National Night Out lands in Havre

Havre's sixth annual National Night Out began with a helicopter landing on the lawn, just yards away from the rock climbing wall and numerous parents holding onto their children.

By 5:40 p.m., event coordinator Havre Police Sgt. Ryan Pearson was checking his watch as Mercy Flight was running late. But a three-person crew landed soon afterward, and within minutes the chopper was filled with children trying on seat belts and pushing buttons in the cockpit.

The event, held in front of the Student Union Building at Montana State University-Northern, is intended to help strengthen the relationship between people and the law enforcement community.

People like Kim Cripps came in support and brought the children in her life.

Cripps' 8-year-old grandson, Chazlie, could hardly wait until there was enough room in the helicopter for him to go poke about. Chazlie's aunt, Cripps said, was a nurse who flew on a medical team for Benefis, and the 8-year-old had been smitten with choppers since. Chazlie said he had been in helicopters before. And one day, he added, he would like to fly a helicopter.

Joe Knox, who has been flying for 43 years, was the pilot of the helicopter.

"I love it. It's very nice to help the community," he said. "It's nice the kids enjoy it."

Knox said he wasn't concerned about the children pushing buttons, because everything is checked before taking off again anyway.

Watching the children play, a few feet back was Jerry Malkuch.

"They saved my life two years ago," he said.

Malkuch said he had double pneumonia and if it weren't for Mercy Flight getting him to Benefis on time he probably wouldn't be around today.

One of the new standout features to this year's event was a rock climbing wall brought in by the Montana National Guard. The idea, Guard regional recruiter Sgt. Shayne Boushey said, was that of officer Jordan Chroninger of the Havre Police Department.

Chroninger was by the water dunk, where people were dunking officers like Sgt. Jesse Eller into the water. Chroninger, who is in the National Guard, said the Guard has many different fun things they use for recruiting, so he thought it would be a good idea to bring the wall this year. Next year, he said, they might do something different.

By 6:30 p.m. the line for free barbecue was almost wrapped around the building and families and friends had filled up just about all the available tables. They were eating and talking with friends and officers of the many agencies that had showed up.

Other agencies and groups that were represented at the event included the Hill County Sheriff's Office, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, Hill County Search and Rescue, and the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Animal Control, and making an appearance for the first time this year, Customs and Border Protection and the National Guard.

One agency that made it last year did not make it this year, Pearson said.

"The FBI did not make it today. I had invited them. I do not know where they are - they might be running around here somewhere. I am not sure," he said.

Pearson said he was happy with the way things turned out, and happy for everyone who turned out.

"Hopefully we can continue to grow this event and get everybody in to talk about and build a good community –law enforcement partnership."

Hill County Sheriff Jamie Ross said such events show the amount of reciprocal support. The relationship between law enforcement and the community in the area is good and strong, he said.

"I know just about everybody here," he said. "I think the community appreciates us, and we appreciate them."