By Rita Shirley LeBleu
The City of DeQuincy Police and Fire Departments, Ward 6 Fire Department, Houston River Fire Department and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department held no quarter last Friday as they flooded the DeQuincy Railroad Park area in a “rain” of mass saturation.
Torrential suds streams exploded without end. Water pistols and balloon bombs blasted. It was water, water everywhere and lots of drops to drink at the National Night Out Aug. 14.
National Night Out is the annual emergency responder community-building campaign. Begun by a director of a Town Watch group, it kicked off in 1984 and has grown since then. Generally held on the first Tuesday in August – because the founder lived in a climate that’s not hot like it is here in August – some communities shift the event to fall. Other emergency responders, like the DeQuincy Fire and Police Departments have recently done, incorporate water fun.
“We do it in DeQuincy because it can be difficult for some families to get their kids to the larger venues for National Night Out,” said Chief of Police Annajo Haynes.
Ward 6 Fire Protection District Chief Todd Parker added, “This event gives us the opportunity to interact with the public when we’re not engaged in emergency mode or a life threatening situation.”
First Baptist Church of DeQuincy had lots of water for the mercifully dry and drenched to drink, and invited youth, ages 2 to 12 to Awana, a program that begins Wednesday, Aug. 26, 5-7 p.m. at 201 S. Pine St.
Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home provided popcorn. The City of DeQuincy ladled up chips and cheese.
Acadian Ambulance was also at the get together. Despite their presence and the abundance of emergency responders on site and ready to roll, the group of children who wanted to be dunked in the dunking booth, had to make do with throwing the ball or pulling the lever to dunk local emergency responders instead.
