Witchy Words From A Local Good Ole Boy

Hoopeston Witch School to pull up stakesDanville Commercial NewsWiccan center scheduled to close May 1BY MELINDA HALLHOOPESTON - The Hoopeston City Council heard the final chapter of the Witch School Monday night at its meeting."Three years, nine months and 14 days ago, you said I could not stay in business," said Witch School CEO Ed Hubbard. "Well, I have sold my interest in the school, and they will be closed and out of Hoopeston by May 1st."Hubbard helped open the school that serves as a center to educate about the Wiccan religion, Paganism and magical thought in September 2003.He said he felt the community and city government did not wish to see him prosper and questioned the city council directly about whether they wanted to see him stay.Mayor Bill DeWitt, Alderman Bill Goodwine and Economic Director Shannon Ruh all assured Hubbard they were glad to see any company set up business in Hoopeston.City attorney Paul Manion said any business has a right to set up anywhere they want. He said he had run a business for more than 40 years and never cared whether people liked him or not."People loved me and people hated me," Manion said. "I have not let that dictate where I work."Hubbard left the meeting indicating he did not plan to keep his business in Hoopeston.Mayor DeWitt closed the discussion after Hubbard left by saying that if he had to beg the city government for approval to stay in town, he would have left town sooner. at link above.Hat-tip to Witchvox for article link.Technorati tags: discrimination religious discrimination intolerance religious intolerance bigotry east central illinois witch school social justice