(Columbia) - The Columbia Police Department is offering a number of safe alternatives for Halloween celebration, while Lexington County deputies are conducting safety patrols throughout the night to keep children free from sex offenders.
City of Columbia Parks and Recreation officials say many of Columbia's parks are holding Halloween events on Halloween night, October 31st, and on Saturday, October 27th.
Officials say a citywide event is set to be held at Dutch Square Mall form Monday, October 29th to Wednesday, October 31st. They say a haunted house will be open all three nights from 5 p.m. -9 p.m.
On October 29th - 30th, officials say there will be a doggie costume contest and look-a-like lip- synching contest that starts at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, October 31st officials say they'll hold a Halloween Carnival with costume contests, carnival games, Halloween trivia, ?name that tune?, face-painting and other activities. For more information for the citywide event, officials ask that you call 343-8750.
City of Columbia officials put together this list of events being held on Wednesday, Oct. 31st:
--> Woodland Park: A party will be thrown for the afterschool program and any neighborhood children that would like to attend. Hot dogs, popcorn and candy will be offered from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
--> Martin Luther King Park: A haunted house, carnival games, two inflatable bouncy houses and other activities will be held inside the gym from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
--> Sims Park: Organizers say they will offer a candy giveaway and board games from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
--> Emily Douglas Park: Promoters are set to offer a candy giveaway and games inside from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
--> Heathwood Park: Will offer a candy giveaway, hot dogs, costume contest and a pumpkin decorating contest from 3:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.
--> Hampton Park: Will offer a candy giveaway, games and a scary movie from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
For Saturday, October 27th, officials offered these events.
--> Melrose Park: ?Hallowonka? event at the park with the neighborhood association from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with food, candy, bouncy games and carnival games.
--> Greenview Park, Hyatt Park, Lorick Park, Pinehurst Park and St. Anna Park; will have Halloween Parties from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In Lexington County, deputies there are planning to conduct public safety patrols in residential neighborhoods Halloween night to ensure that children safely trick or treat in those areas.
Sheriff James R. Metts said resident deputies will ensure that motorists comply with speed limits and other traffic laws in residential neighborhoods on Halloween. The officers also will ensure that children and their parents walk safely on roads in residential areas.
Metts says motorists should drive defensively and watch out for pedestrians while driving through residential areas. He urges parents to take simple precautions to protect their children on Halloween:
--> A parent or another responsible adult should accompany children while they go door to door trick-or-treating.
--> Children should visit only the homes of neighbors whom their parents, other relatives or friends know.
--> Children should not visit homes where no lights are on. Most people who have candy and other items available to give out to children will turn on their exterior lights as a sign that children are welcome.
--> Parents should select costumes for their children that do not obstruct the children?s vision or the children?s ability to run or walk. Children must be able to see well and walk well while crossing streets in neighborhoods to trick or treat.
--> Motorists must be able to see children who are wearing costumes, and parents should provide their children with flashlights or objects that emit or reflect light. Costumes that are light colored will be most visible at night.
--> When children return home with their bags, parents should inspect all candy and other items to make sure that they have not been tampered with. If an item appears to be suspicious, you should throw it away.
Many churches and civic groups sponsor festivals at Halloween, Metts said. Such festivals offer games and other activities for children in a safe, controlled environment.
The sheriff said resident deputies also will conduct random checks on convicted sex offenders who are registered with the Sheriff?s Department to ensure that the offenders are living at addresses that they registered with the Sheriff?s Department. Officers also will suggest that convicted sex offenders not offer candy to children or otherwise interact with children on Halloween.
The Sheriff?s Department web site Lexingtonsheriff.com, includes the Offender Watch program, which gives citizens detailed information about convicted sex offenders who are registered with the Sheriff?s Department, Metts said. The program is made available as a result of a partnership between the Sheriff?s Department, Securus Technologies and Watch Systems.
Metts says citizens who access the Offender Watch link on the website can create maps that highlight sex offenders who live in proximity to their homes, workplaces, churches and children?s schools, using street addresses for those locations to conduct searches.
Citizens can apply online to be notified via e-mail whenever a convicted sex offender moves into a residence that is near their homes or a residence that is near other locations that citizens register through the Offender Watch program.
?Computer technology enables our agency to quickly provide information to citizens, and I am committed to do that whenever possible,? Metts said. ?We recognize that we operate in a world in which citizens want access to information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.?
10/23/2007 12:02:13 PM
