HardisonInk.comDixie County Chamber helps airport thrive with big Expo

In the upper photo, members of the Dixie County High School Band and of American Legion Post and Auxiliary 383 group together before marching onto the airfield to perform the national anthem. In the lower photo, members of the DCHS Red Coat Regiment Marching Band, under the direction of William Malloy, performed a stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner to open the program.A Color Guard from American Legion Post and Auxiliary 383 (of Old Town), with Coleen Phillips holding the American flag and Debbie Palmerton holding the POW flag, presented the colors. Other members of that group from the American Legion are Sharon Petersen, David Tyrrell, Swayne Henning, Richard Klinesmith, Billy O’Donnell and Chaplain (and photographer) Mary Luyk.

Story, Photos and VideosBy Jeff M. Hardison © April 24, 2016 @ 11:07 p.m. All Rights ReservedDo Not Copy Any Material From HardisonInk.com To Other Places Such as Facebook or to WCJB TV-20     CROSS CITY – Cross City Regional Airport enjoyed what is phenomenal traffic for that airport as the Dixie County Chamber of Commerce held its Expo there on

HardisonInk.comSaturday (April 23).

     Carol West, Debbie DeWeese, Arthur Bellot, Cindy Bellot, Tom Galloway, Debbie Dembo, Ken Baumer, Michelle Cannon, John Cherry, Terry Dembo, Susan Lamb, Ruth Ann Lovelace, Vondla Sullivan, Melanie Anderson, Yyzzy Arzayus, Jeff Cary, Karen Evans, Dana Johnson and Robbie Lee all were among the contributing forces for success.~

Mikey Lewis of Mikey's Smokehouse stands near his area on Saturday at the event.

     The Dixie County Board of County Commissioners has shown continued support in recent years for helping the economy improve, as have the voters. Dale Herring has been among the champions of economic development in Dixie County as well, serving as a liaison between the Chamber and County Commission.     Scores of local business interests had booths inside the Dixie Horseman's Association building and outside all along what must easily be a half mile stretch of road that runs on the other side of the fence from the airport.     The four-piece Dixie MainLine band performed. Thanks to audio production by Dixie Music co-owner Bob Leichner (which he co-owns with wife Dotti Leichner), the musical performances could be enjoyed near the stage at one point near an entrance to the airport.      The Leichners not only are members of the core of small business owners who help Dixie County’s economy thrive, but they put in time and other equity as volunteers to add to the cultural aspects of life in Dixie County.     There were several food and drink vendors.

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     Helicopter rides and acrobatic air performances were part of the whole picture as well. Hot air balloon rides were available at a relatively nearby offsite location for air traffic safety reasons.

(from left) Lorene Washburn, Beverly Pivacek and Barbara Putnam provide a photo opportunity in the VIP hangar. Washburn and Putnam are members of the Grasshoppers group of female aviators. Pivacek owns The

Putnam Lodge with her husband Ed.

     Speaking of safety, members of the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office’s Citizens On Patrol (COP) directed traffic to guarantee a flawless environment for ingress, egress and parking.     As for parking, the COPs transported many, many visitors (with their lawn chairs, too) from the parking area to the vendor area and viewing area.     An extensive set of classic cars were on display as well, adding to a total attraction

that spread across a large area to give observers an eyeful.     Participants in the Expo, Car Show and Airshow had their senses of hearing, smell, taste and touch satisfied by various pleasant sensations as well.     The Dixie County Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Development Council have stepped up their energy to attract new entrepreneurs to the area, as well as continuing to provide as much support as possible for existing business interests.     The Expo, Airshow and Classic Car Show on Saturday are the most recent example of every interest in the county working toward a common goal of

HardisonInk.comprogress. The many different organizations with an army of volunteers contributed to the final result.     A relatively strong contingent of volunteer students from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University assisted the Cross City Regional Airport staff in guiding aircraft and others for safety and comfort.     The final outcome of this event shows why so many people knew this was a top choice for a morning and afternoon of fun, food and chances to help local business interests. There were several options for places to go and things to do on Saturday in the Tri-County Area of Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist County.     At this event in Dixie County, members of the Dixie County High School Red Coat Regiment Marching Band, under the direction of William Malloy, performed a stirring rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner to open the program.     A Color Guard from American Legion Post and Auxiliary 383 (of Old Town), with Coleen Phillips holding the American flag and Debbie Palmerton holding the POW flag, presented the colors. Other members of that group from the American Legion are Sharon Petersen, David Tyrrell, Swayne Henning, Richard Klinesmith, Billy O’Donnell and Chaplain (and photographer) Mary Luyk.     In regard to the airshow, it was Announcer Sonny Everett who gave a play-by-play account of the various moves by acrobatic pilots.     Among the stars of those shows in the air was Jacqueline “Jacquie B Airshows” Warda of Danville, Calif. She was the first to launch as an acrobat in the air. She flew a single-wing, red-colored 1990 Extra Flugzeugbau GMBH EA-300. The plane is classified as experimental and for exhibitions.

Jacquie B's airplane rolls to a stop after her performance.

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Clemens Kuhlig's biplane is in the foreground and Paul Schulten's biplane is in the background.~

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     Another of the performers in the sky was pilot Clemens Kuhlig, who flew in a red biplane that is a 2013 manufactured craft of his own design -- from the Chefpitts Airshows. Among his feats was a landing with no power to the engine,

where he glided in at a relatively steep angle before leveling off and touching down for a nice glide on one of the runways at Cross City Regional Airport.

Arthur Bellot, a volunteer who has helped the Dixie County Chamber of Commerce for many years, mans the tent for pilot registration.

     Another bit of showmanship by Kuhlig after that powerless landing act was a “burnout” of his own. This was similar to as a driver of a racecar may do, only instead of tire rubber creating smoke, Kuhlig used the smoke machine normally applied in

the air.     For this trick, he put the plane into a ground-based level 360-degree rotation

HardisonInk.comand activated the smoke mechanism. After his creation of the burnout, the plane emerged from the land-based cloud as the victorious acrobatic airplane performer signaled his completion of his first round in the air over Cross City that day.     Kuhlig was recently in Lake City at an airshow.     Paul Schulten of Ormond Beach brought a multi-colored biplane from the Eagle Airshow. This 2001 Aviat Kit airplane also performed some extraordinary feats in the air.     Among the many business owners at the event were Beverly and Ed Pivacek. They host many guests at the completely restored historic Putnam Lodge Hotel & Spa in the Shamrock subdivision. They have created Dixie Paintball, as well, which is an excellent facility for paintball enthusiasts.     On Friday night (April 22), the Putnam Lodge was the place for 30 youths to enjoy the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition’s Friday Nights Done Right Program.     The young people enjoyed pizzas, snacks and drinks. They had a bonfire and played laser-tag as well.     Katrina VanAernam, executive director and a founder of the Dixie County Anti-Drug Coalition’s, was at the event on Saturday as well.     There were a number of candidates for office at the 2016 Dixie County Chamber of Commerce Expo and Airshow.     Among those candidates was Mike Thomas, who wants to be elected as the next Dixie County Superintendent of Schools. He was giving away bottles of chilled water.     Chuck Clemons of Newberry, who is seeking to be the next member of the Florida House of Representatives for District 21, was accompanied by his wife Jane Clemons and their 6-year-old grandson Christian Zika.     Rep. Keith Perry is currently the District 21 member of the Florida House of Representatives. He is seeking election to one of the new Florida Senate districts, which came into existence with the redrawing of boundary lines for the state senate.     The Expo gave an opportunity to small business interests to show residents and visitors of Dixie County what they have available.     Among the food vendors Saturday was Mikey Lewis, 50, of Cross City. He owns Mikey’s Smokehouse.     Lewis was selling smoked mullet filets and he had a grill on site. He has been cooking for 16 years. Lewis said people can call to order smoked mullet from him. His number is 352-210-1246.     Beyond the many, many private aircraft at the event were government planes and helicopters.     The Florida Forest Service, which is part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, had a 1982 Piper PA-28-181. Members of the forestry service provided visitors with a wealth of information about this state service.

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Gainesville Police Department Public Information Officer Ben Tobias accompanies GPD helicopter pilot Justin Poirot as they arrived in a Bell OH58C. Standing on the other side of the helicopter is a member of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.

     Gainesville Police Department Public Information Officer Ben Tobias said the GPD works with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in regard to aerial law enforcement services. One OH58 is painted with the GPD’s logo. One OH58 helicopter is painted with the ACSO logo, and the third is a training helicopter.     The GPD tracks and apprehends suspects by using the helicopter, which also performs regular patrols. The pilot and officer have equipment at their disposal, which includes cameras, an infrared thermal imager, night vision goggles and stabilized binoculars.     Within the past three months, Tobias said, among the captures the helicopter assisted with was from an armed robbery of a convenience store. The pilot tracked the suspect into a wooded area and helped deputies capture him, Tobias said.     Another helicopter was a military machine, that appeared to be from the National Guard.

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Among the pilots coming into the airport with a military paintjob (United States Navy) on their aircraft was Joseph Drach, a World War II veteran, who brought his Patricia Mickelson of Deland as the passenger. Drach is a member of the Commemorative Air Force.

     Before the full-sized manned aircraft performed aerobatics, radio-controlled model airplane hobbyists flew their unmanned model airplanes to demonstrate a skill level that obviously put them in a competitive category.     Among the hobbyists on Saturday was Bryan Stephens of Starke. He brought four airplanes that ranged in value from $2,000 to $4,000 each. Stephens said he has enjoyed radio-control airplane flying for 30 years as a hobbyist.     In the big hangar used by Anderson Columbia Paving for its two jets, there was a “VIP” area that included refreshments and offered a place out of the sun to relax.     Among the many special visitors to the airfield on Saturday were about 15 members of the “Fabulous Female Flyers of Florida.”     They are known as Grasshoppers.     This group of women flies to different places to enjoy lunch, and they come from all over. One of the flyers who came from a relatively distant Florida city is Diane Burwen of Naples.     Two other Grasshoppers are Barbara Putnam and Lorene Washburn. Bev Pivacek said the Grasshoppers are welcome to enjoy the amenities at The Putnam Lodge.~

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One of the many Grasshoppers in Cross City on Saturday was Judith A. Betz of Weirsdale. She flew in this pink-colored 2010 Vans Aircraft RV-12. It was among the prettiest planes on the runway.

     Putnam said the female flyers are known as Grasshoppers. While the men in the group might be wearing nametags that say “Grasshoppers,” the married men in the club are known by members within the group as Locusts.     For an even a finer level of defining members of this group, Putnam said, the bachelors are Crickets and the bachelorettes are Nymphs.     Just as there were helicopter rides available at the Levy County Fair not too

long ago, there were helicopter rides available at the 2016 Dixie County Chamber of Commerce Expo and Airshow.     The cost was $35 a person in Cross City and the company providing the rides is named MaxFlight Helicopter Services of Orlando.     The day of fun, shows and sales went without a hitch and shows great promise for a repeat next year.~

Chuck Clemons, his wife Jane Clemons and their grandson Christian Zika were among the people who greeted visitors to the event. Mr. Clemons is seeking to be elected as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, Dixtrict 21, which

includes Dixie County.~

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The Florida Forest Service brought part of its air fleet for show and tell. This 1982 Piper PA-28-181 was on display as was some of the heavy equipment that goes into action to battle wildfires in Florida forests.~

This 1962 Cessna 150B was among the many airplanes at the show. This particular airplane is 54 years old and yet it is still attractive and airworthy.~

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This single-seat open gyrocopter is owned by Dana Sheffield of Gilchrist County. Sheffield is among the members of the public who frequently attends the Levy County Board of County Commissioners as well as the Fanning Springs City Council meetings. At the County Commission on Tuesday (April 19), Sheffield spoke during the public input portion and invited everyone to the airshow at Cross City Regional Airport.~

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One of the ShandsCair helicopters prepares to land at Cross City Regional Airport.~

The Florida Forestry Service brought equipment and personnel to help teach people about the services available from that group.