First 'Night Out' in Potter a Success

Potter is a town where banquet dining is common in the cafe, a stranger might even share a slice of fresh pie, and if someone hasn't greeted you like and neighbor, you haven't been out of your car or pickup but a few steps.

On Thursday, May 2, the town of Potter rolled out the welcome mat as a community to anyone with curiosity or just the time to come explore the western edge of Cheyenne County. The effort was a combination of local businesses and organizations with the support of the Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce.

"I thought the turnout was great," said Drew Enevoldsen, one of the organizers of the event.

Enevoldsen said the project is in part an offshoot of the Taste of Cheyenne County where people were invited to a location in Sidney to see what the county has to offer. A Night In Potter turns the focus around, inviting people to Potter to see what the community has to offer. He said there were about 150 punch cards given to participants of the event.

Participants were offered a 10-punch card with the encouragement to stop at each participating business or organization. Collect all 10 punches and receive a mini Tin Roof sundae at The Sundry or a drink at Bags Bar. Enevoldsen estimated there could have been at least 200 people visiting Potter with the people who did not participate in the card punch. The card punch included a stop at the library, the Sundry, Bags Bar, Duck Bowling, a make-n-take workshop with Lou Ann Frei, and local businesses.

Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce Director Hope Feeney also commended the community volunteers for the work.

"It was so awesome to see all of the people," she said. "We were pleasantly surprised with the turnout."

She said the Chamber hopes to see other communities sponsor an event. One thing she wants to do differently is schedule more planning time. The Night Out in Potter was organized in about a month.