Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer — Click here for more photos. Anyone is welcome to download a photo if he/she would like. No charge.

Mary Jane Farmer • Scene In Town

As the city’s chiefs and city managers and many of the public have come and gone over the decades, it”s not really certain just how long Van Alstyne and its city police department have been involved in National Night Out. For certain, that involvement has been continuous since 1996, missing only 2020 because of that darned old Covid 19.

But Tuesday night (Oct. 5) it was a full house, with estimates between 1,500 and 1,800 people having attended, with vendors and activities for all, and many of those being manned by police officers.

Police Chief Tim Barnes said the event gets bigger and better every year. “It was a good location at the middle school, and we look forward to having it (next year, 2022) at the new (Social Central District Park.”

This little one was especially thrilled to get to pet the police-garb-wearing pony.

A new and very popular stroller around the grounds (behind the Van Alstyne Middle School) was a pony clad in police jacket and cap. Kids all over the grounds stopped to have their photos made with the pony, often reaching over to pet him, and the pony seemed to understand and even enjoy the pleasant attention. Joining it in strolling everywhere were the costumed Van Alstyne Panther and the 9-1-1 Fox.

Another popular display was the landing and opening up of CareFlite Air Ambulance. The young ones who went. over to it got a little bit of education that was fun for them to learn. A lot about how it works, training, and how they work with first responders to set down safely at a major wreck or other catastrophe.

One of the paramedics who usually travels with that chopper set up a booth, complete with giveaway bandaid and hand sanitizer kits. One man took full advantage of that after cutting his hand, got it bandaged, and was given the remaining bandaids in that kit. The paramedic also explained to many folks how to be advance-prepared in case they must be flown to the appropriate hospital.

Always popular, and one that also helps kids learn about patients, since they have to wait their turns to enter the bounce houses.

And of course, there were the ubiquitous bounce houses, always a hit with the younger set. Climbing up their ladders, through their tunnels and sliding down the slides, each kid had a smile on his/her face as he/she put shoes back on.

Ubiquitous also were the balloons handed out by AirView a/c company, cooled watermelon slices, ball point pens (always a treasure),and the LaCore employees who primarily served in their neon orange T-shirts as volunteers, helping with parking and the bounce houses.

Vendors included, but weren’t limited at all to: Mantua Lodge, Rotary Club (who cooked hot dogs on a grill all evening, Van Alstyne ISD, the city’s Public Library, Baylor Scott & White local clinic, the police officers themselves, Adams Automotive, Buff City Soap, and oh, so many more. Most, if not all, had giveaways for everyone and the crowd engaged many vendor representatives in conversion about their businesses.

Waving goodbye to Careflite helicopter as it lifts off from its spot at Tuesday’s National Night Out

Missing this year were engines and ambulances from the Van Alstyne Fire Department. Chief,Ryan Dockery said they had planned and looked forward to being there, as they are every year, but this year they continued to respond to emergency calls, one after the other,  throughout the event. That included a large out-of-control brush fire on the east side of town, and several medical calls around town.

NNO is normally held in the parking lot on Preston, where both the police and fire stations are housed. However, this year, because of the construction of the new downtown park, there was not adequate parking for anywhere near 1,500-1,800 attendees. Thus, Barnes worked the arrangement out to relocate it this year to the Middle School and he said it worked out fine.

Mark your calendars — NNO is celebrated in Texas on the first Tuesday of October. Which will be October 4 in 2022. 

First responders really learning how to dance, 2019 NNO

Story and photos by Mary Jane Farmer. More photos from previous years at the end of this report.

National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5, 2021, from 6 pm – 8 pm at the Van Alstyne Middle School. It has changed location this year (usually held outside the police and fire stations) because of construction going on for the city’s new park on North Preston, which limits the parking availability for those who attend. Police Chief Tim Barnes said there will be plenty of parking available at the Middle School and that the weather is predicted to be very agreeable for this event to be held outdoors.

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, according to the national association’s Website, NATW.com.

Van Alstyne has been active in National Night Out at least since 1996. Van Alstyne’s celebration also helps to let the community meet and know more its paramedics and firefighters. Many of city’s first responders — police, firefighters, and ambulance crews will all be on hand to meet people and with helpful information for everyone.

Barnes said an ambulance helicopter will set down in a safe place during NNO, and, traditionally, that crew (also paramedics) usually let the children get a good look inside it. Also traditionally, many of the city’s businesses, organizations, and churches set up booths and provide giveaways, including food. Sgt. Steve Hayslip said that this year’s NNO will have “plenty of fun, food, games, and entertainment all for free!”

Police reports

Between September 20 and October 3, Van Alstyne police received 496 calls for service; took 10 police reports and 5 offense reports; investigated 5 vehicle crashes, none with major injuries; and made two arrests.

DWI arrest — September 22, about 8 p.m., a caller asked for police help regarding a reckless driver on Gilcrease street. Officers located the described vehicle, Hayslip report, and after getting it stopped found that the driver was intoxicated. They jailed the suspect, an Anna resident, on a charge of driving while intoxicated. He posted bail set at $1,500 in a surety bond and was released the next day.

Warrant arrest — September 24, 2021, officers were sent to 1001 W Van Alstyne Pkwy in reference to a possible wanted person. Hayslip said they found the suspect, a Denison woman, and then found that there was an outstanding warrant charging her with failure to appear in court on a previous case of theft over $1,500, which was originally investigated by Sherman police.

Van Alstyne police took her to Grayson County Jail, where she remains in lieu of bail or bond. Jail records show that this incarceration is her 18th in Grayson County since 2001.

By Mary Jane Farmer for Van Alstyne News

Van Alstyne Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip reported on police activates between Monday, Aug. 16 and Sunday, Aug. 22. He said that they had 228 calls for service, which resulted in nine police reports; seven offense reports; two vehicle wrecks, neither of which resulted in injuries to the drivers or anyone else; and made two arrests.

Sgt. Hayslip also reported on this year’s National Night Out celebration. This year’s event will be held from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Van Alstyne Middle School.

National Night Out is a national program designed to strengthen police-community partnerships. Everyone is invited and there is no charge to attend. The Van Alstyne Police Department has participated by hosting an event since, at least, 1996.

“Because of the construction (on the new park) taking place across the street from the police station, NNO will be held at the middle school,” Hayslip said.

This year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with free food, free games, and free prizes for every age group.

Businesses or organizations wishing to have a booth at NNO, or anyone wishing to make a donation for the event, is asked to contact Sgt. Sweet at the police station, 903-482-5251.

Arrest — About 4 a.m. August 22, officers were dispatched to Lone Star Food Store, 990 W. Van Alstyne Parkway, because of a suspicious circumstance, Hayslip reported. They found the described vehicle in the front tow. The driver side door and two occupants inside were asleep. The driver, they learned, was a Dallas man who had a felony conviction and that he was in possession of a firearm. Thus, police placed the suspect under arrest on a charge of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon by a Felon. At the Grayson County Jail, a magistrate set bail at $10,000, which the suspect met by surety bond and was released later the same day.

Arrest — About 7:30 p.m., police made a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 75 just south of Farmington Road. The driver, a Richardson man, was determined to be intoxicated. Hayslip reported that they jailed him on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated. The suspect posted bail of $1,500 in surety bonds and was released the following day.

By Mary Jane Farmer, from info supplied by Van Alstyne Police Department.

Van Alstyne Police Department answered 225 calls for service between Aug 2 and Aug. 8, 2021, reported Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip. Of those, there were nine incidents are in police reports and four offense reports.

There were also three motor vehicle accidents, two without injuries.

The third, which occurred about 8:15 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 8) involved three vehicles and injured three people. Hayslip said this crash happened on southbound U.S. Hwy. 75 at Van Alstyne Parkway.

Sunday, at about 8:15 pm, police officers and fire department personnel and vehicles were dispatched to a three-vehicle crash on southbound US 75 and Van Alstyne Pkwy. The right lane and shoulder were blocked due to construction. The left lane remained open for travelers moving a reduced speed, including stop and go traffic. That is where the crash occurred.

The first vehicle’s driver involved in the wreck, a Lexus SUV, reported driving at about 20 mph, but having to slow down and even stop at times. The driver of the second vehicle, a Toyota pickup, reported the same. The third vehicle, a Honda CRV, was reported to have been going a high rate of speed. It struck the Toyota, pushing the second vehicle into the first vehicle. The Honda CRV sustained major front-end damage. The driver was trapped inside it. Once the driver was removed from the vehicle, he was flown by ambulance helicopter to a hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. Two occupants in the second vehicle were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

Thursday, Aug. 3, police were sent to the new Thompson Farms subdivision because of missing supplies. They were informed that someone, unknown to them, had stolen more than 100 sheets of radiant barrier.

“Both Collin County and Grayson County are seeing a rise in construction theft since building materials cost have risen so drastically,” Hayslip said.
“VAPD is asking for the help of the residents. If anyone sees a vehicle or person who appears to be out of place, especially in construction, hours outside of normal work hours, to please contact police immediately to report the suspicious activity.” Van Alstyne PD’s phone number is 903-482-5251