Kids get to
be (or see)
big wheels

By FINN HARTNETT

Staff writer

A cement mixer, a fire truck, a school bus, a police car, and a garbage truck were just a few of the vehicles kids could explore Thursday at Hillsboro Elementary School’s 19th Annual Big Truck Night.

Some of the trucks even offered activities for kids on board. “There’s a swing on the truck, the cement truck,” reported 8-year-old Beniah Remboldt. “We did the swing.”

The city shut down a block to make room for 100 families over the course of the evening. Free water and popcorn was provided by the school. A ball pit, different types of grain pits, and tractor tires to climb on also proved popular.

Brylee Nieman, 6, said her favorite part of the event was “the trucks.”

When asked what it was about the trucks that she enjoyed, she said, “going on them.”

Various charities set up tables to raise money and distribute small toys. A table for Hillsboro’s police force handed out candy to kids and gunlocks and DNA test kits to adults.

Titus Lowry, 8, said “getting stuff” was his favorite part of the event.

The weather proved excellent, and a slow sunset lit up the evening with golden light — perfect for the scores of parents snapping photos of their children inside various trucks.

“It’s good,” 7-year-old Harrison Styles said of Big Truck Night, before correcting himself. “It’s great.”