Here's another great opportunity to:
a.) Enjoy a great meal at an economical cost.
b.) Hear some great live music and enjoy fellowship with fellow citizens.
c.) Support an organization that has a proven record of making our community safer.
Nacogdoches Crime Stoppers will sponsor its Catfish Cookout fundraiser from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the Nacogdoches Expo Center. The catfish and side dishes will be supplied by Ken's Catering Service with entertainment provided by the Lufkin Crime Stoppers Band. Tickets may be purchased in advance from any board member or at Citizens 1st Bank for $10 each. Drive-through take-out is also available.
As a longtime board member of Crime Stoppers and a member of the media, I can attest to the success of the program. I've seen it work. As a member of this community, I understand the need to support the program financially so that it can continue its good work.
Since its inception in the early 1980s, the local program is responsible for more than 1,370 arrests made, 1,671 cases cleared and more than $3.6 million in total property recovered and drugs seized.
A wealth of information about the international and local programs can be found at the Web site: www.ncstips.com. The Web site spells out the history of Crime Stoppers, how it is structured, how information is anonymously collected and rewards are paid.
Crime Stoppers provides a three-part approach to solving crime, relying on cooperation between the police, the media and the general community to provide information about crime and criminals.
At last week's board meeting, the subject of the public's curiosity of how the program works came up once again. We've explained it before, but here's program coordinator NPD Sgt. Greg Sowell's best in-a-nutshell explanation.
"The calls are answered by a third party answering point that is non-law enforcement. The tips are then electronically transmitted via encrypted e-mail to the Crime Stoppers Program. Each caller is given a unique code number that becomes their 'identity with crime stoppers.'
"Instructions will be given to the caller when to call to receive updates on their tip. If the tip is approved for a reward, the caller is given instructions about how to obtain their cash reward. A system is worked out with a local financial institution which pays the rewards to the caller through a drive-through.
"So, people can give a tip and obtain a reward without giving their name or coming into contact with any law enforcement official."
Crime Stopper programs are organized as not-for-profit organizations. A civilian community board of directors provides direction as to the financial and promotional activities of the program. The Crime Stoppers programs are funded by private donations and fundraising, such as next Friday's cookout. No tax dollars are involved. The reward money paid out by the program is from the fundraising and donations from concerned citizens and businesses.
So, if you'd like to purchase tickets, they're available at Citizen's 1st Bank or for from any board member — Cory Beasley, Ricky Harrison, Kent Tannery, T.D. Howarth, Patrick Lanmon, Charmayne Dickhaut, Gary Pankratz, Kim Cartwright-King, Jim Iyoob and, of course, me. Tickets can be purchased at the event.
Anyone who has heard the Crime Stoppers band knows they're in for some great entertainment, and anyone who has sampled Ken Marlowe's cooking knows they're in for a great meal.
And, you'll be helping to make your community safer at the same time.
Robbie Goodrich's e-mail address
is rgoodrich@coxnews.com.
