Crime Watch reorganized in Elmore Street area
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on December 4, 2005 2:00 AM
MOUNT OLIVE -- The Unity Heights Community Crime Watch Association is cleaning up the streets in more ways than one in the Elmore Street area of Mount Olive.
Members have been cleaning up litter as part of a new beautification program they're starting, and they're holding crime watch meetings.
The members held a yard and bake sale two weeks ago, and they're planning another one for this Saturday. The yard sale will be at the corner of James and Beems streets and will go from 7 a.m. until noon or later.
Association Chairman Samuel Platt said a crime watch program used to be organized in the Elmore Street neighborhood, but it "fizzled out."
He said the new group formed and chose the name Unity Heights Community Crime Watch Association, because the members want to incorporate a larger part of their neighborhood than just one block.
The group started with a block party held this summer in a subdivision on Elmore Street called Elmore Heights. But the organizers who live in that neighborhood, Platt, Maurice Almond and Kim Kornegay, didn't want to place any limits on the membership.
"The three of us planned a fish fry and covered dish supper," Platt said. "The females brought the covered dishes, and the men brought money."
He said the organizers weren't concerned about crime at the time of the block party. The crime watch came later. He said they felt they should get to know their neighbors.
Unity Heights organized and now meets every third Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Northeast Chapel Free Will Baptist Church on East James Street. Platt said membership is strong. The group started out with 30 people, and when they met Thursday night, they still had around 30 plus a couple of new faces.
The group invites city officials and members of law enforcement to come and give presentations. For example, the law enforcement officials talk about safety and on how to secure your home and place identification numbers on property.
The group passes out packages containing the inventory sheets on a regular basis in case somebody didn't receive one at the last meeting.
"Our goal is to get a package in each household in the area," he said. "We've passed out quite a few. We're young, and we're getting started, but we have a vision -- safety, quality and unity."
For information call Platt at 658-4812.