Oct 22, 2014 3 min read

Bad news travels fast, but strange news travels faster.

An Observer-Reporter article about a Burgettstown man facing charges for painting “Slow, 25 MPH” on Main Street was in the paper Wednesday morning and on dozens of news websites Wednesday afternoon after the Associated Press picked up the article.

It was picked up by Fox News, Yahoo News, and city papers from South Carolina to Arizona.

The man, John A. Cherok II, 55, was charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct by McDonald police.

He said he was fed up with drivers speeding 50 mph down the street and decided to take matters into his own hands after he said a speeding driver nearly hit him on Labor Day.

He said that was the second time he called police to report nearly being hit by a speeding car on that road.

McDonald police have served Burgettstown since the local police force disbanded.

O-R readers jumped to Cherok’s defense on Facebook. One went so far as to call him a hero, and another said he should be paid for his service.

Some readers suggested putting in speed bumps or more street signs.

“No, human life is more important than writing on the street,” wrote Bonnie Dodd. “And if it actually slowed them down and saved lives he should be praised, not prosecuted.”

A reader on the O-R commenting page said the action’s saved taxpayers money.

“A speed hump might be a major help here. But they cost between $3,000 and $4,000. Involves more work that it appears,” wrote the reader who goes by “jacksplat.” “I think he did a great job with what he painted…looks nice.”

Of 28 Facebook comments Wednesday afternoon, only one said a conviction was fair.

“The law’s the law,” wrote Kelly Ann.

Another had different thoughts.

“This has got to be a joke right??” wrote Robert Jacobs.

No, no it’s not.

Cherok’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.