Organizers, volunteers, and sponsors of Dysart’s 2nd annual National Night Out pose for a group photo on Tuesday, Aug. 5 in City Park. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

DYSART – In the words of the event’s organizer, Dysart Police Officer Jeremy Stenda, the 2nd annual Dysart National Night Out held on Tuesday, Aug. 5 in City Park “did not disappoint.”

“Our law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatch, business owners, and citizens are truly the best,” Stenda wrote on Facebook following the event. “Without y’all, this event would not happen. To keep it short and sweet, y’all rock and I’m grateful to serve the citizens of Dysart and Tama County.”

The completely free event – “leave your wallet at home,” the local Chamber of Commerce advised ahead of the evening which kicked off at 6 p.m. Tuesday in coordination with the national event – allowed the public to interact with a variety of first responders from throughout Tama County while also enjoying family-friendly music, games, and activities plus free food and treats courtesy of local businesses/donors.

Before the evening wrapped up around 8 p.m., the Waterloo Police Department’s K-9 Team including Officer Jacob Bolstad and K-9 Mako gave a demonstration on the park football field with help from Tama County Deputy Brandon Wall who was wearing a bite suit. Following the election of Tama County Sheriff Casey Schmidt – who previously served as one-half of Tama County’s K-9 Team alongside now-retired K-9 Tyson – Deputy Wall was paired up with K-9 Jax. This past Monday, Aug. 11, the duo began their 12-week training together.

“Jax comes to us all the way from Slovakia,” Sheriff Schmidt posted on Facebook earlier this summer. “He’s trained for law enforcement work and brings a ton of energy, focus, and loyalty. He’s already fitting in great, and we can tell he’s going to be a huge asset to our office and to the community. This is the start of something special between Deputy Wall and Jax. Their partnership is built on trust and dedication, and we’re proud to have them both out there representing Tama County.”

Tama County Deputy Brandon Wall, left, wears a bite suit as part of a demonstration put on by the Waterloo Police Department's K-9 Team during Dysart's National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Also pictured, Waterloo Police Officer Jacob Bolstad, far right, and K-9 Mako. PHOTO BY SOREN M. PETERSON

Sponsors/volunteers for this year’s Dysart National Night Out included the Dysart Police Department, Dysart Chamber of Commerce, Dysart Lions Club, Dysart Ambulance Service, Dysart Fire and Rescue, Norma Anders Public Library, Tama County Public Health, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Tama County 911, Waterloo Police Department, Aureon, Farmers Coop Telephone Company, GreenWorX Lawn and Tree, KE Black Mercantile, Peterson Construction and Remodeling, Pipho and Gingrich Family Dentistry, Tama Benton Cooperative, Waterloo Black Hawks, Youngblut Ag, and several anonymous donors.