FOLLANSBEE, W.Va. -- The owner of a Northern Panhandle McDonald's says repairs are being made on a flagpole that caused a stir when a U.S. flag was inadvertently flown upside down.

Follansbee McDonald's owner Karen Mezan told The Herald-Star of Steubenville, Ohio, that a pulley broke on the flagpole Wednesday. In the process of trying to fix the problem, the flag got turned upside down and went unnoticed by restaurant workers. Flags flying upside down typically signal a distress call.

Mezan says a cord on the pulley broke when fire department employees worked on it Wednesday night. More work was scheduled Thursday.

Mezan says the issue was ill-timed, considering it occurred the day after the presidential election. But she says it was "an unfortunate mistake'' and wasn't meant to offend anyone.