Local police planning two National Night Out events

Two local police departments will hold separate events to get together with citizens for some fun on the same date.

“National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live,” explains the website that promotes the event that started in 1984. It’s always on the first Tuesday in August.

Coulee Dam Police Department will hold their event at Mason City Memorial Park on Mead Way Aug. 1 beginning at 5 p.m. Mead Way, the street in front of the post office, will also be closed for the festivities, which will offer food, drinks, games, music, and activities for families and “children of all ages.”

The Grand Coulee City Council Tuesday night approved a plan for that city’s police to close Midway Avenue, which is also State Route 155, between Kimble and Morris streets, requiring a detour for the highway.

“Join Police, FF’s and EMTs and Businesses for fun activities!” reads a department Facebook post.

“I think it’s a positive influence to get people in contact with out law enforcement that not a negative contact,” said Mayor Paul Townsend.