By Barbara Augsdorfer, Editor for the Effingham Herald

The near-freezing temperature may have kept the crowds smaller than usual for the annual Martin Luther King Day parade in Springfield, but the kids still had fun gathering candy thrown from the cars and floats.

Kids and parents lined Laurel Street bundled up in winter coats, earmuffs, scarves and hoodies.

Parade participants included churches, the combined bands from Effingham County and South Effingham high schools, South Effingham High School JROTC, and winners of the MLK poster and essay contests sponsored by the Effingham County NAACP.

Rev. Lon Harden was the grand marshal.