OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The basement at Ottumwa City Hall is once again being transformed into a haunted house to benefit the D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T. programs.
The annual, Nightmare on Third Street is an annual tradition in Ottumwa. The entire basement in city hall has been transformed into nothing but a fear factory.
On Thursday afternoon, KTVO spoke with Lynn Diveley with the Ottumwa Police Department. Diveley works in the records department, but she is also one of the creative minds behind the attraction.
“It first started with Officer Murphy just about eight years ago. He thought, I don’t know where he came up with the idea, but he thought it would be a great fundraiser for D.A.R.E., just D.A.R.E. at that time. When I heard him say that, I instantly wanted to help, and have been helping ever since,” said Diveley.
All of the proceeds from the event go directly to both programs, now that the G.R.E.A.T. program is apart of the Ottumwa Community School District.
“It funds all the things he needs for classes, workbooks and t-shirts. We usually have 600 people per-night, and we run it for four nights. Last year, we had 2,300 people go through it.
The haunted house will take place October 21st, 22nd, 28th and 29th. The cost is $6. According to Diveley, it takes people usually about twenty minutes to go through the attraction.
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