by Dave DeMars
news@thenewsleaders.com
For Sauk Rapids Police Chief Perry Beise, National Night Out is something he’s done every year for as long as he’s been chief and even before. So visiting the three sites that participated in Sauk Rapids is a happy part of his duties.
His first stop was the home of Laura and David Mumm along 10th Avenue N. It’s the first time the Mumms have hosted a National Night Out, and actually the first one they are attending.
“We’ve lived in the neighborhood for 24 years and we decided it was time to meet some of the new families,” Laura said. “A lot of them have children, so our goal was to get to know some of the kids so they feel safe in the neighborhood so they can come to our homes if they would have troubles in their own homes such as being alone after school.”
She said she’s never been to a National Night Out gathering, but she and her husband have been talking about it for the past few years and decided to just jump right in. She hand-delivered 35 invitations and was delighted with the turnout.
“I love it,” Marion Castellanos said about the Mumm’s National Night Out. “I see a lot of familiar faces I see driving by and walking by every day.”
She said the neighborhood is pretty safe but it’s always good to have neighbors looking out for one another. It might be nice to have something like this twice a year, just to keep in touch with the neighbors, she added.
The success of the National Night Out program is something police officers can’t really measure, Beise said.
“The success of the night is not measured by anything on my part,” he said. “It’s measured by the people who are here. If they get to know each other and it makes them feel more comfortable about watching each others’ houses and taking care of each other in the neighborhood, then it’s pretty successful. And I don’t really know that.”
Beise brought the canine officer and the police dog, Thunder, because everyone wants to see the dog.
Joan Gales came on Aug. 2 to the National Night Out in Sauk Rapids to meet many of her neighbors.
“I think this is absolutely awesome,” Gales said. “We need to do this every single year.”
She said she is concerned about the safety of the neighborhood and likes to have police officers around. And why wouldn’t she?
“I am the mother of a police officer,” Gales said.
This is her first time to a National Night Out gathering on her block, but she has attended them before and says the best part of the whole thing is getting to know one’s neighbors.
Alvin Beniek came to the National Night Out party Aug. 2 and brought his whole family with him. It’s the Beniek family’s first National Night Out in 14 years.
“I really don’t worry about crime in the neighborhood at all, but our neighbor has the cops at his house all the time,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a standing neighborhood joke. His son-in-law is a cop.”
Beise was impressed with the numbers who attended this neighborhood party.
“If you’ve ever gone to one of these parties, this one’s pretty good,” Beise said.
Police Chief Perry Beise greets Jim Meierhofer, one of the attendees at the National Night Out gathering Aug. 2 at the Sauk Rapids home of Laura and David Mumm.
Laura Mumm and her husband, David, decided to host their first National Night Out on Aug. 2 at their Sauk Rapids home along Tenth Avenue N.
At a National Night Out in Sauk Rapids, neighbors begin to gather Aug. 2 at a home of David and Laura Mumm, along 10th Avenue N. About 30 neighbors showed up, many for the first time.
Marion Castellanos attends David and Laura Mumm’s National Night Out Aug. 2 in Sauk Rapids.
The Sauk Rapids Fire Department shows up and gives all the kids a ride in the big truck as part of the National Night Out observance Aug. 2 in Sauk Rapids.
Alvin Beniek came to the National Night Out party on Aug. 2 and brought his whole family with him. Rachel Beniek, 14, (left), wife Ruth, Alvin and grandson, William, 11 months.
Joan Gales came Aug. 2 to the National Night Out in Sauk Rapids to meet many of her neighbors.
