Rubber Ducky Rubs Rubes Wrong in Tennessee

[+ Lucky]

We all love the rubber ducky, don't we? And a vibrating rubber ducky would be even more lovable, wouldn't it? I can see Rick collecting them along with his dolls! But, in one twon, they are not very welcome:

Flea-market vendor wins fight over 'PG-13' display at church

 

 

By SUE McCLURE

Staff Writer

The Tennessian

 

 

Reluctant witnesses and lack of evidence put an end to issue

 

SPRING HILL — A bright ''yellow ducky'' vibrating bath sponge and its angry owner took on Spring Hill City Hall yesterday — and won.

 

If only by default.

 

After hearing about a business promoting personal pleasure and adult toys at Saturday's Friends of Spring Hill Library flea market, held on the grounds of a Presbyterian church, city officials said they would cite the owner into Municipal Court for violating the city's sexually oriented business ordinance.

 

But yesterday, after consulting with their attorney, city officials decided not to issue the citation.

 

''When police officers arrived at the flea market, she had already taken down her booth, and so we've declined to prosecute because of a lack of evidence,'' City Administrator Ken York said. ''We also talked to nearby vendors, and they didn't want to testify in a case like this.''

 

The booth in question displayed the ''yellow ducky'' vibrating bath sponge, along with other products Katherine Williams described as ''PG-13,'' including lubricants and body lotions from her Spring Hill-based business, Passions & Pleasures.

 

''Nothing we do is nasty, unless you have a nasty mind,'' she said, turning a knob on the yellow ducky's tail to make the sponge vibrate. ''My 3-year-old son loves to play with this duck in the bath. He puts it on his neck and on his head; there's nothing inappropriate about it.''

 

Williams said she was pleased the city had changed its mind about issuing the citation, but she didn't like the way she was treated when she went to City Hall yesterday.

 

''I asked for a copy of the ordinance from Ken York, and he refused to talk to me,'' she said. ''Then he called a detective, who got right in my face and told me I needed to leave the building.

 

''Well, I pay Spring Hill taxes, and they can't throw me out of a building my taxes pay for,'' she said.

 

York said Williams was ''loud and vocal'' when she entered the building. ''It was necessary to escort her out of the building,'' he said.

 

When she returned an hour later to pick up a copy of the ordinance, again she was loud and was escorted out, York said.

 

Outside City Hall, Williams came face to face with Effie Heiss, the president of the Friends of the Spring Hill Library, which sponsored the flea market where Williams had set up her controversial booth.

 

''You sure shocked a lot of little old gray-haired ladies like me,'' Heiss told Williams.

 

''Well, I have a lot of little old ladies who buy my products,'' Williams shot back.

 

''And I only had two negative comments, but I got a stack of people who signed up to win my gift basket,'' she said, indicating a 2-inch-high stack with her index finger and thumb.

 

Williams said she intends to set up again at next year's flea market.

 

''If she does, she'll be cited into court,'' York said. ''That duck is a sexual toy, and it was on display. That was a vibrator on display in public view.''

[+ deej]

>''If she does, she'll be cited into court,'' York said. ''That

>duck is a sexual toy, and it was on display. That was a

>vibrator on display in public view.''

 

Better keep this yokel out of the local LaZBoy store. Some of their recliners are vibrators too. And he'd have a field day in a Sharper Image store -- they got LOTS of vibrators & stuff! ;-)

[+ deej]

>''If she does, she'll be cited into court,'' York said. ''That

>duck is a sexual toy, and it was on display. That was a

>vibrator on display in public view.''

 

Better keep this yokel out of the local LaZBoy store. Some of their recliners are vibrators too. And he'd have a field day in a Sharper Image store -- they got LOTS of vibrators & stuff! ;-)