Boo! Ghosts, goblins haunt downtown

Ladybug Sheridan Gapp gives a smile during the annual Halloween parade Saturday. (Shary Skiles/McCook Daily Gazette)

More than 200 kids, plus nearly that many parents participated in the Halloween Parade on Saturday in downtown McCook.

Ponies, bears, lions, frogs, caped heroes (and villains), pretty princesses, fairies, pirates, storybook characters and more met at the JC Penney parking lot to begin the parade.

Winding through the downtown area in search of treats from the businesses, parents and children alike enjoyed the activities on a beautiful fall morning. Several outlying Chamber member businesses also contributed to the fun. Those included First Central Bank, McCook Daily Gazette, Pepsi Company, Runza Restaurant, Viaero Wireless and Walmart. Winners of the Best Decorated pumpkin contest were as follows: 1.Kayla Hughs; 2. Rebecca Mockry; and 3. Sarah Hughs.

Those with the Largest Pumpkin were: 1. Susan Messersmith; 2. Kayla Hughs; and 3. Jacob Mockry.

Parade escorts and other helpers included the Wicked Witch (Linda Thieben); Bozo the Clown (Virginia Fickle); Batgirl (Tami Fickle); Runza Rex (Gavin Harsh); Micky Mouse (Brenda McGuire); Minnie Mouse (Mary Seybold); Raggedy Ann (Pam Harsh); and the Chiquita Banana (Dee Shafer). Officers from the Police Department and the Sheriff's Posse assisted with traffic control.