Homeowner's Mom Takes Down Controversial Halloween Display
Some Neighbors Said Display Goes Too Far
Updated: 10:21 am CDT October 26, 2006
MOUNT HOREB, Wis. -- Some neighbors in Mount Horeb said they think one family has gone too far with its Halloween decorations.
SLIDESHOW: Images Of Mount Horeb Halloween DisplayDecorations around Vicki France's home included dolls, covered in fake blood, hanging from nooses tied to tree limbs in France's yard. At least one doll has a knife through its chest.Mount Horeb police said they received one complaint and asked France to reconsider her decorations, but France didn't change the display.France said that the display isn't about dead babies, but it's meant to be like the scary dolls in the movie "Chucky" and the doll contraption from the movie "Toy Story.""Every year we decorate for Halloween and this year, I happened to stop at an estate sale and saw these dolls, and thought, 'Oh, what can I do with that?'" France said.Mount Horeb Police Chief Scott Sterland said that there really isn't an ordinance that covers this sort of thing because it's free expression."Whether an individual thinks it's tasteless or not is, I think, really not the point, at least from our perspective. From our perspective, we're thinking, 'Is it something that's illegal or not?' And we don't really see it that way," Sterland said.But after seeing pictures of the display in an e-mail, France's mother Betty was so disturbed that she drove for two hours from Gays Mills to cut all the dolls down."I'm doing Vicki a favor," Betty said.Neighbors said they had mixed feelings on the display. Some argued it is part of Halloween as well as free speech, but others said it is just in poor taste."I think it's tasteless. There's such a thing as good taste. And I thought it was bad taste. In fact, I didn't like to walk down here and see it myself," said neighbor Paul Rux."I have a very literal 5-year-old daughter, who is afraid about a lot of things about Halloween. But she loves dolls and she's pretty literal, so I won't drive her by it," said neighbor Ann Corazon Ganch.But some neighbors were less bothered by the decorations."Personally, I thought it was kind of funny. My own sense of humor I guess. I have two kids, they didn't seem to be too bothered by it," said neighbor Ray Anderson.France said she hopes to put something back up in time for Halloween."I'm sure I'll have to put something scary out there. I can't find any more dolls I don't think at the last minute, but if I could I would do the dolls again," France said.France said that while she is upset at her mother, things between the two will be OK -- as long as she gets the dolls back.Related Link:
SLIDESHOW: Images Of Mount Horeb Halloween DisplayDecorations around Vicki France's home included dolls, covered in fake blood, hanging from nooses tied to tree limbs in France's yard. At least one doll has a knife through its chest.Mount Horeb police said they received one complaint and asked France to reconsider her decorations, but France didn't change the display.France said that the display isn't about dead babies, but it's meant to be like the scary dolls in the movie "Chucky" and the doll contraption from the movie "Toy Story.""Every year we decorate for Halloween and this year, I happened to stop at an estate sale and saw these dolls, and thought, 'Oh, what can I do with that?'" France said.Mount Horeb Police Chief Scott Sterland said that there really isn't an ordinance that covers this sort of thing because it's free expression."Whether an individual thinks it's tasteless or not is, I think, really not the point, at least from our perspective. From our perspective, we're thinking, 'Is it something that's illegal or not?' And we don't really see it that way," Sterland said.But after seeing pictures of the display in an e-mail, France's mother Betty was so disturbed that she drove for two hours from Gays Mills to cut all the dolls down."I'm doing Vicki a favor," Betty said.Neighbors said they had mixed feelings on the display. Some argued it is part of Halloween as well as free speech, but others said it is just in poor taste."I think it's tasteless. There's such a thing as good taste. And I thought it was bad taste. In fact, I didn't like to walk down here and see it myself," said neighbor Paul Rux."I have a very literal 5-year-old daughter, who is afraid about a lot of things about Halloween. But she loves dolls and she's pretty literal, so I won't drive her by it," said neighbor Ann Corazon Ganch.But some neighbors were less bothered by the decorations."Personally, I thought it was kind of funny. My own sense of humor I guess. I have two kids, they didn't seem to be too bothered by it," said neighbor Ray Anderson.France said she hopes to put something back up in time for Halloween."I'm sure I'll have to put something scary out there. I can't find any more dolls I don't think at the last minute, but if I could I would do the dolls again," France said.France said that while she is upset at her mother, things between the two will be OK -- as long as she gets the dolls back.Related Link: Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
