For the first time in 70 years, Little River County voters will decide whether beer and wine will be sold there. The election is Nov. 8.
Vote for Growth in Little River County turned in 4,176 signatures-1,509 more than required-to Little River County Clerk Deanna Sivley's office for certification last week. The group had until August to gather signatures from 38 percent of the county's registered voters in order to get the measure on the ballot.
"We are grateful the people of Little River County will be able to vote on this important issue," said Kirk Babb, chairman of Vote for Growth in Little River County. "Our team worked hard to gather signatures, and we believe the positive response we've received shows many local residents not only want to take advantage of a revenue source that will boost our economy, but also want to have more choices here in our community."
A local measure hasn't been on the ballot in Little River County in 70 years.
"It's been decades since Little River County residents have been able to weigh in on this matter," said Babb. "Our committee is going to be working hard over the next few months to get the word out to voters about just how much of an impact alcohol sales will have on our economy. We finally have the chance to keep more dollars local, and to Vote for Growth in Little River County," Babb said.
If the measure is approved by voters Nov. 8, retail stores such as E-Z Mart, Wal-Mart, Brookshire's and others wanting to sell beer and wine will have to apply to get permits from the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
Though liquor stores are not addressed in the petition language, if voters approve the sale of beer and wine at retail stores, it could open the way for the establishment of liquor stores.
The state law governed by the ABCC restricts the number of liquor stores, Babb said.
Only one liquor store per 5,000 people would be allowed. Little River County's 2010 population of 13,171 would allow for two liquor stores.
Little River County is one of five counties in Arkansas where signatures are being collected in hopes voters can decide in November whether to allow alcohol sales in their communities, according to a recent news story published in Arkansas Business.
Sivley said the signatures were confirmed as registered voters by using a computer election software program.
"Now it's up to the voters," Sivley said.
For more information on Vote for Growth in Little River County, visit facebook/vote4growthlittleriver.