Halloween curfew in effect tonight

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Alex Walker, left, shows off a formidable fright-wig while Keaton Williamson hides behind his “Scream” mask. Both third-graders were part of the “Boo Review” assembly program at Bobby Ray Elementary yesterday. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Halloween curfew will fall at 9 p.m. tonight as police hope to discourage Halloween mischief with the curfew and extra patrols around the city.

“It’s been pretty quiet the last few years and we’d like to keep it that way,” said McMinnville Police Capt. Bryan Denton. “We’ll be putting extra patrols out there for visibility and our public safety units will also be out there.”

The curfew means persons under 18 are not allowed on the streets, either on foot or in cars, unless they have legitimate business such as coming to and from school or church events, or to and from work. Violation of curfew could lead to the youth being detained and potentially cited.

Denton said the main concern is curbing any damaging pranks which cause destruction of property.

“Vandalism and things that cause damage to private or public property will be treated very seriously,” Denton said. “We will prosecute in those cases.”

Along with announcing the curfew, Denton wants motorists to use care given the fact some children will be out trick-or-treating.

“Kids sometimes become excited and don’t watch what they’re doing, so motorists need to slow down and keep a good eye out for them,” Denton said. “All children who are out trick-or-treating need to be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.”

Denton suggests trick-or-treaters wear costumes which do not limit their field of vision and costumes that have some type of reflective stripe so they can be seen by motorists. Police recommend trick-or-treaters go to homes with which they are familiar and that parents examine all candy before it is eaten by the children.

Any case of candy tampering should immediately be reported to police.