2023 Balloons Over 66 weekend officially kicks off with a ribbon cutting
 

[August 30, 2023]   At 1:230 p.m. on Friday afternoon, in the sweltering heat, the organizing committee of the Balloons Over 66 weekend took a fast break from all their work for a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially kick off the weekend.

The group gathered in front of the entertainment stage at the corner of Kickapoo and Pulaski Streets downtown. They were joined by Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch and alderpersons Wanda Lee Rohlfs, David Sanders and Kevin Bateman who is also on the planning committee. Two of the new Logan County Royalty, Miss Logan County Fair Ellyn Martinez and Junior Miss Ellie Wrage were also on hand for the event.

As everyone gathered for the cut, Karen Castelein with Lincoln Daily News and Lexie Groves with the Logan County Tourism Bureau held the ribbon while Alice Roate of the Tourism Bureau was chosen by the committee to be the ribbon snipper and spokesperson for the group.

At the beginning of the event, all the members of the planning committee were acknowledged and those present were asked to give a wave to the folks who had gathered to witness the event. Jason Hoffman and Lincoln City Clerk Peggy Bateman and a few other volunteers were also behind the ribbon as huge contributors to the success of the downtown events.

The members of the committee included (listed alphabetically) Kevin Bateman, Michelle Bauer, Marcia Cook, Gaynor Goodman, Scott Goodman, Seth Goodman, Lexie Groves, Krista Miller, Jennifer Prather, Alice Roate and Marc Schoonover.

To keep it brief so that the committee members could get back to work, Mayor Welch was asked to speak with Roate speaking on behalf of the committee.

Mayor Welch welcomed everyone to the 2023 event and noted the value the weekend has for the city of Lincoln.

Roate also kept it brief, welcoming everyone to the event and encouraging all to enjoy the weekend and take full advantage of all that would be offered.

Roate was then assisted in snipping the ribbon by Prather and Mayor Welch, then everyone hurried back to their sections to continue getting ready for the first afternoon at the 2023 Balloons Over 66 weekend.

[Nila Smith]