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By Paula Pyzik Scott

For the first time in its ten year history, local National Night Out celebrations weren't protected by the so-called Bluffton Bubble, a mythical ability to keep storms at a distance. However, plans for food, fun and fireworks on Tuesday night were successfully moved to Wednesday, August 7 after heavy storms and tornado threats were forecast.

Event coordinator Lieutenant Matt Oglesbee of the Bluffton Police Dept. was happy with turnout for the delayed event and with weather that allowed fireworks to go on. Has the event gotten easier over time? Oglesbee said, indeed, it has. He also credited the Bluffton High School boys soccer and girls soccer teams with doing some of the literal heavy lifting: carrying the tables and chairs in and out of the Bluffton Community Pool.

Volunteers working the grill seemed to think that free hot dogs are the number one people-magnet at National Night Out. Council member Mitch Kingsley said that while they have run out of hot dogs a time or two, that’s only after some folks have been through the line three times.

However, lines for a ride on two antique fire trucks–the Bluffton No. 1 Studebaker fire truck and the Riley Twp-Pandora Dodge truck from a few decades later–rivaled lines for the hot dogs. The ride is made standing up and may have seemed faster than it actually was, due to the brisk wind in everyone’s hair.

Other attractions included free swimming, Touch a Truck with local EMS crews and the Bluffton Fire Department, mini golf, Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District interactive exhibit, inflatable games and fire hose target practice.

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