Local News – Friday, October 30, 2020
Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday morning at 2:00 AM. At this time of year, you will set clocks back one hour. It is recommended that you do this before going to bed in the evening on Saturday of first thing Sunday morning. It is recommended at this when we recognize Daylight Savings Time to change the battery in your smoke alarms. It also is a good time to replace your furnace filters if you haven’t done so with the changing of the seasons.
Saturday is Halloween and the City of Salem Board of Alderman has established the trick-or-treating hours in the city from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. If you want children to stop by your home, leave your porch light on so they know they are welcome to stop by. Other Halloween options for those who prefer not to go door-to-door this year in the City of Salem will be provided by some businesses, churches and organizations. Those businesses and churches include Lost Treasures where they will have a trunk-or-treat, Allen’s Treasure Chest where they will have trick-or treating, American Automotive and Towing will have an event, the Salem United Methodist Church where they will hold a drive-thru event, J&D Automotive will have an event and Wilson Mortuary will offer trick-or-treating. The Dent County Republican Headquarters at C&E Auto Sales will also be holding a Halloween event in the parking lot. Also Echo Bluff State Park will be holding their Halloween Festival starting at 9:00 Saturday morning, but they will NOT be having their haunted trail as they originally planned Saturday night.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol encourages everyone to have a safe Halloween. Here are some tips they would like to pass along. Give some thought to safety when choosing a costume. Consider make-up rather than masks, since masks can make it difficult to see oncoming traffic. Wear light-colored clothing or add reflective tape to dark costumes to make them visible. Flame resistant costumes are the best ones. Parents, please remind children to approach only familiar houses that are well lighted. Talk with them about never entering a stranger’s house or vehicle. Consider trick-or-treating with your children for their safety and because it’s a fun way to spend an evening. Trick-or-treaters are reminded to watch for traffic while they are out and about this Halloween. Remember to look both ways when crossing the street. Use sidewalks wherever possible when you’re walking around a neighborhood. Increase visibility by using a flashlight, especially after dark. An adult should always accompany small children, and older children should stay in groups. If you are driving, stay extra alert on Halloween. Young children excited by Halloween could dart in front of a vehicle. Slow down, and drive with extra caution. If you are headed to a costume party, make sure the costume doesn’t hamper your vision while you’re driving to the event! Motorists picking up and dropping off trick-or-treaters may result in an increase in the number of vehicles on the road, therefore affecting traffic patterns. Please be courteous and stay alert for trick-or-treaters of all ages. Distracted drivers are dangerous drivers. When you’re driving, keep your eyes on the road, not on your phone! Halloween isn’t just for children. Many adults enjoy dressing up and visiting haunted houses or attending gatherings of friends. If you attend a Halloween party that includes alcohol, make sure you have a sober, designated driver for the trip home. Alcohol, even in small amounts, slows reaction time and dulls the senses. Drinking alcohol could have a sad and possibly deadly result.
The Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding Missourians ages 16 and older they may obtain their hunter-education certification through an all-online format for those wanting to hunt during the firearm deer season. The online option allows Missourians ages 16 and older to complete their certification at their convenience at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The all-online format is available at www.hunter-ed.com/missouri/. The cost of the online certification is $19.95, which is paid to the online provider, not MDC. The all-online option requires the passing of a final exam but has no skills portion. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in-person hunter-education skills sessions are limited in quantity and capacity. Skills sessions are necessary for anyone ages 11 through 15 to complete their hunter-education certification. Currently, there is only one location that youth can get their hunter education skills tests completed within 100 miles of Salem and that is the Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City. Only one class remains before the start of the fall firearm season and that will be Tuesday, November 3rd from 5:30 until 8:30 where nine seats are available for that session. You can only register for this class online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov. MDC notes that, unless selected for a managed hunt, youth under the age of 16 are not required to have hunter education certification to hunt with a firearm as long as they hunt in the immediate presence of an adult age 18 or older who is hunter education certified or age exempt during youth season and properly licensed during regular seasons. Learn more about the Missouri Department of Conservation hunter education and certification requirements online at www.mdc.mo.gov/huntereducation.