William Piko, 2, a student at Holy Family Child Care and Development Center, invites the community to attend the upcoming “Touch A Truck” event at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport on Saturday.
The Wheeling-Ohio County Airport is hosting two upcoming events, the first of which will take place on Saturday.
Holy Family Child Care and Development Center has partnered with the Ohio County Commission to present a “Touch a Truck Event,” where children and all motoring enthusiasts will have the opportunity to see up close a wide range of large vehicles, including a semi-truck, a helicopter and emergency vehicles.
The event takes place on Saturday from 9 to 15 at the airport.
Then on Sept. 24, the Ohio County Commission is sponsoring a “Wings Over Wheeling” vintage aircraft and vehicle event, and World War II and Vietnam War aircraft will be on display. The airport gates will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day.
Both events are free to the community.
Terra Crews, executive director of Holy Family Child Care and Development Center, said the school has hosted similar “Touch The Truck” event gatherings in the past.
“When I took over in January, I thought what a great event. We need to bring it back,” Crews said. “We wanted to bring the community and bring it to the airport. A lot of people don’t know that you can visit the airport, and it’s a wonderful place.”
“Touch a Truck” serves as a fundraiser for Holy Family Child Care Center, which will offer concessions during the event.
Crews said a semi truck will be on the scene, as well as a helicopter, fire truck, police cruiser and Ohio County Sheriff’s Department deputies. There will also be bounce houses and games.
Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration will provide a giant sandbox for the kids, and the Valley Avengers superhero group has been invited.
Spider-Man is expected to drive the character bus to the event, according to Crews.
“This is aimed at anyone who loves vehicles,” he continued. “I know we have kids playing with dump trucks. This is a way for them to see them full size.”
She credits County Administrator Randy Russell with being “very instrumental” in making the “Touch the Truck” event happen.
Russell, meanwhile, has been busy planning the “Wings Over Wheeling” festivities.
Aircraft arriving at the airport include a World War II-era C-47 “Whiskey 7” cargo plant and a C-123 K “Thunder Pig” supplier that flew during the Vietnam War. There will also be vintage cars and trucks, as well as food vendors.
Last year, county commissioners sponsored a 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the airport, and Russell said as many as 500 attended throughout the afternoon.
“We would love to do more events on a regular basis,” he said. “The idea is to involve the local community in the airport.”
William Piko, 2, a student at Holy Family Child Care and Development Center, invites the community to attend the upcoming “Touch A Truck” event at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport on Saturday.
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