Local News - August 2003

14 neighborhoods to celebrate ‘Night Out’

Published August 4, 2003

By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer

Tuesday night will be a chance for residents to come outside, relax with their neighbors and talk one-on-one with city officials and public safety personnel.

National Night Out, in its 20th year nationwide and 6th year locally, aims to send a powerful message that residents are banding together to stop crime.

Fourteen Lincolnton neighborhoods are holding Night Out parties, said Lt. Kenny Shrum of the Lincolnton Police Department.

While the majority of Night Out events take place within city limits, county agencies are also taking part this year. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and other groups will be out at 2541 Brookwood Road for the festivities.

Night Out is a good chance for residents to get to the know their neighbors, which is an effective crime-prevention tool, Shrum said.

“It opens the door to get to know somebody,” he said. “What this does is coincide with neighborhood watch. If you meet people and know people in the neighborhood, they’re more likely to tell you if something is out of the ordinary.”

Parties include everything from hot dogs and ice cream to DJs and dancing, Shrum said.

“It’s just good, clean fun for everybody,” he said.

City officials will be riding from one party to the next.

This allows residents to let officials know about any concerns they have, Shrum said, and to put faces with the names they know.

“They’re there, and they can see first hand what the problem is,” he said.

Night Out will also afford residents to meet Lincolnton’s new police chief, Dean Abernathy, Shrum said.

Nationally, more than 33 million people are expected to turn on their porch lights and participate in Night Out activities. Approximately 9,700 communities in all 50 states will have parties.

National Night Out was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch in 1984, according to the association’s Web site.

Night Out has four goals, according to its Web site:

·  Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness,

·  Generate support for and participation in local anti-crime activities,

·  Strengthen resident and police relationships,

·  Let criminals know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Night Out is a popular annual event locally.

Even though two communities opted not to have parties this year, two new groups have organized activities.

“It seems to be growing each year. Even though we lose one, we still gain a couple,” Shrum said.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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