[AUG. 29, 2001]  An informal meeting was held Tuesday evening in the mayor’s office to discuss Lincoln business owners’ concerns. In attendance were a number of local business owners, Bobbie Abbott from the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce, Mark Smith from the Economic Development Council, city building inspector Les Last, Fire Chief Bucky Washam and Mayor Beth Davis.

Mayor Davis opened the meeting by saying that there have been some concerns raised that Lincoln is not conducive to business. This was said most recently following issues that came up while discussing bringing Casey’s to Lincoln.

Jonathon Steffens spoke, recognizing key elements of what makes local businesses flourish in a small town. He said that formerly there were 3,000 to 4,000 people living downtown in apartments over businesses. You would see 150 people on the streets on weekend evenings. Those people would spend their dollars in the stores.

It has been the Steffens family’s dream to help bring that back to Lincoln. They have invested $150,000 in their developments downtown. Most of the buildings and upper apartments in downtown Lincoln now sit empty but could be developed.

A list of businesses, the problems they have had in getting up and going, and the extensive unplanned costs that they have encountered was read by Larry Steffens. The most common major issues seemed to revolve around meeting a combination of codes from the city and the Building Official Code Administration. Steffens said he felt that this combination leads to duplicate construction and makes renovation costs prohibitive to restoring older buildings. He further suggested looking at the New York code that a lot of communities like Lincoln are now using. Mayor Davis asked Steffens if he might get her a copy, saying that she would like to review that as a possible option.

Patrick Doolin spoke about the business development he has been involved in at Kickapoo and Broadway streets. Having finished the Kickapoo Street side of his buildings and being nearly done on the Broadway Street building, he said he thought it had been "a pretty smooth road" and he deemed it a "positive experience."

He recognized that his buildings’ purposes were different than for some of the businesses that were cited as having had difficulties and unplanned expenses. He had no food or kitchen areas, just pure office space. "Ya, we had things we didn’t want to do. We asked why, and they (city inspectors) explained it," he said.

Doolin also made the point that he thought they had less difficulty because they entered their development with expert advice. He said, "It’s like buying a house." An expert will know about codes and check everything out and will be able to tell you what extra costs you might incur in renovating an old building before you get started.

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His company hired a licensed inspector. The inspector was acquainted with the old buildings and the type of business they were planning. He came in and assessed the building. Doolin thought that the $800 bill he paid to the licensed inspector was well worth the expense.

Les Last confirmed this recommendation, saying that he would like building owners to bring him blueprints that have been inspected by a professional before starting work on a building to be renovated

Chief Washam also stated, "I’d rather they come to me before starting." There isn’t much he can do about citing owners for fire code violations if he is called in during the middle of a renovation, as has happened in many cases.

Dale Williams, a retired real estate agent, property and business owner who owns property in a number of cities, said he could see the necessity of having building codes. "I travel a lot. If there are no building codes, I see cheap property. You have to have them (building codes)."

His opening point was about older buildings. "You can’t think of them as new construction," he said. Williams suggested that business owners and the city need to have on paper what will be required for a business building to be up to code. The chamber and city leaders need to sit down and talk to people planning a new business as soon as they show an interest and help them get going in the right way.

Some other valuable points made during the brainstorming session were that it would be great if there would be one key person to whom everyone would point when approached by an interested business investor. That person would have all the information, a suggested order of events and all the contacts needed for a new business owner to have a positive experience here.

After a full hour of discussion with lots of ideas, Mayor Davis closed the meeting saying she’d like to hold a formal co-sponsored meeting among the business owners, city of Lincoln, Logan County Board, Main Street Lincoln, Lincoln/Logan Chamber of Commerce and our Economic Development Council to set down some plans that will help our community prosper.

[Jan Youngquist]

[AUG. 29, 2001]  The Logan County treasurer’s office will be open Saturday, Sept. 1, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, especially for the convenience of people paying real estate taxes.

The second installment of property taxes will be due without a penalty Sept. 5.

A penalty of 1½ percent will be charged on any unpaid second installment of taxes on Sept. 6. Any unpaid first installment will be charged 4½ percent on Sept. 6.

[AUG. 28, 2001]  This past weekend’s Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival was a huge success. Despite a dooming weather prediction that threatened the entire weekend, there was very little that was affected.

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce Director Bobbie Abbott summed up the weekend this way: "We were fortunate in most every aspect except that the Saturday night flight and glow had to be canceled. It was very disappointing because we work all year for this weekend, but you can’t control the weather. All in all, all the events over the whole weekend had great turnouts."

The three-day weekend held a nice diversity of activities at locations all over town. There was something for everyone. Besides the big draws of the art fair and the hot-air balloons, many other supporting activities add dimension to the weekend.

The chamber gets calls about all of the events from people wanting more information or sometimes asking how they can become involved.

Abbott says: "People have their special interests that they come to the festival for. Some will say they liked the car show; some come for the Postville historical craft demonstrations; and the flea market is a growing segment showing increased interest. It will be getting bigger. Each event has its own draw."

Festival planners will soon meet to evaluate this year’s events, and another year’s work will begin.

[LDN]

[AUG. 28, 2001]  It was Sunday, Aug. 26, in the year 2001, and the Logan County courthouse square was a peninsula in a sea of old cars. Cool Cruisers sponsored the Classic Car Cruise In, which ranged from Ford Model A's and T's to Checkered Cabs. Restored Mustangs, Camaros, Super Sports and anything else you'd want to see were on display, with their owners only too happy to brag on their pride and joy.

[Click here to see pictures]

[AUG. 27, 2001]  In addition to the balloons and artists visiting our community, numerous other activities filled the streets and parks of Lincoln this weekend. A children’s Adventure Zone offering multiple activities occupied the corner of Pekin and Kickapoo streets. Tickets available for a minimal charge could be redeemed for a wide variety of entertaining distractions. Proceeds went to Main Street Lincoln to fund ongoing economic development and historic preservation efforts.

Included in the children’s area was the children’s art fair tent, sponsored by the Lincoln Area YMCA, offering art and craft activities for the younger art fair attendees. Abe’s Carmelcorn provided a 30-foot inflatable Jelly Belly with discounted candy items available. The Whopper Hopper, an inflatable jumping tent for children, was manned by Lincoln Burger King personnel, and the Lincoln Public Library provided a free reading corner for youngsters.

[Greg Harmon of Lincoln works on a craft at the children's art fair tent, sponsored by the Lincoln Area YMCA.]

A new addition to the children’s activities this year was a community puzzle. Children were given the opportunity to decorate 6-inch-square puzzle pieces that will be assembled to create a giant community puzzle. The puzzle will be permanently mounted and displayed in the Lincoln Public Library. Emily Bakken, a Lincoln High School student who volunteered her services as part of a leadership seminar she attended earlier this summer, manned the community puzzle.

[Ashley Polk (left) and Mallory White, both of Lincoln, lend their talents decorating 6-inch-square puzzle pieces that will be assembled to create a giant community puzzle.]

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An annual favorite for the children’s area was the massive cardboard maze created by volunteers for Main Street Lincoln. Local businesses saved large appliance boxes throughout the year to supply the material necessary for the massive structure, which this year was based on a "2001 Space Odyssey" theme. Children were seen scrambling in and out of the space shuttle’s door throughout the afternoon.

[Judy Rader]

[AUG. 27, 2001]  One artist at the 2001 art and balloon fest originally traveled to Lincoln as part of a balloon chase crew.

Jim Brooksher’s 23-year love of ballooning has taken him to the Albuquerque Festival eight times. When he relocated to Grayslake in Illinois, he continued his hot-air passion by volunteering with the Windy City Balloon organization. Three years ago, when the Chicago-based California Dreaming balloon participated in the Lincoln festival, Brooksher tagged along as part of the pilot’s chase crew.

[Judy Rader interviews artist Jim Brooksher.]

A pleasant surprise awaited this professional artist when he had the chance to stroll through the art fair in Latham Park. Impressed with the quality and variety of fine art available, he applied for acceptance into the 2000 fair. The judges, obviously also impressed with his selection of oil and watercolor paintings, many of which featured his second passion, hot-air balloons, agreed to accept his entry.

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"It was great for me," stated the artist, "The Lincoln Art Fair was my best show of all 2000!"

Brooksher works at Abbott Laboratories in package design but says that his "love and dream is to be able to paint and make a living selling artwork. Mixing my art and hot-air balloons fits a niche in my life. It’s my midnight oil and therapy."

[Judy Rader]

[AUG. 27, 2001]  Senior citizens can access information about laws, programs and services directly affecting them through a new section on the Senate Republican caucus website, according to Sen. Claude Stone. Stone, R-Morton, said the purpose of the site is to make information from a variety of agencies available in one location.

"Over the past few years, the Legislature has passed a lot of laws directly affecting senior citizens, and they should be able to find the information quickly," said Stone. "This new website offers information about these laws, programs and services all in one place, regardless of which state agency offers the program."

The site can be accessed through the caucus home page at www.senategop.state.il.us. It contains information on laws and programs concerning crime prevention, health care, prescription drugs and tax relief.

Among the programs listed on the site are the newly expand Circuit Breaker program through the Department of Revenue, the attorney general’s consumer fraud programs and the Illinois Department on Aging’s Elder Abuse and Neglect Program.

Senior citizens may also download brochures and other information from the site.

[News release]

[AUG. 25, 2001]  Thursday night I had the opportunity to go up in the Sun Kissed balloon piloted by Randy Conklen of New Holland and co-piloted by Jack Holland of McLean. It was an almost perfect night for the flight.

[Click here to view pictures of the balloon fest]

First, all the balloonists, crews, media and chamber members met out at the Holiday Inn Express to receive their assignments and their instructions.

Although no one said this directly to me, it appeared that one of the goals was to take the balloons over or near the Maple Ridge Care Centre and Retirement Village. So I traveled with the Sun Kissed crew out to the old Abe Lincoln School. That’s where we set up shop.

Out of the back end of Randy’s pickup truck came everything but the kitchen sink…at least, everything that you might guess would be important for a successful launch. Things like a big basket to ride in and the balloon or the envelope or whatever you want to call that thing that actually lets you sail in the wind. It looks, acts and smells like a parachute to me.

After we removed all the paraphernalia onto the ground, we stretched out the balloon, hooked up all the lines and cables, and then started up the fan. The fan looks just like the ones you see on the sidelines during National Football League games on Sunday. The difference is we didn’t have any 350-pound linemen sitting next to the fans to help us ready the balloon.

After what seemed like minutes waiting for the balloon to inflate, Randy pumped a few shots of the hot propane right in the center of the balloon, and after a few hits of the gas, it finally seemed to perk up.

"It is…alive!" I said. Then someone told me to cut the commentary and to just get into the balloon.

There were several balloons next to us, so we waited for them to take off; then our turn rolled along. And just like the magic in the Wizard of Oz we began to climb. I resisted the urge to say, "There’s no place like home," or "We’re going back to Kansas, Toto"; but it was hard.

Several Lincoln residents were on hand to witness the liftoff. One of those people, a little 8-month-old lad that I spotted in the crowd, was especially good-looking. Many of them waved hysterically, while others acted like they see this sight every day.

It is an exhilarating feeling to climb those first few hundred feet. You see the majestic beauty of the balloons up above you, and you look down to the ground and watch the crews below feverishly scrambling to get their balloons airborne. You see the beauty of God’s creation everywhere you look.

Randy is an especially skilled pilot considering that he’s in only his third year at the helm. In fact, he’s in his rookie season as an official pilot, having received his pilot’s license last November. He is very conscientious and does not take his attention off what he is doing. He won’t even pause to use the binoculars or to take a picture. He suffers my stories and my constant snapping of pictures and just smiles all the way.

No wonder people love this so much. It is awesome.

We glide almost over the top of Maple Ridge, and I pause for a moment, hoping that at least the residents there have their day brightened a little bit more.

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Then we mosey parallel with old Route 66 over some of the most spectacular checkerboard scenery on God’s green earth. Those who think Illinois is boring and not that beautiful have never seen it from that angle before. It is breathtaking.

I’m reminded of one of the many reasons I choose to live in Illinois. From up in the air you realize that we truly are the heartland and the heart of the country, if not the world.

The serenity that you experience while you drift wherever His winds take you reminds me that I need more times of quiet reflection in my life. I am reminded to be grateful for everything I have.

I see the Stars and Stripes flying from flagpoles all over town, and I am reminded of how wonderful it is to live in a free country. I thank every veteran and every veteran-to-be for all the sacrifices made on our behalf.

I see what looks like some bumper crops, and I see some that remind me of the grass in my yard that has serious heat fatigue. At any rate, I am grateful for central Illinois farmers who against all odds struggle to keep going.

I see balloons headed for the water just shy of I-55, and then I see what I think is Jim Ireland’s balloon make a "splash and dash" run just before they hover over the interstate.

Then it happens. Northbound and southbound truckers start to see the balloons and go bananas! They’re just like a bunch of little kids. They start honking and waving and slowing down and pulling over. It is a sight to behold.

Finally, we see a good landing area just north of the highway. Randy radios his partner, and the next thing I know, we’re doing a splash and dash in a soybean field! Then suddenly we come to a farm road and run head-on into our crew.

Nobody told me that we didn’t have any brakes! Does my insurance man know this, I wonder.

Once the eagle, I mean the Sun Kissed, had landed, our crew walked us into the short grass, which is a place I seldom find myself during the golfing season.

But, the flight is far from over. They kicked me out of the balloon, and we began the tear-down assembly. It seems to be the reverse of putting the balloon up, but it seems to go a lot faster. This crew is tremendous and so is this sport.

Yes, I love basketball, football and baseball, but I’m rapidly becoming a balloon enthusiast. If you’re as interested in this sport as I have always been, I suggest that you seek out one of this year’s sponsors and ask to crew for them. I think I have crewed every year that this event has been in Lincoln, and it is the highlight of the year for me!

Also, if anyone has a few thousand bucks that they want to get rid of and would like to train and hire a new rookie pilot, please call 732-7443 and leave a message for yours truly. I promise to call you back within minutes.

Hope to see you and yours this weekend out at the fairgrounds or in the air…

[Jeff Mayfield]

[AUG. 25, 2001]  The first official day of the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival was deemed a success by event organizers.

[Click here to view pictures of the balloon fest]

 Inclement weather with gusty winds had been hinted by earlier weather reports, but at zero hour for the first official balloon launch, the skies cleared and the green flag was given for a mass ascension. Gusty breezes created minor problems with shifting balloon envelopes during inflation, and a few landings were slightly rougher than usual.

Three sites were laid with targets for balloonists to drop beanbags onto and attempt to score competition points. The target sites were chosen for their accessibility to the fast moving balloons and were located beside Big R, Hicks Gas and on the Schwartz Family Farm.

Balloons returned to the fairgrounds at dusk and delighted the crowd with a traditional balloon glow which included the specialty balloons, Mr. Potato Head, Rubber Duckie, a large goldfish named Sushi and the Lady Jester 

A highlight of the evening was the surprise appearance of bride and groom Sara and Shawn Lockard.  After the couple’s 6 p.m. wedding service at St. John United Church of Christ in Lincoln, the wedding party detoured through the fairgrounds en route to the reception to allow the couple to take pictures at an unusual picture site, their favorite french fry tent.

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According to bridesmaid Carrie Fletcher, Sara, the daughter of Marilyn and David Armbrust of Lincoln, met her future husband at the Logan County Fairgrounds, where her parents have regularly manned the grandstand ticket booth for the Logan County Fair. Shawn came to the Logan County Fair as a summer employee of Culler’s French Fries Stand, which had returned to the grounds this weekend to accommodate the balloon festivities.

After a picture session at the fry stand, a crew member from Dean Carlton’s balloon, Ca-Zoo, invited the couple to join them in the infield during the balloon glow.

Friday evening’s festival crowd also enjoyed the carnival, a petting zoo, craft booths and the free grandstand show featuring Sister Groove and the Cross Town Jam.  Lincoln Junior High student Rachel Kasa stated, “I love the balloon glow, the funnel cakes and the rides. The Scrambler is my favorite!” 

[Judy Rader]

[AUG. 24, 2001]  The Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival kicked off Thursday evening when visiting balloon pilots treated the local media to a pre-festival launch.

[Click here to view pictures of Bob's balloon flight]

Over a dozen balloons carrying local reporters, photographers and other lucky passengers floated across the city during the early evening hours, luring city residents out into their yards and neighborhoods to catch the first glimpse of this year’s variety of inflated colors, shapes and sizes.

Maple Ridge Care Centre invited the entire community to a free kickoff party in its parking lot and, as promised by Georgina Viner, Maple Ridge marketing director, most balloons obliged the center by floating directly overhead during the festivities.

Lincoln Daily News photographer Bob Frank was treated to his first view from aloft by Mary and Don Bragg of Albuquerque, N.M., in their balloon, Mad Adventure. The Braggs’ balloon, locally sponsored by Key Printing, is participating in its second Lincoln balloon fest.

Mary, a college administrator, and Don, a computer manager, have enjoyed ballooning for over 10 years and were drawn to the Lincoln festival by other pilots who told them about "this great little festival where the whole town comes out."

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Don stated, "It is amazing that a town of this size can pull together and show so much community pride. Not to mention, we are treated like kings!"

Tom Seggelke of Key Printing recruited the crew for Mad Adventure, calling on family and friends. Even the most inexperienced volunteers quickly found themselves drawn into the hands-on experience of setup, inflation and "the chase."

Scheduled festival flights for the weekend, weather permitting, include mass ascensions from the Logan County Fairgrounds Friday at 6 p.m., as well as Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. A balloon launch with balloons inflating at remote locations and attempting to navigate over the fairgrounds is scheduled for Sunday at 6:45 a.m.

Balloon competitions will be conducted throughout the weekend. According to the festival scoring coordinator, Beth Green of Lincoln, cash prizes of $10,000 will be awarded to competing balloonists.

[Judy Rader]

[AUG. 24, 2001]  The off-again, on-again status of the Casey General Store’s plan to put a facility on the lot at 314 S. Jefferson St., across from the Postville Courthouse, is off again, at least for the time being.

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[Joan Crabb]

Click here for information on the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival
Aug. 24, 25, 26.

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