Department of Transportation to Go to Court with Cleburne County Business Over Highway Signs with Confederate Flag

CLEBURNE COUNTY, AL - More controversy surrounding use of Confederate images will involve the Alabama court system, as the Alabama Department of Transportation is ordering a Cleburne County business owner to remove signs placed on Interstate 20 because they violate regulations regarding advertisements along the interstate. The business owner, Robert Castello, says he believes he is being harassed because the signs include a Confederate flag.

Castello's business, the Dixie General Store, sells Confederate souvenirs among other merchandise, and the business owner told the Anniston Star he has had the signs up along the interstate for six years, and that ALDOT only contacted him about the signs last year. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Birmingham Patch morning newsletter.)

ALDOT's complaint was that Castello does not have a proper permit for the signs, located at Exit 191 near Heflin, and when he attempted in September to apply, his request for a permit was denied due to the location of the sign and the agricultural zoning of the property where the sign stands. Castello filed an appeal in October, and a hearing was set for June of this year. On June 20, Castello was ordered to remove the sign within 10 days, and instead of removing them, he added another one.

According to the complaint filed by ALDOT August 2, Castello's signs are "an unwarranted and illegal hazard to the traveling public," and that ALDOT be allowed to removed gthe signs at Castello's expense within 30 days.

Castello told the Anniston Star he is currently seeking legal representation in his defense.

(Photo courtesy of Dixie General Store)