Hobart's National Night Out draws crowd of curious kids
It almost felt like a career day as children asked firefighters and police questions as they tried on gear, met police dogs, and sat behind the wheel of public safety vehicles.
Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said the relationship between public safety workers and the community is strong.
'It's top notch. We have an SRO (school resource officer) in all buildings, and we try to make sure they're out and come to community events,' he said.
The National Association of Town Watch established National Community Night Out in 1984 to nurture law enforcement partnerships in communities.
Today, it's celebrated in all 50 states, typically on the first Tuesday of August.
Event coordinator Samantha Bull, a police department administrative assistant, said representatives from the U.S. Marshal's office, Air Force and Marines were new to the event this year.
Shortly after Hobart's event began, attendees could hear the whirl of a police helicopter landing in a field across from the orchard.
Kids and parents crossed County Line Road to meet officers from the Lake County Sheriff's Department and check out the helicopter.
Cpl. Anthony Martinez has been a helicopter pilot for about six years. He said the unit has three full-time and two part-time pilots, based at Griffith Airport.
Anisa Nicholas, 7, of Hobart, inspected the controls and talked a bit with the officers as mom Sarah Price watched.
'I think she's more interested in getting to the Kona Ice,' she said of her anxious daughter.
Meanwhile, Hobart Fire Chief Enrique Lopez offered tours of the city's new dive truck that can hold up to 10 divers and their gear. So far, he said the fire department has seven certified divers with more expected soon.
He said the city bought the truck about two years ago and customized it for the specialized diving gear. He said it cost about $150,000.
A mounted TV inside the truck is synchronized with the department's drone.
Lopez said the life rings installed at Robinson Lake seem to have reduced the number of emergency calls so far this year.
Hobart Fire Capt. Steve Gouwens said he helped start the department's drone unit in 2016.
'Now, it's exploded, we have seven pilots and one drone,' he said. The pilots are all licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Firefighters can use the drone for search and rescue, fire assessment and in police pursuits.
Hobart's drone is equipped with thermal imaging and two spotlights to find missing people.
Amber Sons, of Hobart, watched her 7-year-old son Lincoln Sons climb into a fire truck and put on a helmet.
'He wants to be a fireman,' she said.
Curious kids also stepped inside a Hobart school bus to find out what it will be like when they become regular riders.
'This is for kids to see a bus for the first time,' said Holly Shelton, a bus driver and assistant in the transportation department. 'They always run straight to the back.'
Will Muldowney, 4, of Chesterton, seemed obsessed with the Northwest Regional SWAT table arrayed with an AR-15 rifle and a 40mm launcher that fires less lethal rounds, designed to de-escalate dangerous situations.
His dad, Dan Muldowney, brought his two sons and young daughter to the event because he thought the kids would find it interesting.
'We just heard about it. It's fun,' he said.
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Chicago Tribune
4 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Hobart's National Night Out draws crowd of curious kids
Kids swarmed all over fire trucks, a school bus, and a helicopter, and many also gravitated to free hot dogs and the Kona Ice truck during Hobart's National Night Out Tuesday at County Line Orchard. It almost felt like a career day as children asked firefighters and police questions as they tried on gear, met police dogs, and sat behind the wheel of public safety vehicles. Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun said the relationship between public safety workers and the community is strong. 'It's top notch. We have an SRO (school resource officer) in all buildings, and we try to make sure they're out and come to community events,' he said. The National Association of Town Watch established National Community Night Out in 1984 to nurture law enforcement partnerships in communities. Today, it's celebrated in all 50 states, typically on the first Tuesday of August. Event coordinator Samantha Bull, a police department administrative assistant, said representatives from the U.S. Marshal's office, Air Force and Marines were new to the event this year. Shortly after Hobart's event began, attendees could hear the whirl of a police helicopter landing in a field across from the orchard. Kids and parents crossed County Line Road to meet officers from the Lake County Sheriff's Department and check out the helicopter. Cpl. Anthony Martinez has been a helicopter pilot for about six years. He said the unit has three full-time and two part-time pilots, based at Griffith Airport. Anisa Nicholas, 7, of Hobart, inspected the controls and talked a bit with the officers as mom Sarah Price watched. 'I think she's more interested in getting to the Kona Ice,' she said of her anxious daughter. Meanwhile, Hobart Fire Chief Enrique Lopez offered tours of the city's new dive truck that can hold up to 10 divers and their gear. So far, he said the fire department has seven certified divers with more expected soon. He said the city bought the truck about two years ago and customized it for the specialized diving gear. He said it cost about $150,000. A mounted TV inside the truck is synchronized with the department's drone. Lopez said the life rings installed at Robinson Lake seem to have reduced the number of emergency calls so far this year. Hobart Fire Capt. Steve Gouwens said he helped start the department's drone unit in 2016. 'Now, it's exploded, we have seven pilots and one drone,' he said. The pilots are all licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Firefighters can use the drone for search and rescue, fire assessment and in police pursuits. Hobart's drone is equipped with thermal imaging and two spotlights to find missing people. Amber Sons, of Hobart, watched her 7-year-old son Lincoln Sons climb into a fire truck and put on a helmet. 'He wants to be a fireman,' she said. Curious kids also stepped inside a Hobart school bus to find out what it will be like when they become regular riders. 'This is for kids to see a bus for the first time,' said Holly Shelton, a bus driver and assistant in the transportation department. 'They always run straight to the back.' Will Muldowney, 4, of Chesterton, seemed obsessed with the Northwest Regional SWAT table arrayed with an AR-15 rifle and a 40mm launcher that fires less lethal rounds, designed to de-escalate dangerous situations. His dad, Dan Muldowney, brought his two sons and young daughter to the event because he thought the kids would find it interesting. 'We just heard about it. It's fun,' he said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
National Night Out happening Aug. 5 in Augusta County
The Augusta County Sheriff's Office and area first responders invite the community to join them for National Night Out from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Augusta County Government Center. This annual event brings neighbors and first responders together to strengthen community partnerships and enhance public safety awareness, the sheriff's office said in a press release. Law enforcement officers, fire and rescue personnel, and 911 dispatchers from across the county and cities will be on-site to meet with residents, answer questions, and showcase equipment and resources. Weather and emergency calls permitting, Air Care 5 is scheduled to land at approximately 7 p.m., providing a unique opportunity for attendees to learn more about air medical services. 'National Night Out is more than just a community gathering, it's a celebration of the partnership between our citizens and those who serve and protect them,' said Sheriff Donald Smith. 'We are honored to serve Augusta County and look forward to this opportunity to connect with families, friends, and neighbors in a relaxed, welcoming environment.' The sheriff's office encourage all members of the community to come out, bring the kids, ask questions, and enjoy a fun and informative evening. "Together, we can continue to build a safer and stronger Augusta County." More: Law change spearheaded by local attorney ends juvenile shackling in courtrooms More: Outdoor theater premiere, Waynesboro exhibits, agricultural grants and more: THE DIGEST This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: National Night Out Aug. 5 in Augusta County, VA Solve the daily Crossword
3 days ago
A Mississippi monkey sanctuary helps veterans with PTSD find peace
PERKINSTON, Miss. -- In the embrace of a cheerfully chittering spider monkey named Louie, an Army veteran who grappled for decades with post-traumatic stress disorder says he finally feels at peace. 'Being out here has brought a lot of faith back to me,' said John Richard. 'There's no feeling like it.' The bond began last fall when Richard was helping two married veterans set up the Gulf Coast Primate Sanctuary, volunteering his time to build the enclosure that's now Louie's home in rural southeast Mississippi. During a recent visit, Louie quickly scampered up Richard's body, wrapping his arms and tail around him in a sort of hug. Richard, in turn, placed his hand on the primate's back and whispered sweetly until Louie disentangled himself and swung away. 'He's making his little sounds in my ear, and you know, he's always telling you, 'Oh, I love you,'' Richard said. ''I know you're OK. I know you're not going to hurt me.'' Richard said his connection with Louie helped more than any other PTSD treatment he received since being diagnosed more than 20 years ago. It's a similar story for the sanctuary's founder, April Stewart, an Air Force veteran who said she developed PTSD as a result of military sexual trauma. 'It was destroying my life. It was like a cancer,' she said. 'It was a trauma that was never properly healed.' Stewart's love of animals was a way to cope. She didn't necessarily set out to create a place of healing for veterans with PTSD, but that's what the sanctuary has become for some volunteers. 'By helping the primates learning to trust, we're also reteaching ourselves how to trust, and we're giving ourselves grace with people,' she said. Her 15-acre property, nestled amid woods and farmland, is filled with rescue dogs, two rather noisy geese and a black cat. It's also now home to three spider monkeys, two squirrel monkeys and two kinkajous, a tropical mammal that is closely related to raccoons. The sanctuary in the town of Perkinston, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) due north of the Gulf coast, includes three large enclosures for the different species. Each has a smaller, air-conditioned area and a large fenced-in outdoor zone, where the primates swing from platforms and lounge in the sun. Checking on the animals — changing their blankets, bringing food and water — is one of the first and last things Stewart does each day. However, she can't do it alone. She relies on a group of volunteers for help, including several other veterans, and hopes to open the sanctuary to the public next summer for guided educational tours. Stewart and her husband, also a veteran, decided to open the sanctuary in October after first rescuing and rehoming monkeys. With the help of two exotic-animal veterinarians, they formed a foundation that governs the sanctuary — which she said is the only primate sanctuary in Mississippi licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — and ensures the animals will be cared for even when the Stewarts are no longer able to run it themselves. All the animals were once somebody's pet, but their owners eventually couldn't take care of them. Stewart stressed that primates do not make good or easy pets. They need lots of space and socialization, which is often difficult for families to provide. The sanctuary's goal is to provide as natural a habitat as possible for the animals, Stewart said, and bring them together with their own species. 'This is their family,' she said.
