LOCAL NEWS | It’s one of the great things about being America’s most famous small town. Each October 31, hundreds of ballerinas, witches, superheroes, and ghosts flock to the quaint, tree-lined streets of Lynchburg.

With a Trunk or Treat happening at Lynchburg Elementary School from 4-6 p.m. that night and Halloween in the Hollow happening around the same time, local authorities asked the Metro Council to approve closing both the public square and Mechanic Street on Halloween at Monday night’s Metro Board Meeting.

“I was there last year,” said Sheriff Hatfield. “There were hundreds of kids. It was pretty scary.”

And he wasn’t referring to the costumes. Cars and pedestrians (especially sugar-filled kids) bolting across narrow Mechanic Street at dusk while cars bustle back and forth could be a recipe for disaster.

With that in mind, the Council approved the closings unanimously.

The Moore County Sheriff’s Department will close Mechanic Street after the buses run and the Lynchburg Square at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 31. Those streets will only be open to foot traffic until trick-or-treating ends. Side streets leading to LES will remain open and Sheriff Hatfield said special arrangements could be made for ESP students and teachers.

Sheriff’s deputies will be on site directing traffic and barricades will be used to make the closings obvious. For questions or concerns, contact The MCSD at 931-759-7323.•