Local activities planned for ‘National Night Out’

By April Taylor, Record Editor
Published: July 31, 2008

In 1984, a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit group, the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), created a program aimed at promoting neighborhood involvement in the prevention of crime and drug activities and in strengthening relations between law enforcement and the community.
Since then, the event - National Night Out—has grown to involve more than 11,000 communities from across the nation and beyond.
This year, Greene County will join them.
The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging neighborhoods throughout Greene to participate in National Night Out (NNO) on Tuesday, August 5.  The event is co-sponsored locally by the Sheriff’s Office.
“This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness, safety and neighborhood unity,“ said Greene County Sheriff’s Office Major Randy Snead. “National Night Out showcases the vital importance of sheriff-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation.“
From 6 to 9 p.m. on August 5, residents in neighborhoods throughout Greene County and across the nation are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office will be hosting a variety of special events such as, a cookout, scavenger hunt, fire trucks, flashlight walks, contests, youth activities and anticrime literature handouts/information.  The location for this Sheriff’s Office event will be on Route 33 eastbound side between Amicus Road and Advance Mills Road, in the same area the Civil War Re-enactment is held each year.
“Look for the banners,“ says Major Snead. “We the Greene County Sheriff’s Office will also have information in regards to Neighborhood watch programs and Crime Prevention efforts that as an agency and community we will be glad to assist with.“
  In all, millions of people nationwide are expected to participate in ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime’ this Tuesday.  The event is being supported in part by Target, the national corporate sponsor.
  According to its founders, Nation Night Out is designed to: “heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.“