Capuano's hit the Plains

June 18, 2001

DAY TWO - 17 states down, 31 to go

Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota Ralph and William Capuano arrived in South Dakota by nightfall Sunday. Everything is going according to schedule for the first leg of their 48-state journey to raise money for Darlene Clarke, a New Britain mother of two who is struggling with leukemia. The men want to touch down in all 48 states within a week, visiting some long enough to take a photograph, and others overnight. In a report sent at the end of the day Sunday, the Capuano brothers said they had good flying weather from Michigan to South Dakota. "We had a bit of a headwind for most of the trip until the end but still ended up in our destination at a good time." When they attempted to land in Sioux City, Neb., they were surprised to learn the runway was closed for repairs and they were forced to land at another airport nearby. From the windows of their 300-horsepower Cherokee "Six" airplane they witnessed severe flooding in Nebraska and South Dakota. They stopped for the night in Pierre, S.D. where they reported, "They have casinos in car washes here!" Donations can be made to the "Leukemia Fund Darlene Clarke" by purchasing a poster of the flight itinerary for $48 at Capuano Buick, Cadillac, GMC, at 790 Main St., in Torrington or the Cadillac Ranch on West Street in Southington.

©The Register Citizen 2001