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Norman neighborhoods turn out for crime awareness night

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NORMAN — Despite hot weather, residents throughout Norman turned out to celebrate the 29th annual National Night Out with picnics, backyard barbecues and ice cream socials.

About 20 residents gathered Tuesday on Hughes Circle, south of Main Street and west of 36th Avenue SW, to “mix and mingle” and were surprised by a visit from Councilwoman Linda Lockett.

“We are presently between council members here in Ward 3 so we certainly appreciated that she would make a special effort to attend our west-side event,” resident Tim Mauldin said.

Mauldin said neighborhood children particularly enjoyed meeting an elected member of the city council, as well as several police officers who attended the gathering.

Behind scenes tour

“The children took them on a ‘behind-the-scenes' tour of some of the important but lesser-known features of our neighborhood, no doubt giving them a new perspective on community police work,” Mauldin said.

Police officers discussed crime prevention and answered questions, he said.

Police Sgt. Jennifer Newell said the Summit Lake neighborhood in east Norman celebrated with a cookout; residents on Homeland Avenue, south of Lindsey Street, staged a get-together and the Hallbrooke Addition off Rock Creek Road, just east of 12th Avenue NE, held a potluck dinner.

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