craigdailypress.com

Child-care provider Marcia Sovine wanted to find out whether her car's baby seats were safe and up to date.

She had that chance Tuesday night at the National Night Out event hosted by the Craig Police Department.

"That's why I came," she said. "When we go someplace I want to make sure they're safe."

Hundreds of people, many with children in tow, stopped by booths set up in the parking lot at Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers. The public had the opportunity to acquire gun safety locks, child identification kits, have their bicycles registered, learn tips on identifying methamphetamine manufacturing and gather other free knickknacks and safety information from vendors.

Craig Police Detective Storm Fallon said the event was a good way to meet with children and community members to share a positive experience. Fallon said she enjoyed passing out awards to children as part of the Operation Great Kid effort. Police handed out awards to children who were spotted being safe in public and had their names entered in a drawing for prizes donated by businesses.

"It's nice to contact them for something other than being in trouble," she said. "This awards kids for being good kids."

Gay Albers stopped by the event with her two children, because she thought the experience could provide some tips on being safer.

"Craig is such a wonderful safe community," she said. "Even though it's a nice, safe town why take risks?"

Rita Harris stopped by to pick up two child ID kits for her children. The take-home kits give children an ID and when children lick the envelope to send it back in, a sample of their DNA is preserved, said Sgt. Bill Leonard.

"A lot of people are into it this year," he said, noting that cases of the kits and safety gunlocks went quicker than last year. Tuesday marked the second year that Craig Police hosted National Night Out. The national event encourages police officials to teach the public about community safety issues during an annual event that is usually slated for a day in August. Along with the informational event, people were encouraged to leave their porch lights on Tuesday night as a symbol of taking a stand against crime.