The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- It was a chilly Saturday morning for parade-goers in Kirksville this weekend.

Hundreds of students and community members lined up along Franklin St. for the Truman State University Homecoming parade Saturday.

Truman hosted a variety of homecoming activities all week long. This year's theme is "The Adventure Continues." Organizers say the superhero theme allowed them to spotlight some Truman heroes. They tell KTVO that homecoming benefits Truman and Kirksville alike.

“Of course there are the economic benefits of it, and you can't argue with that. But in terms of, you know it really does build spirit to see a lot of people coming back to the university. It shows how much it meant to them that they're still making the drive through rural Missouri to come back again for it,” said Homecoming Public Relations Chair Casey Millburg.

Millburg said the homecoming committee worked to involve the community in this year's celebration, by inviting them to participate in some of the activities. Organizers also added new events for students this year, including a powder puff football game at Stokes Stadium.