Helping McGruff the Crime Dog take a bite out of crime
Folks in at least two local communities will be helping McGruff the Crime Dog take a bite out of crime on Tuesday, Aug. 6 when the nation observes the 41st annual National Night Out. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and, once again this year, Aurora and Phillips will be holding events to promote that message.
In Aurora several block parties have been set up as places for neighbors to gather between 6 and 9 p.m. Block parties registered with the Aurora Police Department will be visited by the police officers, firefighters from the Aurora Fire Department, Nebraska State Patrol officers and McGruff the Crime Dog, himself.
The list of registered block parties in Aurora includes:
*East Park Villa, in front of the building on L Street, 5-6:30 p.m.
*Hamilton County Inclusive Playground, on Old Creek Rd. (future site of the playground), 5:30-7 p.m.
*Memorial Community Care, at the MCC parking lot, 6:15-7:30 p.m.
*Lincoln Creek Pocket Park, at the park, 6:30-9 p.m.
*Aurora Evangelical Free and Methodist Churches, South 12th Street between the church buildings, 6:30-8 p.m.
*McBride Subdivision, 150 Galway Rd., 7-9 p.m.
Phillips event
The Village of Phillips will also participate in the annual event again this year with a community gathering located at the Phillips Memorial Hall. Penny Evans, manager of the hall, said the gathering will be held from 6-8 p.m. and, as suggested by the name of the event, activities will be held outside weather permitting. (The event will be moved indoors in case of rain or if it’s too hot.)
Evans said the Boy Scouts will be operating games for children and the Phillips Fire Department will have its trucks on display. Deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office are also expected to make an appearance.
“It’s a great time to get together to get to know law enforcement and folks from the fire department,” Evans said.