By Carl Blankenship, Madeline Waggoner and Elisabeth Strillacci
news@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – Places across Rowan County were lit up with emergency vehicles, but there was no disaster in sight Tuesday night.
National Night Out is a community policing awareness event, and municipalities across the country hosted their own versions of it Tuesday evening. There were half a dozen scattered throughout Rowan County with a mix of food, games, information and safety presentations.
Mixed in with the fire trucks and police vehicles, even medical helicopters appeared for safety demonstrations.
At Spencer’s North Rowan area event, a crash simulator gave people a taste of what it’s like to be in a low-speed collision. The city also coordinated with other emergency agencies to hold a reenactment of the crash at Park Plaza.
The scenario involved a drunk driver crashing into the side of a vehicle with two passengers. Carson High School drama students played the people in the accident, complete with fake blood and makeup. Spencer Police Sgt. Brian Leonard questioned the “drunk” driver and administered breathalyzer and field sobriety tests while firefighters and EMS workers pulled the pair of victims from the wrecked car. Firefighters tore off and tore the car doors off with hydraulic rescue tools. At the scene, one victim did not arrive and the other was seriously injured.
A Novant medivac helicopter landed across the street at a designated landing zone at the North Carolina Transportation Museum and EMS took the injured patient to be airlifted.
Otherwise, the night was a chance for people to learn about local organizations, meet police and other first responders, and enjoy free food.
Whoseever Will Let Them Come Ministry provided the food again this year, cooking up hot dogs and homemade jerky. The church doubled this year, bringing in 800 francs instead of 400 last year because it gave them all away last time. Bishop Chris Brown credited College Barbecue with donating the buns and Pepsi as well. The food was free, but people kept donating anyway. Brown said the money will help the church recover more food next year.
“I thank God for what Spencer is doing here bringing the community together and letting them mingle with each other,” Brown said.
Brown said events like this show that everyone is someone and can get along.
“I want Spencer and Rowan County and the world to know that this is what this is all about. This is what we’re supposed to do,” Brown said.
Towards the southern tip of Rowan County, Landis and China Grove held separate events. The bounce houses of Mr. Bounce, The Brook Church ice cream truck and plenty of free hot dogs were shared with attendees who danced and climbed rock walls.
Landis public safety teams converged on the J. Fred Corriher Jr. YMCA football field. where community members had the opportunity to take advantage of a police offer for $5 and $10 donations. One of the unfortunate candidates for the hot seat was Landis Police Chief Zach Lechette, who is also the director of public safety.
He said Landis has been planning his National Night Out since March with the help of $9,000 from community sponsors.
“We are also grateful to all the local businesses that have come out to participate,” Lechette said. “We try to do it better every year. It’s a great way to connect us all to the community.”
Paw Patrol mascots Marshall and Chase rode in a golf cart, dancing and slapping kids and adults alike as helicopters from Novant and Atrium Health flew over the field of activities and vendors. The evening concluded with a fireworks display over the trees behind the football pitch at 9.15pm.
Citizens of China Grove gathered at the China Grove Community Park, where families played under a fire truck’s water spout. Nick Carpenter, Amily Calamari and Sgt. Will Frazier was at a table handing out color-changing mugs, temporary tattoos and China Grove Police Department-branded stickers. They said talking and interacting with kids is the most rewarding part of National Night Out.
“It’s a time where kids and families can learn and connect with the department,” Frazier said.
The festivities at China Grove started at 4pm before ending at 7pm
Kannapolis Police Chief Terry Spry welcomed the return of the city’s event to Veterans Park after a two-year hiatus, noting it’s part of a larger effort by collaboration between the community and the department.
“This is what post-COVID should be like,” he said. “There comes a time when you have to make a withdrawal. If you haven’t been making deposits, there’s nothing to draw on. That’s a deposit, and that’s how trust is built.”
“We had such a diverse group of people here tonight,” said Annette Privette Keller, the city’s director of communications. “I’ve seen kids come right up to the officers and start talking and end up playing. It’s just what we expected to see.”
Finishing off a cherry Italian gelato, 10-year-old Reagan Sydnor said she would feel more comfortable approaching an officer for help on the street, rather than being alarmed by her uniform, after the event .
Salisbury’s National Night Out on Bell Tower Green was combined with the Community Resource Fair, which is usually held twice a year. The fair brings together local agencies specializing in health, addiction, education and family support in one place, and combining the two events seemed like a logical and efficient use of time and community gathering, said Jim Greene, city manager.
In addition to food, music and games such as checkers, corn hole and ring toss, information was available on numerous programs for residents and free backpacks and school supplies to bring. Chief Jerry Stokes said, like many of the other cities hosting events, it was good to see so many people there after a two-year hiatus.
“I came here to let my kids have fun with other people from Salisbury,” said Antonio Jackson, 39, a local resident. “A lot of people are having a hard time with income right now because of COVID, and this is a great opportunity for them to have a little fun for free and be able to get needed school supplies.” He added that the recent spate of shootings in the city has worried parents, so it was a relief to have a safe, family-friendly event to bring their children to.
