YORKTON AND DISTRICT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
"Neighbours Helping Neighbours"
                                                                           
 
Press Release - September 10, 1998
Taken fom the Yorkton News
Yorkton Neighbourhood Watch
by Karl Kopan
Y-N Editor
"Hello this is a recorded message from Jud Niven President of Yorkton Neighbourhood Watch." This was the       beginning of the mes-sage  members  of  the Neighborhood Watch heard when they picked up the phone -Friday night,   Saturday. It was the first message sent in over a year due to computer hardware and software problems that disabled the system in late 1996.
They were able to send the message and get the new sys-tem operating due to the-donation of a 486 computer by The Yorkton Public School Board. Although the used computer is behind the times for?, the high-tech system being installed in Yorkton's schools, it works quite well for the Neighborhood Watch.
Each message is repeated twice and it gives the listener the option of leaving a mes-sage or hearing it again a third or fourth time. If the computer calls and gets a busy signal it is programmed to call back and if it gets an answer machine it will even leave you a message. The system had its start in 1992 when Yorkton City RCMP felt there was a need for a Neighborhood Watch -within the city. Originally with the concept of using block captains to spread information, they felt they could improve the system. And they did with the help of the Yorkton Kinsmen.  The club provided a sizable donation for a computer, as well a paying for the member sign up cards and a Neighbourhood Watch Banner. "We're not sending out messages to get people -alarmed," said Jud Niven, President of Yorkton Neighborhood Watch. "It's basically an information sys-tem and is a way of disseminating that information to all the members on a very efficient  basis."
     With more serious or pressing situations the media will still be used to get the message across in order to get the message out in a blanket fashion.
    The system will also send crime prevention tips and will alert citizens of localized problems in their area of the city.
"If there’s been a rash of can bicycle thefts in one particular area of town we'll bring that to their attention," said Cst. Cliff McArthur of the Yorkton City RCMP. "It'll just tell them to go and make sure that they lock their bicycles at night.
Niven says he is glad the school division donated the computer because the funds they raised from the two dol-lar memberships before was used to buy the software but didn't reach far enough to buy the computer.
The city is broken into four areas and is roughly divided along Broadway and Gladstone. Members of  Citizens On Patrol and Block Parents also benefit from the donation of the computer. Their members will also use the system for the quick transmission of information.
Members of the public can also phone 782-4070 to get information on each of the three programs by listening to a recorded message.   If you wish to become a member you need to complete an application form and pay the $2.00 fee for your lifetime membership.   Application forms can be picked up at the Yorkton City Detachment.
 

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