By William Moore
Daily Journal
TUPELO – There will be a decided fall nip in the air Friday night as children don their costumes and set out to trick or treat as evening temperatures drop into the 40s.
Law enforcement agencies are adjusting their schedules to get more uniformed officers in higher traffic areas, but they ask people to be careful.
“Hopefully people will police themselves and not drive too fast, especially in places where there might be children,” said Lee County Sheriff Jim Johnson.
The Tupelo Police Department is calling in reserve officers and reserve cars to help.
“Every vehicle that is running will be out on the street,” said Tupelo Police Chief Bart Aguirre. “We want to make sure it is safe for trick or treaters.”
In the city, there are a few big events that will have streets blocked off Friday night. Five churches will hold a “trunk or treat” downtown from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. It will close Jefferson Street to all traffic from Green Street to Robins Street. Not even north-south traffic will be allowed to cross Jefferson.
The Highland Circle and Spring Lake neighborhoods will close streets Halloween for block parties. Highland Circle will close its entrances from 5-8 Friday night. Spring Lake will not allow traffic into the subdivision off South Thomas Street from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m.
Johnson said he won’t have any more deputies on the road but will adjust where they patrol during key hours.
“We will concentrate on the 30 subdivisions that are outside of city limits and concentrate the patrols from 4:30 until around 10 p.m.,” said Johnson.
The Mall at Barnes Crossing is expected to draw a regional crowd as it holds mall-wide trick or treating Friday night as well as spooky magic shows at 6 p.m. and 7:15 in the food court.
“Any child under the age of 12 needs to be with a trusted adult while trick or treating,” said Sgt. Katarsha White of the Tupelo Police Department. “You need to stress to the children to not eat any of the candy until a parent has checked it. Anything that is not sealed or the wrapper is torn or partially opened needs to be thrown away.”
If the costume includes a mask, make sure the child’s vision is not impaired. If going door to door, never enter the house.
“We will have a lot of Trick or Treaters out Friday night and a lot of people will be visiting Tupelo that night,” White said. “Keep your eyes and ears open and try to be considerate of others.
“And between 5 and 8 p.m., we ask motorists to be diligent to look for kids.”
william.moore@journalinc.com