JPD to host NNO Aug. 7

The city of Jasper will join other cities nationwide Aug. 7 for America's Night Out Against Crime.

"We're giving crime and drugs a going away party," said Wanda Brister, of the Jasper Police Department.

A special flashlight walk will be held Monday, Aug. 6 at Sandy Creek starting at 8:30 p.m.

Starting at 6 p.m. Aug. 7, residents in neighborhoods throughout Jasper and across the nation, are asked to close their doors, turn on outside lights and spend the evening outside with neighbors, police and other city and county departments.

This year's event will be held from the city police department down to Sandy Creek Park, and will feature events such as a flashlight walk, coloring contest, free snow cones, face painting, petting zoo, dunking booth, free hot dogs, moonwalk and a Jasper police bike squad demonstration.

Neighborhoods throughout Jasper are being invited for the second year in a row to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the "23rd Annual National Night Out (NNO) crime and drug prevention night."

In all, more than 34 million people are expected to participate in this event.

NNO is designed to :

t Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness

t Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime efforts

t Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships

t Send a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

For coloring contest entries, come by the police station to pick up a picture to color. Entrants are encouraged to write their name, phone number and age on their pictures.