Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The bewitching hours for most of Ripley County’s little hobblins and gobblins will be between 5 and 7 p.m. on Halloween night, Wednesday, October 31.

Every town has set the hours children will trick or treat for October 31 from 5-7 p.m. with these exceptions: Friendship will host beggars on October 30 from 5-7 p.m. and Sunman will welcome trick or treaters on Halloween night, October 31, just a half hour later than the others, making their time 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Some towns will follow with parades and parties such as Holton, Versailles and Osgood.
While deciding what costume to wear is the biggest decision a child has, parents will have other concerns. To make sure everyone has a safe, memorable Halloween, Ray Palermo, director of public information for the Teachers’ Insurance Plan, offers some safety tips:

• Trick-or-treaters should always be accompanied by an adult or travel in a group.

• Children should be told not to eat any unwrapped candy or treats until they return home where their parents can see them.

• Make sure children have eaten before heading out.

• Parents should incorporate reflective tape in costumes or add bright colors to increase visibility. Make-up rather than masks should be worn to help ensure that children have an unobstructed view of their surroundings.

• Trick-or-treaters should always cross at corners and look both ways before crossing.

• Drivers need to keep a careful eye on the road and on the sidewalk, in case anyone darts out from between parked cars.

• Drivers need to be particularly careful at dusk and when driving either over a hill or around a curve, where visibility is limited. Use high beams to see and be seen.

• Children should stay on the sidewalk or if none is available, walk facing the lane of traffic, and they should carry a flashlight.

• Homeowners should clear their yards of anything that can be tripped over and be sure to have a front door or walkway light on. Refrain from decorations that use an open flame that could ignite a child’s costume.

Just remember children will be in every neighborhood on Halloween night, so drivers should take extra precaution.