The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 34

SECTION -PAGE 14 THE MUNCIE STAR, SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1991 Travel Cedar Point Photo NEARLY 90 PERCENT OF THE WOOD USED TO BUILD CEDAR POINT'S MEAN STREAK HAS BEEN POSITIONED The Mean Streak will be the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in the world when it debuts later this spring. After The south and are coming to Sandusky from as far away as Mississippi and Georgia. The team of coaster builders has been working 9-hour days, 6 days a week to maintain their schedule. Closer to opening day, several of the workers will be on the job site 7 days a week. All the hard work and long hours will be well worth it, Sevier said.

"While many people would like to be the first in line to ride the new attraction, that privilege belongs to the group who is piecing the coaster After giving the Mean streak a few test runs with sandbags simulating the average human weight of 28 passengers, the workers will buckle up for the ride of their lives a bragging right they are all eagerly awaiting. "We can't wait for this ride," said Sevier. "Excitement is already stirring on the construction site the crew is talking about the 'first ride' and where they want to sit in the train." Assisting in the assemblage of the Mean Streak project are several companies. The lift chain was brought to the job location last month from Union Chain in Sandusky. The 808-foot-long chain weighs more than 12,000 pounds.

Fresch Electric in Sandusky will be responsible for the installation of the safety systems and electrical 'Five-Star Salute' Dayton Air Show to Display Gulf War Weaponry the homas Commerce, Dayton E. Heine, has Chamber announced president of of By BRUCE A. DOUGLAS Travel Entertainment Editor Beast, venerable ANDUSKY, Kings wooden Ohio Island's giant, While is The consistently rated the country's No. 1 coaster, it will soon have a tenacious neighbor contending for the top spot. With a name such as Mean Streak, it doesn't take much of an imagination to realize the operators of Cedar Point mean business with their newest coaster.

When Mean Streak is completed, its track will be more than a mile long. However, nearly 300 miles of treated Southern yellow pine are being used to construct the new world-record-breaking ride. Why so much lumber? The Mean Streak towers 160 feet high and covers 5.5 acres at the Sandusky, Ohio, park. Passengers will soar down a 155- foot drop at 65 mph, an unmatched speed for a wooden coaster. "Nearly 90 percent of the wood is in place," said Delmas Sevier, superintendent of the $7.5 million project.

"We began ground-clearing at the end of August and hope to have the structure set by the beginning of April." The final stage of the 8-month project will include assembling the mechanics and completing the laying of the steel track. Presently, By BILL JAMIESON For The Muncie Star that this year's Dayton Air Show, July 20-21 at the Dayton International Airport, will be a Miami Valley five-star salute to the U.S. Forces who participated in "Desert Storm." The 2-day Dayton air show is cosponsored by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Dayton. The show alternates each year with the United States Air and Trade Show, a major international commercial and military aerospace event. Heine said planning is under way to display every available type of aircraft used in the war.

Several pieces of ground equipment, including the Patriot missile system, will also be on display at the show. Heine said: "Our rich aviation heritage dates back to the Wright brothers. We have continued to build on that heritage. Dayton is the perfect place to highlight the military's high technology systems, while honoring the men and women who developed the technology and the warriors that used it so effectively in 'Desert Dayton is home to one of the most important military bases in the world. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base serves as beadquarters of the Air Force Logistics Command.

It is also home to the Aeronautical Systems Division, the nation's premier aerospace research and development facility. Heine said: "It was the Air Force Logistics Command that insured our forces were provided complete Going to Disney World? Take Cash and Lots of It By ALFRED BORCOVER Chicago Tribune If the Disney AKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. There's an adage in World room total travel: Pack half the clothes you think you'll need and sounds large, double the amount of money you consider that the plan to take. Not a bad formula for a vacation at Walt Disney Disney World site World. Admission covers 28,000 prices were increased Feb.

17. A 1-day adult acres, about the ticket went to $33 from $31, a ticket for a child under 10, $26 size of San from $25. Francisco. A 4-day adult pass for all three parks went to $111 from $104, to $88 from $83 for children. $135 to $345, depending on the The 5-day super adult ticket season.

(Rates at WDW are per jumped to $145 from $135, and to room.) $116 from $108 for children. The Priciest and prettiest of the cost covers all three parks plus WDW hotels is the Grand River Country, Typhoon Lagoon Floridian, an elegant hostelry on (a water thrill park), Discovery the monorail line near the Magic Island and Pleasure Island (the Kingdom with rates from $205 to night-time entertainment center). $395. The Victorian gem has a The cover charge at the tiny (12 tables), elegant Pleasure Island entertainment restaurant, Victoria and Albert's. complex went to $11.95 from Also at the Magic Kingdom are $9.95.

the Contemporary Resort, where (Add a 6 percent Florida sales the monorail passes through the tax to all the admission prices.) hotel's Grand Canyon Concourse, WDW said it is sticking to its and the Polynesian Resort, in a 1991 hotel room rates, which South Seas setting with palmrange from $79 to $395. WDW lined pathways. Rates at the now has 15,000 rooms on the Contemporary are $170 to $275; property and another 3,000 under and at the Polynesian, $180 to construction. There are more $260. A third Magic Kingdom than 70,000 rooms in the Orlando resort is the Disney Inn, between area.

two golf courses. Rates are $165 If the Disney World room total to $195. sounds large, consider that the Two of WDW's most unusual Disney World site covers 28,000 resorts, designed by architect acres, about the size of San Michael Graves, are the Dolphin Francisco. Already developed are and the Swan, near Epcot and 6,600 acres, with another 7,200 Disney-MGM. Rates at the acres designated as wilderness Dolphin, operated by Sheraton, preserve.

are $190 to $335. The Swan, Newest hotels are the Yacht operated by Westin, charges from Club and Beach Club Resorts, $255, but suites run as high as about a 10-minute walk from a $1,475. new Epcot Center entrance The Caribbean Beach Resort, called the International Gateway near Epcot, is a complex of five and nicknamed the French pleasant island villages designed Connection because of its to cater to families on a budget. proximity to the French Pavilion. Rates are $79 to $99.

Joining that The hotels, designed to look as budget category in June will be though they belong in New the Port Orleans Resort with the England, are not on the monorail same rates. system, but are linked to the For information about Walt theme parks by free boat and bus Disney World packages, contact a transportation. Rates are from travel agent. Beast News Views one-fourth of the track has been placed. Sevier and several other leading crew members are from the Dinn the Cincinnati-based company contracted to build the Mean Streak.

Curtis D. Summers of Curtis D. Summers also of Cincinnati, is the mind behind the design of Cedar Point's new wooden roller coaster. Rounding out the work force of roughly 100 members are union workers who were hired from across the Midwest. Their first job, according to Sevier, was to pour approximately 2,200 concrete footers on which the structure is positioned.

Ranging in height from 4 feet to 166 feet, more than 2,000 separate columns will support the coaster. The more than 100s shipments of lumber being used to build the Mean Streak are being routed to Cedar Point from tree farms in the Vapor Trails the logistics support a massive undertaking. And, it was the Aeronautical Systems Division that managed the development of many of the aircraft, their reliable engines, sophisticated radar and decisive night-vision capability that played such an important role in 'Desert Included in the list of aircraft developed at Wright-Patterson are these "Desert Storm" veterans: the F-117A Stealth fighter, the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the A-10 "Warthog" tank killer. The 1991 Dayton air show, as previously announced, will also pay a special tribute commemorating the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. In keeping with commemorative activities, there will be a number of World War II era aircraft performing flying demonstrations, as well as standing on static display.

These aircraft will include the B-17, P-40, B-24, B- 25, Lancaster and the Hurricane. A strong lineup of flying demonstrations will lay claim to the skies over Dayton on July 20-21. The 1991 Dayton Air Show flying demonstration lineup includes the U.S. Navy's Blue Angel flight demonstration team and the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute team, as well as a large number of units.

The train station will be erected by Sandusky-Milan Steel of Milan, Ohio, and the Philadelphia Toboggan Company is supplying the coaster trains, which will be delivered with an unusual number of roller coaster wheels. "The wheels on this ride will be different than on most coaster trains," said Sevier. "We are using four wheels on each of the Mean Streak's seven cars. The majority of coasters have what's known as wheels' meaning that only the first car has four wheels and the remaining cars have just two. "With four wheels on each car, the Mean Streak will be a much smoother and faster machine," Sevier said.

And, perhaps, The Beast might just have to settle for the No. 2 spot after Mean Streak's debut. Or will it? Stay tuned coaster enthusiasts. other well-known flight demonstration teams and individual performers. 000 AIR FORCE MUSEUM HOURS A recent caller inquired about the operational hours at the Dayton Air Force Museum.

The facility on the grounds of -Patterson Air Force Base is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 7 days a week, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Admission is free. For further information, call (513) 255-3284. 000.

INDY AERO CLUB DINNER "You cannot You cannot Proceed to Greenland!" Those words, allegedly spoken over the radio of a Nazi submarine in 1942, caused the pilots of six P-38 Lightning fighter planes and two B- 17 bombers to run out of fuel and land on the icepack southeast of Greenland. Today, those airplanes are still there. but they're buried under 49 years of ice buildup. to a depth of 260 feet below the surface. The Indianapolis Aero Club will welcome from Georgia, Dan Callahan, a member of group called The Greenland Expedition, who will speak to members, nonmembers and their guests about the challenges involved in going down into the ice to bring these airplanes up to daylight later this year.

The April 9 meeting will be held at the Airport Hilton. Cocktails are at 6 p.m. and dinner is at 7. The dinner cost for non-Aero Club members is $13.50 in advance or $14.50 at the door. Members receive a $1 discount.

For reservations, call Leann Anthony at (317) 897-4024. Deadline is Saturday. Guide (Continued From Page 11C) Abortion: For Survival, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Pittenger p.m. Saturday; $5 weekdays and $7 weekends; call: (317) Student Center, Cardinal Hall free.

631-3536. Camila, 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Bracken Library, Room CRACKERS COMEDY CLUB, featuring new comics 225, free. weekly; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 On Being Gay: A Conversation with Brian McNaught, Saturday; Wednesday, Thursday; $8.50 Friday; 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Burkhardt Building, Room 109, free. $9.50 Saturday; 8702 Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis; Jeanette Rankin: The Woman Who Voted No, 11 a.m. reservations: (317) 846-2500. Friday, Cooper Science Building, Room 350, free. BROAD RIPPLE COMEDY CLUB, featuring new PARAMOUNT THEATRE: West Side Story, 7:30 p.m.

comics weekly; 10:30 p.m. Friday and 7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 Friday, 2 p.m. April 7, 1124 Meridian Plaza, Anderson; Saturday; $5 Tuesday Thursday, $7 Friday, tickets: for information: (317) 642-1234. Saturday; N. College Indianapolis; reservations: SHOWCASE (317) 49, 255-4211.

WIPB-TV, Channel 49's Music premiere fund raiser Saturday at Minnetrista Cultural Center; BLUES ALLEY CABARET, 8 black-tie gala will feature six-course dinner, live auditions; 8 An of open p.m. Tuesday, stage night p.m. Friday, Evening entertainment, suprises and a front row seat at a live Poetry, tickets: 8 p.m. Saturday, Shady Groves '91 television production; tickets: $100; for information: 285- Preview, tickets: Patterson Block Building, 103 E. 1249.

Main Muncie; for information: 286-1555. DELAWARE COUNTY HISTORICAL ALLIANCE, 7 CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL, 8 p.m. Wednesday, p.m. Historic Monday, Places; public Rustic program Cabin on the Restaurant, National Ind. Register for of Butler Unversity Concert Band, tickets: 8 p.m.

Friday, information: 282-1550. Newport Jazz Festival, tickets: $14-20; 3 p.m. Saturday, WRITERS' CENTER POETRY Butler Unversity Award Artists, tickets: 8 p.m. CLASSES, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Butler Unversity Spring Sing; 3 p.m.

April 7, Monday, meets weekly for six weeks; beginning and Butler Unversity Chorale Concert, tickets: for advanced writers welcome; cost: $52 for six Mondays; information: (317) 283-9696; Butler 4040 W. 10th Indianapolis; for information: (317) 243- University, Indianapolis. 7808. BALL STATE 13TH ANNUAL HOOSIER HORSE FAIR UNIVERSITY, 8 p.m. Tuesday, EXPO, Trombone Choir, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Faculty Recital; 5:30 for Friday-April information: 7, (317) 589-3838. Fairgrounds, Indianapolis; p.m. Thursday, French Horn Ensemble; 8 p.m. Thursday, Indiana State SPINNERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB, to public free of Forum; events in Hall, all Student Composers all Pruis GRAND open charge; for information: 285-5524. p.m.

April 7, Riley Center, 1901 N. Walnut Muncie; INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY, 7:30 8 for information: 288-4068. and p.m. Thursday, p.m. Friday Saturday, The World of Children HOLCOMB OBSERVATORY AND PLANETARIUM, Concerts; Circle Theatre, 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.

Fridays, 4, 7:30 and 8:45 p.m. information: downtown Indianapolis; for (317) 262-1100. Saturdays through May 4, new feature show on the UNIVERSITY SINGERS, 8 p.m. Saturday, Emens Hubble Space Telescope, plus public tours and star Auditorium; tickets: for information: 285-1539. gazing; Butler University, Indianapolis; tickets: $2 adults, ANDERSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, 8 $1 students and children; for information: (317) 283-9333.

Saturday; Reardon Auditorium, Anderson p.m. MUNCIE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, 306 S. Walnut information: University, for (317) 649-1567. Plaza; hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 THE GREAT DIVIDE, admission: $2 for children and $1 for each INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY p.m.

April CHILDREN'S 7, Butterfields. p.m. Sunday; accompanying HISTORICAL parent; for information: 286-1660. CONCERT, 4 p.m. April 7, Wabash Honeywell Center, GENEALOGY CENTER tickets: $10 adults, $5 students; for information: (219) 563- RESOURCES LIBRARY, hours: noon-3 p.m.

Mondays 0873. and Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, 120 E. Washington MOORE-YOUSE for HOME information: MUSEUM 282-1550. TOURS, this Theater generational treasure family of county home, built circa 1850, hours: contains its history items, noon- HEDDA GABLER, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, 5 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; 122 E. Washington free admission; call: and 9 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m.

April Indiana Repertory 282-1550. Theatre; tickets: $12-25; for information: (317) 635-5277. THE TEMPEST, 8 Tuesday-Saturday, Ball State Movies University Mainstage Theatre; tickets: for information: 285-8749. DELAWARE CINEMA: Career Opportunities, MUNCIE CIVIC THEATRE AND VAGABOND Kindergarten Cop, Ghost, Misery and Awakenings; for PLAYERS, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, public invited to watch show times: 284-0326.

final dress rehearsal of play excerpts being taken to MUNCIE MALL: Class Action, The Hard Way and Indiana Community Theatre League competition; free of King Ralph, for show times: 284-4100. charge; Civic Theatre, 216 E. Main St. NORTHWEST PLAZA: Sleeping With the Enemy, GUYS AND DOLLS, through April 28; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IT, Dances With Wolves, doors open 11:30 a.m., buffet, 11:45 a.m. and show 1 matinees: The Doors, The of the Lambs, If Looks Could Kill evenings: doors open 6 p.m., buffet 6:30 p.m.

show, 8 Silence p.m.; and Home Alone, for show times: 289-7200. p.m.; Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, I-465 and U.S. 421, CARMIKE CINEMA 7: The Perfect Weapon; Guilty Indianapolis; for information: (317) 872-9664. by Suspicion; Shipwrecked; He Said, She Said; Warlock; THE MUSIC MAN, through May 12, La Comedia Five Heartbeats and New Jack City; for show times: 288- Dinner Theatre, Springsboro, Ohio; mile east of 1-75, 5650. exit 38; for information: (513) 746-4554.

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY: The Arts Leisure Guide is compiled by Christine Bavender. Sabmit Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, 7:30 information addressed to ber in of The Muncie Star, Box 3408, Mancie, Ind. 47307- Monday, Fine Arts Building, Room 210; free. 0408. name The and daytime deadline is phone noon number Wednesday of for someone to publication contact the for following information.

Sunday. Arts Include the p.m. Portrait of Imogen, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Bracken Leisure inquiries to: Guide Bruce listings A. are free.

As arts many items editor, are printed 747-5704, as space permita, Telephone Arts Library, Room 225, free. and Leisure Guide listings Douglas, also can be leisure fazed to The Star by calling: Tuesday 747-5727. Saturday..