The Valparaiso men’s basketball team made its presence felt at the city’s annual Popcorn Festival this past Saturday, helping to direct traffic around the city.  This is the second straight year the Crusaders have assisted the Valparaiso Police Department with traffic control during the annual celebration.

“This year, we again helped out with the Popcorn Festival,” said Crusader senior guard Howard Little.  “Giving back to the community and helping out the Valparaiso Police Department is our way of showing how much we appreciate everything they do.”

The Crusaders visited the police station in early September to meet the officers and to receive training on what their duties would consist of during the Popcorn Festival.  They then took to the streets on Saturday during the celebration, volunteering their time to assist at low-traffic intersections, helping to keep vehicles from entering the parade and race routes.

“We always look forward to helping out the Valpo Police Department,” said Crusader senior forward Cory Johnson.  “It's a great opportunity to give back to the community, while getting to meet current Valpo fans and hopefully recruit a few more."