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NewsAREA LANDOWNERS WIN PRIZES FROM BALLOON EVENT During the recent MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival, several landowners allowed balloon pilots to either land or launch from their properties. In return, pilots asked each landowner to complete an entry card which was returned to the festival organizers. Festival chairwoman Maria Langendorf announced that four of those landowner cards were drawn from the 100+ cards returned and will each receive a $50 Visa gift card. Winners are: Eddie & Teresa Crowe on Franklin-Madison Road, Andy & Sheri Hollister on Homestead Court in Springboro, Sandy Hughes on Mosiman Road and Tim Murphy on Mosiman Road. Mrs Langendorf said, “We appreciate the way area landowners have welcomed our balloon pilots. Their cooperation is vital to the event. The gift cards are our small way of saying thank you.” Also, as a result of Dr. Mark Frazer’s “fluff and puff” cold air inflation jump for kids during the event, another $75 will be donated to a camp for autistic children. Dr Frazer brings his balloon into Smith Park and inflates it with cold air and then allows children to romp and play on it until the air is all pushed out and then inflates it all over again. Several parents made donations to the charity as appreciation for the unusual opportunity their children enjoyed. MidFirst Ohio Challenge, held the third weekend in July, brought hot air balloons, skydivers, musical entertainment and a complete festival to Smith Park for the 6th year. Plans are already being made for the 2009 event. July 23, 2008 MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE WRAPS UP ANOTHER BALLOON EVENT AND PUMPS $3.8 MILLION INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY Hot air balloon competition winners were: MidFirst Credit Union, primary sponsor of the event, had a few winners of their own. Raffle drawings in their sponsor booth were won by Scott Walker, tethered balloon ride, Rob Rickett who will be skydiving with Team Fastrax, and Natalie Baum who will be going on a hot air balloon ride with Dr. Mark Frazer. Proceeds from the raffles will be going to The Cure Starts Now – raising money for research into juvenile brain tumors. As usual, a few people left MidFirst Ohio Challenge without some of their possessions. There were very few “found” items turned in to the information booth. However, there was one high-value item that organizers suspect someone is frantically seeking. If they will call 513-705-1770 and describe the item, Event Manager Paula Hale will be happy to return it. A total of 59,097 people entered Middletown’s Smith Park, site of the MidFirst Ohio Challenge on July 18-20, 2008. Based on a conservative multiplier used by those estimating economic impact for events, the total driven into the local economy was approximately $3.8 million dollars. An economic impact figure includes not only the amount of money spent at the event, but the estimated amount spent by guests on gasoline, hotel rooms, restaurant meals, etc. while they are in the area. It also includes expenditures by the festival organizers, vendors paying their workers, taxes, purchasing food items, ice, other products and performers’ expenses, etc. While temperatures soared, attendance figures were on a decline. Friday and Saturday entrance counts revealed a crowd at about the normal growth rate for an event; however the counts were lower than the 2007 record-setting numbers. That drop is attributed to the very warm temperatures vs rather pleasant temperatures in 2007. In 2008, the sweltering temperatures held crowds off until later in the day and the threatening storm clouds on Sunday caused a much lower count, according to event organizers.
MidFirst Ohio Challenge is particularly proud of the connection to other local non-profit organizations who either have vendor booths on site to earn money for their treasuries or are “paid” by the event to perform certain functions such as Police Explorer units helping park cars and the Middletown High School football team collecting trash. There is a definite shift in the percentages coming from specific areas of Ohio and beyond. Official counters and data-gathering volunteers found that guests from Butler and Warren Counties make up 48% of the total compared to 70% in 2007 and 54% in 2006. Those driving one hour or less to reach the festival accounted for 72% of the total. It is difficult to make assumptions based on figures, but organizers who talked with people on site and with those who called for information are assuming that many people are taking long weekend trips within a 100-200 mile distance to conserve gasoline. Several mentioned staying at local hotels as they took in the MidFirst Ohio Challenge, Dayton Air Show and other nearby attractions in Dayton, Mason and Cincinnati. A more complete economic impact study will be available in a few days. Winner of the grand prize, a hot air balloon ride or $300 in cash from the Duck Race was Virginia Earls of Trenton, OH. ARMY SCREAMING EAGLES PARACHUTE TEAM TO JOIN TEAM FASTRAX AT MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY The U.S. Army’s Screaming Eagles Parachute Demonstration Team will be an extra added attraction at the MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival this weekend, July 18-19-20, 2008 at Smith Park in downtown Middletown, Ohio. The Screaming Eagles team has been training all week at the www.StartSkydiving.com training facility in Warren County. Team Fastrax, who manage that facility and also train there, invited the Army jumpers to join them in Middletown. Team Fastrax will perform all three days of the event with the Screaming Eagles joining them on Saturday and Sunday. Both parachute groups are professionals in their sport.Team Fastrax is an active and visible team throughout the world. The team is made up of David Hart, Gene Newsome, Brian Marzluf, Bob Akers and Jay Stokes, John Hart, Brian McNenney, Scott Roberts and Kaz Sheekey. Team Fastrax has performed at professional football and baseball games, NCAA Division I football games, NASCAR, IHRL, major air shows, symphony events, performed tandems with past U.S. Presidents and many other high profile events. For more information visit www.teamfastrax.org. The US Army Screaming Eagles has performed more than 1,000 live aerial demonstrations throughout the United States and beyond. The have jumped into a wide variety of locations and events including national monuments, professional sporting events and air shows, Firestone Indy 200, President’s Golf Championship in Virginia, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and even the old Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. For more information visit www.campbell.army.mil/PDT/places.htm.
POLICE/MILITARY VETERANS TO SKYDIVE AND RIDE HOT AIR BALLOONS AS TRIBUTE TO THE TROOPS FRIDAY MORNING AT MIDDLETOWN REGIONAL AIRPORT To kick off the MidFirst Ohio Challenge air festival in Middletown, Ohio, Team Fastrax About 7:10 am Friday, July 18, 2008, Military veterans and Middletown Police Officers Eric Crank and Wayne Birch will jump out of an airplane over Middletown Regional Airport in tandem jumps with Team Fastrax. Once on the ground they will be presented with certificates of appreciation by John Guinn from www.thethankyoufoundation.org before they then climb into the baskets of hot air balloons and take to the skies for the serenity of a hot air balloon ride. Officer Eric Crank is a veteran of both the Army and Navy with service in Panama and the Western Pacific, reaching the rank of Sergeant before ending his military service and joining the Middletown Police Department where he serves as Crime Prevention Officer. He is now a 14 year veteran police officer. Officer Wayne Birch also rose to the rank of Sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Hood Texas with action in Operation Desert Storm. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star for his service. He joined the Middletown Police Department 16 years ago and is the department’s Warrant Officer. Also joining in the skydiving/balloon riding event is Vietnam veteran Brad Morris who served with the U S Marine Corp. Other Middletown Police/military veterans who will join in on the balloon flight only. Later on Friday, the MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival will begin a three day run in Smith Park, adjacent to the airport. MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a complete festival wrapped around hot air balloon competition and skydiving demonstrations. Festival dates are Friday, July 18, 4-10:30pm, Saturday, July 19, Noon-10:30pm, and Sunday Noon-8pm. Admission is $5 per carload or $2 per adult walk-in – children under 13 are free with adults. For a full schedule of events visit www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com. Jump/Balloon Schedule:
MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THE CURE STARTS NOW MidFirst Credit Union, primary sponsor of the MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival, is joining with festival planners to help raise funds for The Cure Starts Now. MidFirst Credit Union will be accepting donations at their booth for a chance to win a balloon ride, skydive or a tethered balloon ride. They will be giving all donations to The Cure Starts Now. The MidFirst Ohio Challenge souvenir booth will be selling lighted balloons each evening for $3 each and donating the profits to the same cause. MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a complete festival wrapped around hot air balloon competition and skydiving demonstrations. Festival dates are Friday, July 18, 4-10:30pm, Saturday, July 19, Noon-10:30pm, and Sunday Noon-8pm. Admission is $5 per carload or $2 per adult walk-in – children under 13 are free with adults. For a full schedule of events visit www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com. The choice of charity was an easy one for both groups. At the 2007 MidFirst Ohio Challenge, the Desserich family visited the hot air balloon festival as guests of the event. At that time, the family of four included a very seriously ill little girl, five year old Elena, dying of a brain tumor -DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma). She unfortunately passed away just a few weeks later. That brief encounter tugged at the hearts of those involved. When the parents Keith and Brooke Desserich started The Cure Starts Now foundation to raise funds for research into this deadly, fast moving disease, the balloon and skydiver group quickly agreed to help with fund-raising. A major fund-raiser was held in Cincinnati – Once In A Lifetime, at which several unusual experiences were auctioned off-- including skydiving and a hot air balloon ride. For more information visit www.thecurestartsnow.org.
TIPS FOR THE BEST EXPERIENCE AT MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL Arrive early, stay late. Those are the best tips for an enjoyable time at the MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival July 18-19-20, 2008. The 6th annual event draws approximately 70,000 visitors over the three days to the 100 acre Smith Park in downtown Middletown. From I-75, take exit 32 and follow the signs to the festival site at 500 Tytus Avenue. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, weather permitting, the grounds will be open, free, for those who want to watch the competition part of the event as the 37 balloons launch off-site and attempt to fly into the Hook Field airport to drop a marker on a designated target. The American Legion will sell breakfast foods. When the festival is officially open, 4 to 10:30 pm on Friday, Noon to 10:30 on Saturday and Noon to 8 on Sunday, there are many activities to keep everyone busy and entertained. Admission during festival hours is $5 per carload or $2 per adult walk-in (children free with adult). While there are many handicap parking spaces, they fill up fast. An on-site golf-cart shuttle will roam the grounds to assist guests who find it difficult to walk. Since almost everybody wants to be there for the evening launches when the colorful balloons are inflated and take to the air from the airport/Smith Park site, everybody seems to try to enter the gates at once. Organizers suggest guests plan to arrive by mid-afternoon and stay for an evening concert to avoid traffic snarls. And, inside Smith Park is the very best location to enjoy the balloons where Rob Otto the on-site announcer shares tidbits about the individual balloons and the pilots. To attract people to be on-site longer and to provide a full festival experience when the balloons are delayed or cannot fly, there are entertainment options, including Team Fastrax Skydivers, a carnival, arts & crafts, musical concerts and more. A complete schedule is available at www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com. Food vendors will be ready to serve up everything from pork chops and hot dogs to the after dinner sweet by Graeter’s Ice Cream. New this year, is Balloon School. Several pilots and their crew chiefs will share their love of the sport with anybody who visits the sessions. Also new this year is the opportunity to take a tethered balloon ride ($10 for adults, $5 for kids) during the evening hours. The balloon is tethered to the ground with a very strong rope and riders go up the length of the rope with the pilot and then descend back to the earth. Tethered rides are a recommended first experience and certainly more affordable than the usual $200 or more for a full, untethered hot air balloon ride. Also available for those who want a bird’s eye view, helicopter rides are available during the event for $40 per person. As always, those in the neighborhood – a 15 miles radius around Middletown- can encourage a balloon pilot to land or take off from their property by spreading a common bed sheet out on the ground in a clear space free of electrical lines or trees obstructing the zone. Pilots watch for those signals that they are welcome to use that space. For more information contact 513-705-1770, email to info@OhioChallenge.com.
MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE TO INCLUDE CLASSIC CAR SHOW, DUCK RACE AND PUBLIC BALLOON RIDES ON SUNDAY, JULY 20 Organizers of the 2008 MidFirst Ohio Challenge are bringing back the popular Classic Car Show for Sunday, July 20, the final day of the three day event – July 18-19-20, 2008. Larry Herron is chairperson of the Car Show which displays the beautifully restored vehicles in the midway of the event. Registration is $15 per vehicle beginning at 10 am on the day of the event. Awards will be presented at 4p. For information on the car show contact Herron at 513-503-4471. The Car Show day will include 1950s style music on the outdoor stage by The Rubbles, The Linden Davis Group and The Parrots of the Caribbean. Also slated for Sunday at the MidFirst Ohio Challenge will be a rubber Duck Race on Smith Pond. The Duck Race at 3 p, is sponsored by the Edgewood High School Cheer Boosters as a fund-raiser for their activities. Ducks may be adopted for $5 each or up to an entire flock of 25 ducks for $100. Winner of the Duck Race will receive their choice of a hot air balloon ride or $300 cash, with other prizes for second and third place finishing ducks. Balloon rides for the public will be offered for the first time this year. Only those who pre-register and have paid the $200 flight fee will be allowed to take the rides. Public rides are only available during the last flight of the event on Sunday evening. (Pilots are not permitted to take paying passengers during a competition event, a prohibition which ends after the Sunday morning flight.) Midfirst Ohio Challenge is a competition hot air balloon festival wrapped around several air-related entertainments and a full summertime festival. The 37 competition balloons vie for prizes in twice daily flights, weather permitting. The event includes regular jumps by Fastrax Professional Skydiving Team, night time balloon glows, musical concerts by a variety of top regional groups on the outdoor stage, arts and crafts, festival foods, helicopter rides, tethered balloon rides, a walk inside a balloon on the ground, Balloon School, Kids Discovery Center, carnival games and rides, an Indian Village with drum circles and much more. The festival runs July 18, 4-10 p; July19, Noon – 10p; and July 20, Noon-8p. Location for the festival is in Smith Park, 500 Tytus Avenue in downtown Middletown, Ohio, Exit 32 off I-75. For more information visit www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com , email to info@ohiochallenge.com or call 513-705-1770.
MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE JOINS GOVERNOR’S TOURISM MONTH KICK OFF EVENT
More than 100 exhibitors, mascots, costumed characters and stage show performers will be on hand to kick off the summer tourism season. MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival was chosen to be one of the groups showcasing the exciting festivals held in Ohio each year. According to the 2008 balloon event chairperson Maria Langendorf, “The MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a very colorful event with the hot air balloons, skydivers, entertainers and a full festival. Since balloons generally fly only early morning and early evening, we are partnering with our skydiving friends at Team Fastrax who will “drop in” on the Ohio State Tourism kickoff and we will be distributing toy balloons and trading cards to guests at the Governor’s kick off day.” MidFirst Ohio Challenge, now in its sixth year, has drawn up to 70,000 guests each year to Middletown. Middletown is situated midway between Dayton and Cincinnati, just off I-75 and within easy driving distance to other major attractions such as Kings Island. The 2008 MidFirst Ohio Challenge will be July 18-19 and 20. Event hours: Friday 4-10:30 pm, Saturday Noon-10:30 pm, Sunday Noon-7:00 pm. Admission is $2 for adults (over 12) walking into the grounds OR $5 per car regardless of number of occupants. RV’s and Buses are $25 for parking. For more information about MidFirst Ohio Challenge, call 513-705-1770 or visit www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com website.
MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE INVITES VENDORS TO APPLY MidFirst Ohio Challenge planning committee invites Food and Art & Craft Vendors to send in applications to be a part of the 6th annual hot air balloon festival held at Smith Park in downtown Middletown. Vendor applications are now posted online at www.MidFirstOhioChallenge.com along with general information about the July 18-19-20, 2008 event. MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a three-day festival centered around a hot air balloon competition and skydiving demonstration. The weekend includes a classic car show, 5K race, balloon glows, musical concerts, arts & crafts, festival foods and other attractions. The planning committee, most serving the entire six years, are now in the process of arranging entertainment and attractions for another outstanding event, with several new and exciting components, according to chairwoman Maria Langendorf. Members of the 2008 planning committe are: Maria Langendorf – General Chair The event, now in its sixth year, has drawn up to 70,000 guests each year to the site. Middletown is situated midway between Dayton and Cincinnati, just off I-75 and within easy driving distance to other major attractions such as Kings Island. Event hours: Friday 4-10:30 pm, Saturday Noon-10:30 pm, Sunday Noon-7:00 pm. Admission is $2 for adults (over 12) walking into the grounds OR $5 per car regardless of number of occupants. RV’s and Buses are $25 for parking. MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE NAMES NEW LEADERS When MidFirst Ohio Challenge opens the gates July 18-19-20, 2008, it will be under the direction of new committee chairperson Maria Langendorf. Mrs. Langendorf has been involved with the event from its beginning, serving as entertainment chair. She is also Community Relations Manager at Middletown Public Library system. Many local residents will recognize her as the hostess of “8 Minutes in Middletown” a regular segment on TV Middletown.
Also moving up in the organization is Paula Hale taking over for the retiring event coordinator Peggy Ketron who managed the event for two years. Mrs. Hale has also been involved since the event began and has served most recently as the food vendor chairperson. Other members of MidFirst Ohio Challenge’s executive committee remain: Dave Pearce-Treasurer, Dr Mark Frazer and James Wannemacher – Balloon Pilot Representatives, David Hart – Team Fastrax Skydivers, Ginger Smith-City of Middletown and Ann Mort – Publicity. Rod Hale will serve as Immediate Past According to Mrs. Langendorf, “It will be a pleasure to work with the MidFirst Ohio Challenge committee. It speaks well for the event management that there have been so few changes to the core committee in the past five years. Everyone involved knows their job and we enjoy working together. There is, however, always a need to fill a few volunteer positions. We will be looking for volunteers who enjoy hard work, putting on a top notch event and having fun at the same time.” MidFirst Ohio Challenge is a three-day festival centered around a competitive hot air balloon event and skydiving demonstration located at Smith Park in downtown Middletown. The 2008 event will include many of the elements crowds have enjoyed in the past such as musical concerts, arts and crafts and festival foods plus some new things to see and do. The event, now in its sixth year, has drawn up to 70,000 guests each year to the site. Middletown is situated midway between Dayton and Cincinnati, just off I-75 and within easy driving distance to other major attractions such as Kings Island. Event hours: Friday 4-10:30 pm, Saturday Noon-10:30 pm, Sunday Noon-7:00 pm. Admission is $2 for adults (over 12) walking into the grounds OR $5 per car regardless of number of occupants. RV’s and Buses are $25 for parking. Members of the 2008 Planning Committee are: Maria Langendorf – General Chair MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE ATTENDANCE TOPS PAST YEAR An estimated 73,800 people attended the MidFirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Balloon Festival in Middletown July 20-22, 2007. The popular event just barely topped the 2006 record of 73,200 people attending the three day event. An estimated $4.9 million was pumped into the local economy. Rod Hale, chairperson of the event, said, ”We continue to grow and build an event which brings smiles to the faces of our guests and drives dollars into the local economy. Our committee strives to bring something new and better to each MidFirst Ohio Challenge and we are already looking to next year to make it even better.” The crowd estimates are derived from volunteers counting everyone who enters one of the gates and then using a formula to add those arriving via the other four gates plus the volunteers, vendors, performers, balloon crews and those enjoying the music and aerial displays from nearby venues. While the Friday and Saturday crowds were by far the largest ever, the Sunday visitor total was about 10,000 fewer than in 2006. Vendors at the event reported record sales with several selling out of their food and craft items well before the end of the day. One vendor, Natalie’s Concessions reported record sales last year and double that sale amount this year. Another vendor reported better sales at MidFirst Ohio Challenge than at another recent event with nearly twice the estimated crowd size. The economic impact figure is based on a conservative $66 per person dollar average used by surrounding states and past events. Those attending events purchase food, lodging, gas, tickets, souvenirs or visit local retailers. The organizers have the cost of staging the event - supplies, tent rentals, propane, hotel rooms, etc. Add to those amounts, the ripple effect of supplies purchased by vendors, taxes paid, etc. and the impact grows. Teams of volunteers also surveyed about 1,500 guests at the three-day event. Of those surveyed, 70% were from the Butler/Warren County area. Eighty-four percent lived within a one-hour drive with the remaining 16% from more distant Ohio counties and other states. A full economic impact study will be released shortly. MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
McClinton is from Prospect, Kentucky, and piloted the football and soccer ball special shape balloons at past MidFirst Ohio Challenges. He also was named Rookie of the Year at another Middletown-based balloon event in 1992, The U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships. The 87 foot tall rocket shaped balloon stretches 103 feet from wing tip to wing tip and weighs 380 pounds--empty. Special shape balloons are considered more difficult to fly than regular tear-drop shaped balloons and pilots of special shapes seldom win flying competitions. McClinton takes home the $1,000 prize money and 2007 MidFirst Ohio Challenge trophy designed and constructed by Beau Verre Riordan Stained Glass Studios in downtown Middletown. Second place in the competition was fifth year competitor Michael Emich from Akron Ohio flying the #15 balloon named Second Wind. Third Place went to Mark Yeakle from Springboro, Ohio, flying balloon number 27 named Mariah. Fourth place was claimed by Sean Askren , also a fifth year competitor and second place winner in the 2006 event. His balloon was number 11 named Frances Son Dancer. The second annual MidFirst Ohio Challenge Car Show drew 93 cars. Best of Show winner was Gary Dennis from Franklin, Ohio, owner of a 1934 Buick. The Saturday morning 5K Race held in conjunction with the Middletown High School Athletic Booster Club drew 104 runners. Top female finishers were first place Brittany Henn from Beavercreek and second place Kim Noble from Hamilton. In the male division, first place runner was Michael Veatch and second place was Philip Sliger both from Middletown.
For more information, please email info@ohiochallenge.com |
Download AREA LANDOWNERS WIN PRIZES FROM BALLOON EVENT MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE WRAPS UP ANOTHER BALLOON EVENT AND PUMPS $3.8 MILLION INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY Midfirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Ballon Festival To Raise Funds For the Cure Starts Now Tips for the Best Experience At Midfirst Ohio Challenge Hot Air Ballon Festival Midfirst Ohio Challenge Joins Governor's Tourism Month Kick Off Event Midfirst Ohio Challenge Invites Vendors to Apply MidFirst Ohio Challenge Names New Leaders 2008 Planning Committee Members MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE ATTENDANCE TOPS PAST YEAR MIDFIRST OHIO CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
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Middletown based MidFirst Ohio Challenge will be among the events featured at the Ohio State House tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13. Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will hold a news conference on the State House steps at 11 am, followed by a celebration of Ohio Tourism until 2 pm. 
Mrs. Langendorf follows Rod Hale as chairperson. Hale chaired the 2006 and 2007 balloon events. Other past chairs are Ginger Bruggeman, Dan Sack and Dave Pearce, all of whom remain involved with the event as sub-committee chairs.
Scott McClinton, pilot of the American Rocket balloon, was named the competition winner at the 2007 MidFirst Ohio Challenge hot air balloon festival completed Sunday evening. McClinton won over the other 31 balloons flying in the event.