Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween is supposed to be a spooky night, but parents don’t have to be scared about their kids’ safety if they follow some simple safety tips from Safe Kids Sarpy/Cass County.
With Halloween being one of the most dangerous days of the year for child pedestrians -- children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than the rest of the year -- it’s essential for parents to prepare their children properly to stay safe while trick or treating.
“Parents need to remind kids about safety while walking before they go out trick-or-treating,” says Amy Seys, coordinator of Safe Kids Sarpy/Cass County.  “Children should also bring flashlights or glow sticks with them, carry reflective bags or have reflective tape on their costumes and not wear masks which may inhibit their ability to see hazards.

Tips for Parents
Safe Kids recommends that children under age 10 do not trick-or-treat without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to go trick-or-treating without supervision, make sure they stick to a predetermined route with good lighting.  Parents must also remind kids to:
 
Cross streets safely. Cross at a corner, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Try to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. Look left, right, and left again when crossing, and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
Walk on well-lit sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.  Children should walk in familiar areas with minimal street crossings.
Be a safe pedestrian around cars. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
 
Tips for Drivers
Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. Safe Kids also reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:

Be especially alert. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Drive more slowly.  Slow down and anticipate heavier than usual pedestrian traffic.
Lights on.  Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances.
 
Parents must check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. Finally, Safe Kids Sarpy/Cass County suggests that parents look for non-flammable costumes and non-toxic designations when choosing Halloween makeup. 

For more tips on how to keep kids safe while walking on Halloween and throughout the year, visit www.usa.safekids.org/wtw/ .

Red Ribbon Week

Weeping Water Elementary students participated in Red Ribbon Week last week, which is a week to teach these young children to say no to drugs. The history of Red Ribbon Week is: In February 2007 members of a drug gang in Mexico killed undercover Drug Enforcement Agent, Enrique “Kiki” Camareana. He was buried with honors in his hometown of Calexico, California.
In April of that year, a Camarena Club was formed at Calexico High School to promote the awareness of the dangers of drug abuse. Later that month, the students involved in the Camarean Club presented their group to First Lady Nancy Reagan at the National Parent’s Resource Institute for Drug Education Conference in Washington, DC. This proposal later led to the wearing of red ribbons to symbolize commitment to fight drug abuse during a specified week of the year. Now schools all over the United States participate in Red Ribbon week activities.
The students of Weeping Water Elementary had themes for four school days last week. Tuesday was Sock it to Drugs Day, where students wore funny or mismatched socks, Wednesday was Wear Red Day, Thursday was Join the Team Against Drugs Day, where students wore their favorite team jersey or t-shirt, and Friday was Too Cool to Do Drugs Day, where students wore their favorite winter hats. The students had a great time dressing up for the various days and also enjoyed learning about the dangers of Drug Abuse.

 
Meiah Yale-Barton, Katie Baker, Gage Musil, Taylor Hermann, and Kylie Vogler wore their favorite team’s jersey for Join the Team Against Drugs Day
 
American Red Cross Blood Drive

It’s time, once again, for Weeping Water High School’s annual blood drive. Harvest is in full swing, which means some of our loyal donors will not be able to donate. Guidelines for giving blood are: must be age 17 or older, you must weight at least 110 pounds, provide a photo ID, and know your social security number. The state of Nebraska has recently decided to allow 16-year-olds to donate if they meet all other guidelines. But 16-year-olds must have a signed parental consent form.

Where: Weeping Water High School Gym
When: Monday, November 5, 2007
Time: 1:00-6:30 p.m.

For an appointment call Diane at 267-2445.

 Weeping Water FCCLA Food Drive

Who: Weeping Water FCCLA
What: A canned food drive for the Weeping Water Food Pantry
When: November 5-9
Where: Weeping Water High School. Students can bring the food items to school with them or anyone can bring food and drop it off near the main office.
Why: To stock the Weeping Water food pantry for the upcoming holiday season

Weeping Water FCCLA needs 4,000 canned or nonperishable food during this week to reach the FCCLA chapter’s goal. If the chapter’s goal is reached students will be allowed to get out for Christmas break a day early on December 20th. Please support the Weeping Water Food Pantry. Your donation will make a difference.
List of needed items:
Canned soups
Canned vegetables
Canned beans
Canned meat (tuna, chicken, etc.)
Boxed meals (Hamburger Helper, Macaroni and Cheese, etc.)
Boxed cereals
Jelly or Jam
Peanut Butter
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper

**Note: Ramen Noodles will be accepted, but will not be counted as one item. 5 packages of Ramen Noodles will be counted as one item**  


Haunted House
Who: Nehawka Fire and Rescue
What: Haunted House
When: October 27, 28, & 31, 2007
Time: 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Where: East end of Elm Street in Nehawka next to Freddy’s Place
Cost: $2.00 to enter and $1.00 for reentering, If you dare!!

Donations are welcome. All proceeds from the haunted house go towards improved equipment for the fire and rescue team. Please come support our neighboring town and get scared silly at the haunted house.

Fall Story Hour

The Weeping Water public library would like to invite all preschoolers and their parents to attend story hour at the Weeping Water public library.

Every Monday morning from 10:00-11:00 a.m.

**Story hour has been changed from Wednesday to Monday mornings**
Story hour is a very informal time that gets parents and their young children out of the house and also gives the children a chance to learn at a young age that reading is fun!


Community News

Louisville:
Safe Driver Seminar
      Posted by Terri Scholting on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
American Family Insurance Agent, Terri Scholting is sponsoring a Teen
Safe Driver seminar for Louisville and surrounding communities at
Louisville High School on November 27, 2007, 6:30PM in the commons area.
     The program employs DriveCam technology to capture audiovisual data
both inside and outside the vehicle whenever an incident of high risk
driving behavior occurs-sudden braking or acceleration, swerving, etc.
You may have seen this on Good Morning America, or the Today show as
we introduced it in other states. Now, it's coming to Nebraska.
      An actual vehicle will be on display to demonstrate DriveCam throughout the evening.
      The teen safe driver program is free to all American Family auto
policyholders. We'll even pay for the quick and easy installation.
Visit www.teensafedriver.com for additional information. Or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
      Even if you are not a current American Family insured
you are invited to come check out the program.
Springfield:
November 3, 9am – 2pm – The Round Tuits Craft Fair at First United Methodist Church. Lunch will be served from 11am -1pm.

Fun Holidays of the Week-An excuse to celebrate everyday!!
•    Wednesday, October 31: National Magic Day and HALLOWEEN!
•    Thursday, November 1:Snug Hugs for Kids Day
•    Friday, November 2: National Men Make Dinner Day
•    Saturday, November 3: National Housewife’s Day
•    Sunday, November 4: National Candy Day
•    Monday, November 5: National Donut Day
•    Tuesday, November 6: Basketball Day