Night Out planning underway

Inaugural local event to feature Taser demo

By ANDREW MCGINN

a.mcginn@beeherald.com

Greene County’s first National Night Out event on Aug. 6 will feature 10 residents who love their community so much they’re willing to be incapacitated for it.

Now, as much as you’d like to see the medical center CEO, the newspaper editor, a couple of different school principals and Chris Deal all jolted by 1,200 volts of electricity, only one will actually find out what it’s like to be on the business end of a Jefferson police officer’s Taser.

The Greene County Peace Officers Association late last week placed a donation box at Hy-Vee featuring photos of the 10 people who have agreed to participate in a Taser demonstration during National Night Out.

After a week or two, the box will be moved to another business.

Each participant was designated a number.

From now until August, donations will be collected. The person with the most donations to their name and number “wins” the opportunity to be shocked in front of an audience.

Those perfectly willing to be embarrassed in front of families, friends and co-workers are:

1. Emily Gannon, Greene County High School at-risk liaison

2. Zach Beekman, Greene County Middle School teacher and coach

3. Scott Johnson, Greene County Elementary School principal

4. Brian Phillips, Greene County High School principal

5. Tyler Westhoff, Greene County High School teacher and coach

6. Chris Deal, Deal’s Orchard

7. Carl Behne, Greene County Medical Center CEO

8. Simeon Lang, Game Changing Performance owner

9. Jamie Daubendiek, Jefferson Telecom chief operating officer

10. Andy McGinn, Jefferson Herald editor

Donations will benefit community enrichment programs sponsored by the Greene County Peace Officers Association.

The peace officers are busy planning Greene County’s first National Night Out event on Aug. 6.

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 and work.

Neighborhoods in all 50 states host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and more.

The Greene County event is slated for 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Greene County Community Center with members of the Jefferson Police Department, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Jefferson Fire Department and Greene County Ambulance present.

According to Jefferson Police Capt. Heath Enns, event organizers are considering a Ferris wheel with free rides, a “jaws of life” demonstration by the fire department, a bounce house, a barbecue dinner and ice cream.

The Jefferson Herald will pass along more details once they’re finalized.

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