A Night Out with Counties

2025
Written By Paula Freeze

Every summer, neighbors across the country gather for National Night Out. It’s a time to meet local first responders, catch up with neighbors, and strengthen the ties that keep our communities safe. NACA is spotlighting three of its member communities, each with their own special way of celebrating:

Click on the link above or scroll down for each county’s information.

Celebrating Together - National Night Out & Night to Unite Events in Cass County

Each August, neighbors and first responders gather for National Night Out but in Cass County, North Dakota, they do things a little differently. Cass County shares a border with Clay County, Minnesota. In Minnesota, they no longer refer to this community event as National Night Out. They have rebranded and recognize it statewide as Night to Unite, sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association and other Minnesota organizations. Because Cass County collaborates with Clay County for the annual kick-off celebration, they have also adopted the Night to Unite name for consistency and shared branding across their community. Night to Unite shares the same mission: building relationships, promoting safety, and making sure neighbors know and look out for one another.

Many of Cass County’s Night to Unite events have been spread throughout the summer and fall so deputies can ensure their availability to attend all the community events with equipment to provide a better event.

Cass County’s Night to Unite events are often hosted by local fire departments, city/town leaders, and community members. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office assists with coordinating those events and the Sheriff’s Office hosts couple of their own events. Some communities in Cass County have been scheduling their Night to Unite events to coincide with larger community celebrations. For example, the City of Kindred, ND is hosted Kindred Community Barley Days, August 8-10, which incorporates Night to Unite into the same weekend. Other Night to Unite events this month include:

Information provided by Angie Ernst, Public Information Specialist, Cass County Sheriff’s Office

Montgomery County Environmental Services Joins National Night Out

The Montgomery County, Ohio’s Environmental Services Department proudly participated in this year’s National Night Out, a beloved annual family event hosted in partnership with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

For more than 40 years, National Night Out has brought neighbors, community organizations and law enforcement together to strengthen relationships and promote safer, more connected communities. For our Environmental Services team, it’s also a chance to meet residents face-to-face, share information about our work and inspire sustainable habits that help protect our planet.

Environmental Services met residents at three community hubs:

  • Blairwood Elementary in Jefferson Township

  • Stebbins High School in Riverside

  • Fraze Pavilion in Kettering

While many residents may not realize it, Environmental Services impacts their lives every single day, whether through safe drinking water, wastewater treatment, recycling programs or environmental protection efforts. Participating in events like National Night Out brings that essential work to the forefront, creating opportunities for connection, education and collaboration.

Montgomery County, Ohio is proud to stand alongside our local law enforcement partners in serving the residents who call this community home.

Written by: Danielle Malagarie, Montgomery County, Interim Director of Communications. Photo credit: Randi Dillon, Public Information Officer, Montgomery County, Environmental Services.

Kent County’s National Night Out 2025

In Kent County, Michigan, three departments - the Sheriff’s Office, the Prosecutor’s Office, and the Health Department - participated in National Night Out on August 5th at two different locations: South Christian High School and Mary Free Bed YMCA.

These free events were open to all community members and included meeting deputies, exploring emergency vehicles, live demonstrations from police, fire, EMS, the road commission, and military personnel.

Can you believe it?! That night, the Health Department handed out:

  • 184 free COVID test kits

  • Hundreds of sand claws

  • 332 color-changing cups

  • Tons of slap bracelets

  • Lots of educational materials

Read more about Kent County’s successful events by viewing the following articles and social media posts:

Information provided by: Lori Latham, Assistant County Administrator, Kent County, Michigan

Paula Freeze
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