Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska to stop in Chappell

After riders take off from Kimball on the morning of June 1, the first overnight stop for the participants in the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) will be in Chappell.

The Creek Valley Board of Education (BOE) approved the request by BRAN to use the high school stadium for the stop in Chappell during their March BOE meeting.

As the big day and night approaches, coordinators in the community are finishing preparations. Co-chairman of Chappell events for the BRAN stop Connie Loos said that they have an “Awful lot going on. They will be on football field and a tent truck that travels with BRAN will haul tents in; it will be like a tent city there. They will be using the schools restrooms and locker rooms there. Shower trucks also will be arriving.”

Loos added that the population of Chappell will almost double while the cyclists and their entourage are in town.

“There will be 600 cyclists and 150 -200 support people and family members travelling with them,” she pointed out. “We will have buses to take people around with various stops.”

On Sunday, the buses will be taking people downtown so that they may shop and visit the restaurants and then they can be taken to the Swimming Pool Park on Sunday evening.

She added that there will be things for everyone to enjoy while they are in town. “The Heritage House will be open for tours and the library with the art gallery will also be open. Ron Nordyke’s work will be displayed.”

Nordyke is a local member of the Cheyenne County Art Guild.

In addition to these things, downtown businesses will be open on Sunday for shopping and some will be having specials on Sunday, including Burgie’s Restaurant and Toot’s Bar and Grill who will also be serving food. The swimming pool will also be open.

According to Loos, the Chappell flag will be highlighted and many organizations and churches will be having lunch or dinner for riders and their support team along the bus route on Sunday. Those providing lunch or dinner include: Lions Club, Friends of the Library, the Chappell Volunteer Fire Department, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, the Assembly of God, the Car Club, the Golf Course, Zion Lutheran Church Ladies, Miller Memorial Foundation, the Thongless Chaps Bike Club and the summer recreation concession stand will also be open.

The Lions Club and the Friends of the Library will also be serving breakfast to the cyclists and their team on Monday before their departure.

Sunday’s events will culminate with everyone making their way to the Swimming Pool Park. Live entertainment is planned and Loos says that three bands are coming into town to perform. This event is free for everyone who wants to attend, including everyone in surrounding communities.

“Bring chairs and blankets--enjoy,” she said, adding that there will be vendors in the park selling snacks and drinks.

Loos said that the roads around the swimming pool and the high school will be blocked for everyone’s safety while they are walking around. There will be a welcome tent to help visitors find out where everything is. Loos and Co-Chairman Corinne Fischer have also put together a Chappell booklet that shows where everything is.

The next weeks will be hectic for Loos and Fischer while they prepare to welcome BRAN participants to Chappell. Loos said, “Hopefully we will give a positive sense of what Chappell is all about to bikers and hope that they come back another time.”

Loos said that there is a bike program where people in community can open their home to allow riders to stay there if they don’t want to stay in tent and provide a bed and a shower.

“It’s a good thing it is the first leg; not everyone will be so worn out. By the time they get to Omaha they will be worn out,” Loos said.

In the case of inclimate weather, Loos said that they have a backup plan.

“We hope the weather is good. If not, we will put everyone in the gym to sleep and food will be served in the commons,” added Loos.