Airport Appreciation Days again a soaring success

Saturday, October 22, 2011
The Putnam County Airport Appreciation Days Group recently awarded The USO of Indiana a check for $1,000. The money was raised during the Airport Appreciation Days event at the Putnam County Airport. The money will stay within Indiana and will be used to support the USO's ongoing programs in the state. Participating in the check presentation are (from left) JR Scott and Ginger Scott of PCAAD, Larry Muncie of the USO of Indiana and Jack Sutton and John Layne of PCAAD.

The Putnam County Airport Appreciation Days Group (PCAAD) announced recently that the 2011 event was a striking success, regardless of the weather.

This year's event was greatly expanded from those in the past; and while the inclement weather prevented more airplanes from arriving on Saturday than hoped, the event still attracted more people than in years past.

The PCAAD Group announced the results of several fundraising events. During the event, the parking lots were managed by volunteers from the Cloverdale and Greencastle high school band programs. The result from the free will donations collected was $700 divided evenly between the two band programs.

High school band programs from Cloverdale and Greencastle were recently awarded a check for $350 each. The money was earned by the bands, who volunteered to assist with parking at the Airport Appreciation Days event in September. Taking part in the check presentation were (front, from left) Ginger Scott (PCAAD), presenting a check to Bill Cole, director of the Cloverdale band program; JR Scott (PCAAD), presenting a check to Katie Hedge of the Greencastle High School band; Katie Steele, GHS band; Bob Hedge, director of the GHS band program; and (back, from left) Jack Sutton and John Layne (PCAAD).

This year the Dixie Chopper Radio Show was greatly expanded, and the fundraising results from the evening program resulted in the PCAAD Group being able to present the USO of Indiana with a check for $1,000, doubling the money awarded to the USO in 2010. The group also reported that this year all the money will stay within Indiana.

Nancy Madru was the winner of the raffle drawing. She will receive up to two hours of ground instruction, plus an hour of flight instruction courtesy of Dixie Chopper Air.

Despite the overcast weather on Saturday and a few rain showers on Sunday, the Harold Broyles Young Eagle Rally, hosted by Greeencastle Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, soared. Some 145 Young Eagles took to the air over the weekend.

The PCAAD group also announced that it was able to donate $1,000 to this cause. The EAA is planning on using this money to help send two young individuals to the EAA's Air Academy next summer.

The PCAAD group would like to thank all its sponsors, patrons and volunteers who helped to make this year's event a success. The group's goal is to bring awareness to the facilities of the Putnam County Airport, and to help local organizations with fundraising.

The group an-nounced the dates for 2012 as Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9.

For additional information, persons may contact Jack Sutton at either jnottus58@aol.com or by calling 720-0967.

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