OPTIMISTS TO SPONSOR SAFETY CITY IN THE PARK

JACKSON -- The Jackson Noon Optimist Club will hold Safety City registration Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Jackson City Hall.

Registration cost is $7, and includes a bicycle flag, bike helmet and safety information packet, said Beverly Nelson of the Optimist Club. Registration forms are available at city hall, and can be turned in after Saturday's registration day, she said.

Children in grades K-4 can sign up for the two-hour course. The first session will be offered May 11, or children may sign up for subsequent sessions on May 18, June 8 or June 15. Safety City will be held at shelter No. 4 in Jackson City Park.

Safety City is an educational program that focuses primarily on traffic safety, Nelson said, "but we also touch on fire prevention, stranger danger and drug awareness."

"There's so many latchkey children where these children are going home alone in the afternoon and they're there by themselves for several hours," she said. "A lot of parents just don't have time to teach their kids about safety."

Safety City is designed to provide youngsters with "some pointers and some important safety information that could maybe save some lives," Nelson said.

The course focuses on younger children because they haven't had a chance to learn as many bad traffic habits, she said.

"These kids aren't out on the roads yet with their bikes," she said. "They're not out riding on the city streets."

Members of the Optimist Club, along with the Jackson police and fire departments, will provide instruction. Youngsters will watch safety videos and practice safety activities on the miniature roadway in Safety City.

Bicycles will be provided.

For more information, call Beverly Nelson at 243-4404. Registration forms are available at Jackson City Hall.