Kids are starting to get excited for upcoming Halloween activities, which makes this a great time for parents to start making plans on how to make sure it's a fun and safe time for area children.  Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves encourages parents to:

• Consider attending an organized community "safe walk" or "trunk-or-treat" rather than going door to door
• If your children do door to door trick-or-treating, a responsible adult should accompany them
• Make sure children only go to homes approved by their parents
• Have trick-or-treaters wear reflective clothing or carry a light / glow stick to increase them being seen in the dark
• Ensure costumes fit well and do not obstruct visibility or cause them to trip
• Teach children not to go into homes without parental permission and only approach homes which are well-lit
• Make sure children know their address and parents phone number, in case they get separated
• Make sure children walk on the sidewalks and not on the roadway

In addition to following these safety reminders, I really urge parents to go to our agency website, www.cherokeecountykssheriff.com and check for any publicly registered offenders within a two-mile radius of their home or where they plan to be trick-or-treating," concluded Sheriff Groves.