Posted on 11/13/2001 5:28:44 PM PST by Dakotabound
Destin, FL, Nov. 13 - The Sandollar Diner on highway 98 in South Walton, is getting some attention. Not for it's classic cooking, but it's sign.
The marquee is okay, but it's the one hiding almost behind the bushes getting noticed. The banner has the words "Thanks for Traveling" and an American flag on it. The diner was recently cited by county code enforcement for violating the scenic corridor guidelines, which bans all banners along 98.
The owner, Greg Oswalt was stunned to learn this news. Oswalt says the sign was put up to keep encouraging people to move on with their lives, following the terrorist attacks. Although he knew it violated county code, he figured the patriotism behind it wouldn't be a problem. "There's four bases within fifty miles of the diner and there are so many families right now that are broken up with husbands and wives that are in Afghanistan from this area, so you would think they would have a little more patience right now with what's going on."—Greg Oswalt, Sandollar Diner Co-Owner.
Walton County's Code Enforcement Officers stand by their decision and say they're not trying to be un-patriotic, they're just doing what they're supposed to. "The officer has served in the military. Myself, I served in the military during the Vietnam era-conflict and you know we are not non-patriotic. We are just doing are jobs, the way it's supposed to be done."—Dan Trotman, Code Enforcement Officer.
While the diner has seven days to bring down the banner, the owner says he has no intentions of doing that. He says he'll keep it up as long as it takes for the county to come to its patriotic senses. If the Sandollar Diner receives another citation, it'll get a twenty-five dollar fine. After that the fine could go up to five hundred dollars for each day the banner stays up.
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