Turlock's 'Queen Of Halloween' Slapped With Fine For Decorations
TURLOCK (CBS13) – It's a Halloween decoration dispute in Turlock after neighbors complained about one big display of holiday spirit.
During the first week of October, Sherry Mailloux begins to decorate her home for Halloween.
"It usually takes about 16 hours," said Mailloux. "On the first day I spend eight hours just doing the basics, then a few hours here and there."
Mailloux could very well be the queen of Halloween. The final presentation is an elaborate web tunnel leading up to her front door. The work is more than the actual expense putting it together.
"We do a lot of recycling, too," Mailloux showing a Target plastic shopping bag-turned-ghost.
For the past five years, Mailloux's Picadilly Lane home has been the most popular one in her neighborhood to hit on Halloween.
"We probably had 800-900 trick-or-treaters last year," said Mailloux.
"I have to have a chalked arrow. They come in here, get candy, and they go out that way, because otherwise it's a traffic jam."
Mailloux's decor, however, didn't please one neighbor, who complained to the city he was afraid of getting tangled in the webs strung across the sidewalk. Mailloux was treated to a citation and fine for $100. She decided to pay the reaper this Halloween.
"And I said, 'Is that $100 a day or a flat rate?' And she said, "It's a flat rate." I said, 'Done! That way my webs can stay up until after Halloween? I said I'll pay it," said Mailloux.
It appears some neighbors want to keep Mailloux's decorating tradition going next year. One stranger stopped by Friday morning with a $5 donation to the fine.
"She was adamant, so I took the $5, but it made my day to think I was making someone else happy," said Mailloux.
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