Lexington, SC (Paul Kirby) – Although much has been made of large National Night Out functions across Lexington County being held this week, few may be aware their neighbors could be participating with their own observance right around the corner.
National Night Out is held across America annually. It is a night dedicated to helping improve the police- community relationship. Often organized by local law enforcement organizations and an area’s crime watch group, these gatherings work to introduce law enforcement officers as an area’s friend or helper. They further tie law enforcement’s desire to stop and solve crimes with the community’s desire to cease being victims and feel safe where they live. The importance of the public’s role in being the eyes and ears of law enforcement while teaching children that law enforcement is their friend, not the enemy, is also a main goal. On National Night Out, all this is done while socializing over food, cool drinks, along with fun and games.
In Lexington County, both the sheriff’s department and many local police departments have National Night Out events scheduled. There’s a bigger than ever function in the Town of Lexington. You can also find a community wide one in Gaston, a huge event in Irmo’s town park, and another large function in Batesburg-Leesville Wednesday evening. Those certainly are fun, free, and will have something for the entire family. Often, the food and drinks for an old-fashioned grill out, along with door prizes and awards, are donated by local businesses. Most of these larger events are easy to find and free to attend. It’s the small ones that you may not know about. Nonetheless, they are still happening.
Here are some of the events organized by community crime watch groups and deputies or officers that may be happening right around your home.
Pelion PD - 861 Pine St (Shumpert’s IGA) 6:00pm-8:00p.m
Delree Street - 3409 Delree St 6:00pm-Until
McGregor Downs - 200 Woodberry Rd-Office 6:00pm-Until
Golden Pond - 3050 Leapart Rd 6:00pm-Until
Willow Winds - Willow Winds Dr (Top of the Circle) 7:00pm-8:00pm
Whitehall - 2434 Forest Grove Circle 6:30pm -7:30pm
River Oaks Apts. - 5324 Bush River Rd (Clubhouse) 4:30pm-5:30pm
Stratton Place - 124 Stratton Ct 6:30pm
Waters at Berryhill -18 Berryhill Rd--Office 4:00pm-6:00pm
Rapids - Saluda Shoals Prk (Dogwood Shelter) 6:00pm-8:00pm
Landmark - 19 Landmark Drive 6:30pm-7:30pm
Shull Island - 2052 Shull Ave 5:30pm-8:30pm
Ivy Link - 231 Ivy Link Road 7:00pm-9:00pm
Batesburg-Leesville - 222 Highland Avenue 6:00pm-9:00pm
Gaston Crime Watch - 131 North Carlisle Street 6:00pm-9:00pm
Fairview Crime Watch - TBD 7:00pm
The Woods Entrance - 7:30pm-Until
Night Harbor - Parapet Trail 7:00pm-8:00pm
Three Fountains - 2606 Emanuel Ch Rd (Activity Center) 6:00pm-8:00pm
Some of these may be just a few neighbors grilling hot dogs and crunching on chips, but they’d love to have you if you’re willing to help keep an eye out for anything unusual. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department has designated someone from that department to visit with each of these at some point during the evening.
