The Hanford Police Department is hoping to give Hanford residents a GREAT evening on Tuesday, when they partner with the new International House of Pancakes location on 11th Avenue to promote their recently-formed Gang Resistance Education and Training program, "G.R.E.A.T."

"We will have fingerprinting for the kids, an information booth and even our tricked-out GREAT program car for people to see," Officer Jean Bidegaray said. "We are just hoping to raise some funds and let the people know what we are all about."

Hanford Police officers will be holding a information booth in the IHOP parking lot on Tuesday from 5 to10 p.m. to help raise awareness about the program and its goals. IHOP will be donating 20 percent of all their sales Tuesday night to the program.

"The franchise group that I work for, Landmark Restaurant Group, is far more interested in being a part of the community than a restaurant," IHOP General Manager David Walter said.

The GREAT program, which recently replaced DARE, began for Hanford Elementary School District students on Oct. 27. Classes are being held at Lincoln School, Martin Luther King, Jr. School, Roosevelt School, Woodrow Wilson School, Monroe School and Hamilton School to teach students about topics like decision making and setting goals. The Police Department plans to hold additional classes at Simas School, Washington School and Lee Richmond School by Jan. 6.

A separate GREAT program, run by the Kings County Probation Department, has been working with schools in Corcoran, Lemoore, Armona and Kit Carson School in Hanford for 12 years.

(Nov. 8, 2008)