On Saturday, May 22, 2010, the District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with the Sheriff’s Office, KJUG, Adventure Park and Take25, sponsored a Child Safety Fair. Hundreds of attendees obtained important information about how to keep their children safe from over 30 different agencies. The Sheriff’s Office and the Woodlake Police Department took free photographs and fingerprints of children, so their parents could keep that important information on hand in case of an emergency. Children’s Hospital was on hand to educate parents and children about water safety. The CHP conducted free tests of child seat safety and free H1N1 vaccinations as well as information about lead poisoning were offered by HHSA. For fun, children could get their face painted; visit with McGruff and Tipper, or try their luck at the Rawhide Pitching booth. The CHP helicopter lift off was a major attraction, as was the TCSO K9 detail, which put on two demonstrations. Public safety was represented by the District Attorney’s Office, Tulare County Fire, TCSO SWAT, SAFE, Dive Team and River Patrol, and the Woodlake and Dinuba Police Departments. American Medical Response showcased the neo-natal ambulance, which transports infants from valley hospitals to the Children’s Hospital.

Special guest speaker, Stacy Mason-Vegna, Chief of the Crime Suppression Section of CalEMA, came from Sacramento to talk about public safety issues, saying “CalEMA is dedicated to supporting programs intended to help our children and young adults and our homeless youths in need by providing grants designed to reduce the risk and incidence of child abductions and child safety in general. I look forward to what we can do, what we must do, and what we will accomplish together in the future.”

Phil Cox, Tulare County Supervisor, presented Phil Cline, District Attorney and Bill Wittman, Sheriff, with a Proclamation declaring May 26 as Missing Children’s Day in Tulare County. Phil Cline told the crowd that it is important for parents to take a few minutes out of their day to talk to their children about keeping safe.

Adventure Park sponsored free giveaways to the children who attended. Each child was given a Safety Sticker Book, which they could take to various booths to obtain stickers. Once the card was filled, it could be redeemed for a free bumper boat ride, miniature golf game, or family track. Adventure Park also offered special pricing for the whole family.

Congratulations to Chanel Aginaga, a fourth grade student in Mrs. Hood’s class at Four Creeks Elementary in Visalia. Chanel wrote the winning essay contest about how children can keep themselves safe. Chanel was the winner of a $100 birthday prize package from Adventure Park.

Click to see the winning essay:

• Chanel Aginaga's Essay

Four students took top prizes in the coloring contest in Kindergarten through 3rd grade. First Prize went to Rikki Gonzalez, in the 2nd grade at Oak Grove Elementary, who won a $50 gift card courtesy of WalMart. Second prize went to Conner Bolding, a 3rd grade student at Mineral King Elementary, third prize went to Katelyn Bucholz, a kindergarten student at Veva Blunt and fourth prize went to Abigal Garcia, in the first grade at Mountain View Elementary. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place prizes were $25 gift cards courtesy of WalMart.
 

Click to see each winning entry:

• First Prize - Rikki Gonzalez

• Second Prize - Conner Bolding

• Third Prize - Katelyn Bucholz

• Fourth Prize - Abigal Garcia

The following is a list of all the agencies represented at the Child Safety Fair:

• American Red Cross

• Boy Scouts of America

• CASA of Tulare County

• Children’s Health & Safety Services

• Children’s Hospital of Central California

• City of Visalia, Parks & Recreation

• Family Health Care Network

• Family Services of Tulare County

• First Five of Tulare County

• KDDH, Pediatric Unit

• Pro-Star Industries

• Grace Homes

• TCHHSA

• HHSA – Lead poison prevention

• HHSA – Foster families

• HHSA – H1N1 vaccinations

• TC WIC program

• Tulare Youth Service Bureau

• United Way of Tulare County

• TCDA – Victim Witness Center

• TC Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council

• TC Office of Education

• Rawhide Baseball

• Tulare County District Attorney’s Office

• Tulare County Sheriff’s Department

• Dinuba Police Department

• Porterville Police Department

• Woodlake Police Department

• CHP – Child seat safety check

• Tulare County Fire Department
   

Our thanks go to the generous people and businesses in Tulare County who donated their services, products or money for this event to happen:

• Ed Desrosiers
  California Pretzel Co., Inc.
   

• John Stearns
  LoBue Bros., Inc.
   

• Mountain View Fruit Sales
  Owner: Mike Thurlow
  Managers: Bo Brett & Sherri Grumbles
   

• Sherry Grumbles
   

• Quality Machinery
  Debra Boling – Owner
   

• Foods Co
  Jacob Taylor & Dan Hill - Managers
   

• WalMart in Tulare
  Valerie & Misty
   

• Health Net
  Armando Cabrerra
  Supervisor - Kern & Tulare Counties
   

• Adventure Park
  Roger Hurick, Co-Owner
   

• California Welcome Center
  Visalia Mall

Also, a big thanks to everyone on the Child Safety Fair Steering Committee:

Barbara Greaver, Val Barnhart, Shanna Meier, Jill Icenhower, Deb Anderson, Phil Esbenshade, Gregg White, Gilmer Maluyao, Melody Flores and Maria Denman, Lt. Rob Schimpf and Sgt. Steve Kennedy