Another Area Participant in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday

It's a big week for the Barthelme family of Newton.

Chad and Melinda Barthelme were in Orlando, Florida Wednesday with the Newton Marching Eagles band. Their daughter, Jaclyn, is one of the Marching Eagles.

The Barthelmes aren't staying in the sun, though; they're flying to New York City to witness the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday morning. The Barthelme's daughter, McKendra, is a drum major for the Macy's Great American Marching Band.

Melinda Barthelme said McKendra was chosen as a drum major from her work at Summer Band Camp at Eastern Illinois University the past three years.

The Great American Band will perform in Herald Square.

A reminder, too, that the University of Illinois Marching Illini Band will perform in the Macy's parade. Effingham High School graduate Sarah Womack and Cumberland High School graduate Jared Bowman will be among the Marching Illini performing on Thursday.