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Balloonfest puts Poteau on the map |
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Monday, 07 April 2008 |
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By Laura Young, Managing Editor - Those getting up early Friday morning to attend the First Friday Breakfast were in for a welcome surprise.Traci Barnes, Lundy Kiger, Jeff Shockley and Davie Spindle proudly introduced the new 2008 Official State Map for Oklahoma featuring the Poteau Balloonfest on the cover!As Oklahoma heads into its next century, state officials announced the distribution of the new 2008 official state map. On the heels of last year’s commemorative Centennial edition, this year’s theme, “Rising to the Next Century," is a two-fold map featuring on the cover the Oklahoma Centennial Hot Air Balloon at the Poteau Balloon Festival. "This is probably the most exciting thing I have seen in regard to tourism and promotional efforts we could want," stated Poteau Mayor Jeff Shockley. "This is magnificent for us. It's big for all of Poteau. We will be the envy of a lot of communities across the state. A lot of people, including Lundy Kiger, Traci Barnes, Connie Shockley, Cindy Pollard, Ellis Whigham and Davie Spindle, have put in a lot of hours toward making the Balloonfest the success that it is. This goes on to prove that great things are happening in Poteau."
The idea of hosting a balloon festival was the brainchild of Traci Barnes who had attended several other festivals in Oklahoma and other states. While talking with Lundy Kiger of AES one evening at a political event several years ago Barnes ran the idea by Kiger."Who would have thought several years ago one night at the Days Inn when I first mentioned the idea to Lundy Kiger from AES and he said 'I'm in, let’s do it!' that it would have turned into this," Barnes said."The Poteau Balloonfest grew from one of Traci's ideas three years ago and AES was glad to be a part of helping to make it become a reality and the success it has become," Kiger said. "Today, the annual festival has many volunteers and organizations coming together for one of the greatest events in the area and that’s what makes it special. It’s an event such as this that catches the eyes of those from out of town and has them coming back to our area each October. It truly sets our community apart from many others in the region, especially now that the Department of Transportation selected our Balloonfest for the cover of the state’s 2008 map. We’ll be seen by everyone that picks up a map while traveling. This type of recognition could not have been matched any better by any amount of advertising dollars that we could have spent marketing our city. Our thanks to the State of Oklahoma for giving us this honor.""I was so excited when I found out about the maps, not only for the Balloonfest, but for the entire town of Poteau," Barnes stated. "The publicity for our town is just astronomical! There have been so many people here in town that have supported the Balloonfest and I am glad that it can help give back to the town. I don't think I've ever been more proud and excited! Not only are we on the map . . . we ARE the map. It's mind-blowing.""We are on the first map of the state's second 100 years," noted Kiger. In conjunction with ODOT’s usual partners on the map project, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department and the Oklahoma Transporta-tion Authority, an additional partnership was once again extended to include the Capitol Complex and Centennial Commemora-tion Commission. Captured inside the map are many of the Centennial projects along with other historical and distinctive landmarks such as the Spiro Mounds in Spiro, Kiowa County Centennial Plaza in Hobart, Boise City Centennial Clock in the Panhandle and Totem Pole Park in Foyil. New to the map are the state scenic byway route designations as well. The map also includes a photo and personal note from Governor Brad Henry and his family encouraging all to continue celebrating Oklahoma and to be involved as we usher in the state's next century. Other features of the map include detailed insets of Oklahoma City, Capitol Complex, Lawton/Ft. Sill, Enid, Stillwater, Tulsa, Muskogee and statewide turnpike routes. Traveler information such as the state parks facilities guide, welcome center directions and helpful phone numbers and Web sites are also included. Design and development of the state map is a continual process among state agency partners. Planning for this map began mid-2007. Approximately 1.5 million copies are being printed for this year's distribution statewide at a cost of $162,500. Next year, the 2009-2010 state map will have a new design and continue a regular schedule of printing four times in two years. Maps are free of charge at any of the 12 newly-upgraded welcome centers statewide; all ODOT division offices; the Tourism and Recreation Department offices and with Tourism's travel brochure packets.Maps will also be available sometime next week from the Poteau Chamber of Commerce. |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 08 April 2008 )
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