Obama effigy hanged in Jimmy Carter's hometown

By Ty Tagami

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service said the agency is investigating an effigy of President Barack Obama found hanging from a building in the Georgia hometown of former President Jimmy Carter.

Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan told The Associated Press that the large black doll was found Saturday morning along Main Street in the small town of Plains.

According to footage from WALB-TV, the doll was hanging by a noose in front of a red, white and blue sign that says "Plains, Georgia. Home of Jimmy Carter, our 39th President." A witness told the television station that the doll wore a sign with Obama's name on it.

Donovan said the doll was removed Saturday. He declined further comment.

Sumter County Sheriff's Department officials declined comment, referring all calls to the Secret Service.

One Plains resident who said she was interviewed by the Secret Service said townsfolk were chagrined by the incident.

"We wish it hadn't happened," said Jan Williams, who manages the Plains Historic Inn on Main Street. The hotel is down the street from the building where the effigy was found. Williams said the Secret Service interviewed her about the incident, but she said she had no information for them. She said the effigy was removed by the time she got to the inn around 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

"It's not the kind of publicity the town of Plains likes," Williams said of the city of about 600, where presidential tourism is a major draw. "Plains is a nice quiet town."

The Associated Press contributed to this article.