Climbing into the wheelbarrow

The Citizen in Fayetteville, GA has an article about Felix Baumgartner (the guy who jumped from almost outer space). The beginning of the article is about Blondin (a daredevil tie-in). In the 1800s, an acrobat named Blondin became famous for walking across Niagara Falls on a tightrope numerous times. One day, a crowd gathered to…

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This week in Michigan history: Bay City teacher first person to survive Niagara barrel drop

From the Detroit Free Press: Annie Edson Taylor became the first person to survive a barrel ride over Niagara Falls on Oct. 24, 1901. The 63-year-old Bay City teacher used a self-designed barrel that was 4 1/2 feet high and approximately 3 feet in diameter, with a leather harness and cushions for protection, according to…

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Clark Rigging Plays its Part in the Historic Wallenda Walk

From Construction Equipment Guide: It was a unique event gaining worldwide attention, yet it began in the ordinary way with a visit from a potential customer. However, this particular client was planning an extraordinary event. Steve Clark, vice president of Clark Rigging & Rental Corporation of Lockport, N.Y., recalled one day that Nik Wallenda of…

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Cochrane delivers on promise

From Niagara This Week: Jay Cochrane came before City politicians Tuesday night bearing gifts for the Tender Wishes Foundation, the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara and the City. The 68-year-old funambulist raised more than $10,000 to be split evenly between the two organizations. “He’s really an angel of men,” boys and girls club board…

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Falls can’t fumble chance to cash in on Wallenda’s wire walk

From the Buffalo News: So, now Niagara Falls is on its own high-wire act: Can it do what is necessary to bring a Wallenda family entertainment center to the city or will it stumble, allowing the other Niagara Falls – the thriving one that knows how to make the most of a good thing –…

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Nik Wallenda Wants To Put Up An Entertainment Center

From the Associated Press (via WHAM 1180 in Rochester): Wire walker Nik Wallenda says he’s looking at the U.S. side of Niagara Falls to put a semi-permanent entertainment center. Wallenda made history in June when he became the first person to walk on a tightrope directly over the precipice of the falls. He tells local…

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Wallenda makes return visit to Falls

Fr0m Niagara This Week: Nik Wallenda rubbed some lotion into his feet then gingerly stepped onto a 250-pound slab of wet concrete for posterity. He teetered a little – very little, mind you – but just enough for someone in the crowd to suggest he watch his balance. “Yeah, wouldn’t that be embarrassing if I…

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Wallenda back in town Wednesday – Grand Canyon possibly next summer

From the Niagara Falls Review: Two months after making history, wirewalker Nik Wallenda will be back in Niagara Falls Wednesday. For an invite-only event at Bravo Pizzeria (7:30 p.m.), Wallenda will have a concrete impression made of his feet, to be placed in the daredevil exhibit at the newly-renovated Niagara Falls Museum. Wallenda’s walk across…

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Wallenda feat devolves into a political football

From the Buffalo News: It seemed like an event that even Niagara Falls couldn’t screw up.The son of a famous wire-walking family wanted to tempt fate at the region’s natural wonder. A national television network agreed to give the city more free advertising than it could buy. And thousands of people were vying to get…

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