HOOPESTON — When Don Lewis and Ed Hubbard first tried to open a Wiccan school in Hoopeston, they encountered fierce opposition from some area residents.

The resistance was so spirited that Lewis and Hubbard put the school on hold and settled for a bookstore and online education program.

“We’ve been here three years, and there’s been nothing bad,” Lewis said.

“We don’t hurt anybody, (and) we employ people who are not Wiccan.”

Building on these sentiments, Witch School expanded its services this month to include the onsite classes it shied away from three years ago.

Local reaction to the move is mixed.

“Some folks are suspicious and concerned, and some folks don’t (mind),” said Pastor Janet Eggleston of the Hoopeston United Methodist Church.

She describes herself and much of her congregation as tolerant of non-Christian faiths in the area.

“As far as I know, the (Wiccans) are good citizens and are looking to help the community,” Eggleston said.

At least one part-time employee at Witch School has encountered Hoopeston residents who are less accepting.

“They ask me, ‘How can you work for a pagan?’” said Michael Ferrell, 20, of Hoopeston.

His answer is the same every time: “They pay me.”

Ferrell, a Danville Area Community College student and practicing Baptist, works part time for Witch School as a computer programmer.

He believes working for Wiccans is no different than working for Muslims or members of any other non-Christian religion, but some members of his congregation disagree.

“I had a falling out with my preacher for working here,” Ferrell said.

The harassment isn’t limited to regular employees.

“Even our plumber today mentioned that he got razzed because of (working for us),” Lewis said.

Pastor Steve Nelson of First Baptist Church reflects the sentiments of many who regard Witch School as a threat to Hoopeston.

“I feel that the witch movement is not good for the community,” he said.

He believes Wiccans inaccurately portray the public as being tolerant toward their presence in the area.

“I think if you went one by one to (members of the public), they’re not as happy with the situation as the witches make it out,” Nelson said.

But area residents do seem to be divided.

“Since they’ve come to town, they haven’t bothered anybody,” Kelly Deline of Hoopeston said.

Others think it was a mistake to allow Wiccans to operate any sort of business.

“We shouldn’t have let them in to start with,” DeEtta Henk of Hoopeston said.

Hoopeston resident Don Dean believes Witch School doesn’t bother the town because it attracts few local practitioners.

“I don’t think there’s anybody around here interested in it,” he said.

Lewis and Hubbard agree the school attracts many from outside Hoopeston.

Witch School only recently opened to regular onsite classes, but before that the facility hosted séances and other special events.

People attending these functions needed motel rooms.

“We rented about 100 nights in 2005 (for attendees),” Hubbard said.

“The people who come here to take classes have to eat somewhere,” Lewis added.

Those on both sides of the issue agree there is little the town can do about it now.

According to Hoopeston resident Cookie Galloway, it might be best that the matter is essentially settled.

“There are so many other things going on in town right now that that’s the least of my concerns,” she said.