Hawkins Mayor: Fire Apparently Prompted by Religious Sign

HAWKINS — The Wood County fire marshal is investigating a possible arson case in Hawkins involving Mayor Will Rogers — and possibly a controversial religious sign. According to KETK, around 2:30 Wednesday morning, Rogers got a phone call saying that his coffee shop was on fire. Luckily, most of the damage was done to a small building behind the coffee shop, where workers cook and sort a lot of their food. Rogers says firefighters got to the scene quickly and were able to put it out almost immediately. Rogers says security video shows a white truck driving up and a man throwing something at the building.

Rogers believes his business was targeted by people angry over the controversial sign saying, “Jesus Welcomes You to Hawkins,” which stands just east of his shop. Rogers says, “When you see that sign, it’s gotta be like a dagger to you, and that’s what’s goin’ around there — hatred…it’s all over our world. It’s the hate they have in their hearts — and…the only one that can change that’s Jesus. So that’s whay that sign is so important.” Several members of the community have placed smaller versions of the sign outside their homes to show support.