This year, in addition to a few new activities and exciting prizes, Crookston’s 7th annual National Night Out (NNO), which takes place from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3 in Central Park, is promoting good health by asking people to hoof it to the event.
“SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Plan) is our guest sponsor this year, and its goal is to make Crookston a bikable and walkable area,” said Crookston Police Officer Don Rasicott, one of the event organizers. “So everyone is encouraged to walk, bike or rollerblade, if possible. We'll have a bike parking area set up so you can lock your bike up.”
NNO aims to give neighborhood crime and drugs a huge going away party by offering lots of free activities for all ages. This year's new offerings, as well as others that have been standard at most of Crookston’s NNOs include:
• A watermelon eating contest will start promptly at 5 p.m. Rasicott said those who wish to participate in the contest should be there and ready to go at that time, as there might not be enough seats for everyone, in which case the participating contestants will be selected by some as yet unknown method.
• A center stage, where demonstrations take place, will sit in the middle of the event circle.
• The ever popular dunk tank will feature some new faces as well as old standbys. All proceeds raised from the event help pay for NNO expenses. The tentative schedule:
4:30 p.m. – Barb Erdman (sheriff candidate)
5 p.m. – Travis Thorvilson (Highland School principal)
5:30 p.m. – Craig Buness (county commissioner)
6 p.m. – Jim Juve (sheriff candidate)
6:30 p.m. – Raymond Lee (KROX)
7 p.m. – Greg Widseth (county attorney)
• The demonstration schedule, subject to change, is:
5:15 p.m. – Crookston Championship Tae Kwon Do
5:45 p.m. – Crookston Fire Department “Jaws of Life”
6:15 p.m. – Grand Forks Bomb Squad
7 p.m. – U.S. Border Patrol helicopter landing
Fire extinguisher training will be ongoing.
• The golf ball drop, which has become a thrilling activity for kids, will commence at 7:30 p.m. How it works: People sign up for a number, which corresponds with a golf ball. Then, at the end of the evening, the bucket of balls will be hoisted up in the fire truck lift and dropped down toward a target on the ground. Balls closest to the target win, so people with the corresponding numbers will get to choose prizes in order of how near their balls were to the target. You must be present to win.
Rasicott said there are several large prizes to be given away, including two new bike/helmet/lock packages.
• The Burglar will again make a star appearance.
“When the burglar shows up, we want kids to run to the first police officer they see in the center of the circle,” Rasicott explained. “They'll then get a prize.”
The hope is to teach kids the importance of law enforcement and to use officers when they need them, he added.
• For the kids, there will be games, a giant bouncer, McGruff and Sparky, the CFD mister, balloons and other goodies. The child I.D. card table will also be up and running.
• People from law enforcement agencies, emergency management, local government, health care and various community organizations will be on hand, some with equipment to answer questions and provide information.
• The Salvation Army will hand out free root beer floats while the Advisory Board for Mental Health provides free ice cream. Food vendors include the Knights of Columbus fish fry along with hamburgers and hot dogs, Shriners, Oof-Da Tacos and new this year, Brain Freeze ice cream truck.
Rasicott noted that many people have worked together to make Crookston’s NNO possible, including committee members, participants and sponsors. In case of inclement weather, the event will be in the Crookston Sports Center.
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This year, in addition to a few new activities and exciting prizes, Crookston’s 7th annual National Night Out (NNO), which takes place from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3 in Central Park, is promoting good health by asking people to hoof it to the event.
“SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Plan) is our guest sponsor this year, and its goal is to make Crookston a bikable and walkable area,” said Crookston Police Officer Don Rasicott, one of the event organizers. “So everyone is encouraged to walk, bike or rollerblade, if possible. We'll have a bike parking area set up so you can lock your bike up.”
NNO aims to give neighborhood crime and drugs a huge going away party by offering lots of free activities for all ages. This year's new offerings, as well as others that have been standard at most of Crookston’s NNOs include:
• A watermelon eating contest will start promptly at 5 p.m. Rasicott said those who wish to participate in the contest should be there and ready to go at that time, as there might not be enough seats for everyone, in which case the participating contestants will be selected by some as yet unknown method.
• A center stage, where demonstrations take place, will sit in the middle of the event circle.
• The ever popular dunk tank will feature some new faces as well as old standbys. All proceeds raised from the event help pay for NNO expenses. The tentative schedule:
4:30 p.m. – Barb Erdman (sheriff candidate)
5 p.m. – Travis Thorvilson (Highland School principal)
5:30 p.m. – Craig Buness (county commissioner)
6 p.m. – Jim Juve (sheriff candidate)
6:30 p.m. – Raymond Lee (KROX)
7 p.m. – Greg Widseth (county attorney)
• The demonstration schedule, subject to change, is:
5:15 p.m. – Crookston Championship Tae Kwon Do
5:45 p.m. – Crookston Fire Department “Jaws of Life”
6:15 p.m. – Grand Forks Bomb Squad
7 p.m. – U.S. Border Patrol helicopter landing
Fire extinguisher training will be ongoing.
• The golf ball drop, which has become a thrilling activity for kids, will commence at 7:30 p.m. How it works: People sign up for a number, which corresponds with a golf ball. Then, at the end of the evening, the bucket of balls will be hoisted up in the fire truck lift and dropped down toward a target on the ground. Balls closest to the target win, so people with the corresponding numbers will get to choose prizes in order of how near their balls were to the target. You must be present to win.
Rasicott said there are several large prizes to be given away, including two new bike/helmet/lock packages.
• The Burglar will again make a star appearance.
“When the burglar shows up, we want kids to run to the first police officer they see in the center of the circle,” Rasicott explained. “They'll then get a prize.”
The hope is to teach kids the importance of law enforcement and to use officers when they need them, he added.
• For the kids, there will be games, a giant bouncer, McGruff and Sparky, the CFD mister, balloons and other goodies. The child I.D. card table will also be up and running.
• People from law enforcement agencies, emergency management, local government, health care and various community organizations will be on hand, some with equipment to answer questions and provide information.
• The Salvation Army will hand out free root beer floats while the Advisory Board for Mental Health provides free ice cream. Food vendors include the Knights of Columbus fish fry along with hamburgers and hot dogs, Shriners, Oof-Da Tacos and new this year, Brain Freeze ice cream truck.
Rasicott noted that many people have worked together to make Crookston’s NNO possible, including committee members, participants and sponsors. In case of inclement weather, the event will be in the Crookston Sports Center.
About NNO
NNO, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, is in its 25th year as a nationwide event. Usually taking place on the first Tuesday in August, more than 10,000 communities and 34 million people celebrated with similar events last year. These events might include block parties, cookouts, parades, exhibits, flashlight walks, contests and youth programs.
The main goals of this unique crime prevention effort are to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and partnerships and send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
