NEMS Daily Journal
TUPELO – A rash of alcohol-related activity has seized Northeast Mississippi in the past year with nearly two dozen communities debating spirits or brew.
Of those involved, most opted to lift bans or ease restrictions on when alcoholic beverages can be sold. In other cases, city boards heard citizen requests for Sunday beer sales but didn’t vote.
Only one community outright rejected alcohol sales – voters in Booneville said no to beer earlier this month.
But as soon as one community decides, it seems, another enters the debate. Petitions are circulating for beer or liquor or both in Pontotoc, Prentiss and Tishomingo counties, while the city of Oxford continues its seemingly endless discussion of when and how and at what temperature alcohol should be sold.
“In Northeast Mississippi, it’s been a flurry of activity,” said Kathy Waterbury, spokeswoman for the state Department of Revenue, which oversees the Alcoholic Beverage Control program.
In almost all cases, supporters of alcohol and beer sales cite the opportunity for economic growth and for keeping local dollars at home; opponents cite moral and safety issues.
The ABC has been tracking and regulating alcohol sales since Mississippi lifted prohibition in 1966, a move that allowed each county to decide for itself whether to go wet or dry.
Beer, on the other hand, has been legal in the state since 1934. Although counties also can decide whether or not to allow it, the ABC doesn’t regulate beverages with 5 percent or less alcohol by weight.
“Since it’s been legalized, it will go for a couple years where there’s no activity, and then we’ll see a lot at one time,” Waterbury said.
Activity tends to move around the state, she explained, concentrating in one region before falling silent, and then popping up in another region years later.
Right now, apparently, Northeast Mississippi has the ball.
Or the mug.
Or the goblet.
Or the shot glass.
NEMS Daily Journal
Aug 29, 2010
Aug 22, 2010
Voter Intimidation in Booneville, MS Beer Defeat?
BOONEVILLE – A pastor’s letter opposing beer sales in Booneville has raised concerns because he also is a member of the state Highway Patrol.
Pastor Ray Hall of East Marietta Baptist Church, who works as the public affairs officer for the Highway Patrol Troop F in New Albany, sent the letter on church stationery before Tuesday’s vote in Booneville on legalizing beer and wine sales in the city.
The group’s organizer, Gary Walker, said that because of Hall’s state employment, the letter could intimidate some who wish to sign the petition again.
In his letter, Hall said, “As I look over the names of those that signed a petition to allow for a vote of beer sales in Booneville, I recognized your name.”
The letter was addressed to individual petition-signers, Walker said, and sent to them at their home addresses.
Hall returned a call to the Daily Journal on Friday morning, but when asked if he also is Pastor Hall of East Marietta, he seemed to have difficulty hearing the question and after a period hung up without responding.
Troop F Commander Capt. Mickey Baker said that what Hall does on his days off is his business as long as it’s not illegal and doesn’t reflect negatively on the Highway Patrol.
“He’s acting on his own accord, and he’s also a preacher at a church in Prentiss County,” Baker said. “That’s all I’ve got to say about the matter.”
But according to Walker, “People said they felt intimidated. They wondered how Trooper Hall would treat them if he had to stop them out on the highway.”
Walker said several people had called Hall’s commanding officer to lodge complaints, and he said they were told Hall was not in a trooper position where he would be patrolling state roadways.
Pastor Ray Hall of East Marietta Baptist Church, who works as the public affairs officer for the Highway Patrol Troop F in New Albany, sent the letter on church stationery before Tuesday’s vote in Booneville on legalizing beer and wine sales in the city.
The group’s organizer, Gary Walker, said that because of Hall’s state employment, the letter could intimidate some who wish to sign the petition again.
In his letter, Hall said, “As I look over the names of those that signed a petition to allow for a vote of beer sales in Booneville, I recognized your name.”
The letter was addressed to individual petition-signers, Walker said, and sent to them at their home addresses.
Hall returned a call to the Daily Journal on Friday morning, but when asked if he also is Pastor Hall of East Marietta, he seemed to have difficulty hearing the question and after a period hung up without responding.
Troop F Commander Capt. Mickey Baker said that what Hall does on his days off is his business as long as it’s not illegal and doesn’t reflect negatively on the Highway Patrol.
“He’s acting on his own accord, and he’s also a preacher at a church in Prentiss County,” Baker said. “That’s all I’ve got to say about the matter.”
But according to Walker, “People said they felt intimidated. They wondered how Trooper Hall would treat them if he had to stop them out on the highway.”
Walker said several people had called Hall’s commanding officer to lodge complaints, and he said they were told Hall was not in a trooper position where he would be patrolling state roadways.
Booneville, MS Votes ‘No’ on Legalizing Beer
Boonevill residents who like the quality of life they enjoy in a dry community can breathe easy after Tuesday’s election that defeated legalizing beer and light wine in Booneville.
The unofficial tally was 1,362 against and 1,341 in favor of passing the measure.
The unofficial tally was 1,362 against and 1,341 in favor of passing the measure.
Aug 16, 2010
Petition Started to Allow Alcohol Sales in Tishomingo County, Mississippi
Petition seeks alcohol sales in Tishomingo Co.
Associated Press - August 16, 2010
IUKA, Miss. (AP) - A Tishomingo man has started a petition to legalize the sale of beer and light wine in Tishomingo County.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Charles "Tubby" Aldridge spent several hours at Mineral Springs Park in Iuka on Sunday gathering signatures.
It will take 1,500 signatures to get the issue before the Board of Supervisors.
Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://www.nems360.com
Associated Press - August 16, 2010
IUKA, Miss. (AP) - A Tishomingo man has started a petition to legalize the sale of beer and light wine in Tishomingo County.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that Charles "Tubby" Aldridge spent several hours at Mineral Springs Park in Iuka on Sunday gathering signatures.
It will take 1,500 signatures to get the issue before the Board of Supervisors.
Information from: Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, http://www.nems360.com
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