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 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] |
