High Winds Continue to Thwart
Balloon Launches on Friday Night
and Saturday Morning

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

The Jonathan Kennedy Band provided entertainment at Friday night's Balloon Glow, at Shannon Oaks Church.

 

"It's absolutely frustrating!" exclaimed one of the balloon pilots, as he described the weather patterns that have thwarted this year's Hopkins County Dairy Festival Balloon Show. "We've been grounded by high winds, and adverse weather, ever since we moved into Hopkins County!"

"We're anxious to fly, but then we don't want to go up, unless it is safe," chimed-in another frustrated pilot. "We're just as anxious as anyone. That's the reason we own these balloons, is to keep them in the air and enjoy the opportunity to fly, but when weather keeps us grounded it is extremely frustrating. We hope the public understands our dilemma!"

 

"The Queen Mother," Kelly Cody, was on-hand to help pass the time, on Friday night,
as Dairy Festival Queen Katelyn Cody awaited to see if she'd be able to fly in a balloon.

 

Balloon Festival Chairmen, David and Pam Black, and the Dairy Festival Candidates served as Ambassadors
for Hopkins County, as they welcomed the Balloon Pilots to Sulphur Springs.

 

Friday night's Balloon Glow at Shannon Oaks Church was limited to three balloons that managed to "tether" and produces somewhat of a show, and then the balloon pilots entertained the crowd with an awesome "burner" show that proved to be both exciting and spectacular.

Live music by the Jonathan Kennedy Band provided a variety of 60's and 70's Rock 'n Roll tunes, to the delight of the crowd.

 

 

 

The Remax Balloon was one of three that was able to glow at
Friday night's event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilots and balloon crew members were up again, at 5:30 on Saturday morning, to watch the weather and were forced to only tether three more balloons, so that spectators could see them. However, none were able to "take to the skies."

 

Saturday morning brought its own problems with high winds and adverse weather, to
prevent the hot aire balloons from flying.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pilots then participated in the 51st Annual Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade and added their own special flair to that event.

Pilots were scheduled to participate in their own Milking Contest, on Saturday afternoon, preceding the Dairy Festival Candidates and their parents hosting their own contests.

"Regardless of whether we get to fly, I'm going to gorge on ice cream," commented on pilot. "That's the best tasting stuff, I've ever eaten!"

Pilots and Balloon Festival organizers were hoping to be able to inflate a number of balloons on Saturday night, and hopefully launch some of the balloons, if weather permitted. "These nice cool winds that are helping to alleviate the heat, are the very winds that are preventing us from flying," denoted one of the pilots, on Saturday morning. "It's kind of a 'double-edged" sword, we enjoy the relief from the heat, but it keeps us on the ground!"

 

Balloon pilots added their own flair to the Hopkins County Dairy Festival Parade and were looking forward
to eating ice cream and participating in their own Milking Contest, on Saturday afternoon.

 

 

 

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