Daley Estates Neighborhood Watch celebrates National Night Out

By Keri Lunt
Staff Writer
Published on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:31 AM MST

A light rain did not keep the crowds from celebrating the 25th National Night Out at the Daley Estates Park on Aug. 5.

National Night Out is a nationwide prevention program for crime, drugs and violence. For the 11th year in a a row, Daley Estates Neighborhood Watch sponsored the event.

Many families enjoyed 25-cent hot dogs, nachos, popcorn and beverages at the event.

Thatcher Town Council members and Mayor Bob Rivera have their hands on their hearts as this year’s Gila Valley Idol winner, Adam Crohn, sings the “Star Spangled Banner.” Photo by Keri Lunt

Children participated in free carnival games put on by Derek Daley, a local boy who hosted the games as his Eagle Scout project. Daley and his friends operated the 10 game booths — a wet sponge fun toss, balloon dart board, cake walk and more.

An Air-Evac helicopter, along with two flight medics, answered questions and allowed children to tour the helicopter.

Informational booths — Homeland Security, Thatcher Police Department and the Anti-Meth Coalition — were also at the event.

To begin the program, Adam Crohn, 2008 Gila Valley Idol winner, sang the “Star Spangled Banner.” After the song, Thatcher Mayor Bob Rivera presented an appreciation award to retired Police Chief Mike McEuen.

Another award, this one from the National Association of Town Watch, was presented by Mayor Rivera to the Daley Estates Neighborhood Watch — the sixth it’s received in the last 11 years. Mayor Rivera went on to commend the Daley Estates Neighborhood Watch as an “outstanding” partnership with the Thatcher Police.

Following the awards, Rivera and Thatcher Town Council members carried a banner as they led the National Night Out walk around the block. Following the crowd was a line of antique cars.

The event had raffle prizes and a disc jockey throughout the night. It began at 6 p.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m.

The town of Thatcher gave the planning committee a budget of $1,000 for the event, said Lori Rhinehart, a Daley Estates Neighborhood Watch member. Individuals or businesses also donate, such as Bashas’, which provided the nachos and people to help serve for the last three years.

Rhinehart said National Night Out is a good way to get families involved and to have a good time.

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