THOUSANDS TRICK-OR-TREAT AT LOCAL MALL

West Park Mall held its annual Treat Street and Costume Contest Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. Thousands of people came through the doors in the two-hour period. "We are happy to provide a safe forum for trick-or-treating," said Jim Govro, general manager of West Park Mall. "We tell our mall employees to dress-up, relax and just have a good time."Linda "The Good Witch" Farrow of Sky Watch Communications was having a great time. "Everyone is just too cute," she said. Being located near the main entrance gave her a chance to see all the wonderful costumes, but not without disadvantages."I ran out of candy early and had to buy more," she said. The trick-or-treaters "get me on the way in and again on the way out." Andrew and Daniel Terhune of Chaffee represented Star Wars and the Blues Clues this Halloween. "We got here late," said their mother, Dulcie, "but they still got plenty of candy."Jungle Gems Pets had a 50-gallon fish tank filled with candy just to make sure no one was left out.

Nicklaus Baker, 5, was ready to go home after trick-or-treating his way around the mall."He already has a tummy ache from eating too much candy," said his mother, Vicki.

Govro said the numbers were high because of Halloween falling on Sunday. "When we do the Treat Street through the week, it's from 6 to 8 p.m.," he said. That's when parents are just getting home from work and trying to decide where all they need to go. With the 3 to 5 p.m. timeframe, kids could go to the mall and still make it to grandma's house before bedtime.

Winners for the costume contest were announced at 4:45 p.m. Prizes were awarded for the top three contestants in each age group. A 13 and older category was added this year to the usual categories of up to 4, 5 through 8 and 9 through 12.

Winners for the up to 4 category were Chance Roberts of Jackson, first; Nicholas Talley of Jackson, second; Tabitha Brazel of Cape Girardeau, third; in the 5 to 8 category, Brittney Parker of Sikeston was first; Zach Johnson of Cape Girardeau, second; and Mollie Lipe of Delta, third; in the 9 to 12 category, Laura Fielder of Jackson was first, John Free of Jackson, second; and Kristen Hampton of Jackson third.

In the 13 and older category, Mary Festus of Cape Girardeau was first, Nicole Williams of Cape Girardeau, second; and Vernon Heid of Cape Girardeau third.