Cities in the southern part of Jefferson County will limit the hours children may trick or treat on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31.
Arnold and Byrnes Mill, on the other hand, do not.
■ Herculaneum allows trick-or-treating from 5:30-9 p.m. on Halloween.
■ In Hillsboro, children may trick or treat from 6-8 p.m.
■ In Crystal City, De Soto, Festus and Pevely, the hours are limited to 6-9 p.m. Both Crystal City and Festus sound an alarm to mark the start and end of trick-or-treating in those towns.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office advises parents and children to be careful on Halloween to make it a fun and safe holiday for all the children who will be out on the streets dressed in costumes.
Those who will be out driving are cautioned to watch out for trick-or-treaters, some of whom will forget to look out for vehicles.
Here are some more Halloween safety tips from the Sheriff’s Office:
■ Trick-or-treaters should wear a costume that’s easy to be seen and that’s easy to walk in.
■ Costumes should be short enough so they don’t cause a tripping hazard.
■ It is best to make a costume out of non-flammable material.
■ Wear reflective tape on your costume so people driving at night can see you.
■ If you wear a mask, take it off before crossing a street.
■ Carry a flashlight with you at all times.
■ Plan your trick-or treating route ahead of time, picking streets that are well lit.
■ Have a parent or older brother or sister go with you, or go with a group of children.
■ Only trick or treat at houses with the porch light on.
■ It’s always best to trick or treat in your own neighborhood and stop only at the houses of people you know.
■ Cross only at corners. Never cross the street between parked cars or in the middle of the block.
■ Walk on well-lit streets and stay on the sidewalk, and if there are no sidewalks, stay as far left of the roadway as possible and walk facing traffic.
■ Never go into a stranger’s home, even if you are invited in for a treat.
■ Wait until you get home to sort, check and eat your treats.
■ Parents should examine all candy before allowing their children to eat it.
■ Throw away any candy or food that is not wrapped and sealed by a candy or food company.
■ Always cut open fruit handed out as treats before eating it.
■ Notify the police if there are any suspicious treats.