DAYTON–Parents of Columbia County are invited to bring their little ghouls and goblins to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Halloween afternoon for trick or treat goodies again this year. Now in its ninth year of operations, Sheriff Joe Helm, his staff and volunteers are once again offering trick or treat goodies the afternoon of October 31 at 3-5 p.m., in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce’s Trick or Treat Main Street.

Volunteers will be at the front steps of the Columbia County Courthouse during those hours distributing bags of goodies donated by members of the community. Candy donations can be made at the CCSO through October 28.

For the seventh year, members of Columbia County Fire District #3 will display emergency vehicles and offer free hotdogs to for hungry trick or treaters.

This tradition of local law enforcement handing out treats on Halloween night dates back over 30 years, but was discontinued for a short time due to budgetary and limited volunteers pool. Nine years ago, Liz Quigg approached then-Sheriff Walt Hessler and offered to spearhead the effort and resurrect the tradition. Sheriff Joe Helm has enthusiastically agreed to continue the tradition under his administration.

For the past nine years, the program has provided goodies to hundreds of children in our community, and that number is growing each year. It is anticipated that even larger numbers of children will participate again this year.