By Jordan Studer
CCN Reporter

BUCYRUS — The Bucyrus community gathered Tuesday evening to participate in National Night Out. National Night Out is an annual campaign created to build up communities and encourage building of relationships of neighbors and law enforcement on the first Tuesday of August.

With the negativity in the national news regarding the relationship between police and neighbors, National Night Out gives communities a positive way to bring neighbors and police together.

One of Bucyrus’ police officers, Adam Cramer, agreed that National Night Out provides a casual event for all of those involved in taking care of the city to interact with the community in a friendly way.

“National Night Out is a great event for the community, and obviously the police and fire departments, to come out to interact with all the children and families,” Cramer said “It’s nice to come out and enjoy yourselves with all of your family and friends and all the neighbors and obviously the police and fire and everybody from the city as well.”

The Bucyrus community has been participating in National Night Out for a number of years with each year having several party locations for people to visit. This year Bucyrus had around twenty locations where the community could come out and eat food, play games and interact with one another.

Community members Joy and Kelsey Teets said they enjoy coming out every year to get to know their neighbors.

“It’s a chance to get out and socialize with all of our neighbors. It’s nice to get out,” Joy Teets exclaimed.

Holly Pappas, owner of The Mader House, said by hosting a party for National Night Out, it provided an opportunity for their business to welcome the community in and to meet faces within the community.

When asking Bucyrus City Council President Garnet “Sis” Love what she thought National Night Out brings to the community, she was quick to emphasize the positives she has seen. She explained that she has spoken with the community members through the years that said they didn’t really know their neighbors until they came out for the National Night Out event.

“This has been absolutely amazing for our community. By knowing your neighbors, it means the world to the community. Because if you know your neighbors, you take care of your neighbors,” Love said.

For photos from the evening, visit the photo gallery for National Night Out.