National Night Out different for 2021

Planning a different format for the Monday, Aug. 2 event, the National Night Out Committee includes (front from left) Joyce Johnson of Tools for School, Mental Health America of Putnam County Director Karen Martoglio, Greencastle Parks and Recreation Director Rod Weinschenk, Carey Tanner of Cummins Mental Health, Debra Simmons of Putnam County 911, Maj. Dwight Simmons of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office; Patrick Cousin of the Indiana State Excise Police, (back) Lori Miller of Transformers, Kerry Keyt of StatFlight, Sarah Owen of Putnam County CERT, Kim McMains of Greencastle Pediatric Dentistry and Jeff Mace of Putnam County Hospital. Putnam County Youth Development Commission Director Linda Merkel and Chief Tom Sutherlin of the Greencastle Police Department (both not pictured) co-chair the committee.

Courtesy photo

Along with other changes, this year’s edition of National Night Out will be at a new location.

After 13 years at Robe-Ann Park, it was determined that a move was needed to accommodate an increase in collaborations.

The 14th-annual event will be held at the Putnam County Fairgrounds and is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m., rain or shine. Should the weather become inclement, all activities will be moved inside.

Event co-chairs Linda Merkel and Tom Sutherlin noted that some changes have been done in hopes of better meeting the needs of Putnam County families.

Phil the Need (Tools for Schools) will be joining in the partnership to help serve families at the event.

In addition to backpacks, age-appropriate school supplies and a new pair of tennis shoes, the annual Coats for Kids program has been added to the evening. Families are encouraged to fill out and promptly return the electronic form at www.philtheneed.net that was shared from a child’s respective school. The form also includes a line to indicate the size needed.

If families are planning to attend but do not have transportation, they should look for information from their school on planned transportation for the evening.

There will be plenty to eat, including hot dogs, drinks, popcorn, pizza, fruit and snow cones. All of the same booths will be participating along with several new ones.

This year’s sponsors include the following: Big Bounce Fun House Rentals, Putnam County Fair Board, Butler’s LP & Fertilizer, Culligan Water of Putnam County, Kroger, Aldi, Putnam County PIE Coalition, Duke Energy, Purdue Extension-Putnam County (Putnam County Homemakers Club), Flowers Bakery, Kevin Girton, Garl’s Bikes, Casey’s of Roachdale, Teacher’s Credit Union, Putnam County Comprehensive Services, Children’s Bureau, Putnam County Hospital, KBSO Consulting (Rachel Davies), Chicago’s Pizza, Casey’s of Greencastle, Noble Roman’s, Monical’s Pizza, Pizza Hut and Papa John’s Pizza.

Prime Real Estate Group will sponsor July’s First Friday and have a donation box available at its office at 25 E. Franklin St. for anyone wishing to donate a new or gently-used coat.

The list of booths includes the following: Putnam County Hospital, Greencastle Police Department, Indiana State Excise Police, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, Roachdale and Bainbridge police departments, Greencastle and other surrounding fire departments, Putnam County StatFlight, Putnam County Juvenile and Adult Probation, Putnam County Community Corrections/PIE Coalition, Greencastle Pediatric Dentistry, Duke Energy, Co-Alliance, Putnam County Family Support Services, Putnam County Safe Schools, 911 dispatch, 811, Heather Taylor - State Farm Insurance, Jack’s Trash Service, Cummins Behavioral Health, Putnam County EMS, Putnam County Prosecutor’s Office, Mental Health America of Putnam County, First Financial Bank, Jim Maxwell Bicycle Safety Program (Kiwanis), Department of Natural Resources-Army Corps of Engineers, Purdue Extension-Putnam County (Mark Evans), National Guard Armory, Putnam County Youth Development Commission, Teachers Credit Union, Putnam County Public Library, EMA Mobile Command Center, Community Connections/Transformers, Putnam County CERT and Figgy Hardwick (DJ).

Those with questions about the event may contact Merkel at 765-720-5535.