Annual National Night Out Set For Tuesday

The last organizational meeting to plan Van’s 2009 National Night Out (NNO) was held Monday, September 28 at 7 p.m. at the Van Community Center.

This year’s National Night Out is set for Tuesday, October 6.

Van participated in its first National Night Out in 2008 and received a Rookie of the Year Award for the effort.

"We hosted almost 10 block parties last year and had over 700 people in attendance. The response was amazing and we hope to add to those numbers this year," said Van Police Chief Kelly Smith.

National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back against crime.

A variety of events are planned for this year’s NNO including block parties, cookouts, visits to local citizens by local police and sheriff’s officers, contests and youth programs.

"NNO has proved to be an effective program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and we are looking forward to this year’s event," said Smith.

Coordinators for the event include:

Van Police Chief Kelly Smith; Jessica Goode (Van Vista Program) Gary McDaniel and John Beall (City of Van); Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Hudgens; and Melissa Davis (Van City Marshal’s Office).

Other participants are Tony Gilmore, Donnie Clark, Martha Myers, Joe Serinni, Billy Wilson, Wayne Bare (Van Police Chaplain), Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office, Jeanette Germany (Van ISD), Robin Marshall (East Texas Crisis Center), Ernie Burns, Gary King (East Texas Vehicle Theft Task Force), Jeff Millslagle, (FBI Tyler Office), and Grant Wolf (Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers).

Also participating are Van Zandt County Constables Pat Jordan (Pct, 4) and Mickey Henson (Pct. 1), as well as Pct. 4 Commissioner Ron Carroll.

Block Parties sponsors and locations are as follows:

Van Police and Fire Departments at Brookshire’s (Bounce House - Movies Now and Then); Stephanie Nalls (Methodist Church and Shear Paradise); Billy Wilson (Mulberry); Van Healthcare (S. Oak); Friends of the Library (Van Community Center); Ernie Burns (S. Bois D’Arc) T.J. Wilson (Pine Chase); Donnie Clark (Colorado Street); Ty McPherson (Sonic); Mickey and Eugene Smith with Jackie Nations (311 N. Birch); and Nikki Rowan (Washington).

Community Awareness Bags, indentification kits and other handouts will be provided by the Van Police Department, Texas Department of Transportation, and East Texas Medical Center.