NNO coordinators thank sponsors, volunteers

To the Editor:

The National Night Out Committee is proud to announce that we were able to distribute almost 600 bags of basic school supplies to Putnam County school children that attended our event.

This was the result of the generous contributions from the first annual Family Movie Night Event and Steve Bahr of Duke Energy.

Elizabeth Schnieder was selected as the recipient of a new bicycle donated by Jenny Hutcheson of Chicago's Pizza, while Bradon Richardson received a new helmet donated by Kevin Hutcheson of Farm Bureau Insurance for successfully completing the Bicycle Safety Program.

This event would not continue to be a powerful community outreach without the commitment of the following individuals, businesses, organizations and volunteers.

Sponsors were American Family Insurance, Annual Family Movie Night, Area 30 Career Center, Berry Insurance, Chicago's Pizza (Cloverdale), Duke Energy, DePauw University Athletic Department, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fig's Follies, First National Bank, Flower's Bakery, Garl's Bike Shop, Greencastle McDonald's, Greencastle Parks & Recreation, Holiday World, Humble Pie, HBG Insurance, Hayes, Murphy, Sharp & Brackney Insurance, Kings Island, Greencastle Kiwanis Club, Jerry Lewis Construction, Matt Welker Allstate Insurance, Monical's Pizza, Monster Mini Golf, Pizza Hut, Putnam County Hospital, Putnam County PIE Coalition, St. Andrews Episcopal Church, State Farm Insurance, (T. Cunningham, B. Tucker, and A. Williams), Teacher's Credit Union, United Way of Putnam County, Wal-Mart Distribution, and Wal-Mart Super Center.

Exhibitors were Air Evac, Boy Scouts of America, Community Partners, DePauw University Public Safety, Duke Energy, Family Support Services, Greencastle Ivy Tech Community College, Greencastle Fire Department, Greencastle Parks & Recreation, Johnson Nichols Health Clinic, Putnam County Head Start, Putnam County Operation Life, Putnam County Red Cross, Putnam County Safe Schools Coalition, Putnam County Tobacco Prevention, Putnam County Hospital, Putnam County Youth Development Commission, Putnam County PIE Coalition, Purdue Cooperative Extension, Greencastle Kiwanis Club, DePauw University Public Safety, Excise Office, Greencastle Police, Indiana State Police, Putnam County Community Corrections, Putnam County Conservation, Putnam County Juvenile Probation, Putnam County Prosecutor's Office, Putnam County Sheriff's Department, and Roachdale Police Department.

Thanks to our school administrators who continue to volunteer for the dunk tank: Stacey Baugh, Cloverdale Elementary; Shawn Gobert, Greencastle Middle School; Debbie Steffy, Central Elementary; Scott Spencer, Roachdale Elementary; and Terry Tippin, North Putnam Middle School.

Thanks also to our volunteers, Cierra Perry, Morgan Deszi, Mackenzie Deszi, Nicole Hurst, Larry Hurst, Seth Arnold, Shea Arnold, Tayler Arnold, Sawyer Arnold, Andrew Kelly, Becky Brothers, Cathy Proctor, Nancy Zennie, Ron Cross, Bobby Hopper, Matt Hertenstein, Carol Emery, Sue and Dave Murray, Lora Busch, Jeanette Summitt, Cayla Summitt, Matt Headley, Charlie Boller, Stephanie Campbell, Buck Martin, Kristina Warren, Hannah Ames, David English, Kerry Ames, William Merkel, Robin DiRocco, Melissa Page, Stephanie Hardman, Trisha Guinn, Nicole Markley, Michelle Hennessee, Mary Fielding, Diana Meo, Edith Welliver, Joyce Mayer, Narda Cotton, Cathryn Ensley, Anna Harmless, and Fig Hardwick.

And of course thanks to our committee, who spent months preparing for this annual event: Charlene Brown, Dominique Gibson, Eileen Johnson, Patti Harmless, Brian Hopkins, Jeff Mace, Shelly Chadd, Elizabeth Butts, Renee Marsteller, Darcy Hendershot, Steve Bahr, Rod Weinschenk, Troy Scott, Jessica Morris, and Jim Maxwell. Your hard work, support and encouragement without question is the greatest asset of all.

We're convinced this annual event is a night for our community to stand together to promote awareness, safety and unity.

National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight to build a safer nation.

We look forward to bringing Putnam County our fifth annual fun-filled and exciting event next year.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, Aug. 2, with a rain date scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 4.

Linda Merkel and Tom Sutherlin

NNO Coordinators