Inaugural National Night Out in South Lake Tahoe a success

The South Lake Tahoe and Meyers communities were out in force at the Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School on August 1 for the first local observation of National Night Out.

There were games, prizes, a free barbecue, free It's It's ice cream, demonstrations, rides on safety vehicles, contests and much more. Booths were set up by local non-profits and others including Lake Valley Fire, Calfire, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue and STAR volunteers, South Lake Tahoe Police (SLTPD), FBI, Barton Health, California Highway Patrol (CHP), Red Cross along with a barbecue provided by Kiwanis.

Youth from the California Conservation Corps built games for kids to play and watched over them during the four-hour long event.

Officer Ruth Loehr of the South Lake Tahoe CHP office organized the event and was very happy with the turnout and said she can't wait for next year.

Every year, on the first Tuesday in August, nearly 40 million people in 16,000 communities across the United States turn out to celebrate National Night Out. The event was first hosted in 1984 as a way to bring communities together and promote stronger ties between citizens and the law enforcement personnel who serve them. Communities are at their best when neighbors feel a common bond and a sense of community not only among themselves but also with their local public servants, and National Night Out is a fun and enjoyable way to foster those important ties.