OTTUMWA —
Some of the floats were huge. Others were fancy. And one float was just deafeningly loud. But a few Oktoberfest entries had a deeper meaning for the people who built them.
Messages came from such diverse parts of the community as substance abuse orginizations, animal rescue groups and churches marching Saturday.
“Any oportunity we have to promote fire safety, we’re going to take it,” said Ottumwa Fire Chief Tony Miller.
This year, that included building a float — complete with a “house” on fire — for the Oktoberfest parade.
“Assistant Chief Mike Craff came to me and said they wanted to use the [Oktoberfest] parade to spread the message,” Miller said. “This is the first time in a long time the fire department had a float. Every chance we have, we’re going to [teach] fire prevention.”
Unfortunately, he said, that dedication gets a jump start every other week, on average, in Ottumwa.
“We had 30 working structure fires last year. That’s a really high number for a town this size. I’ve been doing this more than 30 years, and I’ll say of all the structure fires I’ve pulled up to in my career, at least half had no smoke detectors, or the owner had taken the battery out when it started chirping.”
The float helps residents know there are very few excuses for not having a working smoke detector. For most types of homes, firefighters in Ottumwa will come over and either give you a smoke detector, or even install a smoke detector at no charge.
The goal is that eventually, every home in town will have that basic life saving tool, he said.
Not every float is meant to teach the crowd a lesson. Another float’s participants wanted to honor the departed.
A group of Vietnam veterans designed a float with the names of the more than 800 Iowans killed during the conflict.
Some serve the purpose of bringing the marchers together, of showing support for each other and remembering they’re not alone.
A Wapello County support group for parents who have lost a child had their float this year, made up with clouds, angels and a gate.
“This year, we did a heaven theme,” said Bobbie Amburn, founder of the Footprints of a Child support group.
She started the group a year and a half ago after losing her baby, yet finding no support available locally. Now, heartbroken parents call her for support. And she’s found she can help. .
“But helping them, it helps me, too.”
Events like the parade are a good oportunity to get together and honor thier lost children. In fact, Amburn said, she’d only met some of the parents there Saturday on Facebook or on the telephone.
They ended their day by releasing balloons with their child’s name on it.
As they met in the Bridge View Center parking lot around Noon Saturday, the parents working the heaven float seemed tired but happy.
“We’re all still grieiving,” said Amburn, “and we’ll never forget. I know I never will. But it’s easier [when you can] talk to someone who’s been through it.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
The young people from the local Job Corps program used the Oktoberfest parade to express their pride in being "Eagles" from the Ottumwa center. Many of the floats Saturday helped participants express a message that was important to them. Mark Newman/The Courier
October 8, 2012
Oktoberfest parade allows groups to share their message
- Local News
-
- Tornado creates local questions OTTUMWA — If there's a tornado in Wapello County, where would I go afterwards? It isn't hard to understand why local callers are asking Wapello County Emergency Management that question. Josh Stevens, emergency coordinator for the county, said since
- A waiting game OTTUMWA — Family and friends of a hospitalized toddler are waiting for answers, as are local police. On April 22, officers found a 2-year-old boy unresponsive at his home in the 100 block of East Woodland Avenue. He was immediately transported to Ott
-
Training goes beyond fires
OTTUMWA — Our firefighters aren't afraid to run into a fire, said one official, but when it comes to a Hazmat situation, they walk. On Wednesday, the Ottumwa Fire Department was on the grounds of Cargill Meat Solutions, training as realistically as p
-
Hedrick teen missing
OTTUMWA — A 13-year-old Hedrick girl has been reported missing. Hunter Kopp, 13, was last seen leaving the Hedrick area (her hometown) around 6 p.m. Monday. Kopp is a white female, 130 pounds, 5-feet-7-inches, with shoulder-length brown hair and blue
- Veterinary clinic rezoned to commercial OTTUMWA -- The Ottumwa Veterinary Clinic is now officially a commercial district. At Tuesday's city council meeting, members voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning of the clinic from R-1 Single Family Residential to C-1 Commercial District, with Councilma
- Ottumwa lands 2015 Iowa Tourism Conference OTTUMWA — It takes two southeast Iowa communities to yank the opportunity to host the Iowa Tourism Conference from Des Moines. Ottumwa Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Mark Eckman was stunned by how quickly the Iowa Tourism Offi
- County to learn about disaster declarations OTTUMWA — The county is a step closer to finding out if they'll be getting money from the federal government. "FEMA was here last week, doing a damage assessment," said Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore during a meeting of the Wapello County Board
-
Oklahoma emergency crews will report specific needs soon
OTTUMWA — The sound of the telephone ringing is evidence to Julie Smithart that residents of Wapello County do care. The tornado damage to lives and property in Oklahoma has brought out the best in people, said Smithart, an AmeriCorps volunteer assig
-
Barber shows no signs of cutting career short
OTTUMWA -- Darrell Smith's hands are steady and sure as he picks up his clippers and straight razor to begin his first haircut and shave of the day. Smith, 88, has cut hair for 62 years and has owned Smitty's Barber Shop on Albia Road for the past 58
- Making memories on stage -- and off OTTUMWA -- Sold-out shows last year inspired Bridge View Center management to continue finding high-quality acts, they announced Monday. The venue's executive director, Larry Gawronski, said last year, booking good, expensive shows was a "leap of f
- More Local News Headlines
