Pompom wavers stopped in Walker

WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) - Girls waving pompoms on the side of a road is a violation of a Walker city ordinance, and a judge ruled Tuesday a small business owner will have to stop advertising in this fashion.

For more than a year, Great Lakes Gold Rush used the pompom wavers to attract attention to the business at 3 Mile and Alpine. The girls wore a t-shirt that read, "Got Gold" and had a large dollar sign on the back.

But the judge ruled that will stop immediately.

The city ordinance prohibits "pedestrian signs," and defines it as anyone wearing or holding a sign. Store owner Michael Dawson said he wasn't violating the ordinance because his employees were not wearing or holding signs, simply wearing t-shirts.

And t-shirts are not mentioned in the ordinance.

But the judge said that point of view defied logic and scolded Dawson for not complying with the ordinance at the city's request before it reached a courtroom.

Dawson will be sentenced for this civil infraction on September 14. He could be fined or have his business owner's license restricted.