MARCHING BAND HAS RIGHT-OF-WAY
A vehicle that passed the Freeman Public School marching band at a good clip while they were practicing for homecoming on Thursday has band leader Sheila Wipf concerned.
“Those kids who were on that side of the road, they felt it,” she said. “There wasn’t much slowing down; he was going at least 20 miles per hour.”
Wipf said this is the second time in two years that a vehicle has swerved and driven on the side of the road to get around the band, which takes up the width of the roadway while marching.
“I understand people are in a rush, but that’s just not appropriate,” she said. “We just want to protect our kids.”
“They have the right-of-way,” Freeman Police Chief Scott Brewer said of the band members and director. “If you see them, try to find an alternative route. And even if you come upon a runner or a biker, you’ve got to slow down. You can’t just fly around them.”
The band is practicing on Freeman streets daily during the school week in preparation for the homecoming parade on Sept. 23. Wipf said they are marching between 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
