​A White Cloud Tradition Continues

​A White Cloud Tradition Continues
By Charles Chandler
Photos by Charles Chandler and Mike Ross
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From The Editor:
White Cloud City Councilman and N3 contributor Charles Chandler is no stranger to what goes into putting on a major event. Having been instrumental in bringing the Trail Town designation to The Cloud he also spearheaded the inaugural Trail Town Celebration last fall, a River Country Chamber event featuring a rather remarkable trail run, music, kids activities, food, beverages and...

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... large crowds of folks who came from throughout  the area to enjoy the outdoor autumn air at the two-day celebration at the White Cloud campground.

This year, as a council member, he became involved in the decision by the city to sponsor the annual Father’s Day Fly-In.

Here he delivers his take on the event with an added piece about the ‘famous and skilled White Cloud Aviators” who may not have shown up for breakfast, but could be seen scouting the action from a nearby aerie.

On Sunday June 19 Mayor Barnhard put on his Kitchen Manager hat and everyone took their places for the annual Father’s Day Fly-In at the White Cloud Airport.

Hitt's the Spot, a local restaurant provided breakfast foods and supplies, Mike Ross bused tables and photographed the event, and Dianne Taylor-Chandler was the cashier. Council member Cassie Stewart was our food runner, going to the restaurant when new supplies or food stuffs were needed, Chief Bob Mendham and his wife Judy served beverages and former City Manager Bob Sullivan was enlisted to flip pancakes.

Mike Kimes and the local pilots and Airport Boosters worked the aviation side of the event giving tours of the new airport terminal, providing ground support, fielding questions from visiting pilots and pitching in when necessary while Mike Densmore manned ground control operations for the day and Council member Richard Dault and his wife Candice directed traffic.
 
The event team served about 230 meals, collected about $1500 in revenue and after expenses had about $700 in total proceeds.  There were a good number of pilots that drove in or flew a variety of about 30 airplanes. The crowd favorites were the North American T-6 Texan and the classic 007 Waco Biplane.

If a pilot flew an airplane in, they could have breakfast at no charge. Pilots are generally careful people, especial with their airplanes and usually spend their money for fuel, hanger fees, inspections, maintenance and so on.  Some would say they are a little snug with their change (just saying) however many paid for their meal and in total donated an additional $100. Probably a key indicator that they enjoyed themselves and had a good time and will probably return next year.

On Sunday the weather was perfect, the event was well attended by pilots and fathers and everyone appeared to have a great time. The event also produced some revenue that will go into the White Cloud Airport Fund for future projects.  
Congratulations to the event team for a job well done and demonstrating that White Cloud can and will continue to successfully host these kinds of events.

So what’s next in White Cloud? Well, maybe the summer SWEET CORN will be ready by the Fourth of July.

Osprey Side Bar
There were other famous and skilled White Cloud Aviators at the Fly-In but were probably not noticed by the participants nor did they drop in for breakfast as they prefer fresh fish to pancakes.  They are a family of ospreys that live on the airport property and according to Mayor Barnhard have been tenants for several years. Gertrude and Heathcliff live across the runway and have a huge nest atop one of the field lights down first base line in the John Graves ball park.  They are magnificent and beautiful birds.

Why nest there?  Only they know. Some have suggested they like to watch the softball games or can see the windsock by the runway to make better take offs and landings, or maybe it’s the abundant fish in the nearby White Cloud pond that they need to feed their offspring’s.
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Their presence is well known to local bird watchers and residents who are well acquainted with this pair of feathered friends and respect the privacy of their avian neighbors.