Residents flock to county's first National Night Out event
The first National Night Out held in Guernsey County was deemed a huge success by organizers and attendees and is now set to become an annual event for the county.
Many who attended said they thought it was one of the best events they have been to and would like to see it become an event.
Guernsey County was one of more than 100 communities throughout Ohio that participated in the national event held annually on the first Tuesday in August as a way to promote and enhance residents' relationships with law enforcement. The goal is to help build a sense of community by bringing law enforcement and first responders together with residents in an interactive social setting.
The National Night Out held in the Cambridge City Park featured law enforcement agencies, fire departments, mental health organizations, drug and alcohol programs, The Salvation Army, The United Way, Area Agency on Aging Region 9 and several area churches providing games, activities, prizes and educational information.
The idea to hold the event came from Cambridge resident Cassie Springer, who had previously attended one in Texas.
She suggested it to Cambridge Area Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Vincent, who then worked with Kim Conrath with Young Leaders of Guernsey County and the Citizens' Police Academy to plan the event.
Throughout the evening, deputies from the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office and officers from Byesville and Cambridge police departments could be seen engaging with the area's youth by competing in tricycle races, tug-of-war and corn hole games and providing rides in the Cambridge Police Department' side-by-side vehicles.
"That's what its about. We need to interact with the kids. They are our future and so we want them to know law enforcement, like law enforcement and not to be afraid to ask us for help," Guernsey County Sheriff Jeff Paden said. "We are people to and we just need to make an impression on them."
Paden was surprised how many people attended the event. There is no estimate on the number of people who attended, but there were nearly 600 hot dogs and bottles of water handed out during the event.
The evening's events were free except for the dunk tank. For $1 residents got three chances to dunk either Cambridge Mayor Tom Orr or school resource officers Officer Ben Harper and Officer Ryan Oliver, with the proceeds going to Secret Santa. Community members like Allen Hunter State Farm and Schaffer Insurance donated bags of potato chips, while David Gal of Cullinan donated cases of bottled water. The Guernsey County Sheriff's Office donated hot dogs and buns. Wade Bistor of Bistro Bros. Music deejayed the event.
There were over 25 vehicles ranging from cruisers, armored vehicles, fire trucks, rescue squads and even the air boat used the by The Guernsey County Sherriff's Office for water rescues on display.
Rivalry was set aside as the cheerleaders from Cambridge, Buckeye Trail and Meadowbrook high schools came together to provide face painting for the children.
Alicia Dotson of Cambridge came out with her children Scarlett, 4, and Tristian 3, to get them acquainted with officers and first responders. She thought the event was excellent and her children were responding well to the officers.
Nicole Baker of Cambridge said she thought the event was awesome and she enjoyed seeing the happiness on the all children's' faces.
Residents were also able to interact with police K9s and see how they work when deputies and officers put on a K9 demonstration.
Capt. Scott Elliot of the Cambridge Fire Department said it was good everyone gets to come out and see the fire trucks and meet the fire department and had a chance to interreact with them on a good day and not when they need help. The fire department had its mascot Marshal at the event and handed out stickers, toy firemen helmets and educational coloring books.
Guernsey County Commissioner Dave Wilson said he couldn't 't imagine a better community event and that it was great to see all the different agencies both public and private participating.
"There is just so much going on here. It's an activity like this that just makes you fill with pride that you live in Guernsey County," Wilson said. "Judging from the reaction, I think its especially great to see our county's law enforcement interacting with the kids. If there is somewhat of a barrier, this can help knock it down. "
"I think something like this just kind of brings the pressure down a little bit and lets everybody see everybody as just people," Orr said. "Officers get to come out of their offices and cruisers and just mingle."
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Guernsey County's First National Night Out a success
