Mall to hold Halloween activities

Shortly after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, numerous e-mails started circulating warning Americans to stay out of shopping malls on Oct. 31 because they were thought to be the next target of the terrorists.

The story claimed a woman living in California dating a man from Afghanistan was warned by the man to not fly in commercial jets on Sept. 11 and stay away from shopping malls on Oct. 31.

Sean Phillips, regional marketing director of Westfield Shoppingtown, said the FBI has since confirmed the e-mail story was nothing more than a hoax.

Even the company where a woman originated one version of the story and sent it out over company e-mail has left a voice mail message stating that no one in the company has any personal information about the event, and the FBI was unable to substantiate any of the claims made in the e-mail.

Not taking chances

For years, on the last day of October, children dressed like ghosts and goblins have walked store to store collecting tasty treats at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau.

Phillips said this year will be no different.

"There is no need for people to worry," Phillips said. "We'll follow the normal procedures and increase security on Halloween like we do every time there is an increase in the number of people in the center."

But even though there will be additional security measures, some parents still aren't taking any chances.

Tammy Kwikkel said her 10-year-old daughter, Brooke, and 12-year-old son, Austin, will be going to friends' and relatives' houses to trick or treat this year instead of going to the mall.

"We've lived in Cape for about 11 years," Kwikkel said, "and we've come out to the mall on Halloween for at least eight of those."

Kwikkel said the decision to not to go to the mall on Halloween night came after she and her husband, Mark, heard about the e-mail story.

"Even though we're not too concerned because we live in Cape it still plays in the back of your mind," she said. "We decided it is better to be safe."

Shannon Thompson, customer service and marketing coordinator at West Park, said she is anticipating 2,000 kids for this year's trick-or-treat event, which is about the same number of children the mall saw last year.

"I think a lot of people are ready to get out and get back to normal," Thompson said.

On Halloween night each store in the mall will hand out candy from 5:30-7:30, and a costume contest will be held for children ages 4 to 13. The winners, who will receive mall gift certificates, will be announced at 7:30.

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

335-6611 extension 128