• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Recreation / Entertainment / Parents of Iowa Astronaut ride in Mount Ayr parade

Parents of Iowa Astronaut ride in Mount Ayr parade

December 13, 2002 By admin

So you can’t get a local hero who’s an astronaut for your holiday parade? Get the next best thing — her parents. Mount Ayr leaders wanted to feature Peggy Whitson in Saturday’s celebration, but she’s not able to get away from Houston just yet, so Whitson’s mom and dad are this year’s grand marshals for Mount Ayr’s annual Lighted Christmas Parade. Vesta Shaha, the event organizer, says Keith and Beth Whitson of Beaconsfield will be in a sleigh, pulled by a car. Their daughter just returned to earth aboard the space shuttle Endeavour last weekend after spending 185 days in orbit. She was the first science officer aboard the International Space Station. Shaha says Whitson’s parents were happy to be the second choice.The parade will feature some unusual items this year, in honor of the Whitsons, including two large rockets, though Shaha says the event will not exactly resemble the Red Square May Day celebrations in the former Soviet Union.The lighted parade is scheduled to start at 5:30 tomorrow night. It’ll begin at Mt. Ayr’s restored train depot.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Recreation / Entertainment

Featured Stories

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

Man convicted of two Muscatine County murders dies in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

Drake’s DeVries named to Naismith watch list

State wrestling opens with limited attendance

Iowa’s Wieskamp is B1G Player of the Week

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC