Hastings deputy Police Chief Dale Boulter, who is credited with the idea and putting together a committee to organize the national Night Out couldn’t be happier with the successful first-time event held Tuesday, especially with the “awesome” turnout, conservatively estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000 people.

The Night Out is to let the community get to know Barry County firefighters, Michigan State Police troopers, Barry County deputies, Hastings and other police officers, EMTs, Barry Central Dispatch 911, and ambulance personnel who protect and serve the community.

The emergency personnel brought their equipment, explained their jobs, and encouraged kids to climb into their fire trucks, cruisers and ambulances and try on their gear.

Barry Central Dispatch taught kids how to dial 911, the Barry County Road Commission offered a huge orange snow plow blade for everyone to autograph, an ongoing raffle gave away lots of prizes, and free hot dogs, chips and bottled water were just some of the attractions.

Boulter definitely plans to hold another Night Out next year, especially after all the good comments he’s getting about the first event in Hastings. The morning after, with all the planning, work and organizing over, Boulter said: “I’m ecstatic; this is like Christmas morning.”

“The main thing for me, is I’m super proud to be the host agency for all of Barry County. All of the agencies were great, and Barry County businesses contributions were great, too.”

“We’ll hold a post-event meeting to go over everything, but we definitely plan to do it again next year. It’s a lot of work but the community is certainly worth it.”