Published: July 22, 2008 11:57 am      

Have Rides, Will Travel

Workers assemble mobile amusement park

CUMBERLAND - Raul Pantoja Martinez spent the bulk of the business day Monday getting the Orient Express kiddie roller coaster ready for its 5 p.m. debut at the Allegany County Fair and Ag Expo.

Test runs - about 22 seconds per loop - helped Martinez, a ride operator with Reithoffer Shows, know where modifications were needed. The speed for each rider's three-loop turn on the red, orange and yellow coaster, complete with a Chinese dragon head at the front, was faster once rides opened.

It's ready, Martinez declared just after 4 p.m. It's also a popular ride for children 42 inches or taller - or smaller, with an accompanying adult.

The Orient Express was one of several rides, along with the traditional games, shows and food stands, that Reithoffer brought this year - its 17th in Allegany County.

It was hot outside, however, and it was far cooler inside the multipurpose building where sisters Kendra and Katie Haines, along with Julie Bower, were preparing their Sharp Shooters 4-H Club exhibit. The purpose of the display was to attract newcomers, not just to their club but 4-H in general.

Mid-afternoon Monday, the Cumberland girls chose a targeted display with key promotion words like "responsibility," "knowledge," "community" and "creative thinking." Those, and others, fit in with the 4-H motto and pledge.

While trying to attract new members to the club, the booth itself is to be judged today, graded on how effective its title is, how it attracts the attention of passersby and its general appearance. With a little luck, the display could earn a trip to the Maryland State Fair next month.

Kendra Haines, 14, is in 4-H for the first time. The Sharp Shooters Club is just beginning and still seeking its charter. Kendra said members eventually will shoot BB guns, shotguns and bows at various spots across the county.

Katie Haines, 12, also in her first 4-H event, said neatness and effectiveness count. She took control Monday in determining where each phrase or buzz word should be located on the booth. Kendra said the booth wasn't to be club-specific but promote the core values of 4-H members.

Indoor exhibit judging begins at 9 a.m. today along with 4-H/FFA rabbit judging at 9:30 a.m. and beef showmanship (female beef show) at 2:30 p.m.

Gates and exhibit buildings to the fairgrounds open at 3 p.m. A 4-H/FFA steer judging competition is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. in the show ring.

Rides open at 5 p.m. and Bucky Covington, an American Idol finalist in 2006, performs at 7:30 p.m.

For the day's complete schedule, log on to www.alleganycofair.org.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.