August 2, 2004. Harrah, Washington holds its annual 4-H Night Out Against Crime. I arrive just after a weather front dumps a heavy rainfall, almost washing out the proceedings.
Members of the Crime Watch Committee set up their table.
In spite of threatening skies, sun breaks promise a successful evening.
Kids line up for ices…
…and one youngster hams it up for the camera.
While waiting for other events to get under way, I take a turn around the town.
Things are bustling at Harold’s Lucky Dollar General Store,…
…where I find Socorro Villa and two little ones.
Nestor Terintzun stops by to see what I’m up to, and obliges me with a portrait.
At the Harrah Cafe, I look in on a meeting of the local Native American Mary Kay cosmetics group.
Back at the park, the egg toss is in progress…Careful!
The long-awaited guest of honor finally appears: McGruff the Crime Dog,…
…aka Mike Loza.
Mayor Barbara Harrer confers with Brandon Juan, as kids wait for the dart game to begin
Jim Hickey distributes hot dog buns. A native of Boston, he’s now a true son of Harrah: a member of the city council, a substitute teacher, a school bus driver, and pastor of the local Assembly of God congregation.