Web posted
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Night on the town
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Photo by Alex Gambill
click image to enlarge
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Communities gather to celebrate each other
Check out our National Night Out video.
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net
This year's National Night Out on Tuesday proved successful, police and block party organizers said today. Twenty-four block parties were held throughout town.
"We get more parties each year, and had several new blocks this year that started parties," said Officer Dan Huntley of the Arkansas City Police Department.
This year, the block parties were preceded by a horseshoe pitching contest held at Brock Park. Police Chief Sean Wallace and State Rep. Kasha Kelley, R-Arkansas City, participated.
Among the 24 block party hosts were Jim and Karon Ramirez. They have hosted block parties several times in two different neighborhoods over the past eight years, they said. Three years ago they moved from Edgemont to the Spring Hill Golf Course area.
"We had a good turnout, maybe 40 in attendance," Ramirez said. "I furnished all the burgers and the hot dogs. Families brought in covered dishes and lawn chairs."
Ramirez said National Night Out provides neighbors an inexpensive way to make the acquaintance of people who live near them.
"What better way to meet your neighbors," he said. "Basically, it's going back to yesteryear when neighbors got together more. And it ties in to community policing and neighbors looking after each other."
Above: Nicolle Murphy serves drinks with Mary Brantley, far right, to children at a block party for National Night Out last night at Random Road.
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