So long crime in our community.

That was the voice of 200 Tyrrell County area residents joined together with the rest of the Nation, celebrating National Night Out Tuesday , August 6th from 5 to 8 pm.

The introduction of National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, in 1984, began an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. NATW’s National Night Out program culminates annually, on the first Tuesday of August.

Citizens of Columbia and Tyrrell County enjoyed grilled hot dogs, beverages, watermelon, snacks and desserts. Some community activities included corn hole; by Barbara and Olian Spencer, face painting; by Carole Soo Lee, a puppet show;  “Puppetry by Katie and Company”, and little kids games with the Inner Banks Hotline.

Those in attendance could also meet Blue Goose and Smokey the Bear, Cake Walk with Paula, visit information booths by Martin Tyrrell Health Department., and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, make a Bird House with Pocosin Wild Life and Fisheries , watch the performance of Irko the K-9 wonder dog and receive toy gifts provided by the Residents of Woodgate.

“The Tyrrell Fire Department along with the North Carolina State Police, and the Tyrrell Martin EMS put on a show about how they go about their invaluable services for all of us,” said Sue Griffin, president of Tyrrell Safe Neighborhoods and organizer of the local National Night Out event.

Tyrrell Safe Neighborhoods sponsored a National Night Out event last year on Aug. 7, 2012 .

Safety is a an important issue in Tyrrell County.

Craig Davenport, deputy at the Tyrrell County Sheriff’s Department, said that safety is a wide ranging need in the community.

“We help EMS. We also do traffic control and are at fire scenes. There are lockdown drills at school. I also taught a class on Internet Safety to the seventh grade class,” said Davenport earlier this year.

Griffin and other event organizers thanked the following people for their participation:

Thanks to Tyrrell County Commissioners, Columbia Mayor  and Board of Alderman, Residents of Woodgate, The Tyrrell Sheriff’s Office, Carole Soo Lee, Hotline, Puppetry by Katie Company, Full Circle Crab Company, Blue Goose and Smokey the Bear, Pocosin Wildlife and Fisheries, Columbia Middle School, Tyrrell Safe Neighborhoods and all that contributed to  National Night Out.