East Texas

By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer

JACKSONVILLE -- Residents of Jacksonville ventured to block parties on Tuesday night to meet with neighbors and to enjoy some entertainment and fun.

The block parties were part of National Night Out, an event where neighbors can talk about crime and other issues in their community.

"National Night Out has always been a stamp-out crime night," said Detective Tonya Sonntag, crime prevention officer with the Jacksonville Police Department.

She said this was the eighth or ninth year for Jacksonville to participate in National Night Out and there were probably 11 or 12 block parties going on Tuesday night, including parties at nursing homes.

At Sweet Union Baptist Church on Main Street, Lt. David Glidewell with the Jacksonville Fire Department attended the block party.

He said he was available to tell people about the department and to answer any questions they might have.

Church member Debra Tilley was relaxing as children played basketball at the event.

Although she hadn't been to National Night Out in awhile, she said she came this year because her 12-year-old son was going to sing.

Tilley also mentioned the weather Tuesday night.

"It's a nice time (of year) to have it," she said.

Pastor Horace Williams said the event used to be in August and they usually had 150 at the block party.

However, he said they probably had 100 show up this year.

Mayor Robert Haberle and District 1 Councilman Hubert Robinson were among those who were at the church.

Williams said attendees got an opportunity to talk with the mayor.

Attendees could also enjoy food and get materials from Twin Oaks Health & Rehabilitation.

In another part of the city, other residents were enjoying a baseball-themed block party.

Melody Walters said there were probably 20 or 25 who came to the block party with the theme, "slugging out crime in the neighborhood."

Music played and there were baseball games that attendees could play.

Walters said one was a strike-zone contest that allowed players to pitch into a display that would show them their scores such as a home run or first base.

"Everybody got a trophy for participating," she added.

Also, Walters said there were baseball players from Jacksonville High School who talked to children Tuesday night about things such not doing drugs and staying in school.

Besides the entertainment, Sonntag said National Night Out is a chance for people to go to a block party and talk about starting their own neighborhood watch group.

Walters said her neighborhood has actually just started a neighborhood watch party.

"We're just kind of the eyes and ears for law enforcement," she said. "Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry."

Rachelle Barnett knows all too well that crime can occur in her and Walters' neighborhood.

She said her 6-year-old son's bike was stolen and was destroyed by the time he got it back.

The parents of the 10-year-old who stole her son's bike would not pay to fix it, she added.

With a neighborhood watch group, Sonntag said an older resident in the neighborhood who was home during the day would be able to contact a younger resident if there was something out of the ordinary going on at their home while they were gone in the daytime.

She said members of the Citizen's Police Academy planned to choose winners in various categories from the event, including "best theme" and "best youth involvement."