Afton resident pleads city to combat homecoming vandalism

AFTON - Toilet paper on trees lining Fillmore Street is a common sight for homecoming week in Afton as one of the many traditions, even if it is unofficial. Yet, as concerns were addressed over chaotic damages in recent years, the tradition might need additional restraint.

Appearing before the city council on Tuesday in a plea for control, Samantha Tonelli and husband Mike described how young vandals had damaged their home during homecoming nights. They gave accounts of teenagers breaking windows and spreading vaseline on car and door handles.

East Union’s homecoming week begins Monday, Sept. 15. In days leading to the homecoming parade, older students will take part in a toilet paper tradition, with some taking it too far.

“Has your 6-year-old ever been woken up in the middle of the night from someone beating on their door or window? Has someone ever driven their truck through your yard, throwing beer cans?” Samantha asked.

The Tonellis gave a photo to the council showing a roll of toilet paper that had hit their home during last year’s homecoming. A metal bar was still inside the roll, causing far more damage than usual.

The family believes their home was being targeted by teenagers for harassment beginning six years ago. Samantha couldn’t think of a reason for this besides community resentment toward their family. She said some kids might think of her as a “B” and her husband as an “A-hole.”

Over six years, Samantha estimated they’ve spent $1,000 in repairs to their home. Since the harassment began, the family had pulled their children from the East Union school district. The scale of the damage has been more than just the local toilet paper tradition.

After an incident last year, teenagers have honked while driving past the Tonelli residence. The Tonellis believe the harassment was a cruel joke from the vandals. The tradition of covering trees with toilet paper was seen as encouraging wilder activities.

“It’s never been just TP for us,” Samantha said. “I see on Facebook, ‘it’s just a homecoming tradition. It’s kids having fun.’ I’ve never had fun.”

Contacting law enforcement didn’t stop vandals from hitting their home, even with discouraging measures such as installing 14 home security cameras and asking for her home to be added to a “do not do” list. Even after police officers visited East Union students about excessive vandalism, Samantha said the harassment has continued.

“It’s not working,” Samantha said. “Homecoming doesn’t mean the laws, rules and ordinances don’t apply. Something needs to be done because asking the students isn’t working. We can’t go on wondering how far they’ll take it this year.”

Citing the city’s code of ordinances, Samantha said Afton’s curfew ordinance could be enforced as a way to prevent late-night vandalism.

Afton’s codes states that “It is unlawful for any minor to be or remain upon any of the alleys, streets or public places ... between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. ... commencing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.”

Reactions from the city council and law enforcement to the plea were mixed, agreeing there should be a way to opt out of the tradition while acknowledging challenges faced by enforcing the behavior of teenagers. The photo of the toilet paper with a metal bar was guessed to have come from a commercial area or public bathroom.

Afton Police Chief Jake McGuire spoke defending the abilities of law enforcement. McGuire and district staff speak with students in a formal assembly regularly to discourage rowdy behavior. The Tonellis acknowledged how McGuire patrols regularly during homecoming week to stop destructive behavior.

Individuals who have previously hit the Tonellis’ residence were referred to the juvenile court system, which often leads to community service for the teenagers. The punishment wasn’t considered harsh enough by the Tonellis, with Samantha saying she was disappointed in being unable to press charges on minors.

Punishments could extend to banning students from the homecoming game and dance, with McGuire saying East Union Superintendent Tim Kuehl was open to harsher punishments to students who harass Afton residents. Councilwoman Kristie Nixon said the school could enforce these as violations of the district’s good conduct code.

Nixon also proposed a potential fundraising opportunity in purchasing “no, thank you” yard signs to signal a residence opting out of the tradition while also providing funds for school events, showing support for the district. McGuire said it was unlikely students would follow directions and could even create a stronger target for harassment.

Councilman Steve Kinyon said he’d had toilet paper thrown at his house since 1998, had vaseline spread on door handles and had windows broken. He said his wife and him starting serving hot chocolate and s’mores to visiting students after a year a kid “got hurt” during one night.

Yet, Kinyon had an optimistic view of the tradition, even jokingly saying how kids with bad aim often leave toilet paper which can go to a good cause.

“I understand your frustration,” Kinyon said. “I have a lot of trees and a lot of toilet paper. ... That roll right there can be used for a couple weeks.”

McGuire recalled one residence which resorted to firing shots above vandals’ heads. As the tradition’s extremes have increased, so has his discussions with students discouraging extreme behavior. He even recalled how some students said they didn’t take part in the tradition last year because of how harsh McGuire had been.

A possible punishment where students help with cleaning toilet paper was also suggested. This could assist with older Afton residents with limited mobility, a problem Samantha said she often sees in the aftermath of homecoming.

The council discussed the viability of limiting the tradition to just Fillmore Street and East Union schools but also understood how some students will still not follow rules set by the council. No action was taken by the council during Tuesday’s meeting. McGuire said he’d discuss with the district about any harsher punishments.