
On April 18, 2024, the Poteau Chamber of Commerce held its annual Chamber Banquet. This year the theme was 24 Karat Engagement. During the event auction items were donated and one of the prizes being offered was a 30-minute flight for two in a Cessna 172 plane.
Ryland Estes, Poteau and Madison Blair, Mena, Arkansas were the highest bidders and won the flight donated by Dr. Don Sjoberg, and on May 18, took to air for the flight which left the Robert S Kerr Airport, flew around the area and back to the airport.
The weather was perfect and according to Sjoberg, this was one of the smoothest rides he has had in a long time.
Sjoberg was pleased to get to take the couple to the sky and hopes to do more to support the community. Estes and Blair enjoyed the flight. Estes had been on a plane before and this was Blair’s first time.
Before they boarded the plane – photo by Cassie Beger