Published: July 01, 2009 01:41 pm      

Flyers are floating on Fourth

Remote-control event joins county fair, 5K run, fireworks on holiday schedule

By PAUL LORENZ

paul.lorenz@mcleansborotimesleader.com

McLEANSBORO — Anyone at the City Reservoir for the Fourth of July will again have the chance to see more than fireworks when they look to the sky.

The Hamilton County Fearless Flyers’ second annual Float Fly will be held Saturday at the reservoir, Jason Pearson, the model club’s president, said.

At least a half dozen remote-control model planes will be in the air and on the water, Pearson said.

“The majority of the flying will take place just before sunset when the lake is really calm,” he said.

He added, however, that for anyone who wants to come out early, flyers will be arriving at the reservoir between 2 and 3 p.m.

McLeansboro firefighters will again put on the city’s annual fireworks display at the reservoir. The fireworks will start shortly after sunset, probably around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Earlier that same day, the Firecracker 5K Run/Walk will start at 8 a.m. at East Side Grade School, with registration from 7 to 7:45 a.m.

Also, the Hamilton County Fair kicks off Friday at the fairgrounds with the 4-H Show and part of the Junior Show starting at 7 a.m. and the 4-H Auction at 4 p.m., all at the 4-H Arena. (A complete schedule of events is elsewhere in this issue.)

Last year’s Float Fly drew a “great response from the community” even though it was first planned more as a club event than as one for the community, Pearson said.

“People told us if they had known it was coming, they would’ve come out and watched,” he said.

So this year, the club is doing more to get the word out about the event, he said.

“We decided that since people were off on the fourth of July, what better way to have a club picnic and entertain the community at the same time and get our name out there,” Pearson said.

A new picnic shelter is now available for use on the south side of the reservoir. The City Council decided earlier this year to demolish a crumbling concrete-block shelter and replace it after receiving a $30,000 donation from the Richard C. Weinmann Trust.

People should have a good view of the Float Fly regardless of where they locate at the reservoir, Pearson said.

“No matter where you’re at, you’re going to see a good show,” he said. “We try to keep it over the water, but we’ll use the whole reservoir.”

• Another Fearless Flyers event coming up later this summer is the third annual Jim LeRoy Memorial Fly-In, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the McLeansboro Airport.