Safety Town empowers kids with bike safety skills

MOUNT VERNON, August 8, 2025 – More than 50 young students from Knox County took part in Safety
Town on August 3, 2025, an engaging and educational community event designed to teach essential bike
safety skills. Held at the Schnormeier Event Center, the activity welcomed 53 students and seven Mount
Vernon PAK United police officers, all working together to promote safe riding habits in a fun, hands-on
setting.
The event began with a classroom-style session. Sergeant Nick Myrda led students in learning how to
properly check their bikes for safety and emphasized the importance of being safe, seen and heard while
riding. Officer Ben Fike provided instruction on proper helmut-fitting.

Following the lesson, physical education teachers
Heather Barbour and Brock Evans guided
students through a bike course designed to
simulate real traffic situations. Students practiced
hand signals and navigated road signs while riding
through a “miniature Mount Vernon,” reinforcing
the day’s safety lessons through real-world
application.
After mastering the course, students participated
in a group ride around Ariel~Foundation Park, led
by Officer Jeremiah Armstrong. To wrap up the
day, students received handouts from Knox Public
Health, coupons and small gifts from local
businesses, and a well-earned ice cream treat
from Round Hill Dairy.
The event was part of a larger bike safety initiative
made possible by the generous support of the
United Way of Knox County. Through this
partnership, kindergarten and first-grade students
in Knox County public schools receive bike-riding
instruction during physical education classes
throughout the school year.
“So many people in this community remember
Safety Town as a kid. Bringing it back to life was
the clear next step to accompany the ‘All Kids
Bike’ program we have in Mount Vernon schools,”
said Barbour. “Our goal is for all students to
experience Safety Town in their PE classes so
that it can impact hundreds of kids in the community. Imagine what that would do for Mount Vernon kids now and for their lifetime.”
Students participating in Safety Town take a bicycle ride with Police
Officers in Ariel~Foundation Park on August 3, 2025.

Physical education teacher Heather Barbour and officers from the
Mount Vernon Police Department instruct kids on bicycle safety at
Safety Town.

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A vital piece of the program’s success comes from the support of local partners and sponsors, who helped bring this program to life. Emily Morrison of Emily Morrison Arts played a key role by painting and creating realistic replicas of Mount Vernon businesses used on the course.
“This project could not have been done without the 20-plus sponsors who stepped up to the plate to get this program going for the kids,” said Barbour. “Their support funded the buildings, road signs, materials and custom T-shirts – it became a full-scale production because of them.”
If you or your business is interested in becoming a sponsor and supporting this impactful community
initiative, contact Heather Barbour at hbarbour@mvcsd.us.