Linton’s Humphreys Park is the place to be Tuesday evening as Greene County’s National Night Out will be taking place. The event, which is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., offers law enforcement agencies an opportunity to positively interact with the community.

According to Trisha Drogich of the Linton Police Department, approximately 50 area businesses and organizations will be on hand providing giveaways and information to those in attendance. Visiting those booths will help attendees get qualified to win prizes. When children arrive and check in at the event, they receive a card with numbers. The numbers reflect the vendor booths. When the children visit a booth, someone from that business or organization will stamp or sign the card. When the card has been stamped or signed by all vendors, the children can turn the card in to the registration tent and be entered to win prizes.

Several prizes are up for grabs, thanks to the generosity of donations from local businesses and organizations. Some prizes include: bicycles, a game system, trampoline, fishing bundle, camping bundle, and more.

In addition to the chance to win prizes, free food will be available. The Linton Masonic Lodge will be grilling up hotdogs, JR Davis Vending will be supplying chips, and the Indiana Railroad is providing bottled water.

Free entertainment is also scheduled. The Flyovers will be providing acoustic entertainment from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., while the Dusty Miller Band will perform from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

In order to keep those attending the event safe, traffic at the park will be restricted beginning at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The highway entrance and the entrance by the East Shelter will be closed to event goers. Clark encourages event goers to utilize Park Road of E Street and park where the Freedom Festival carnival is usually set up.

“We don’t have very many opportunities to interact with the community in a positive environment. Usually when we are interacting with the community it’s in a negative manner,” said Linton Police Department Chief Paul Clark, noting some examples as issuing traffic tickets, responding to accidents, or conducting arrests. “We want people to know us on that positive level so they can have confidence in us. Having the community’s trust and faith is the reason we are able to be successful as a police agency. Not having that trust and faith is why other agencies aren’t able to succeed.”

Last year’s event was canceled due to COVID-19. Fortunately, this year’s event is able to take place with a few logistical changes due to Greene County’s yellow COVID status.

“The event will be spaced out more throughout the park. It’ll look a little different because we are spreading it out so much,” Clark said.

Throughout the planning process, Clark and organizers worked closely with the Greene County Health Department to ensure plans were in place in case the county’s COVID color changed.

“Unvaccinated people are encouraged to wear a mask,” Clark said. “Social distancing, when possible, is also encouraged.”