It will be a good night to be out

A lot of good things will happen during the upcoming Greencastle-Antrim Old Home Week celebration.

One of those things is a new event, a National Night Out sponsored by the Greencastle Police Department on Tuesday, Aug. 3. We think this is a great idea and Old Home Week is the perfect time for such a venture.

As Greencastle police officer TJ Anderson related, the aim of the event is to provide an atmosphere for interaction between police and the public in a relaxed situation. We hope everyone, especially the youth of the community, take this opportunity between 5 and 8 that night in the South Carlisle Street area.

While the ultimate goal is crime and drug prevention, we can see a lot of positives coming from the event, which has something for everyone. In advance of the Aug. 3 National Night Out, kids can participate in a Scavenger Hunt that will not only be fun for the children and their parents, but also will help the youngsters get to know their town better. Kudos to the businesses, which have shown solid support for the effort.

Another part of the effort will help beef up security at Jerome R. King Playground through activities that will also provide a lot of fun. Police will operate a special “jail” where anyone can purchase the right to put someone behind bars and then they need to pay a fine to get out. Also officers will be volunteering to be the “victim” of a sort of dunk-tank-type game that people will pay to try their luck. The funds will go toward efforts to curb drug and gang activity at the playground.

Residents will also have the chance to meet Roni, the K-9 officer.

The Greencastle Police Department has also organized a first for Franklin County on that Tuesday. From 1-7 p.m. anyone can participate in a medication takeback. The department will accept expired and unused medications, at a location to be announced. The purpose is to get the drugs out of the home and disposed of properly. Law enforcement agencies have access to incinerators, which will keep the medications out of the water supply or landfill.

Greencastle police have organized a great public service with this effort. Aug. 3 will be a good night to be out.