Open House at the Lincoln NWS Office
September 29, 2007

National Weather Service office in Lincoln

The National Weather Service office in Lincoln held its first open house in 9 years on September 29, 2007.  Approximately 700 people took advantage of the  beautiful Saturday to visit our office and see what goes on behind the scenes. 

Below are some of the pictures taken that day.  Click any of the images to enlarge them.

A crowd gathers to watch a weather balloon launch
A crowd gathers to watch a weather balloon launch.


 Chris Miller conducts an interview with WMBD-TV in Peoria
Chris Miller (Warning Coordination Meteorologist) conducts an interview with a reporter from WMBD-TV in Peoria.
 Darrin Hansing and Mike Hardiman assist with the Weather Event Simulator
Darrin Hansing (service hydrologist) and Mike Hardiman (meteorologist) demonstrate the "Hot Seat" warning simulator.
Displays inside one of the tents
Displays inside the tents include reviews of the Roanoke tornado of July 13, 2004, and the Springfield tornadoes of March 12, 2006.
 One of the display tents outside
The entrance to one of the tents.



 Chris Geelhart demonstrates the Lincoln NWS homepage
Kirk Huettl (meteorologist) and Chris Geelhart (hydrometeorological technician) go over the Lincoln NWS homepage.
A crowd gathers around the weather observation equipment
A crowd gathers around the weather equipment as Billy Ousley (Data Acquisition Program Manager) discusses the observing program.
 A crowd views the weather equipment on display at the balloon inflation building
The weather balloon inflation building was the site for reviewing balloon operations and volunteer weather observer stations.
 Angie Reside discusses the weather balloon equipment
Angie Reside (student volunteer) discusses the weather balloon observation process.
John Parr demonstrates the weather equipment used by cooperative observers
John Parr (hydrometeorological technician) discusses the equipment used by volunteer weather observers.
  Matt Barnes and Billy Ousley of the NWS staff
Matt Barnes (meteorologist) and Billy Ousley were two of the staff members to lead the office tours.
 Pat Bak conducts a tour of the operations area
Patrick Bak (senior meteorologist) leads a tour of the forecast operations area.
Weather balloon launch. Photo by Paul Hadfield
A large crowd watches the launch of a weather balloon by Dan Kelly (meteorologist).  (Photo by Paul Hadfield.)


 Observers Betty and George Becker receive a 35-year length of service award
Two of our cooperative weather observers, George and Betty Becker, were presented with a 35-year Length of Service Award by Billy Ousley.
 Bill and Dorothy Bullard receive a 45-year length of service award
Bill and Dorothy Bullard were presented with the Dick Hagemeyer Award, given to observers who have served 45 years.
Matt Barnes demonstrates how to measure rainfall. Photo by Paul Hadfield.
Matt Barnes demonstrates use of the rain gage.  (Photo by Paul Hadfield.)		 Glen Oest receives a Special Service Award
Former observer Glen Oest was presented with a Special Service Award, for over 25 years of weather observations. 		Joe Armstrong of Springfield receives a Special Service Award
Observer Joe Armstrong is presented a Special Service Award by John Parr.

  • National Weather Service
  • Central Illinois Weather Forecast Office
  • 1362 State Route 10
  • Lincoln, IL 62656
  • 217-732-3089 (8:30 am to 4 pm)
  • Page Author: ILX Webmaster
  • Web Master's E-mail: w-ilx.webmaster@noaa.gov
  • Page last modified: October 4th 2007 2:34 AM
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