There’s no doubt that the annual National Night Out Against Crime police-community partnership program here is a popular event.
The annual get-together was held Tuesday night at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, and within 30 minutes of the event’s start, several vendors reported they had already made around 500 contacts.
“But that’s OK,” Bridgett Pinkins said with a smile. “I like meeting people.”
Pinkins, owner of the Watson Chapel Dollar Discount Store, was serving free cups of Organo Gold coffee. “We’re doing lots of business,” she laughed.
Former alderman Jack Foster said the event is a plus for the community.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“It’s good for the kids,” he said, “especially with school right around the corner.”
Foster said the event brings home the right messages for young people.
“We need to do this more than just once a year,” he said. “We ought to do it once a month. It’s good to see something positive for the kids, and whenever I come to one of these events, I always see plenty of old friends.”
Juvenile Probation Officers Kiara Barnett*** and Tonya Burks, representing Circuit Judge Earnest E. Brown Jr., were distributing school supplies and candy to attendees.
“I always enjoy working with the kids,” Barnett said of her experiences at such events.
“It’s fun seeing all the new faces and meeting new people,” said Burks.
Donita Fells of the Jefferson Comprehensive Care System Inc. was administering free HIV tests while Osaze Cole, William Fells III and Denise Haynes were assisting in distributing informational brochures.
“I think these free tests are a real service to the community and can help in the fight against crime,” said D. Wells, who added that National Night Out is a “great way for us to meet the public.”
Eleven-year-old Joseph Connor was getting a kick out of exhibits and activities, and relishing an opportunity to be “up close” to a fire engine.
“I want to be a fireman,” said young Connor, a son of Bryon and Sherry Connor and half-brother of Hardin Volunteer Fire Department member Joshua Rodgers.
While waiting to ascend the Arkansas Army National Guard’s climbing wall, young Connor related how a display of police firearms had caught his eye.
“I liked looking at their guns and I like the police officers, too,” he said, “but I still want to be a fireman.”
National Night Out here is sponsored by the Pine Bluff Police Department and designed to increase crime and drug prevention awareness. In addition to receiving a free meal and assorted keepsakes, attendees have an opportunity to meet and become familiar with local emergency-response personnel and elected officials. Free transportation was provided by city buses from a dozen locations.
Games and prizes awaited attending youngsters.
This article has been corrected from its original version because of a name misspelling.