Balloons Aloft 2016

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July 8-9, 2016 kpcnews.com

A special supplement to The News Sun, The Herald Republican and The Star on July 5, 2016.

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Angola Balloons Aloft

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July 5, 2016

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July 5, 2016

Angola Balloons Aloft

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Welcome to Angola Balloons Aloft

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 2016 Angola Balloons Aloft event. This unique, regional event gives top balloonists an opportunity to showcase their skills. And it allows countless spectators the experience and wonderment of hot air ballooning.

Thank you to the local leaders, teams and volunteers who put in the hard work and effort that allows this great event to take flight!

Parkview Health is proud to again be the signature sponsor of Angola Balloons Aloft. I hope your time with the hot air balloons at Angola High School creates many memories. To the pilots, crews and volunteers, I wish you blue skies and safety as you gift us all with your skill.

Sincerely, Michael J. Packnett President and CEO of Parkview Health

Mayor Hickman welcomes visitors Dear Balloons Aloft Visitors: Welcome to Angola, Ind., and the Balloons Aloft event. We look forward to this event each and every year and hope if this is your first time visiting us that you will definitely put it on your calendar for next year.

Balloons Aloft has become a must-see event for people in the tri-state area. It has also become one of the best attended events in Steuben County.

Be sure to take in the balloon lighting both evenings, enjoy all the vendors with

their great food and watch the balloons as they take off from in front of the Angola High School. Also take in all of the sights, smells and educational opportunities that Balloons Aloft offers.

Thank you for visiting Angola and Balloons Aloft. I am sure once you have experienced the hospitality that Angola and Balloons Aloft offer you that you will plan on being back next year.

Sincerely, Richard M. Hickman Mayor City of Angola

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Welcome to the 7th Angola Balloons Aloft On behalf of the Angola Balloons Aloft Event Committee it is our pleasure to invite you to the 7th Annual Angola Balloons Aloft hot air balloon fest held on July 8-9 at our new location, Angola High School, with opening ceremonies beginning at 6:15 p.m. Friday.

Each year our Committee works diligently to bring new and exciting additions to Balloons Aloft. This year is no exception as we feature 36 hot air balloons and adorable special shape characters. Evenings will light up the sky with a nighttime illumination followed by the popular DJ, Noise Pollution, on Friday evening!

We would like to extend our thanks to Parkview Health for their generous contribution year after year and the many other Northeast Indiana contributors.

Without their support, Angola Balloons Aloft would not be able to offer this free community event. Special thanks to the Metropolitan School District of Steuben County for opening their doors to us!

Please look over our sponsorship information in this tab and thank and frequent the variety of sponsors that make Angola Balloons Aloft possible.

Be sure to make plans to stay on Friday and Saturday evening for the colorful nighttime illumination. Saturday morning will feature competition balloons flying over the high school, competing for prizes, and a Pancake and Sausage Breakfast open to the public sponsored by the local Angola Rotary Club, from 7:00-10:30 a.m.

Check the Schedule of Events in this insert for the many scheduled events throughout the two-day event.

There will be a variety of food vendors, a much larger Balloons Aloft Bazaar and more excitement than you can imagine.

Make sure you bring out the entire family, your lawn chairs and camera for some amazing photo opportunities.

Hoping for blue skies and calm winds, Walt and Marsha Drewes, Event Directors Angola Balloons Aloft

Steuben County 4-H Fair July 15-21 Steuben County Park, Crooked Lake, Angola Mud Run – Rodeo – Truck and Tractor Pull – Free Concert Kids’ Day Activities – Livestock Auction – Showmanship Contest Call (260) 668-1000 Ext. 1400 for more information or visit www.extension.purdue.edu/steuben

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Angola Balloons Aloft

July 5, 2016

Angola Balloons Aloft moves, is a bicentennial event

BY MIKE MARTURELLO mmarturello@kpcmedia.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

This huge birthday cake balloon, which is sponsored by the Steuben County Tourism Bureau, will be flying at this year’s Angola Balloons Aloft on Friday and Saturday at Angola High School. Balloons Aloft is an official Indiana Bicentennial Legacy event.

Angola Balloons Aloft is ready for this year’s seventh hotair balloon competition and exhibit, July 8-9, which is an officially sanctioned Indiana Bicentennial event.

And, as usual, Balloons Aloft is geared toward free family fun.

For the first time, Balloons Aloft will be staged at Angola High School.

As one of its special touches, the event will kick off Friday with opening ceremonies that will feature a skydiver sailing through the air with a huge American flag. Presiding over opening ceremonies will be Indiana Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Shortly after the opening ceremonies, there will be a mass balloon launch. On Saturday there will be two competitions for the 37 pilots coming to Angola, and on both days paid balloon rides will be available. Each night will feature a mass illumination of many of the hot air balloons coming.

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“We’re excited. It’s going to be fun,” said Walt Drewes, who along with his wife, Marsha, organize the event. “We can’t forget, the MSD has opened up so many things for us.”

Each time the balloons launch, they will do so from strategic points so they fly over Angola, Marsha said.

In addition to the morning and evening launches, there will be many activities spread out daily to provide famly fun.

New this year will be a family fun walk on Saturday starting at 7 a.m.

The event will take place on the trail stretching between Angola Middle School and Commons Park. It will be approximately 1-mile long.

The event will not be competitive, Marsha said. Instead, there will be a drawing for prizes for the participants.

New this year will be a dance on Friday night to DJ Noise Pollution. And there’s a remote-control model airplane show on Saturday that will feature planes such as a jet, a twin-engine craft, one that’s powered by a lawn equipment engine and one with an 8-foot wingspan.

The Flying Circuits model airplane club from Fort Wayne will put on the show.

There will be antique tractors and vehicle displays, and the kids’ fun zone will return and feature free cupcakes and milk for the little ones.

Rise Above, a traveling trailer display that features the Tuskegee Airmen from World War II will also return. It made its other appearance at Balloons Aloft in 2012.

With support from the Steuben County Tourism Bureau, a huge birthday cake will be flying through the air during Balloons Aloft.

“Thanks to the Steuben County Tourism Bureau, the Indiana Bicentennial will be highlighted at Balloons Aloft with a two-tier hot air balloon birthday cake,” Marsha said.

The birthday cake balloon stands 80-feet tall and has a 71-foot diameter.

This spectacular balloon has 20, 12-foot birthday candles with 5-foot foot flames on the top.

Balloons Aloft is an official legacy project of the Indiana Bicentennial celebration.

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July 5, 2016

Angola Balloons Aloft

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Flying Circuits to make debut performance

BY AUBREY HUNT news@kpcmedia.com

ANGOLA — The Fort Wayne Flying Circuits R/C Club will be sharing their love for remote-controlled aircraft Saturday during the Seventh Annual Balloons Aloft.

Founded in 1951, the Flying Circuits have grown from their eight-member beginning. Today, they strive to encourage and promote public interest for radio-controlled aircraft. The club is based in partnership with the Academy of Model Aeronautics and has members whose ages range from 8 years old to 80 years old.

President Tom Hayes said he and his club have been gearing up with all kinds of plans for Angola Balloons Aloft.

“We’re really excited to put on a good show for the community,” said Hayes.

The nearly 90-member club has plans to perform on the second day of Balloons Aloft at 9:30-10:30 a.m. following the 1-mile family fun walk.

See FLYING CIRCUITS page 10

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Members of the Fort Wayne Flying Circuits R/C Club get ready to prepare their model planes for the show. The advancements within remote-controlled aeronautics has made it possible to create larger and more high-tech versions of model aircraft, as seen here.

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July 5, 2016

Angola Balloons Aloft

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CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS • Angola Collision Center • Angola Fire Department • Angola High School FFA • Angola Police Department • Barton Lake RV • Fairview Missionary Church • Hal-Mark Rental

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Angola Balloons Aloft

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July 5, 2016

Balloons Aloft Line Up INDEPENDENCE

PANDY

Pilot: Shawn Raya

Pilot: Phil Clinger

Oxford, Michigan

Battle Creek, Michigan

Sponsor: Sullair

Sponsor: Hancock County CVB

2016 Defending champion

2016 Runnerup

Pilot: Walt Rudy Pilot: Dave Reineke Owners are Keith and Debbie Sproul Champaign, Illinois of Sky Chariot Sponsor: Klink Group North Brunswick, New Jersey

PERFECT CALM

SCRUMTRULESCENT

SPECIAL PURPOSE

Pilot: Dennis Hall

Pilot: Steve Mitchell

Howell, Michigan

Streetsboro, Ohio

Sponsor: Circle B Campground

Sponsor: City of Angola

SULLAIR

PEG LEG PETE

BIRTHDAY CAKE

SMILEY SCARECROW

REMAX

Pilot: Keith Sproul, Sky Chariot

Pilot: Jack Semler

Pilot: Jeff Menchhofer

North Brunswick, New Jersey

Westfield, Indiana

McCordsville, Indiana

Sponsor: Steuben County Tourism Bureau

Sponsor: Stoy Farms, First Federal Savings Bank of Angola, Mike and Barb Bratton

Sponsor: Remax Results

F.O.R.E

JIMBALAYA

SUPERFLUOUS

ENVY

Pilot: Jeff Pestun

Pilot: Wes Dickerson

Pilot: Jim Birk

Pilot: Larry Coan

Pilot: Patrick Brouillet

Zeeland, Michigan

Milford, Michigan

Defiance, Ohio

Livonia, Michigan

Kankakee, Illinois

Sponsor: Cameron Memorial

Sponsor: Dry Dock Marine

Sponsor: Jacob Insurance

Sponsor: Bon Appetit

Sponsor: Best One Tire & Auto

Sponsor: Wells Fargo

FAST TRACK

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PROCRASTINATION

Pilot: Matt Niemi

PIlot: Steve King

Pilot: Deven Cook

Pilot: Scott King

Carson City, Michigan

Midland, Michigan

Battle Creek, Michigan

Midland, Michigan

Sponsor: Vestil Manufacturing

Sponsor: Trine University

Sponsor: Pro Resources Staffing

Sponsor: Croxton & Roe

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July 5, 2016

WANDERER

Angola Balloons Aloft

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Balloons Aloft Line Up RALPHIE 2

MICHIGAN CAT

DREAM RACER

RACING VENTURE

MOONLIGHT SUN-ATA

WINDSWEPT

Pilot: Larry Lankenau

Pilot: Ken Myer

Pilot: Rick Kerber

Pilot: Christopher Smart

Pilot: Richard Parr

Pilot: Janet Lutkus

Pilot: Charles Wyss

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fowlerville, Michigan

Wayland, Michigan

Huntington, Indiana

Pittsboro, North Carolina

Medina, Ohio

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Sponsor: Campbell & Fetter Bank Sponsor: Fairlife & Core Power Sponsor: Michigan Cat

Sponsor: Pro Federal Credit Union

Sponsor: Key Bank

Sponsor: Superior Auto

Sponsor: State Rep. Denny Zent

BLUE MAGIC

BUB

BENEVOLENCE

JABBERWOCKY

TUMBLEWEED

TINY

LADY BYLE

Pilot: Thomas Eismin

Pilot: Rick Poe

Pilot: Jake Tyler

Pilot: Andy Barnum

Pilot: Jeff Barlett

Pilot: Brian Trapp

Pilot: Laurie Givin & Steve Searles

West Lafayette, Indiana

Sycamore, Illinois

Toledo, Ohio

Toledo, Ohio

Mentor, Ohio

Lebanon, Ohio

Lebanon, Ohio

Sponsor: Mitch & Debra Rhoads

Sponsor: Ramada Inn

Sponsor: Touchstone Energy

Sponsor: Merrill Lynch

Sponsor: Farmers State Bank

Gentle Breeze Balloon Rides

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MAVERYX

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SUNNY SIDE OF LOUISVILLE PHOENIX

Pilot: Steve Sitko

Pilot: Wayne Warren

Pilot: Joe Zvada

Pilot: Dan Hoehler

Pilot: Jody Leatherberry

Jackson, Michigan

Waterford, Michigan

McAllen, Texas

Louisville, Kentucky

Leslie, Michigan

Sponsor: Bowen Center

Sponsor: Jim Ingledue Construction Inc.

Sponsor: Hagerman Group

Sponsor: Clark Floyd CVB

Sponsor: Angola Balloons Aloft Committee

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Angola Balloons Aloft

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July 5, 2016

Rotary serving breakfast at Balloons Aloft ANGOLA — Food of all sorts will be available during Angola Balloons Aloft, much of which will be supplied by area civic groups.

For those wanting to catch the early morning events on Saturday and want to grab a bite to eat, the Angola Rotary Club will be providing a pancake breakfast.

Pancakes and sausage will be served from 7-10:30 a.m., for a donation. The proceeds will be used to support various Rotary projects, such scholarships for local students, funding for exchange

students and youth programs, a holiday dinner for RISE clients and Rotary International projects such as polio eradication and disaster relief.

The Angola Rotary club was formed in 1914 and officially chartered in 1919.

During the early years, it helped to form a local Red Cross chapter and raised funds for the construction of the Riley Hospital for Children. Recently, it has supported the Steuben County Literacy Coalition, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and provided books for elementary schools.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Club members watch the sky as they fly their remote-controlled aircraft. The club meets regularly to fly their models and perform together.

FLYING CIRCUITS From page 5

This year’s Balloons Aloft is set to feature many events at its new location, Angola High School. Dancing, classic cars and face painting are just some of the attractions coming with this year’s lineup.

In its debut performance at Balloons Aloft, the Flying Circuits are getting ready to feature some of their favorite R/C aircraft. The models come in all different shapes and sizes with some wing diameters reaching nearly 80 inches.

Helicopters, nitro-powered airplanes and quad-copters are just some of what is

For An

being prepared for the event. Hayes said it’s possible a jet might be in the performance plan. The club has trained members who specialize in all areas of R/C flying and of the mechanics that go along with it, Hayes said.

The R/C aircraft are equipped to perform different kinds of tricks, loops and high-flying stunts. Hayes said the R/C’s abilities to perform such amazing tricks are always the highlight.

“It all depends on the pilot,” Hayes said. The club’s crew requires whoever handles the aircraft to be extremely qualified. The possibility of one of their expert “tricksters” to make an appearance at the event is also in the works.

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Pictured is the inside of a balloon’s envelope during last years Angola Balloons Aloft.

BRIAN GLICK

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July 5, 2016

Angola Balloons Aloft

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Semler, Zvada bring international experience to Angola Balloons Aloft

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Jack Semler, far right, gained experience last February when he flew his balloons in the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta. He even had the chance to fly the Italian Ambassador, middle, and his son, far left.

BY AUBREY HUNT news@kpcmedia.com

ANGOLA — Pilots boasting international ballooning experience are set to float through Angola during this year’s Angola Balloons Aloft at Angola High School.

Jack Semler and Joe Zvada will be featured July 8-9 during the seventh annual event. The two have always had hot air ballooning flying through their blood. Now, both travel the world in pursuit of growing their passions.

Semler, owner of Indy Hot Air in Westfield, lives to ride through the clouds. When he’s not working with FedEx you can find him working alongside his wife, Lynn, at their family business. If you can’t find them at either, they’re probably exploring the world with their balloons in tow.

“We’ve been able to travel all over the country and all over the world,” said Semler. He recently participated in the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, which took place in Clark, Pampanga, this past February.

The Fiesta was originally created to stimulate the economy and raise the spirits of local residents after disastrous effects of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, an active stratovolcano in the Cabusilan Mountains. Now, it has become a festival celebrating “everything that flies,” the event’s

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Joe Zvada recently represented the United States during the World Air Games in Dubai. Zvada will be flying the same black and yellow racer balloon he flew this past December during the games.

website says.

There, competitions and spectator events are held, such as balloon bursting competitions and aerobatic glider flights.

Semler noted that his experience there, and other parts of the world, are an amazing way to create new memories and experiences. The pair plans to travel to Malaysia later this year, he said.

Semler also plans to return a visitor who is very familiar with Steuben County, Smiley the Scarecrow. Smiley is one of Semler’s special shapes balloons whose had its fair share of worldwide experience.

“Smiley has traveled worldwide to Scotland, England and Japan,” said Semler. Smiley was originally crafted in Brazil and traveled to Newfoundland and New Zealand with its first owner.

Zvada, of McAllen, Texas, always knew he wanted to fly hot air balloons for a living as well. From that, he has gained international experience and has explored different parts of the world.

Dubai, a city located in the United Arab Emirates, being the most recent.

In Dubai, Zvada was able to represent the United States in the World Air Games this past December. Much like the Olympics of all air sports, he said the WAG is comprised of different disciplines such as skydiving, hang gliding and of course, ballooning.

Within the 15-day competition, Zvada

had experiences most can only dream about, such as flying over the Persian Gulf and getting a birds-eye view of Dubai’s city streets.

“Just being there and experiencing Dubai was really interesting,” Zvada said. The same yellow and black racer balloon he flew in Dubai will also be featured in this year’s Balloons Aloft.

Along with Dubai, Zvada has also had the experience of flying through Canada and Austria, with a trip to Japan planned for the future.

Semler and Zvada will be among 37 other balloons featured. Both are returning veterans of the event and can agree that the response from the community is what makes it

all worthwhile.

Angola Balloons Aloft has become a favorite for both pilots. While international success and experiences are amazing, small town productions of ballooning events are great ways for everyone in the community to get involved and enjoy themselves and the balloons, Zvada said.

“We look forward to coming back to Angola because it’s such a great community,” said Semler.

Zvada agreed that the fans, the conversations, becoming part of nature and becoming part of the community are what really make ballooning worthwhile.

“It’s moments like that, that carry with you,” he said.

We are always updating our calendar of events, so be sure to check our listings frequently!

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Angola Balloons Aloft

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

People who want to welcome pilots to their properties during Angola Balloons Aloft are asked to affix a white sheet to the ground designating a landing spot.

Balloons Aloft runs Friday and Saturday and is headquartered at the Tri-State Steuben County Municipal Airport.

People can participate, engage pilots

BY MIKE MARTURELLO mmarturello@kpcmedia.com

ANGOLA — Organizers of Angola Balloons Aloft are reaching out to the public to become a part of the event beyond being spectators at the host site, Angola High School.

People can welcome balloonists to their properties — typically acreages and farms — and there are some safety pointers for the public to follow.

“If a balloon lands on a property with permission, the pilots always enjoy having the host property owner engage!

It’s part of the enjoyment for the pilots and crew to meet rural folks and entertain them with their sport,” said Marsha Drewes, who along with her husband, Walt, chair the committee that organizes Balloons Aloft.

If you live within an 8-mile radius of the Angola High School and would like to become part of the Angola Balloons Aloft event, all you need is a white sheet.

“If you would not mind having a balloon landing or launching from your property, all you have to do is place a white sheet in a visible place in your yard,” Marsha Drewes said.

Affix the sheet to the ground and a balloonist might just land in your yard

on Friday or Saturday. Or they might use your property to launch from.

Balloons Aloft organizers ask participants to place a white sheet on the spot starting Friday early morning until Sunday morning.

Make sure the sheet can be seen from the air so when a balloon pilot sees it, he or she knows you have given him or her permission to land.

Drewes pointed out that because of the variability of winds and other factors, putting a sheet in your yard does not guarantee a balloonist will land there.

In addition, people who might want to follow a balloon over the countryside are being asked to exercise caution and respect people’s property.

“Actually the biggest effort on the part of the public is to make sure they don’t follow too closely to the chase vehicles and not cause a traffic jam,” Drewes said. “If you are watching or following balloons, make sure you keep your eyes on the highway!”

If people do follow balloons and decide to stop along a road or at a property, they should make sure they are parking in a place where parking is allowed, such as a county road shoulder.