National Night Out
By Anessa Myers
Published in News on August 6, 2007 1:46 PM
Fighting crime is front and center in the minds of those taking part in the 24th annual National Night Out event Tuesday night.
The National Night Out Crime and Drug Prevention event provides a way to increase crime and drug prevention awareness, support local anti-crime efforts, enhance partnerships between the community and the police and let criminals know that neighborhoods are fighting back.
From 6 to 9 p.m., Herman Park will be full of Goldsboro and Wayne County residents spending the night with neighbors and police, after they lock their doors and turn on outside lights.
Local police and deputies, emergency medical services personnel, N.C. State Highway Patrol troopers and area firefighters will be at the event presenting vehicles, the fire safety house and the sheriff's office helicopter. Information booths from several community organizations will also be set up.
The event is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), Goldsboro Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff's Office and Goldsboro Housing Authority.
Children are encouraged to attend, and they will have plenty of activities to enjoy.
Clowns and the Kiwanis miniature train will be on hand, and free prizes and food, including hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, ice cream and beverages, will be offered.
The children are not the only ones who will receive prizes, though.
Door prizes will be given away to adults by Target -- a national sponsor of NATW.
Parents and other adults will not be bored either.
Entertainment for the night will include The Drummer's World, Voices of Praise, Renee Smith and Monty Barnes, The Potter's Clay, Jessica Cox, The Warriors Society, Tarheel Twirlers, Cristina Slocum, Deeper Life Church Ministries' mime, step and dance teams, Tony Edmundson and IGB Entertainment. Miss Goldsboro, Nicki Sanderson, will be the hostess of ceremonies.
But, the night is not all about fun and games.
This year's guest speaker, Dr. Sherri Smith, will provide insight and suggestions to those attending on how to prevent crime and stay safe. She is chair of the criminal justice and sociology department at Mount Olive College.
For more information, contact Goldsboro Police Department officers Cpl. Teresa Cox at 580-4256 or Cpl. Mariss Davis at 580-4238 of the Goldsboro Police Department or Cpl. Brandy Jones of the Wayne County Sheriff's Office at 705-6584.