LOW MOOR – Members of the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors have decided to stay clear of the debate over when Halloween should be observed this year.
The debate over Halloween this year centers on the fact that Oct. 31 falls on a Sunday.
Covington, Iron Gate and Bath County have taken action to move the annual observance to Saturday, Oct. 30.
During a supervisors’ meeting in Low Moor Tuesday, questions arose over whether Alleghany County has the legal authority to change the Halloween observance.
“There is no specific authority in the state code that says when we can recognize holidays,” Assistant County Attorney Kailani Memmer said.
Research dating back to the 1970s indicates the county has stayed clear of moving the Halloween observance when it falls on Sundays.
Minutes of supervisor meetings show that the matter was discussed in 1993, but the board took no action. The last time Halloween fell on Sunday was in 2004.
“The research says we have never moved it before,” Supervisor Chairman Steve Bennett said.
“I say leave it alone, let them do what they want … unless you make it November 2,” Sharon Supervisor Cletus Nicely quipped.
“That’s election day,” Falling Spring Supervisor Rickey May said laughingly.
The matter was discussed Tuesday night at the request of Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall. The sheriff said he has received several requests from individuals and churches to designate Halloween Oct. 30 this year.
“A lot of people think I decide when Halloween is observed. But I don’t think that falls under my bailiwick,” Hall said.
Hall suggested that the observance be moved to Oct. 30 to avoid confusion over trick-or-treat and other Halloween-related activities. Hall noted that his office routinely increases patrols on Saturday nights.
“I think we should stay out of it,” Boiling Springs Supervisor Dave Price said.
Clifton Forge has yet to act on when Halloween will be observed in the town. Halloween activities are scheduled in the town for Oct. 30, but Bennett said he understands town council is leaning toward leaving the Halloween observance at Oct. 31.
“The big winners in all of this will be the kids, because they can hit Covington for on trick-or-treat one night and the county the next,” Bennett said.