"Wet" vote to be held in Jamestown, November 24th

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LCNN - 10-14-2009 at 10:25 PM

Russell Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard, ruled Tuesday the recently filed petitions calling for a vote to allow alcohol to be sold at restaurants in Jamestown and Lake precincts (in Russell County) should be allowed that "the people should be the ones to decide."
Petitions had been filed and County Attorney Mark McGaha had filed a lawsuit asking the court to decide if a "moist" vote could be held in both Jamestown and Lake precincts. The question came about as parts of both precincts were in the city limits and parts of both are outside the city limits. McGaha had stated he felt that the vote could only be held within the city limits.
Following the ruling by Circuit Judge Miniard, County Judge Executive Mickey Garner set the vote to be held on Tuesday, November 24th.
If passed the election will allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants that seat at least 100 people and derives at least 70 percent of their gross sales from food.
The last alcohol vote in Russell County of any sort was nearly nine years ago, when Jamestown voters chose to remain dry by a total vote of 362-242 against the sale of alcohol in restaurants.
At that time, the lake precinct in Jamestown had 99 votes for the sale of alcohol while 137 voters said no to the proposed change. In the Jamestown precinct, 125 voters chose yes to the sale of alcohol against 205 people who chose no. In absentee voting, 18 people voted for the sale of alcoholic beverages while 20 voted no on the ballot.

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Spooner - 10-15-2009 at 06:43 AM

Every church bus in the county will be getting ready to get to the polls for this one. The bootleggers will just rent a few.

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show-n-goh2o - 10-15-2009 at 01:38 PM

It shouldn't have to go to a vote, someone in power in the county, city or state should just make it happen. Is this something that the people really need to vote on? If they sold it for carry out the sales tax alone would make a huge impact on the city and county's books.

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quickiemonster - 10-15-2009 at 04:25 PM

By Kentucky law they do have to vote. Also the county nor city are funded directly via sales tax.

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Tom - 10-16-2009 at 08:54 AM

I wish them the best of luck! (Not being sarcastic) I think it will be a first for the area if the precinct gets it and not the city or county.

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denmarkshepherds - 10-16-2009 at 07:35 PM

Shouldnt this be titled "moist" instead of "wet" vote? If I am correct it is for "buy the drink" and drive home, instead of buying THEN going home to drink.

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denmarkshepherds - 10-16-2009 at 07:39 PM

JMO but 'round here, it stands a snowballs chance in Haiti.

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kdfwr911 - 10-16-2009 at 09:31 PM

Back in the late 80's or early 90's during a local option election (the very first one in my lifetime I believe), the lake precint actually voted wet. Of course back then the vote had to be passed on a countywide basis, and all the other precints voted to stay dry. But the majority vote in the lake precint was wet. Hypothetically I think that was because of the number of voters who had retired and moved into lake area homes in that precint, and their votes were enough to get it over the hump in that precint. Also, I think they have redrawn the precint boundries since then, so the demographics may not be the same today as they were back then.

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E-man - 10-20-2009 at 03:56 PM

I own land , but don't live in Jamestown. Does that exclude me from voting?

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Rainbow - 10-20-2009 at 07:05 PM

You are legally a resident of the address on your drivers license. Just owning property doesn't get anything but a tax bill.

I think you also have to be a registered voter in that precint so many (30-60?) days before the election in order to vote.

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PumpkinCreek - 10-21-2009 at 04:40 PM

This is gonna be long, sorry

I have started to post on this so many times, but erased it. It is a huge controversy for the area and there are deep rooted feelings, both political and religious. Good reasons to stay away
But, I cannot help but give my 2 cents worth. My family has owned property in Russell County since 1948. I think that gives me a right to comment. Forget the religious, bootlegger and political controversies for now. Back to them later.

Look at Jamestown today. It is a sad ghost of what I remember and enjoyed growing up. Local pharmacies, doctors, grocers, dentist, barbers, garages, hardware stores, boat repair (Hanklas) and what have you. It really was Mayberry of sorts and it was wonderful. Life in Jamestown shaped my life in a very positive way. But, something happened. Slowly but surely, commerce shifted from Jamestown to Russell Springs. This happened for many reasons. One being the building of K-Mart and the other biggie from narrow thinking, head in the sand leadership in Jamestown at the time.

The results are so sad. Hard working people try every year to open viable businesses in Jamestown. Almost all fail. Why is that? I think it is because Jamestown still refuses to capitalize on the lake and the tourist it brings in. The lake is not going away and I am so tired of hearing how "locals" suffer when them danged tourist are here. Enjoy those tourist, they love this place and they spend a lot of money that filters down throughout the entire community. The more you can do to extend the lake season the better. Like it or not, this is and has been a tourist destination for decades.

The allowance of alcohol in restaurants will boost sales and enhance the viability of a venture to make it during the off season. This is not the same as open package sales.
Overall, this is good for the area. I live in a city where alcohol is available in any form. We have the same complaints as any dry county. DUI, Public intoxication, sales to minors, what have you.

This is not a dry area. Those who want alcohol will find it or bring it in. The sad part of this you see in the local paper all of the time. Usually a bad wreck, driving back from a "wet" county. People drive there to get what they want, consume on the way home and kill themselves or others.

Wow, have I rambled or what! Anyway, please support the wet vote in Jamestown. Just my 2 cents.

Jamestown did not turn into a den of gambling, thieves and what have you when gaming came to town. That was fought pretty hard, but what have you now? A business that is almost invisible to the community, but provides tax revenue to all. Admit it, go to the Dollar Store, does the building next door even catch your interest? Nope, but you enjoy the revenue.

OK, fire away

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ragaglia - 10-21-2009 at 05:55 PM

Well said . . . but I fear your comments are to the choir. I would guess most folks who visit this site agree but can't vote in this election. Its a shame, because Jamestown could have been a real tourist mecca, enhancing not only the local economy, but the quality of life for full time and seasonal residents alike as well. It may seem simplistic to suggest that a single issue like alcohol sales could stimulate so much economic growth, but the truth is without it, no quality restaurant chains, hotels or resort operators would dream of locating in Russell County. Just look around today at the lack of these types of venues for proof. I hope the vote is positive for alchohol sales and that we can see if the promise of going wet is realized in expanded economic growth for the community.

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MarineAssist - 11-11-2009 at 07:32 PM

Well, the anti-moist forces are out campaigning pretty hard. There is now a wrecked car sitting along the road at the Jamestown line under a banner that reads an anti alcohol phrase. Lots of radio commercials airing now as well from local pastors.

The problem I see is their radio ads and most things I have seen the anti-side write and talk about is not accurate.

It is going to be interesting for sure.

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Roadtrip - 11-11-2009 at 10:41 PM

My wife and I have been tourists in this area for going on thirty years. Five years ago, we bought a home, and have spent more time here than ever. This summer, my wife started full-time work locally and both of us will be locally based shortly. Neither of us has registered to vote yet, but we will, once we get fully relocated.

My wife has had quite the eye-opening in her new role as an executive at a local company in a neighboring county. There is more perscription and illegal drug abuse in the rank and file, than she has ever seen working in other states. This abuse seems widespread and accepted. We both talk about the dry county and the religious connections, as seen through this new perspective of the community. It seems more than just a little hypocritical.

Not that a flood of alcohol sales tax dollars will solve the problems of the world, but it sure might break some of the paridigms around here. Substance abuse is substance abuse, without regard for the type, and maybe a little tax dollar increase and some progress might make more help available for those folks who need it. It is needed.

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Tom - 11-12-2009 at 12:09 AM

Well put.

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Tom - 11-12-2009 at 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MarineAssist Well, the anti-moist forces are out campaigning pretty hard. There is now a wrecked car sitting along the road at the Jamestown line under a banner that reads an anti alcohol phrase. Lots of radio commercials airing now as well from local pastors. The problem I see is their radio ads and most things I have seen the anti-side write and talk about is not accurate. It is going to be interesting for sure.

They really need to get some pro-alcohol adds out there... to equal out the sinister ones...

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Tom - 11-12-2009 at 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ragaglia Well said . . . but I fear your comments are to the choir. I would guess most folks who visit this site agree but can't vote in this election. Its a shame, because Jamestown could have been a real tourist mecca, enhancing not only the local economy, but the quality of life for full time and seasonal residents alike as well. It may seem simplistic to suggest that a single issue like alcohol sales could stimulate so much economic growth, but the truth is without it, no quality restaurant chains, hotels or resort operators would dream of locating in Russell County. Just look around today at the lack of these types of venues for proof. I hope the vote is positive for alchohol sales and that we can see if the promise of going wet is realized in expanded economic growth for the community.

What do you mean "could have been"?... It can be! The tide needs to turn on these bible thumpin ways. Folks it ain't about religion. If you can get people to understand that, then that's half the battle! There needs to be some positive campaigning. The majority of the voters will be older folks "set" in their ways and resistant to change. The biggest problem is that there just isn't enough people who want change qualified to vote. Sure Jamestown gets it's fair share of tourist but is there gonna be enough "transplants" to "turn the tide". Guess we'll see...

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Whistler05 - 11-12-2009 at 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ragaglia Well said . . . but I fear your comments are to the choir. I would guess most folks who visit this site agree but can't vote in this election. Its a shame, because Jamestown could have been a real tourist mecca, enhancing not only the local economy, but the quality of life for full time and seasonal residents alike as well. It may seem simplistic to suggest that a single issue like alcohol sales could stimulate so much economic growth, but the truth is without it, no quality restaurant chains, hotels or resort operators would dream of locating in Russell County. Just look around today at the lack of these types of venues for proof. I hope the vote is positive for alchohol sales and that we can see if the promise of going wet is realized in expanded economic growth for the community.

I just want to know the reason/s why do they can't vote in this election? They are not registered or what? By the way, I am also hoping that the vote is positive for alcohol sales and those we can see if the promise of going wet is realized in expanded economic growth for the community.



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Deep Fryer

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