REGION – With hordes of little ghosts and goblins about to cover every house in the Black Belt Region ringing doorbells and asking for tricks or treats, here are some ideas from local public officials on how to keep them safe during this Halloween holiday.

Demopolis Public Safety Director and Police Chief Jeff Manuel said, “We ask that all drivers please drive safely and watch out for children walking around on Saturday and Sunday trick or treating.”

All children who are planning to go out asking for candy need to have an adult accompanying them as well as wearing light color clothing and carrying a flashlight. Parents need to make sure they take the children to homes where they trust the owners and be sure to examine the candy after the trick or treating is over.

Please help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make it fire proof; the eyeholes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.

Also make sure that if the child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause an injury if fallen on. Those children who are not interested in candy, but rolling someone’s yard with toilet paper better watch out for the police.

“We’ll be looking for you,” Manuel said.

Livingston Mayor Tom Tartt said the city would be holding its Halloween celebration on Saturday instead of Sunday because they didn’t want to mix the holiday with church hours. Sumter Academy along with many other local churches and businesses will be holding an alternative to trick or treating. “The academy will be holding a festival on Thursday night to give the children something else to do instead of walking the streets asking for candy,” Tartt said.