Town's residents bury doom and gloom

Some northeast Iowans spent their Friday night burying bad thoughts.

Residents in Oelwein held a "Bury the Doom and Gloom" ceremony to get rid of negative thoughts some have had about the town, which has faced hard economic times.

The funeral procession went through downtown, with dirges and hymns playing, said Andrea Detweiler of the Oelwein Chamber and Development. At the head was a horse-drawn hearse and casket, containing notes with negative statements about the town.

A mock funeral was then held at the park to bury the bad attitudes, followed by a street dance to celebrate Oelwein's positive aspects.