2022 Balloons Over 66 Weekend

Balloon portion begins with a Friday evening ribbon cut

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[August 30, 2022]   The 2022 Balloons Over 66 Weekend in Lincoln got off to a great start on Friday evening and continued to be a magnificent event all the way through Saturday night.


Before any of the balloons took to the air Friday evening, there was a pilots meeting at the Comfort Inn on the west side of the city, immediately followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony to begin the balloon portion of the weekend.

Outside the motel, people gathered to await the pilots exciting the meeting. Some where there to observe the ribbon cut and help welcome the pilots. Others were there with the hopes that they would be able to be members of a balloon crew for the Friday night flights.

When the doors opened, more than 30 pilots made their way outside to stand behind the ribbon with Seth, Scott and Gaynor Goodman who spearhead the balloon events. In addition to the Goodmans were the pilots, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch, Logan County Tourism Director Alice Roate, and Jean Bruner-Jachino representing the motel along with three members of the staff. Logan County royalty were also present with the 2022 Miss Logan County Fair Emma Stoltzenburg, Junior Miss Isabella Pollice and Little Miss Luci Bobell.
 


The ribbon cut was led by the LDN Ribbon Cutters, with Karen Hargis of Lincoln Daily News and Logan County Tourism Assistant Lexi Groves holding the ribbon while Nila Smith of LDN served as the emcee.

With everyone anxious to get to the evening flight, the ceremony was short and began with an acknowledgement of the pilots and asking those watching to make them feel welcome in Lincoln with a loud round of applause.



On behalf of the city of Lincoln, Mayor Welch said that first, he wanted to acknowledge that there are many people who serve on the organizing committee for the entire weekend of events that deserve to be thanked. He said the committee starts months ahead of time planning the event and put in a lot of time making everything come together.

He issued a thank you to the pilots and the crews and those who had come Friday evening to take a role in the event by being on a flight crew. Welch concluded that hot air balloon is a wonderful hobby/sport and he is glad he has an opportunity to be a part of it.

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Seth Goodman then spoke quickly, thanking first the pilots and asking for another round of applause. He said that there were so many that should be thanked, and he wanted to express appreciation to all of those people. He mentioned the committee, the Logan County Tourism Bureau, the motel and the many businesses and restaurants in town that help support the program and do their best to make the pilots feel welcome and provide visitors with a great weekend.



The final action of the ribbon cut was to grab a posed picture with Roate and Goodman holding the scissors for a photo, then the big countdown to the snipping of the ribbon.

The last thing before everyone left for their designated lift off locations was to remind people that they could not leave the motel via Madigan Drive due to road construction and instructions were given on the safest and quickest way to get back to Woodlawn Road and on their way to a night of perfect flights over Logan County.


[Nila Smith]

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