COUNTY LIFE
Halloween safety tips for motorist, parents, kids
Parents should accompany small children as they go in search of treats during Halloween.
Staying safe can be tricky for children going through neighborhoods in search of treats, unless they stay aware of possible traffic dangers on the streets, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension expert.
“This time of year, the days are beginning to get shorter, and with shorter days comes more low-light and nighttime driving,” said Bev Kellner, AgriLife Extension passenger safety program manager, College Station.
Kellner said nighttime driving requires extra attention from both motorists and pedestrians.
More than 70 percent of all fatal pedestrian incidents occur in low light conditions, and nearly 50 percent of fatal bicycle crashes occur in low-light or dark conditions, according to NHTSA.
“There are also increased instances of drunken driving on Halloween,” she noted. “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting 42 percent of those killed in traffic crashes on Halloween night from 2013 to 2017 died in crashes involving a drunk driver.”
Kellner said the large number of young pedestrians on the streets Halloween evening makes this an especially dangerous time, but motorists, parents and children can take some safety measures to make it less daunting.
Safety tips
for motorists
• Slowing down in neighborhoods and watching for children on roads, medians and curbs.
• Taking extra precautions when entering or exiting driveways.
• Being alert to children possibly darting out from between cars or behind bushes or shrubs.
• If attending a party where alcohol is to be served, designate a driver.
Tips for parents
• Having an adult accompany children at all times to supervise their activities.
• Reminding children to stop, look and listen before crossing streets.
• Taking a flashlight and having your child wear reflective strips or patches on their clothing or costume to be more visible.
• Be certain children’s masks do not impair their vision or hearing.
• Ensuring costumes do not impede the ability to walk or drive.
Tips for pedestrians
• Before crossing a street, stop at the curb or edge of the road and look left, right and then left again before crossing.
• Walk, don’t run, from house to house or across the street.
• Cross streets only at intersections and crosswalks, then obey any traffic signals and watch out for turning cars.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing traffic.
“Many people are also choosing to have in-home Halloween parties for children or Halloween parties in schools or community centers in order to increase child safety,” Kellner said. “But if you’re doing Halloween the old-fashioned way by door-to-door trick or treating, taking some extra time and making sure everyone obeys the rules of the road and remains vigilant can make Halloween reasonably safe.”
Have fun and remember to be safe.
May 8 is the deadline to honor your graduate in the 2024 Keepsake Graduation section. It is the only section where you will see senior photos of every high school in Montague County and Bellevue.
If you want to honor your graduate with a special ad call 872-2247 or print a copy of the submission form at bowienewsonline.com. The section will publish on May 22.
From a road trip around North Texas to a colorful car show, Nocona is gearing up for its 11th annual springtime festival Cruisin’ Nocona on May 3-4 with lots of family fun activities.
Enjoy the popular Poker Cruise on May 3 as drivers travel a 120-mile trek through the countryside of Montague County enjoying several stops along the way before looping back to Nocona for lunch.
Early-bird registration is $50. Forms are available at the Nocona Chamber of Commerce office at 304 Clay St. #3 or go online to Nocona.org/events to get a form. After April 25 the cost goes up to $65.
There will be on-site registration from 9 – 10:30 a.m. that day at 915 E. U.S. Highway 82, where the cruise starts at 11 a.m. Each driver gets a goodie bag with a Cruisin’ Nocona T-shirt and ticket for the cruise lunch. Additional lunch tickets may be purchased for $20.
First-third place prizes will be awarded to the best poker hands. There will be a big truck light show at 8:30 p.m. at The V at 8:30 p.m. Friday night.
A pancake breakfast served from 8-10 a.m. at The V opens Saturday morning followed by downtown Nocona being filled with classic cars and big trucks for Cruisin’ Car Show. This is the second year to include the big trucks set up along Clay and West Walnut Streets.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 cars and pickups, top five motorcycles, Big Truck People’s Choice and Big Truck that traveled the farthest to the show. All makes and models welcomed to enter. Forms are available on the chamber’s website.
The car show will have registration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Clay and W. Walnut with judging from 1-3 p.m. Awards will be presented at 4 p.m. at the H.J. Justin Building, 100 Clay.
There will be a power wheel car show from 3-4 p.m. in the Justin building. Cecil Allen Moore will entertain at the same location starting at 5 p.m.
Bowie High School staff and students celebrated its first “Signing Day” on April 25 looking on as three seniors signed their letters of intent to pursue different paths to higher education.
Principal Joanne Keeler said she was excited to present this program and show students the success they can have if they work hard and they also could be signing up for their future. She hopes to see the program expand adding more students who are planning their futures.
Jacobi McGregor signed his letter of intent to attend Ottawa University in Kansas on a powerflifting scholarship. He plans to study sports administration.
Iron Atkinson will be joining the United States Army. His grandmother Sherri Waldrop, looked on as he signed the paperwork.
Traycee Stewart, daughter of Susan and James Stewart, will attending West Texas State A&M University on a music education scholarship.
Read the full story on signing day in the mid-week Bowie News.
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