Tina Smith-Henninger proudly displays her 'This is Biden Country' sign outside her home in Lower Towamensing Township. This week, someone threw pumpkins at it. She says she's had the sign up since June, and in the past few weeks it's become the target of escalated attention.
“We would have the occasional childish person yelling obscenities as they drove by or whatever, you expect that. Then it started with trash throwing, that was annoying but not terrible. Then it progressed. Now they’re throwing glass, not just at the sign but at my house, too. The other night it was paintballs; they shot my sign, and my house, they shot my windows," says Smith-Henninger.
State police say this is a case of criminal mischief and could result in a fine or a misdemeanor charge depending on the amount of damage. Smith-Henninger put cameras outside her home after the paintball shots were fired. She says it's a step she never thought she'd have to take in this small community outside of Palmerton.
Police say sign stealing and vandalism occur every election season. Over the weekend, the "Carbon County Trump Train," a caravan of vehicles, fell victim, too. The Times News reported Nesquehoning Police are investigating after a vehicle's tires were slashed.
The pandemic and civil unrest have lead to heightened partisanship across the country, and state police say they are not letting their guard down with the election coming up next week.