Replying to KKK Snowman

HAYDEN, Idaho -- While most see the holiday season as one of joy and merrymaking, at least one Hayden, Idaho, resident is taking the opportunity to spread a little hate courtesy of a noose-carrying, KKK hood-wearing snowman on their front lawn.

Several area parents noticed the offensive snow sculpture, located in front of a home in the 9000 block of Hillview Drive, while taking their kids to school Wednesday morning.

The sculpture depicts a snowman with a pointed hat and an outstretched right hand with a noose in it. Residents in the neighborhood say the homeowners also have an Aryan Nations flag on display.

One resident said they were "appalled at the nerve they have to threaten people in our community with their signs of hatred," adding that this is a season of love and hope, not hate.

The homeowner who had the offensive snow sculpture in front of his home is Mark, who was profiled by KXLY back in July when he posted flags ranging from an Aryan Nations flag to an SS flag at his home, drawing the ire of his neighbors. Then in October he angered residents further when, according to neighbors, he passed out bullets on Halloween. Mark refuted his neighbors claims, saying he didn't actually pass out bullets, but rather he passed out bullet casings, and only did so after he ran out of candy.

A self-described white separatist, Mark, who declined to give his last name during an interview in July, said Wednesday there was nothing wrong with his snowman.

He said he put the snowman on his front lawn about a week ago. At first the snowman was much smaller, but someone attempted to knock it over within the last day or two, so he rebuilt it. It was about 10 feet tall Wednesday morning.

Mark lives about 100 yards away from Hayden Meadows Elementary School and several concerned parents called authorities about the snowman. Two Kootenai County sheriff's deputies went to his home Wednesday and said there is a statute in Idaho against hanging nooses, which could have led to a criminal complaint against Mark if the noose hadn't been removed from the sculpture.

The pointed hat on top of the snow sculpture was knocked off, though Mark maintained there was nothing wrong with his sculpture and that it was just a snowman.

KXLY4's Tania Dall contributed to this report