Interactions with law enforcement don’t usually entail sampling baked goods from the community or getting into a tug-of-war, but that was the sort of thing going on Aug. 11 at Franklin Park for Shawano’s National Night Out.
For the first time, the Shawano Police Department offered a baking contest for the community to take part in, and 13 bakers participated — 10 adults and three kids. The baking contest took the place of a chili contest held for several years.
In the youth contest, Dylan Decremer took first place with a roasted peach cobbler cheesecake, while sour cream cookies got Delaney Decremer second place. Isabella Bantle rounded out the top three with lemon cookies.
For the adults, Deb Cotter won first place with her moon cake, while Shana Volkman took second place with her peanut butter mocha cupcakes. Beth Frank took third place for her giant cinnamon rolls.
Choosing the winners was not an easy task, as several first responders had to taste each dessert and figure out which one was the best. Brandy Hoffman, school resource officer for the Shawano Police Department, organized the event and said afterward that it took a lot longer to judge than she’d anticipated.
“Last year was the first time I took over (the contests), and we only had three or four people take part, so we wanted to try something different,” Hoffman said. “I just wanted to try and get the youth of the community involved, as well, so we thought a bake-off could do that. The chili cook-off was good, but the bake-off allowed kids to get into it.”
Baking tends to embraced by people more, so that’s why Hoffman believes there were more entries for that contest.
“I think more people do a lot of baking. There are only a certain amount of people who like to cook chili and want to share that,” Hoffman said. By contrast, “baking is something where people can be more creative and use their creative side and showcase some of the things they like.”
The baking contest could be here to stay, although Hoffman anticipated that the format might change a little to specific desserts as opposed to having cakes, rolls, cupcakes, cookies and everything else rolled into one competition.
“Doing it this way allowed people to make whatever they wanted and make their best desserts,” Hoffman said.
While many were gathered around the Naberhood Plaza for the baking contest, more fun was taking place in the park itself. About a dozen first responders faced off against more than two dozen children in the tug-of-war, proving that when the youth of the community organize, it could be a challenge for the adults.
Sgt. Michella Kamba with the city police organized the event, which included the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, Shawano Area Fire Department, Menominee Tribal Police, Menominee County Sheriff’s Department, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Shawano Ambulance and Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department. National Night Out gives community members a chance to interact with local law enforcement officers and other first responders in an atmosphere outside of tragedy and emergency.
“That’s what we’re trying to do, build relationships with the public so they’re not afraid of us if they need help,” Kamba said. “The Shawano Police Department is always trying to build relationships in all of the things we do, whether it’s lunches in the park or Shop With a Cop.”
Kamba added that a number of businesses and nonprofit organizations were a part of National Night Out.
“Everybody brings something to the event,” Kamba said. “Being with people in a positive environment helps promote community pride.”
Sheriff George Lenzner has been part of National Night out for many years and recalled when the event was held by the athletic fields at Memorial Park. He was one of the judges for the baking contest and predicted the moon cake would be the winner; he said he judged the chili contest for years before that.
“It’s great that we have this type of participation from the community,” Lenzner said. “It shows the kind of community we live in. I did Birnamwood’s (National Night Out) last week, and that was their first one that they’ve had on that side of the county. Some of the folks from Birnamwood came tonight just to get some ideas for next year.”
He added that, in order to make National Night Out a success, participation from the community is essential. It serves as a countermeasure to media reports where the police are in the spotlight only when there are officer-involved shootings, he said.
“I think it helps us bond with the citizens and makes them realize we’re regular people, just like them,” Lenzner said. “We’re very approachable. They can come and talk to us anytime about issues.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
Police officers and other first responders have to put their strength and training to the test Aug. 11 as they participate in a tug-of-war with local children. National Night Out provides an opportunity for members of law enforcement to interact with the community outside of tragic or emergency scenarios. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Ashley Bennett, Menominee County sheriff’s deputy, right, hands the first-place award for the baking contest to Deb Cotter, who won the adult division with her moon cake. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Deputies Austin Manders, left, and Todd Otradovec Jr. taste one of the baking contest entries Aug. 11 in the Naberhood Plaza as other selections are laid out on the table in front of them. This is the first year that National Night Out has held a baking contest, and 13 entries kept the judges busy and their bellies full. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Menominee County Sheriff’s Deputy Cody Vigue observes as his K-9, Rascal, alerts on a package filled with narcotics Aug. 11 around the band shell at Franklin Park for National Night Out. A number of K-9 demonstrations were held to show the community what the dogs are used for when it comes to law enforcement. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
