|
 Much to the delight of spectators holding court at
the large lot behind Heartland Community College, a few balloons did
make it into the air.
While the balloons at the college did not inflate, those there to
see the sights got the pleasure of seeing a number of other balloons
passing over and nearby.
The winds were coming from the south east, pushing the balloons to
the northwest. Several of them appeared to be flying right over St.
Clara’s Rehab and Senior Center and Castle Manor. A couple looked
like they were headed right to Wal-Mart to do some shopping, and
others flew slightly to the north of the college on their way out of
town.
The Honest Abe balloon was the singular balloon that
flew directly overhead of the college greenspace where spectators
were able to look straight up into the envelope of the balloon as it
passed over.
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Balloons that flew over the college included Laurie Acuff in
Double Image, Mike Boylan with Wild Rover, James Phelan in the Little One, Greg
Saul in Good and Plenty, Jared Miller in Firey Gizzard, Alex Jonard in Zee-nith,
Jim Ireland with Sunglow, Tom Klitz with Fire and Ice and Tim Cloyd with
Glorious Drifter.
By 7 p.m. it was time to move on to Eighth Street for the Balloon Glow. Traffic
was steady on Woodlawn Road heading toward College and Union Streets to the
Eighth Street Glow site. Hundreds had gathered early and by the end of the
evening it would be no exaggeration to say that there were at least a couple
thousand spectators lining the 300 block of Eighth Street, all there enjoying
the glow.
[Nila Smith] |
