Special to the Enquirer 

Kindergarten students at Cotaco School host a Thanksgiving parade Nov. 18 after reading and studying the book “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet. Sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual parade celebrating Thanksgiving, something parade organizer Christi Day said many of her students had never seen.  

“Some of my students had never watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or even attended a parade before,” Day said. “During one of my can’t-shut my-brain-off-nights, I messaged Courtney Lankford, the band director at Brewer High School and said ‘I have this crazy idea.’” She was onboard, and after talking with my principal, Kim Crow, it just snowballed from there.”  

With the help of Morgan County Sheriff Ron Puckett, The Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse, Cp. Carrie Bowan, the Brewer High School jazz band, Rodger McClure as Santa Claus, Billie Murray as Tomalina Turkey and a host of cheerleaders and basketball players, the kindergarten classes at Cotaco school were able to pull off an amazing parade for their fellow students.