Trick Backfires on Local Pranksters

When Ronnie Van O'Neal was off the island for minor surgery a few days ago, some Republican friends of his decided to prank him by placing Trump/Pence signs in his front yard and along his fence.

"I'm not a Republican, I'm not for Trump," he said when I called to ask about the signs. I distinctly remember a hat Ronnie Van used to wear that said "A poor man voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders." I was more than a little surprised to see the Trump signs in his yard when I passed by, and then, when the signs were defaced the next day, I knew there must be something fishy going on.

Ronnie Van says he has a good idea who might've bought the signs and put them in his yard. He's not naming names, but it's down to three or four possibilities. He drinks coffee in the morning with a bunch of guys at the Fish House....

"I'm always pickin' on them about Democrats and Hillary Clinton," he said. "They bought the signs, but the trick has backfired on them!"

Ronnie Van said he didn't want to simply remove the signs – he wanted to send a clear message about his politics. "I have a lot of Mexican friends. I'd like them to know I ain't for Trump," he said. A little spray paint took care of that.

A female Trump supporter stopped by and asked him to take down the altered signs, but he said no.

"I know I'm not supposed to mess with them," he said. "But they're bought and paid for, and on my property. They can have 'em back after tomorrow."  

Note: One of the "NO" signs is in front of Ronnie Van and Martha's house on the Back Road and the other is on their property next to the Fish House.