Officials urge caution on Halloween
Monday, October 30, 2006 9:50 AM PST
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| LARRY MEYER | ARGUS OBSERVER
Regan Hartley, 8, a third-grader at Nyssa Elementary School, throws darts at the recent school carnival. Transportation and law enforcement officials encourage children to be safe while wearing their costumes and masks and trick-or-treating.
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Larry Meyer | Argus Observer
ONTARIO
Every year as Halloween nears, children, parents and retail stores prepare for the holiday celebration with costumes and candy.
Police and highway officials and other transportation agencies, however, have another focus for the event: to promote safety, whether people are trick-or-treating or driving Tuesday night.
The Oregon Department of Transportation and Oregon State Police issued a joint statement warning motorists to pay special attention Tuesday when the costumed children are out in force after dark.
“With the end of Daylight Savings Time, darkness comes earlier, and clouds and rain further darken road visibility,” Sue Riehl, ODOT Safety Division youth program coordinator, said. “So it's important for both adults and children to be particularly careful this weekend and on Halloween.”
The Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State Police offered these simple tips for a safer Halloween:
- Slow vehicles down in residential neighborhoods, particularly in those areas where there are no sidewalks and children are walking on or near the shoulder of the road.
- Watch for children walking in or near the street or on medians or curbs, and from beyond parked cars or obstacles.
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and cautiously. Have child passengers enter and exit cars on the curb side, away from traffic.
- Children should be dressed in bright costumes, or put reflective tape stickers on dark costumes.
- Face paint or cosmetics on a child's face is safer than loose-fitting masks that can obstruct a child's vision.
- Children should carry flashlights or glow sticks.
- Secure masks and hats so they do not slip.
- Remind children to cross streets only at intersections, stop and watch for cars before crossing streets and do not let children younger than 12 trick-or-treat without supervision.
Union Pacific also issued a caution to motorists and pedestrians on Halloween if their routes take them near or over railroad tracks.
“It's important to remind children about the dangers of trains and trespassing on private property,” Bob Grimaila, Union Pacific senior assistance vice president of safety, said. “Adults should tell them to travel only on designated walkways and to never take shortcuts or play on or near railroad tracks.”
Cody W. Ables wrote on May 16, 2008 11:04 PM:
Here is something that we should all read. This is a letter from an angry woman in New Jersey regarding the War in Iraq and all of the war’s negative publicity. Pay attention.
'Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan, across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania?
Did nearly three-thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they?
And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was 'desecrated' when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.
I'll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .
I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.
I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in Iraq come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.
I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don't care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don't care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed 'special' food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.
Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
If you don't agree, then by all means quit reading. Should you choose to do so, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:
'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem' -- Ronald Reagan
I have another quote that I would like to add
'If we ever forget that we're One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.' Also by.. Ronald Reagan
One last thought for the day:
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said: 'A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in.. And how many want out.'
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
Important for us all!!!!
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN!’
I hope you take this woman’s viewpoint into consideration. It closely parallels my own. As I begin my journey in becoming a soldier of the greatest country in the world, hearing this woman’s words sets my heart at ease. It is warming to know that there are people in this great country who still care about those men and women who have no choice.
Cody W. Ables
U.S. Air Force Academy 2012
"