Caged store mascot draws protests from patrons

With calls to "Free the dinosaur!" and "Free the oppressed!" local patrons of the Sunset C convenience store and gas station (owned by Sinclair Oil) on Highway 30 in Mountain Home have been protesting in recent weeks, the incarceration of the green prehistoric creature named "Claire," who calls the front of the store home.

Since taking up residence at the store last September, the mischievous miniature apatosaurus has been accused of "jumping out" and "head-butting" some customers while they were attempting to enter the store, according to store manager Shelly Adams.

"We have had about 20 complaints from customers who have had a "run-in" with Claire in the last several months," Adams conceded, "though none of the reported injuries have required medical treatment."

But that hasn't stopped some people, possibly the Dinosaur Liberation Movement (DLM) or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Apatosaurs (PETA), from demanding her release from the protective cage set up around her.

The errant subject fueling the controversy maintains a watchful vigil from a strategic location in front of the store near the public telephone booth, the companion store fixture that maintains a less obtrusive presence nearby.

Most customers frequenting the establishment good-naturedly tolerate the dinosaur, like a rambunctious and willful child, affectionately adorning the she-devil with jewels, ornaments, candles and flowers during some past holidays.

"The safety of our customers is very important to us," Adams explained, "and that is why we had to put up the fence around Claire."

But since the confining barrier went up, patrons have vocally protested and demanded the dinosaur's freedom, going so far as to leave metal files and a cake mix with the creature, to help her "break out."

Before Claire could seize the opportunity to escape, an unknown thief took the tools and food, assuming that the items were "free" for the taking, based on reports from store employees.

"It was unfortunate and other customers expressed outrage that this could happen, right in front of the store,"Adams said,

"We have no intention of relocating Claire, but we do expect that she will need to be caged indefinitely."