The Brownwood City Council proclaimed October 4th as National Night Out in Brownwood on Tuesday. Mayor Stephen Haynes read the proclamation to those in attendance and encouraged the community to participate.
“It’s an opportunity to have a neighborhood party to get to know your neighbors, and an opportunity to participate in crime watch,” said Mayor Haynes. “We are honored to participate; this is our second year as a community and we are pleased with all those who wish to participate.”
Officials said that currently 56 block parties are signed up to participate in the event this year across the county which is up from last year’s number of 39 parties. Law enforcement and city officials, the fire department, local EMS, and other local officials will travel to the block parties to meet with residents during the event.
From 5:30pm to 8:30pm on October 4th, residents in neighborhoods throughout Brown County are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors and police. Many neighborhoods throughout the area will be hosting a variety of special events such as block parties, cookouts, visits from police, contests, and other activities.
National Night Out is designed to: (1) Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; (2) Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts; (3) Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and (4) Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
Coordinators of the local NNO event are still signing up block captains to organize these small gatherings in neighborhoods across the city. These gatherings will be a rallying point where neighbors can meet each other, visit, and send a message to potential criminals. Organizers will release the full list of party locations this weekend, but said that there is still time to sign up a neighborhood.
For more information or to register as a block captain, contact the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce at 325-646-9535. Local participating sponsors for the 2011 National Night Out include Heart of Texas Crime Stoppers, WT Harris Company, ATMOS Energy, Oncor Electric Delivery, Southside Church, TexasBank, Waldrop Construction, and the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce.
Pictured above are NNO organizers after the reading of the Mayor’s proclamation. From left to right are Ray Tipton, Marketing Manager for the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce; Dennis Jackson, Board Member for Heart of Texas Crime Stoppers; and Officer Chandra Means, Brownwood Police Crime Prevention Officer.
