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.
Local
Flyers are floating on Fourth
Remote-control event joins county fair, 5K run, fireworks on holiday schedule
- Local
-
-
Drug task force seeks public's help
The Southern Illinois Drug Task Force is asking for assistance from the public in identifying a suspected cannabis plant grower.
-
County Board gives OK to proposal to digitize records
Hamilton County Board gave the go-ahead to a proposal to digitize the records under the control of the county clerk.
-
Truck route project gets green light
A proposed truck route project in Hamilton County got the green light from the County Board last week.
-
WTC survivor to speak at prayer breakfast here
World Trade Center Survivor Sujo John is scheduled to speak at this year’s Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast.
-
Relay for Life to kick off 2012 campaign
Friends, cancer survivors, caregivers and teams are coming together for a celebration to kick off the 2012 American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Hamilton County event.
-
Man charged with neglect set to appear in court next week
A man is charged in Hamilton County with acts of criminal negligence involving a person with a disability.
-
Right-of-way work for county truck route continues
Hamilton County officials are hopeful that landowners will be cooperative as work to acquire rights of way for a proposed new truck route continues.
-
Program offering free lunches to kids over school break
A program which provided free hot lunches to youth this past summer is returning for the school break between Christmas and New Year’s.
-
County looking to automate records
Large, cumbersome books containing various land records — some close to 200 years old — line the shelves of a back room at the Hamilton County Clerk’s Office.
-
Investigation of 4-year-old child's drowning continues
An investigation continued this week into the drowning of a 4-year-old boy over the weekend in Hamilton County.
- More Local Headlines
-





