The Northampton County Sheriff's Office as of Friday began taking concealed handgun applications online.

In the first week of October Sheriff Jack Smith said the office went live with handgun applications via the county's website. “To date we have served over 350 customers from the convenience of their homes, offices or mobile units,” he said.

With the applications, customers may go online and complete the form for new and renewal applications, print the form, pay and make the appointment to be fingerprinted. “Customers will still have to come into the sheriff’s office for the fingerprint process and to submit the form,” he said, adding, however, “This will save so much time and as we all know time is very valuable. It is very important to minimize the public's time as much as possible and the procedure should prove beneficial to the citizens of Northampton as well as the Northampton County Sheriff Office.”

In other news related to the sheriff's office, Smith said the office will have an over-the-counter and prescription pill drop Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Gaston Fire Department on Old Emporia Road.