 Joe VincentJoe Vincent moved to Danville in 1995 from Iowa
City, Iowa, and became involved with ballooning in 1997. It began
when he started crewing with Hank Norris and Dean Carlton from
Danville. Hank had been flying balloons in the area for many years
and was instructing Dean to become a private pilot at the time. Joe
was able to observe and learn a great deal from Hank's experience
and Dean's learning experience.
In February 2006, Joe took delivery of a brand-new
90,000-cubic-foot envelope manufactured by Cameron Balloons of Ann
Arbor, Mich. The pattern of the balloon was designed to exactly
match the festive colors and style of Still Celebratin. Joe and his
wife, Tracy, the crew chief, look forward to many years of flying
with this new balloon. They travel the Midwest during the
summertime, attending rallies and balloon events on weekends.
His balloon is sponsored by Maple Ridge Care Centre.
___
 Kathy Reineke
Kathy said: "I have been involved in ballooning since 1978, when
my husband, Dave, fell in love with the sport and started flying. I
received my license in 1983. Ballooning is a family sport involving
our daughters Kyla and Kari and her husband, Kevin, as crew. We have
participated in the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival for many years
and it has become one of our favorites. We also participate annually
as a media pilot in the Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon
Fiesta.
"I have flown several types of balloons, including a one-manned
25,000-cubic-foot balloon called a 'cloud-hopper,' to a
100-foot-tall special-shaped balloon that the family purchased in
2000, Mr. Potato Head. Since then, Mr. Potato Head received an
extreme makeover and is now Bud E. Beaver.
"Throughout our flying years we have been fortunate to travel to
many parts of the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Mexico, Europe and the
UK meeting new friends. That is what makes ballooning special."
Her balloon is sponsored by Christian Homes.
___
 Mary Ohmit
Mary said: "In 1991 my husband and I went to a fundraiser for
Pheasants Forever. A hot air balloon ride had been donated (by) a
local pilot. My husband bid on the ride (he paid way too much for
the ride). His comments these days are ‘that was cheap compared to
what has taken place since.' After I took my ride, my pilot made the
comment that I could crew for her if I wanted. That was all it took.
I crewed for her, went to rallies to help her with the balloon. I
was so thrilled.
"Back in 1994 she bought a new balloon. That was when I bought
her old balloon. I received my commercial pilot certification from a
Part 141 school in Oakland, Calif., back in 1995. When I came back
from California, I was the sixth female pilot to take to the air in
Champaign-Urbana. Since then we have had two other females get their
commercial certification. Champaign-Urbana has more female pilots
than we have male pilots. GO, LADY PILOTS!
"What I like about flying is that I can share the experience with
so many different people, old and young. As you know, there is no
way to tell others what it feels like to be floating though the air
with the greatest of ease."
Her balloon is sponsored by Lincoln Christian University.
___
[to top of second column] |
 Pat Brouillet
Pat and Jane, with their three daughters, started ballooning in
1992 when they crewed for Garfield at an event near St. Louis. Pat
has been a pilot since 2000 and has logged over 300 hours of balloon
flight. The Brouillet family can be found traveling the Midwest
year-round, competing at many different balloon rallies.
Pat has won events at Battle Creek, Mich.; Hudson, Wis.;
Hartford, Wis.; Louisville, Ky.; Elkhart, Ind.; and at several
Illinois locations.
Yellow Brick Road was named in honor of Pat's mother, Dorothy,
who died in 1999. She was an avid "Wizard of Oz" collector.
Her balloon is sponsored by the Logan County Farm Bureau.
___
 Deb Griest
Deb Griest is a commercial balloon pilot from Urbana. She flies
primarily in the Midwest. Ballooning is a family affair for the
Griest family. She is flying a 90,000-cubic-foot Lindstrand balloon
named Mom's Toy2. This balloon was custom-designed by Deb and her
husband, Ray. In addition to the striking diamonds in the center, it
has four blue ribbons around the bottom of the balloon to symbolize
colon cancer survivorship. This balloon is a tribute to Deb's
successful battle with colon cancer. She has celebrated 9 1/2 years
of survivorship.
Her balloon is sponsored by Lincoln Heating & Cooling.
___
 Seth Goodman
Seth Goodman is a soon-to-be 24-year-old Lincoln native -- born
and raised -- son of Scott and Gaynor Goodman, both of whom
currently reside in Lincoln. At the young age of 13, Seth took his
first hot air balloon ride and has been hooked ever since. Having
crewed for several local pilots for years, Seth decided to purchase
his own hot air balloon as a gift to himself for his 22nd birthday.
The balloon name Movin' Up! signifies his career in real estate as
well as literally in the air when flying.
Currently, Goodman is employed with ME Realty, located right off
the downtown square, where he has been a licensed real estate agent
for three years -- not to mention, he got his start in the field
when he was still in grade school
Seth loves hot air ballooning -- especially seeing the smiles on
people's faces as they see his 90,000-cubic-foot hot air balloon
inflate to its orange, yellow, blue and pink capacity. He lives for
real estate and hot air ballooning and is looking forward to the
2011 Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival -- perfectly located in historic
Lincoln.
His balloon is sponsored by Seth Goodman, Realtor -- ME Realty.
[Text from file received from
the Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber of Commerce]
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