No Haunticello this Year

Directors of the Monticello-Jasper County Chamber of Commerce (COC) voted last week not to host Haunticello this year.

The reasons were varied, but primarily out of concern for exposure to COVID-19. Jasper County emergency officials and community leaders met with COC officials recently, and encouraged the COC to cancel activities that could increase the spread of COVID. In addition, Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, when most merchants are not open in the late afternoon/evening if at all.

The plan was to celebrate on Friday, Oct. 30, but traffic on the Square is already horrendous on Fridays without adding trick-or-treaters to the mix.

Many neighborhoods and some civic and family groups are planning special events that children may be included in. Otherwise, trick-or-treating presumably will still take place on Saturday, Oct. 31, in residential areas.

Tips for healthy gatherings were included in last week’s Rural Sustainability column. Families may want to try some of them.

The COC did not make this decision lightly. Much consideration went into it before members voted Thursday.