Fun, freebies await at Olney Nite Out, Oct. 15

The Olney Police Department invites residents to Griffin Park this Saturday, Oct. 15 for Olney Night Out - a weekend version of the National Night Out celebrated by law enforcement across the country - to visit with city and county first responders.

The OPD, the Olney Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, Young County Sheriff ’s deputies, and the county Humane Society will be on hand to chat, demonstrate their jobs and equipment, and serve hotdogs and hamburgers to the public.

“The organization National Night Out did their Texas event on Tuesday [Oct. 4] but being a small town, we are not going to gather a good crowd on a Tuesday,” said Officer Joe Logan, who is organizing the local event.

Last year’s National Night Out in Olney drew a large crowd with its popular display of police and sheriff ’s vehicles, the OVFD’s demonstration of the “jaws of live” tool using a real-life crashed car and passengers, and a visit from an Air Evacuation helicopter.

“It is our way as first responders to give back to the community who supports us,” Officer Logan said. “It’s a way for the community to get to know us and what we do.”

This year’s event promises some of the same attractions, as well as a surprise or two. In addition to free meals of hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, and water, the event includes vendors and local businesses giving away freebies, and DJ Rad Dad playing tunes, Officer Logan said.

“I don’t know what the fire department has in store for us this year,” he said. “As of now, we have confirmed Air Evac unless they have a call out. The sheriff ’s office is coming out with some of their vehicles and they will probably bring their big armored vehicle - the MRAP.”

“We have a surprise event that we are not going to tell until it is time to start the event,” Officer Logan said. “Not even Chief Birbeck knows what it is.”

The Young County Humane Society will be microchipping pets, and Salt Creek Veterinary Clinic will be there with low-cost rabies vaccinations, he said. “We are actually doing a waiver for Olney Night Out,” Officer Logan said. “If you bring paperwork showing current vaccines for your pet – for that day and that day only - your animal will be registered with the City of Olney free of charge. According to city ordinance, they have to be registered with the city and they have to have a current rabies vaccination.”

The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. at Griffin Park, and the entire OPD team, minus Autumn xxx, will be on hand to greet the public.