Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: Aug 4, 2008

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Night Out Kick-Off Party

Mayor Cedric Glover and Chief of Police Henry Whitehorn will kick off National Night Out on Pinehurst Boulevard at 6 p.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 5).

The party is set to take place between the 2400 and 2500 blocks of Pinehurst and will feature the Barksdale Air Force Base Honor Guard presenting colors and saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

The theme for the party is "A Neighborhood Salute to a Better Tomorrow."

It is a significant location to kick off the 25th Annual National Night Out because of the work neighbors have done to improve the community and make it a safer place to live. A couple of years ago, this block had boarded up houses. A couple of families moved in and started taking back the block house by house.

Working together, the neighbors have forced the shutting down of a crack house, a brothel and a Meth lab from the neighborhood. They are now making improvements to the older homes and bringing them back to life.

This party's theme also brings a special meaning for the neighborhood, as the block captain's husband flies on the B-52 bombers and had just returned from Guam prior to the B-52 crash that killed six people from Barksdale.

Each year the Pinehurst block party grows. About 50 people are expected this year. See below for more information regarding parties citywide.

Information can be left with Crime Stoppers at 673-7373 or by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at www.crimestoppersshreveportcaddo.com.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews