ADA, Okla. –Entertainment, hot dogs and community spirit were found at National Night Out, conducted Tuesday, August 2 on the campus of East Central University (ECU).
In block-party style, more than 300 residents of Ada and surrounding communities participated in the annual event, which is co-hosted by the Chickasaw Nation, the city of Ada and ECU.
National Night Out is a nationwide crime-prevention event designed to strengthen ties between the community and law enforcement.
"National Night Out offers an opportunity for the kind of positive interaction which can bring members of our community and local law enforcement closer together," said Bill Anoatubby, Governor of the Chickasaw Nation. "This fun event also gives us the opportunity to show our appreciation to all the men and women who work hard and make sacrifices to help keep our communities safe."
Locally, youngsters were able to check out law enforcement vehicles and visit with officers from Roff Police, Stonewall Police, Pontotoc County Sheriff's Office, Lighthorse Police, ECU Police and the Ada Fire Department.
Stonewall Police Department participated in the event for the first time. Police chief Jason Teel said the event is a good opportunity to interact with the community, especially the kids.
"We are trying to build a good relationships and a good rapport with the youth," said Chief Teel. "We need to build a good relationship while they are young, so we can rely on them to be good citizens in the future."
Participants learned not only about crime prevention, but beneficial community programs including the local Boys and Girls Clubs, the United Way and elder services.
Information about children's dental care and safety tips and other important issues could be found at the more than 20 informational booths.
Triple-digit temperatures were combated with dunk tanks, bottled water, hot dogs, cold drinks, fun games and several large inflatables for the kids.
All activities and food were free of charge.
When asked about her favorite part of National Night Out every year, 11-year-old Sara Thorn, of Ada, said "having fun."
Three-year-old Cade Stick-Smith, Ada, spent much of the evening bouncing in the inflatables.
The event kicked off with a welcome by ECU president Dr. John Hargrave, who commended law enforcement and event co-sponsors for their community spirit and hard work.
The Chickasaw Princesses also welcomed the crowd with a performance of "The Lord's Prayer" and the tribal honor guard posted the colors for the "Star Spangled Banner."
The Chickasaw Nation Martial Arts members demonstrated some impressive martial arts skills for the crowd, and "Blues Brothers" act Jimmy James and Carlin Thompson and other local musicians wowed the crowd throughout the evening.
About National Night Out
National Night Out is a nationwide crime and drug prevention event introduced by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984.
Last year, more than 15,000 communities in the United States and Canada participated in the event that involved more than 37 million people, according to the group's web site.
