Students at Pella Middle School finished a – assignment today. They sent a helium-filled balloon up into the lower reaches of space. The 7^th grade science class taught by Jackie Kilbe spent the year coming up with a variety of science experiments to send aloft. At 9 am Friday, a large group of elementary and middle school students gave a 10 count, and the while balloon was released into a stiff southwest breeze.

The balloon quickly went high into the atmosphere, eventually reaching 85,000 feet. That would be the lower reaches of outer space, where the temperature can be 80 below zero. A group of middle school students helped an adult team to track the balloon via sensors, and laptops. They tracked the balloon for 45 miles thru the air.

Over 2,000 Iowa Students will take part in the Iowa Children’s Water Festival in celebration of Drinking Water Week on Thursday May 10th.

A central Iowa tradition is underway in Pella. Tulip Time runs through Saturday, but something will be missing.

“We don’t have as many tulips as we would like to have this time a year. There’s still plenty of places to have fun, come and see all the different stores and bakeries and even just the parades in itself are a lot of fun to come attend,” said Julie Wolf with Pella Corporation.

A few beds are full of tulips around Pella. But, most of the blooms have already died.

Organizers say not to worry there’s still plenty to see, including two daily parades.

Workers at Pella Corporation were putting the final touches on their float Wednesday. They say the ice cream truck is back by popular demand. It features wooden Dutch shoes spinning in the wheels, moving parts timed to the music, and of course tulips.

You can check out the parades at 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. through Saturday.