Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

site web  

For the third year in a row, a group of Fairfield Twp. residents are using three days of fun and games to assist local law enforcement.

The Fairfield Twp. Citizens Policy Academy Alumni Association's Annual CommunityFest is scheduled to take place 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 23, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 24, and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, may 25, at First Church of God, 3100 Princeton Road.

The weekend-long event features rides, games, food and new free entertainment options, including Knoxville, Tenn.-based Jeff Treece Band, which many promoters compare to Ray Stevens and Jerry Reed mixed with a little Jeff Foxworthy, said Jerome Kearns, the alumni association's president.

Event organizers are working to finalize details for gospel groups to perform Sunday.

"It was very important for us to build on the success of the years past, and really the area we felt we could build upon was entertainment," he said. "Something that draws people out to kind of keep them there for a little while and see what we have to offer."

Moving the carnival-style event from East Elementary to its new location along Princeton Road is expected to create greater visibility and attract greater crowds, Kearns said.

"Anybody who's going up to the area around Wal-Mart or Kohl's will readily see the rides," he said.

Various fire safety demonstrations will be available throughout the weekend, courtesy of the Fairfield Twp. Fire Department.

 The alumni association consists of volunteers who attended the Fairfield Twp. Citizens Police Academy and helps raise money to purchase equipment for the police department that would normally come out of its budget, which is funded by a levy. The academy graduated its sixth session Tuesday, May 20.

Past fundraising events have included garage sales, car washes, bake sales and a dance. Members donated $3,000 to the police department last December to be used toward the purchase of Tasers and Taser-Cams.

For more information about CommunityFest, call (513) 737-1539.

Vote for this story!