08/06/08 — Local national Night Out events aim to fight crime

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Local national Night Out events aim to fight crime

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 6, 2008 1:37 PM

Felicia Kornegay and Taunya Sheppard live in the Fairview Homes off of Edgerton Street, a public housing community, where, Ms. Sheppard says, "crime is really bad."

But she says it's getting better -- and she credits frequent police patrols with the improvement.

So the two neighbors, who have seen fewer car break-ins, street-corner drug deals and other crimes, decided to show up for the city of Goldsboro's National Night Out event Tuesday evening in Herman Park.

"The neighborhood, Fairview Homes, it's not that great out there," Ms. Sheppard said. "But as far as the police, they ride through there, I'd probably say maybe on average every one to two hours."

But while some folks attended National Night Out for such a purpose, most people asked by the News-Argus said they were just out for a good time.

Organizers and speakers cheered a good turnout, as hundreds of people milled about the park. An official attendance estimate was not available.

Melissa and Greg Modica brought two of their four children -- Hannah and Dylan -- with them to Herman Park.

But Melissa said although the couple had not heard the event's speakers, there was a purpose for their attendance -- their children and their knowledge of public