Safety tips for Dozinky weekend

By Mark Vosejpka

New Prague Chief of Police

The New Prague Police Department works hard to maintain the proud tradition of New Prague’s Dozinky Weekend as being a fun and safe family orientated celebration.

The police department and chamber of commerce do several things to help keep the weekend safe and enjoyable, including the closing of Main Street from Friday night to Sunday morning, rerouting traffic and installing barricades.

For safety reasons bikes, rollerblades and skateboards will not be allowed in the downtown area; also for safety reasons, candy or other items will not be allowed to be thrown from parade units. The police department suggests that the units have people walking along the curb handing out candy to avoid the risk of a young child being hit or run over by a parade unit.

Bar owners are asked to cooperate in controlling problems associated with glass containers on the street, by serving beverages in plastic cups or aluminum cans. We ask all festival goers to use common sense in their use of alcohol; don’t drink and drive, use a designated driver.

The police department, along with the ambulance service, has a booth on Main Street for first aid, assistance with lost and found children, and safety information. Officers of the New Prague Police Department will again be at that location utilizing the CompuKid Program. This is a program in which parents are able to have their children’s photograph and fingerprints scanned and saved to a computer diskette. This diskette will then be given to the parents to take home and keep on file, if ever needed.

The New Prague Police Department also asks for assistance from county sheriff’s departments and the state patrol for better crowd and traffic control in an effort to keep the weekend safe and enjoyable for everyone.

This weekend will be a great time to show off New Prague’s ethnic heritage and our community pride to visitors of our beautiful city.

Have a fun and safe weekend!

State Patrol to conduct Project Night-CAP

The Minnesota State Patrol, with assistance from area law enforcement officers, will be conducting a Night-CAP project on Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, in the New Prague area.

Project Night-CAP is funded through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and emphasizes enforcement of the Impaired Driving Laws.

Everyone, please have a safe and enjoyable Dozinky weekend and remember, drink responsibly and have a designated driver.