after 36 years ofscuffed floors and nacho cheese, but the original owner’s family isworking overtime to swing open the doors once more.

“Now, we’re back,” said Delores Havard.

She recently bought the facility from her father, DewayneNettles, who opened the rink in 1973.

Havard and her family are working through the long, hot daysinside the metal building to repaint the walls, repair old ceilingtiles and sort through 10,000 pairs of brown roller skates. Newcarpet, new arcade machines and new heating and air will also beinstalled.

Plans are to have the facility open for business on Sept. 18.The rink will be open to the public on weekends and rentable forprivate functions.

Havard promises her facility will remain clean, and she’s notjust talking about the floors.

“We want a place for families to be able to come and bring theirchildren, to bring back the good ole days,” she said. “That’simportant. We have 10 grandchildren under age 4, and they needsomething to do.

“Lincoln County needs something for children.”

The rink has been closed for only 16 months, but that was toolong for Havard. She said many Brookhavenites her age grew up atthe skating rink on Saturday nights when they were teenagers andlamented the loss of their childhood palace.

“It was the happening place,” Havard said. “I’ve been runninginto some of my friends who used to skate here when we were young,and they all say, ‘Man, I wish I could buy that skating rink.’ Whenmy daddy called me up and asked if I wanted to buy the skatingrink, it was a prayer answered.”