Jim Cranmer, activities director at the Daviess County Health Department, promised the residents he would attempt to launch their balloon on Friday, Oct. 28.
Jim Cranmer, activities director at the Daviess County Health Department, promised the residents he would attempt to launch their balloon on Friday, Oct. 28. The 12 foot tall hot air balloon was made by the residents out of red and white tissue paper. It was a bright, sunny morning, but Jim thought from the beginning that it was a little too windy. Nevertheless, he donned his carnival hat and jacket and gave it his best shot. Using charcoal heated in a hibachi and a stove pipe donated by Barton’s Hardware for his burner, Jim got the flame going. The residents stayed warm and cozy and watched from the east windows of the dining room. With help from Patsy Wrex, housekeeping, holding up the middle of the balloon, and Ida Schafer, a resident, who lifted the end of the balloon with a plastic pipe pole, Jim held the opening over the flame so the balloon would fill with hot air. Oops. Ida’s pole slipped and stuck through the balloon.Jim was undaunted and holes or no holes, he wanted to give it one more try. The balloon refused to fill up and the tissue paper got a little too hot. Jim was prepared, though, and had a fire extinguisher on hand for just such a turn-of-events. The pesky wind caught the balloon and scooted it across the paved lot. Jim chased it down and doused it good. Oh, well, he tried! And his efforts were appreciated!
