Sheriff Offers Halloween Safety Tips

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley is offering some tips to try and ensure everyone has a safe and happy Halloween this weekend.

Shirley said there will be a lot of pedestrians out around the county this weekend and he urges people to stay on sidewalks whenever possible and obey all traffic signs.

He also urged motorists to be especially alert and pay close attention, particularly at crosswalks and intersections.

Shirley said adults should make every effort to accompany their children or make sure a responsible and trusted adult is with them.

The sheriff said there are other safety tips to keep in mind.

“Do not accept candy from strangers and please inspect every piece of candy before it is eaten,” said Shirley. “Know your surroundings and preferably go to neighborhoods that you are familiar with. Help watch for other kids as well that may be out walking. Be familiar with your child’s costume and hopefully, it will have some reflective clothing on it because it gets darker sooner. Carry a flashlight or a glow stick when walking during the evening hours and discuss what to do with your children if they were approached by a stranger or become separated from an adult.”

The sheriff said his deputies will be out patrolling and keeping an eye on things.

In addition, he said they will be proactive in monitoring registered sex offenders living in the county over the holiday weekend.

“Our patrol deputies will be provided a list of all registered sex offenders in the county,” said Shirley. “We will instruct each of the deputies to check these residences regularly during Halloween night to ensure that there are no decorations that would potentially entice a child to approach the house that the sex offender is residing in.”

Information regarding the sex offender registry is found at the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office website at www.stephenssheriff.com.

Shirley said people should not hesitate to report any suspicious activity to authorities by calling 911.