Windsor, IW, Surry host National Night Out
Published 4:54 pm Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Sheriff Fred Clark of Halifax County, left, traveled several hours with Deputy G. Jones, right, to visit Surry Sheriff Carlos Turner, center, during National Night Out in 2021. (File photo)
Virginia Conservation Police offers Dan Smith and Maj. Milt Robinson joined in Surry County’s National Night Out festivities.
Surry County deputies stand with their patrol cars.
Surry’s National Night Out festivities included a bounce house.
Children had the opportunity to get an up-close look at, and even sit in the driver’s seat of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office’s Boston Whaler patrol boat.
Sheriff Carlos Turner embraces Teresa King.
Brothers Isaiah and Dominic won a bicycle during the raffle.
Lt. Jeyson Crawley stands by his patrol car.
Teresa King, left, was one of the numerous attendees at Surry County’s National Night Out.
Deputy is Lt. Roy Lane and Administrative Assistant Ramona Newberry call out the winners of a raffle.
Several emergency vehicles were on display outside the Windsor Town Center.
Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Bertram lets Skylar Phillips and Bridget Myhr pet Benny, the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office’s K-9.
Sheriff Clarke with the 2021 Isle of Wight County Fair queens: Taylor Curro, Lana Janas and Ariel Hawkins.
Windsor Police Chief Rodney “Dan” Riddle talks with Lynn Cross-Hobbs.
Windsor and Isle of Wight’s National Night Out included a bounce house for children.
Isle of Wight County Sheriff James Clarke Jr. talks with Pastor Matt Havens of Southside Vineyard Community Church, his daughter, Malaya, and Tonya Richards, at the Sheriff's Office's 2021 National Night Out festivities. (File photo)
Riverside Health System set up an informational booth inside the Windsor Town Center gymnasium, and provided refreshments for the evening.
Windsor Police Officer James Pope talks with Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Bertram.
A forecast of rain on Aug. 3 didn’t stop Isle of Wight County’s Sheriff’s Office from participating in its first National Night Out celebration since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sheriff James Clarke Jr. and his officers partnered with the town of Windsor’s Police Department to jointly host the annual nationwide community-building campaign inside the Windsor Town Center’s gymnasium, making the weather a non-issue.
“I definitely want to thank Chief [Rodney] Riddle and the Windsor Police Department and my staff … We didn’t do this last year because of COVID,” Clarke said.
With new cases once again on the rise, he urged attendees to keep their safety in mind when interacting with each other that evening.
Being mindful of your surroundings can also help you avoid becoming the victim of a crime, he added.
“This is an opportunity for law enforcement to reiterate with the citizens … if you see something in your neighborhood and you want to increase your quality of life, your way of living, please say something,” Clarke said. “Tell somebody what’s going on in your neighborhood. We can’t be there all the time. Citizens, you are our eyes and you are our ears.”
“We had a good turnout of citizens at the event and appreciated putting it on with the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Department, Riverside Health System, and other community groups,” said Windsor Town Manager William Saunders. “It was great to have an opportunity like that for the community to come out; everyone in attendance seemed to be having a great time.”
Riverside, which hopes to construct a 50-bed hospital in Isle of Wight County, provided refreshments for the event.
Joel Acree, who represents the Windsor District on the county’s Board of Supervisors, described the event as “a wonderful opportunity as a community for us to come together.”
“We appreciate you coming out and the opportunity to be with you tonight,” said Windsor Mayor Glyn Willis.
Surry County also saw a high turnout at its National Night Out, as Sheriff Carlos Turner had expected.
Last year, when its traditional National Night Out festivities were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic and rescheduled for October in combination with a trunk-or-treat, about 250 cars participated, Turner said.
This year, Surry’s event included a school supplies giveaway, outdoor games and a bounce house for children.
“The rain held off to provide a perfect backdrop,” said Surry Sheriff Carlos Turner. “We had 60 organizations and participants to include County Department and Constitutional Officers.”
He estimates between 350 and 450 people attended, including a friend and fellow sheriff, Fred Clark, from Halifax County and one of his deputies, who drove for several hours to see Surry’s National Night Out.
“I would like to thank everyone for the smiles, laughs and great camaraderie,” Turner said. “We also give a huge thank you, to all who participated, for your support to law enforcement and first responders.”
The town of Smithfield and its Police Department plan to host a separate National Night Out event on Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m., at the Luter Sports Complex.
