Charge dropped in Tonganoxie street-painting caper

A prankster won’t face any penalties for painting a green line down a Tonganoxie street as part of a St. Patrick’s tradition that goes back decades.

A criminal damage charge against Charlie “Tuna” Conrad, of Tonganoxie, has been thrown out. Conrad was painting a green line down Fourth Street early on March 15 when an officer stopped him and issued the citation.

Conrad had been scheduled to appear in municipal court Wednesday, but City Attorney Mike Kelly said the charge had been dropped at his discretion.

Various people have filled the role of “leprechauns” and painted the green line each year since the late John McCaffrey started the parade — and green line tradition — in the late 1980s.

This story was originally published April 17, 2014 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Charge dropped in Tonganoxie street-painting caper."