Skydiving experience is once in a lifetime

On Saturday, June 8, 20 folks including myself undertook an experience of a lifetime that mixed great fun and elation with sheer panic.  The event was the SAD 1 Adult Education skydiving class. LeRae Kinney, adult education director, engaged the services of a Pittsfield skydiving company.  

The crew — Brad Fisher, owner, Jeff LeRette and Owen Ross , Instructors — came up from Pittsfield and operated out of the Presque Isle International Airport.  They offered 18 students their first tandem skydives. 

Students commonly have a personal reason for making their first skydiving jump. The reasons have varied from conquering cancer to celebrating a loving engagement.   For me, my first jump was a one-year celebration to the day of my first knee replacement followed two weeks later by my second knee replacement. Now that my healing is complete I decided that I would take an adventure of a lifetime and skydiving seemed like an excellent option for my celebration.

About a week before the event, I completed the legal paperwork and paid my fee.  As the day approached for the event, my anxiety began to build. On jump day, I woke up with a case of the hysterical hiccups that stayed with me until lunch time.  

At 7:30 a.m., everyone met at the airport for instruction regarding the jump procedures and to receive our assigned jump time.  We were shown the tandem harnesses that, when on both the student and the instructor, are so tightly joined together when one moves the other moves at the same time.  Thus, when the instructor scratches his nose the student helps him. Two students and two instructors go up on the same flight. My flight was scheduled for 2:30 PM and I was paired with LeRae Kinney, who was making her third jump.

After watching 16 skydivers before me float through the air and land smoothly, I became more relaxed.  When it was our turn, we harnessed up and boarded the Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Even during taxiing and take-off, I felt quite relaxed.  We were on our way to 10,000 feet which took about 20 minutes of flying. Jeff LeRette, LeRae’s instructor, let us know when we reached 3,000 feet and I began to feel my relaxation slipping away.  Even LeRae, who is normally talkative became quieter.  

When Owen Ross, my instructor, let us know when 7,000 feet was reached,  I began to think maybe I should have gone to the restroom before getting in the plane.  Between 7,000 and 9,000 feet, my instructor finished connecting and tightening our harnesses to the point that we moved as one.  

Suddenly 10,000 feet was reached and the pilot cut back the engine to prepare for exit from the plane.  My instructor opened the plane door and gave me these instructions: “Swing around, dangle your legs out over the edge and wait.  Cross your arms. When I am ready, I will push you out. Remember bend your legs and put your arms out and up as we go into freefall.”  

Now here is the part about the panic.  The push comes and for about 3 seconds everything comes rushing at you, mostly wind.  Then I was looking face down at Hanson Lake and the north end of the airport runway. The scene was beautiful, but when the freefall ended the parachute canopy snapped opened and we began floating down toward the landing zone.  What great fun this was. I could see LeRae’s chute off to one side. As we came to 1,000 feet, I could see a number of spectators just beyond the fence at the end of the runway, including my wife, who was hoping that I would land safely.

My instructor gave me a 30-second landing warning just before he swung our chute around on the way to the ground.  Just before touchdown, he told me to lift my legs as high as possible as we were going to land on our butts. We landed on the grass smoothly and gently, without even a grass stain.  LeRae landed shortly after me in the same easy manner. 

This is an adventure that I would recommend to anyone and one that I plan to do again next year.  

Now the good news is Adult Education Is already taking reservations for next year’s skydiving class. For more information, contact with their office . 

Grade 5 graduation

On June 14, Principal Dan Duprey led Mapleton Elementary School students, staff and attending family members through the 2019 fifth-grade graduation ceremony.  The school cafeteria was filled to near full capacity with only standing room available.

After the 44 graduating fifth-graders were in their seats, the three part ceremony began.  The first part of the program included the presentation of Underclassmen Citizenship Awards by Mr. Duprey, the Art Awards by Ruth McAtee and the Physical Fitness Award by Ralph Michaud.  

Following these awards, teachers Valerie Black and Angela Bernier, with the assistance of Mr. Duprey, presented promotional certificates.  The last part of the ceremony was the viewing of the annual grade 5 slideshow.

The morning was capped off with an energetic and exciting game of dodge ball pitting the newly graduated fifth graders against their parents.  The students enjoyed knocking out their parents in the game as much as the parents enjoyed knocking out their own kids. After the game was declared a tie, everyone enjoyed hot dog roast hosted by the Presque Isle Order of Elks.  

The school and parents were most appreciative and thankful for the Elks cookout.

Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.