Kids get hard hats, prizes at Touch a Truck Night on Plaza June 13

Children of all ages will be able to don a hard hat and take an up-close look at trucks and heavy equipment in downtown Luverne Monday.
The Plaza Committee of Luverne Initiatives for Tomorrow will host “Touch a Truck Night” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 13, in the Plaza lot near the History Center on Main Street.
Main Street will close to make room for heavy equipment, and the Historical Society will serve a hot dog meal as a fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be picnic tables set up.
“Basically, we are having large trucks and vehicles on display,” said Chamber Director Jane Lanphere.
“All kids will be given a hard hat and when they go up to the truck or vehicle – the driver will hand them a sticker to put on their hard hat.”
Once the children visit all the pieces of equipment — at least 20, they can receive a prize, she said. 
“We are having great participation so far with dump trucks, snow blowers, garbage truck, tractors, fire truck, school bus, ambulance, police car and more.”
She said the idea came from Plaza Committee member LaDonna Van Aartsen, who took her grandson to something in Sioux Falls. 
“We have gotten a lot of great support and enthusiasm from the community businesses and government,” Lanphere said.
“It is a night for children (and adults) to meet the drivers and see the vehicles that serve us in the community.”
Equipment so far includes the ambulance, city garbage truck and other city equipment, county snow plow and snow blower, tractors, firetrucks, school bus, sheriff’s office squad cars and more.
The rain date for Touch a Truck Night is June 20, if need be.