Award-winning Christmas display destroyed by vandals

So much for peace on Earth and good will toward men in the 4800 block of West 25th Street.

Scott and Betty Henderson awoke Wednesday to find their award-winning Christmas light display strewn about their yard. A herd of plastic reindeer had been trampled, a Christmas tree had been knocked over, and there was even evidence that the humbugs had tried to attack a display of St. Nick skating on an ice pond.

“I would like to kick somebody’s butt right about now,” said Scott Henderson, a retired Hallmark worker and former Lawrence City Commission candidate.

The display recently had been named a first-place winner by Westlake Ace Hardware in the Light Up Lawrence Contest.

“It was pretty discouraging to see it this morning because my wife has been working on it diligently,” said Scott Henderson, who said it was not uncommon for his wife to be in the yard past midnight working on the display.

Scott Henderson steadies a reindeer decoration as his wife, Betty, works to rewire its lights Wednesday in their garage. The Hendersons were grand prize winners for the Light Up Lawrence contest and had their decorations vandalized early Wednesday.

“She started the planning – you know, where to put everything and what colors to have – in July, and she started assembling it after Halloween,” he said.

Betty Henderson wasn’t immediately available for comment. She was too busy putting wires and other pieces back together for the electric reindeer. Scott Henderson said the family would try to restore the display so that it can be viewed through New Year’s.

Henderson estimated $200 worth of decorations were damaged, but said the “main thing we have in this is a lot of time.”

Henderson said he reported the vandalism to the police department. He would like to see the culprits brought to justice.

“We hope, but you know, it’s tough to get a fingerprint off a plastic reindeer,” Henderson said.