The City of High Point Public Services Department is going all out on National Public Works Week – especially on Wednesday, May 24, when it holds its annual Public Works Day.
That entire week, across the country, is meant to celebrate, and inform residents about, the work and contributions of the people who work for local, county, state and federal agencies – as well as the private sector partners that supply goods and services to those agencies.
High Point officials are advertising this as an “interactive and educational event,” and they emphasize that you should bring the kids along. The totally free happening is family-friendly and will include educational booths and entertaining exhibitions.
Equipment from many of the city’s Public Services Divisions will be on display and there will also be giveaways and demonstrations.
As an added attraction this year, the May 24 event will include a mini excavator rodeo competition. Here’s how that will go according to the city’s promotional material: “During the rodeo, public services employees will compete by performing two different tasks with the mini excavators to show off their skills with the equipment. Participants will be scored based on the total time it takes them to complete the tasks.”
The overall winner of the rodeo will be sent to the American Public Works Association equipment show and backhoe rodeo competition next spring.
High Point’s event should probably really be called a “Public Works Half-Day” because it only runs from 9 a.m. to noon.
It will be held at and around the High Point Public Library.
In the event of bad weather, a rain date has been scheduled for Thursday, May 25.
National Hug a Newsperson Day, which falls on April 4 each year, is the day when everyone is supposed to celebrate reporters and community journalists.