By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The downtown Hutchinson Christmas Parade has been canceled, which is a change from the policy for the Patriots Parade back in July.
"We're just looking at every time that something comes up, what's going on in our community," said Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department. "What's going to be the best thing for our community? Our true goal is to keep our economy going and our kids in school."
On the fourth of July, there were 21 active cases in Reno County. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 161 active cases in the county.
"The first thing that the city has asked is that I as the health officer will sign off on parades," Hammersmith said. "We just went back to the community members that wanted to have it. It may not meet our goals."
The annual parade on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which this year is November 21, is traditionally run by Ad Astra Radio. Earlier this month, a request by USD 308 to hold their annual Homecoming Parade was also denied.