National Night Out set Monday at Fairgrounds

Thursday, July 29, 2021

National Night Out will return to Putnam County on Monday, Aug. 2, albeit with a new location and new guidelines for COVID-19.

The 14th-annual event will be at the Putnam County Fairgrounds from 5-8 p.m., following 13 years at Robe-Ann Park. The event will take place rain or shine, with activities moved inside in the event of inclement weather.

The change of location took place 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.

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.

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).

Greencastle Police Chief Tom Sutherlin, who co-chairs the event along with Linda Merkel, has announced the safety plan for the event, having spoken to the Putnam County Board of Health.

Sanitary Precautions:

• Hand sanitizer stations will be provided and positioned throughout the designated areas around the vendors.

• Masks will be provided for both vendors and guests as needed.

• Vendors and booths will be socially distanced apart of at least six feet and encouraged to have hand sanitizer on their tables.

• Guests will be encouraged to social distance at least six feet apart as they stand in line at the various booths.

• If inclement weather would arise and the event/booths are moved indoors to the Harris Hall and York Community Building, everyone will be encouraged to wear a mask while attending the National Night Out Event.

Food Precautions:

• Individuals serving food will wear gloves and encouraged to wear masks.

• Hand sanitizer will be positioned throughout the food dining area.

• Food tables will be socially distanced apart of at least six feet.

• All food tables will be cleaned between each setting.

• Families from the same households will be encouraged to sit together.

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

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