Richmond
throws a party for city residents
By Jami
Elzinga
September 1, 2001 | RICHMOND -- Fun, food and friends
were the agenda for the Richmond City Party last weekend
at the city park.
Dinner, consisting of roast beef, corn on the cob,
baked beans and coleslaw, was served by City Council
members to the community. The service was provided not
only by the council members but by four of the most
recent mayors of the community. Dinner was served to
the community at 6 p.m. The roast beef was provided
by Lowers Food, Inc.
There was lots of laughter in the air as children
ran around chasing each other, as well as screams of
joy coming from the amusement rides provided by Ray
Checketts of Checketts Amusement Rides. Checketts had
a bouncy clown ride, air slide, and the jungle bounce
where kids of all ages could climb, jump, and ride for
hours for free.
Other events that were set up were a couple of booths
provided by the Cache County Sheriff's Office. There
were cones set up in a line where children gleefully
tried to walk around them while wearing goggles that
simulated what an intoxicated person would feel while
under the influence of alcohol. There was also a driving
simulator.
The main focus this year for the sheriff's office
is the Neighborhood Watch program. This is a crime prevention
program based on the concept that everyone can help.
Erin Griffeths, community services coordinator for
the sheriff's office, had this advice for the citizens:
"You have a responsibility to keep you and your family
protected. You can do that by being a good neighbor."
Griffeths has been in this position for nearly eight
years and she enjoys it very much.
"I'm convinced these are the best people in the world
to work with. They are incredible," she said. It's a
difficult job, but its the people that you work with
that make it worth it. Griffeths said another reason
she likes her job is that she gets to deal with people
who are interested in bettering their community.
The sheriff's office comes out to these events as
part of the national Night Out Against Crime. This was
started in 1984 and it used to be held the first Tuesday
in August. Now there is not a specific day that it is
held, but Cache County usually holds it along with their
city celebrations. Materials that are available for
the general public are provided by the UDOT (Utah Department
of Transportation) and are free.
Mayor Hall was very pleased with the turn out. He
estimated there were about 500 in attendance. Hall said
he was very appreciative of the city. There are "good
citizens that are willing to step up and help."
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