Hamlin to host safety day March 4

In response to the town being home, for a short time, to a level three sex offender, Town of Hamlin officials have scheduled a Child Safety Day.

"The bright side to our having been home to a sex offender was that we were able to raise awareness of the residents on what needs to be done to keep their children safe," Supervisor Dennis Roach said.

Once it was announced that the town had a level three sex offender living in its midst, a public meeting was held in which more than 160 residents attended to hear presentations by sheriff's officials, Senator George Maziarz and representatives from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"The residents received some good information from the individuals who made the presentations," Roach said. "The highlight of that meeting, held February 8, was that Senator Maziarz attended and promised his support in enforcing the laws of the trailer park in which the offender was living as a way to remove him from our town."

Because the trailer park is privately owned, it has the power to enact its own rules and regulations on who can live there. "Their bylaws said that felons cannot reside in the park," Roach said. "Appropriate legal steps were taken to remove him (the offender) from the park and he was moved out of the town on February 17."

The child safety day program, being offered on Saturday, March 4 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, is a cooperative effort on the part of the town and Maziarz. "We're going to have a child identification kit available and will be offering information and presentations on safety and prevention geared toward parents and families," Roach said.

The event is free and open to the public.

February 26, 2006