[strange] serpent in the house of worship

Police don't anticipate filing charges in the case of a woman who died after being bitten by a rattlesnake she was handling in church. Police identified the woman yesterday as Linda F. Long, 48, of London. She was bitten in the face at a church service in Laurel County, south Kentucky on Sunday evening and died a little before 11 p.m.. "She was a real good Christian person," said Opal Wagers, who sometimes attends services. Handling snakes in a religious service is a misdemeanor in Kentucky. Points of note: 1] what was a snake doing as part of a church service anyway; 2] why was a Londoner in Kentucky at this particular service; 3] why was this not the first time such things have happened; 4] how does Opal Wagers, [good name she has], judge she was a ‘real good Christian person’; 5] how does one interpret Mark 16:17-18: " In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands," referring to the apostles, as possibly referring to a modern day churchgoer? The serpent clearly didn’t feel it did. Lastly, 6] where is the biblical passage which dictates that a symbol of the Dark Side be brought into a place of worship?