National Night Out In Dayton Is Aug. 7

DAYTON - Citizens of Columbia County are invited to the Dayton City Park from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug.7, to join with thousands of communities nationwide for National Night Out. National Night Out is an annual anti-crime, anti-drug event sponsored by the National As- sociation of Town Watch and co-sponsored locally by Columbia County Sheriff's Of- fice and the Columbia County Friends of 9-1-1.

Last year nearly 1,000 people attended National Night Out in Dayton.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime- and drug-prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partner- ships, and send a message to criminals and drug dealers letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

This year, the Dayton City Park will be filled with events and activities. Free hot dogs will be served by local volun- teers and the members of the Dayton Kiwanis and Dayton Lion's Club. Free bottled water and free soft drinks have also been donated by the Pepsi- Cola Bottling Co., Inland Cellular, Royal Neighbors of America and Puget Sound Energy.

Scheduled events include a close-up look at Life Flight and Medstar helicopters, which will fly in for display. You can also tour the Emer- gency Management mobile incident command post, have your child fingerprinted and videotaped for an emergency response identification packet by the Child Abduction Re- sponse Team.

The Washington State Pa- trol will be on hand provid- ing demonstrations of their remote-controlled bomb robot. Ambulance crews from Dayton and Waitsburg along with firefighters from all three local fire districts will display and give tours of some of their vehicles. The YWCA will provide a wide variety of kids' games and activities, and swim- ming is free Tuesday night at the adjacent Dayton City Pool. Tuesday night, Blue Mountain Counseling will show a free family movie in the park.

Forty-one exhibits are an- ticipated this year on the park lawn. In addition to the free food, exhibits and demonstra- tions, guests will have the chance to include their names in free prize drawings - but you must be present to win. So bring your families, lawn chairs or blankets, and your appetites to National Night Out in Dayton. But remember folks, no animals are allowed in the city park, so please leave your pets at home.

National Night Out is a family-oriented, alcohol- and smoke-free event.