WC Wisconsin News

More than 700 people gathered at Winnebago Park in Tomah on August 5 for the 22nd annual Monroe County National Night Out. The event, which had previously been held at Recreation Park in recent years, brought together community members and local agencies to promote safety and wellness.

Tomah Health played a role in the evening’s activities. Shayla Furlano, a professional development specialist from Tomah Health, assisted attendees such as Reyna Moseley of Tomah with life jacket fittings. The event also featured over 20 not-for-profit organizations and hands-on displays for families.

Monroe County Sheriff Wes Revels noted the importance of community engagement during the event. “I think it’s certainly an annual opportunity for the people that we serve, from adults to children to come out and meet with the first responders, whether they be from the sheriff’s office, the Tomah PD or fire or EMS, the healthcare systems and Tomah Health. All of them being here is a chance to interact with those people and provide good information about safety and wellness which is of the utmost importance.”

A highlight was the Bike Safety Expo led by the Tomah Police Department, where more than 100 children learned about bicycle safety.

Sheriff Revels emphasized that National Night Out helps build relationships between law enforcement agencies and residents. “This is of course something fun and enjoyable for them to do. We like to get out to these events and certainly they like to get out of their normal workday activities and interact with people and just have a little bit of fun with the people we serve.”

The event was coordinated by several Monroe County organizations including Tomah Health. Eric Prise, marketing & public relations director at Tomah Health, acknowledged those involved: “There is no way this event could take place without all the participation from law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire departments and the groups and businesses that allowed their employees to take part. Of course, our media partners and the Tomah Parks and Recreation Dept., and director Joe Protz were instrumental too,” said Prise.

In previous years, Monroe County National Night Out has received recognition from the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) for its strong participation in ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime.’