Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Dwenger defended his Safety Village Grand Prix title May 15 during the second year of Birth to Five’s event at Safety Village of Wayne County. Eight participants wearing inflatable costumes raced scooters around the Safety Village streets.
In a battle of dinosaur inflatables, Dwenger beat Megan Lamb in the championship race. Other racers included Megan Broeker, Former Richmond mayor Dave Snow, Richmond Police Department Officer Jared Smith, Lynette Davis, the Ivy Tech Community College mascot and Shawntel Baker.
The event also included children’s organizations distributing information, bicycle giveaways and the opportunity to pet Buzz, a therapy miniature horse from Brighter Path Inc. of Cambridge City.
Mike Emery took these photos of the event for WWN:
Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Tim Davis helps Richmond Police Department Officer Jared Smith with his leprechaun inflatable prior to Smith’s racing May 15 in Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery 
Shawntel Baker dons her bunny inflatable prior to racing in Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix on May 15 at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery 
Children check out objects at a booth May 15 during Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery 
Mark Broeker waves the green flag to start the race between Megan Lamb, in the dinosaur inflatable, and Megan Broeker, in the shark inflatable, during Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery 
Former Richmond mayor Dave Snow passes Richmond Police Department Officer Jared Smith to win a heat May 15 during Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery 
Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Dwenger (right), in a dinosaur inflatable, pulls away from Lynnette Davis, in a lobster inflatable, during an opening-round race May 15 in Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery 
Shawntel Baker in the bunny inflatable carries her scooter to beat Ivy Tech Community College’s mascot May 15 during Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Photo by Mike Emery. 
Jaylynn Wells (left), 5, and Landyn Henry, 8, both of Richmond pet Buzz during Birth to Five’s Safety Village Grand Prix at Safety Village of Wayne County. Buzz is a therapy miniature horse at Brighter Path Inc. in Cambridge City. Photo by Mike Emery
A version of this article appeared in the May 21 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.