Enon hosts National Night Out

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ENON – The Village of Enon Police Department will once again join law enforcement agencies across the nation in partnering up against crime by hosting Enon National Night Out 2015 on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

Residents in the village, Mad River Township and surrounding communities are encouraged to turn on their porch lights, lock their doors, and come out and spend an evening with local law enforcement from 6 to 9 p.m. at Indian Valley Middle School, located at 510 S. Xenia Ave. in Enon.

According to Enon Police Chief Lewis Wilcox, the annual event, which is dubbed “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” aims to raise awareness about crime and drug prevention, encourage neighborhood participation in crime-prevention activities and bolster partnerships between local law enforcement and citizens.

“This is an opportunity for village and township residents to come out and get reacquainted with their neighbors and meet the police officers and deputies who patrol their neighborhoods every day,” Wilcox said. “We want the residents to know that officers are approachable, and that we do want to work with them as we strive to keep our community safe.”

Enon Administrative Assistant Kristy Thome, who is coordinating the event along with Wilcox, said National Night Out 2015 will offer a variety of family-friendly activities, including a number of games constructed and donated last year by Greenon High School FFA, a CareFlight landing and demonstration, a monster truck exhibition and an appearance by McGruff the Crime Dog. The comic book hero, Batman, will also be paying a visit to the local event, and his famous Batmobile will be on display throughout the evening.

Thome noted that the popular donut-on-a-string eating contest will be returning this year to National Night Out, as well as face painting for children, a dunk tank, relay games with police officers and free rides on Young’s Jersey Dairy Moovers and Shakers train.

The public will also have the opportunity to get an up-close look at village police and county sheriff’s cruisers and public-safety equipment. The Enon and Mad River Township Fire and EMS Department’s will also have fire and EMS vehicles and gear on display, and will be promoting fire safety and injury prevention.

A local D.J. will be providing musical entertainment throughout the evening, and members of the Enon VFW Post 8437 will be preparing and serving up free hot dogs, chips and drinks, as donated by local businesses.

The local event will also feature a raffle with participants vying for a variety of items, including a television, $50 Visa gift card, a Kindle Fire tablet, Texas Roadhouse gift certificates, Cleveland Browns’ football tickets, Drug Mart and Rite Aid Pharmacy gift cards and tickets to African Safari Wildlife Park. All proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Enon Police Department’s annual “Shop with a Cop” program.

“Donations are still coming into the department,” Thome said. “It is going to be a really nice raffle.”

The event, which was created by the National Association of Town Watch 32 years ago, is held annually on the first Tuesday in August. It now involves nearly 40 million people in more than 16,000 communities, according to the National Association of Town Watch website.

Wilcox pointed out that Enon has hosted some of the largest National Night Out Against Crime events in Clark County, and he credits much of the success of the annual event to the generous support of local business and individuals.

“It is truly a community effort,” Wilcox said. “I want to thank everyone who has contributed toward this event.”

Event to encourage good relations between citizens and police officers

By Linda Collins

For the Herald

Linda Collins is a freelance reporter for Greene County News.

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