ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / August 5, 2000

LAPLACE – Hot temperatures and the threat of thundershowers didn’t stop residents in St. John the Baptist Parish from staging over 25 parties for the17th annual Night Out Against Crime. From Mt. Airy all the way over to RiverForest Subdivision, families, neighbors and police came out in force to show their support in fighting crime in St. John Parish.Perry Tamplain gathered all his family and relatives for a huge barbecue at his house in Garyville. It wasn’t hard to get his family together, nearly all theTamplains live within a two-block area of Perry.

“This is a great place to raise kids,” said Tamplain, “and I want to keep it that way. I figured it was time to give something back.”On the other side of Garyville, on Timbermill Loop, two types of jambalaya, potato salad and shrimp etouff were being served up to a huge block party hosted by Shannon Tregre.

Tregre was surprised at the large turnout because she had waited until the last minute to plan the party.

“I just went around the neighborhood at the last minute talking to everybody,” said Tregre. “Everybody cooked something, and it turned outreally good.”St. John Parish Sheriff Wayne L. Jones dropped by Tregre’s party to wisheverybody well and urge people to keep up the fight against crime.

Traveling east into Reserve, Stan “Bubby” and Pye St. Pierre were hosting aquiet, yet well-attended block party on Marmillion Loop.

“This is our fourth year doing this,” said Pye, “and every year it gets better.”Many deputies were in attendance at the St. Pierres. Also present was Lt. ZaMaurin of the Sheriff’s Public Information Office. Maurin was the majororganizer for the Night Out Against Crime, and he thought this year’s celebration was a huge success.

“It was so great to have parties in Mt. Airy and Garyville this year,” saidMaurin. “It was great to get the whole parish involved this year.”In LaPlace, Larry and Cindy Clark probably had the liveliest and loudest party in the parish. Located in The Links, the Clarks got everybody in theneighborhood to move to the Caribbean rhythms of the Pan Vibrations Steel Band. Underneath a colorful tent all sorts of food and drinks were served tofriends and neighbors. Children were given crime alert whistles, and theyhappily kept up a rousing chorus of whistling all night long.

In the River Forest subdivision, River Forest Park was transformed into a giant barbecue as police officers brought out K-9 dogs and demonstrated how they were used in fighting crime in the parish. Also, police lecturedresidents on how they can personally help to deter crime in their neighborhood.

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