Adverse Winds Prevent Media Balloon Launches
Friday Morning

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

 

The major thunderstorms that moved through Hopkins County yesterday, dumping some much needed rainfall, lingered around early Friday morning and prevented the launching of the hot aire balloons, in media flights. However, a great morning was enjoyed by everyone as two balloons were tethered and local residents got their "first taste" of this year's spectacular Dairy Festival Balloon Festivities. The "Remax" balloon and the Touchstone Energy balloon were brought to the staging area at Shannon Oaks Church and inflated to let everyone "get a feel" of the sport of ballooning.

 

 

 

 

Crew members "got their feet wet," actually, as they waded in the grass and helped inflate and tether the gigantic balloons, and individuals from the community were given tethered rides, as they experienced a "touch" of what an actual flight would be like.

 

 

 

 

"Hopefully, the we will get some cooperation from the weather and are able to launch some of the balloons tonight and the remainder of the weekend," allowed Balloon Miester, Sheronda Greenwood, who is "back on the scene" for this year's balloon festival. "When our weather men tell us it isn't safe to fly, we pay attention, as the last thing we want is for some of our balloonist, the public, or spectators to be injured, in a flight!"

Dairy Festival Candidate, Samantha Owens, and Board Member, Patricia Chase,
take this tethered ride, Friday morning.

 

 

SSHS Drama Teacher, Dawn Doyle, wasn't real sure if she'd like the ride. However,
she was soon enjoying the experience and ready to take flight!

 

 

"I definitely want to go up!" exclaimed Luis Rasgado, who took a tethered ride, this morning. "I was a little bit apprehensive, because I am scared of heights, but once I got in the balloon and saw how softly it glided and looked out over the crowd, I'm hooked!"

 

Front Porch News Texas' Luis Rasgado gets his first taste of the ballooning
experience, on Friday morning.

 

"It would be awesome to float over Hopkins County and see the things you see every day, from a different perspective!" continued Luis. "It was wonderful and the basket is much more roomy than it looks like from just looking on!"

 

Luis joined "The Daily News Telegram's" Cindy Roller as they took their
tethered flight on Friday morning.

 

Balloonist were scheduled to be at the official ribbon cutting for the 2010 Hopkins County Dairy Festival at 9:30 a.m., at Guaranty Bond Bank, on Gilmer Street, and then will be returning to Shannon Oaks Church, at 6:00 p.m., where this year's first Balloon Glow will feature a variety of balloon shapes and a live music concert. Local residents are invited to come out, bring their lawn chairs, and enjoy the fun. Another, Balloon Glow is scheduled for Saturday night, with more live music and keep "your eyes to the sky" all weekend as these gigantic balloons take to the skies over Hopkins County. You never know, they might be floating right above you!

 

 

 

 

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