LAVONIA — Officials in Lavonia say relationships formed in a community make all the difference in how those living there respond to what happens.
Late last week that community came together for Lavonia's Night Out Against Crime, a decade and a half tradition sponsored by Lavonia Police Department.
Lavonia Police Chief Bruce Carlisle said the event is an important annual observance that brings people together for fun and fellowship.
This year, Carlisle brought in other officials to deliver brief remarks to the hundreds in attendance.
Elected officials and their representatives who participated in Night Out Against Crime included Joel Katz of Congressman Doug Collins' office, District Attorney Parks White of the Northern Judicial District, Rep. Alan Powell of Hartwell, chairman of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee; and Mayor Pro Tem Courtney Umbehant, who is also an ordained minister.
Lt. R. Knox of Jackson County Sheriff's Office, who got his start in the Explorer Program at Lavonia Police Department and now works in the jail in Jackson County, shared his thoughts with the crowd.
"A couple of weeks ago we had a lot of tragedy take place away from here," Knox said. "One night I got off work and I was thumbing through Facebook and I felt led to contact Courtney and he led me to speak with Chief Carlisle about things going on in our nation.
"I told him growing up in Lavonia we haven't experienced some of the things that we see happening around the world," Knox said. "The way the media portrays law enforcement to be is not how it always is. CNN shows one segment and they continue to show that same segment over and over again."
Knox urged parents to go against the temptation to use police as fear factors for children.
"My charge is to the parents is when you see a man or woman in uniform and you have your little ones with you, don't tell them that you're going to send them with the police to scare them to have them to act right," Knox said. "Because with the kids growing up these days, they need to know that the men and women that they see around here in uniform -- that we're here to help them and to make the world a better place."
Knox concluded by reading Scripture from 2 Chronicles 7:14, which drew applause and cheers from the crowd.
In addition to officials who participated in Thursday night's ceremony, members of homicide victim Sam Harbin's family joined Carlisle for the event.
Harbin, 82, owned and operated Point South Mobile Home Park on Ga. 17 South and was killed Aug. 8 of this year.
Harbin's daughter Verna Lyn Thomas and her husband Guy were welcomed to the gazebo stage by Carlisle.
"Show them we appreciate them, thank them for being here representing the Harbin family, that they're our family," Carlisle said. "Verna Lyn grew up here and we're glad they came back to be with us."
Carlisle said Harbin's legacy can live on through his daughter's social media posts each morning.
"You kind of wonder why bad things happen to good people sometimes," Carlisle said. "Those of you that are Facebook friends with Verna Lyn know she's carried on what her daddy started. Every morning since he passed away, she goes on Facebook and puts one of his passages of Scripture on there, one of the notes he made on there … Sam's Scribbles."
Carlisle said having the Thomases at Night Out Against Crime was important to him and other organizers, and he believes it was beneficial for them as well.
"We wanted them to be here just to show them our love and show them how much we support them and are here for them," Carlisle said. "We were just honored to have them with us representing the Harbin family."
Carlisle provided some history of the Lavonia event and how it came to be held two months later than its national namesake.
"This is our 15th year for doing our version of Lavonia's Night Out Against Crime," Carlisle said after the event. "When we first started back in 2001, we were doing National Night Out, which is the first Tuesday in August, but it's so hot we just changed it to October, and the weather is just perfect this evening. The turnout is great. We were able to bring the community together through prayer this evening, and we've got a lot of things going on, a lot of free food, activities for the kids."
In addition to a fire truck from Lavonia Fire Department and an ambulance from Franklin County Emergency Medical Services, those attending also were able to get an up-close look at the AnMed Health Life Flight medical helicopter for more than an hour, until it was called to duty.
Carlisle said he and his officers are grateful to live in a supportive community.
"This is just our small way of paying the community back for all of their support throughout the year," Carlisle said. "We're just proud to be here and proud to be a part of it."
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/10/456050/community-turns-out-for-lavonias-night-out-against-crime