Sheriff's open house draws nearly 1,000

Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong opened the sheriff's department up to the public during a youth fair on Saturday.

"This is all about the kids," he said. "We wanted to bring all the organizations and agencies that deal with youth together in one spot so we could draw on each other's energies and strengths."

About a thousand people attended the event, held in the parking lot of the Carson City Courthouse on Musser Street. Despite gusting winds, children soaked teachers in the dunk tank and bounced in the inflatable castle. There were demonstrations by the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Irish dancers and martial artists.

"I thought the magician was pretty tight," said Alvin Roberson, 17, a Carson High School student. He later performed an original rap song on stage.

Mary Wolkomir, juvenile substance abuse coordinator for the sheriff's department, organized the event. She's been working on selecting a drug awareness program for Carson City School District.

"Sadly, Carson City doesn't really have a sustainable drug prevention program in the schools," she said, noting Douglas, Washoe and Lyon counties all use the DARE program.

Carson authorities considered DARE in the past, but weren't convinced it was effective. After DARE's recent $14 million curriculum re-write, they are ready to give it a chance.

"Three elementary schools will pilot the DARE program soon," she said.

Wolkomir was happy to have the Community Council on Youth at the event.

"It focusses on some of the other agencies that are working with kids," she said.

Pauline Kiser, the council's director, said her group partners with more than 20 other groups.

"We assess the needs of youth and families, define solutions and work together to find funds and resources to get those solutions in place," she said.

Kiser looked around at the crowds milling from booth to booth and smiled.

"We've had more people probably in the first two hours of this event than we've ever had at one of our volunteer fairs," she said. "Kids love cops and they're having a blast."

Wayne Ferguson is not a kid, but he had a blast doing his magic show.

"I made birds appear out of thin air, I made a little boy into a girl and I made a little boy into a rabbit," he said.

At the other end of the lot, Keri Putnam of Carson Kiwanis was handing out free hot dogs.

"We've already given out about 1,000 hot dogs," she said halfway through the event.

"We've been keeping busy since 10 this morning."

Inside the Sheriff's office Explorer cadets like Valerie Parker, 18, and Osiris Robles, 17, were giving tours. They also offered "I got jailed in Carson City" photos.

"I've been running the front sign-up table and getting donations for our competition in Las Vegas," said Parker.

"(In Las Vegas) we'll be tested on traffic stops, crime scene investigations, noise complaints and domestic violence," said Robles.

In the entry way to the office Wendy McDaniel of the Sierra Nevada Chapter of the Red Cross was creating emergency child identification cards with a computer.

"When they're lined up for the tour I get them signed up and then when they're done with the tour their cards are ready for them," she said.

Her husband, Scott, is a Carson City Sheriff's deputy.

Sheriff Furlong said he was happy with turnout.

"The booths have just been overwhelmed. This is something we'd like to do every year."

Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.