Mighty Machines take over Capital Mall lot

Children hang on to the edges of a bulldozer as others wait in line to check out its interior and hop in the shoes of a construction worker for a brief moment Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 during the Mighty Machines event at Capital Mall in Jefferson City.
Children hang on to the edges of a bulldozer as others wait in line to check out its interior and hop in the shoes of a construction worker for a brief moment Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 during the Mighty Machines event at Capital Mall in Jefferson City.

Peyten Curran may only be 6 years old, but she said she's been wanting to be a police officer for the past 20 years - or at least since she changed her mind and opted not to be a firefighter.

She and her 3-year-old brother Madden were excitedly checking out the vehicles at the Mighty Machines event on Saturday. There was a little something for everyone at the event from concrete trucks, bulldozers, school buses and first-response vehicles -all there to give people a look inside automobiles they may only see from afar.

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Northwest Arkansas Newspapers

NWA Media/JASON IVESTER Springdale Police Lt. Scott Lewis (from left) and Sgt. Robert Sanchez watch as Clarksville High School Assistant Principal Cheyne Dougan turns a corner into a classroom during an active shooter training on Thursday, July 11, 2013, inside Clarksville High School. Faculty members were going through training scenarios which involved actors playing the roles of students and active shooters inside the school.

Peyten and Madden's favorite part was getting sneak peaks of the rigs they aspire to ride in some day as professionals.

"I like what (police officers) do," Peyten said. "Cause you get to drive the car. I wanted to be a firefighter, but the gear is too hot."

For their mother, Ashleigh Curran, the best part was getting her kids acquainted with service-related vehicles and workers, so if they ever have an emergency, the equipment doesn't seem as daunting.

"It's something the kids enjoy, and you never see it all in one place," Curran said. "I'm just wanting them to enjoy it and see everyone who would help them in a scary situation."

Carl Haake, a 22-year veteran with the Jefferson City Fire Department, said the event is a good opportunity for families to see the vehicles and equipment up front. Anyone could crawl up into the driver or passenger seats of the fire truck. If they had one more person with them, Haake said they would have done more to show kids the gear so they're less afraid of firefighters dressed in the full garb.

There was a constant stream of children waiting to hop into the truck. Haake said a lot of the kids say they want to be a firefighter when they grow up, which is exactly how he felt at their age.

The Cole County Sheriff's Department brought a MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle), something few sheriff's departments have, said Lt. Gary Hill. The department acquired it from the Department of Defense to use in rescue missions in the case of an active shooter, but it can also be used during flood situations.

At first, several community members felt the vehicle was too militaristic, but with all the recent shootings, he's heard a lot of comments from parents who say they're glad it's here just in case.

"If there was a shooting at Pioneer Trail (Elementary) or at the mall or downtown, would you want us to come rescue your kids in this or that," Hill said, motioning first to the MRAP vehicle and then to the department's regular law enforcement SUV. "It's great parents get to see it and us to get to talk to them about it.

William Napier waited as his son Hunter, 8, explored the inside of the MRAP vehicle. Napier said he used to "play with one of these in Iraq," during his time in the military, but his son has never seen one before.

"This is just something to get out, be active and something to do," he said. "It's fun for them looking at all the vehicles."

Julie and Justin Baker took photos of their three kids inside the mouth of an over-sized bulldozer before going aboard the big yellow school bus parked next to it.

Julie Baker shared Curran's sentiment; she's happy her kids get to experience emergency vehicles and meet first responders first-hand, and maybe, they'll feel less anxious if they ever had to ride inside an ambulance.

"I love seeing the excitement in their eyes," Justin Baker added.