Updated 8/7/18 This event was canceled Tuesday due to the storm system passing through Hillsboro.

I hope there’s a big turnout for Tuesday evening’s National Night Out event in Hillsboro, a project designed to strengthen the bonds between local law enforcement and citizens.

National Night Out will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7 at the old Hillsboro High School site on West Main Street.

As described in a Times-Gazette story, the event “provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under a positive circumstance, and can be used for crime and drug prevention and awareness.”

Participating agencies include the Hillsboro Police Department, Highland County Sheriff’s Office, Highland County Prosecutor’s Office, Adult Parole Authority and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. HPD Officer Tim Bell said he is working closely with Scott Miller of the sheriff’s office, who is also a member of the Highland County Fire Fighters Association, to coordinate with local fire departments.

Among the events and activities:

• Displays, booths and handouts from the various agencies participating.
• Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jim Roeder will make balloon animals, and attendees can enjoy a ring toss and cotton candy.
• Burgers, hot dogs and chips will also be offered at no cost, and the sheriff’s office will furnish drinks.
• A drive-in for classic cars.
• For the kids, there will be a bouncy house and demonstrations of a K-9 unit.
• HPD Officer Shawn Kelly said his department is organizing a crime scene reenactment room. “It’ll be something like the TV show ‘CSI,’” Kelly told the newspaper. “We’ll stage the scene of a crime and let the kids follow the evidence and try to solve it.”
• Paint Creek Joint EMS/Fire District will teach “stop and drop” with their smoke and fire training house.
• The Highland County Health Department will showcase a “drug house,” which is set up like a kid’s room with drug paraphernalia hidden throughout, to teach parents where to look for such items.
• A dunking booth, with a big effort to get HPD Chief Darrin Goudy to take the plunge.

Chief Goudy described National Night Out at a recent Hillsboro Rotary meeting (Rotary made a donation to the event), and it sounded to me like he had surrendered to the idea that he’ll end up soaked that night.

Congratulations to everyone involved. It will be a great opportunity for citizens to interact with local first law enforcement and first responders. See you there!