Dry Counties? I Thought They Repealed Prohibition?

I live in Sharp County Arkansas. I was born in Iowa and raised in Northeast Missouri. I moved here about twenty years ago because I love the country here. I didn't know what a dry county was until I moved here. I didn't think they existed anymore. Well for years I've made the run to the liquor store, making sure I had some on hand in case of company or if I wanted a good cold bud lite or two in the evening.

Last summer as me and my son pulled into the Evening Shade Citgo Station to refill our gas after the weekly 40 mile liquor run to Missouri, we noticed an older lady getting signatures for a petition. Much to our surprise it was a petition to get the wet/dry issue on the ballot so Sharp County Arkansas voters could vote on whether to let businesses sell alcohol in the county. Of course we proudly pulled out our voter registration cards and ID and signed the petition.

I really didn't think the thing would go far here as it is a small area and it seems a lot of people are rather old fashioned and radical in their beliefs. There are also a lot of radical religious beliefs around here. As it turns out I was right. It did get on the ballot, which surprised me, but it didn't take long for it to be challenged and was took off the ballot by the judge involved. It was claimed that the petition wasn't worded right and had invalid signatures on it.

So, why did they challenge it to begin with and why are they afraid for it to come to a vote? Probably because if it came to a vote, the county would be voted wet. This group of people who are against it don't even seem to have a valid reason to keep the county dry. They contend that if the county is allowed to sell alcohol it will "change the quality of life we all enjoy". Hmmm, these people are drinking anyway, the issue is how far they have to drive to get it plus the pollution it causes and the use of non renewable energy sources that are fast disappearing. It won't change a thing about their daily lives except they may see alcohol when they go in a store.

The dry county advocates also say "Almost 50% of evironmental scientists do not believe that man is causing global warming." They further state "Let's not change the quality of life here in Sharp County for $33,400 in taxes and one person's opinion about carbon dioxide emissions." My resource for these quotes is Committee to Keep Sharp County Dry. I can only guess they believe that by not selling alcohol in the county, then people won't drink. Yeh that'll work.

I personally drive 40 miles a week or more to buy beer, I know of many more people who do the same. I don't drink and drive, I drink at home and don't have a problem with it. I can't stand a drunk and won't have one around me. These people have problems and don't need to drink. Abolishing alcohol in the county won't change how much anyone drinks, but the ones who might drink a beer and can't get it may very well turn to other drugs, especially the younger ones, possibly illegal ones, which are abundant in this area. Batesville, Arkansas drug ring hub

I think these people who are choking the life out of our community by using their power to squash the will of the people by not letting them vote on the issue of a wet or dry county need to at least step into the twentieth century, stepping into the present reality might be too much for them.

It's kinda scary to me to read some of the things being said in support of keeping the county dry here. One that I have seen a lot of is something like: If you don't like the way it is here then move! and also: The yankees don't need to move down here and tell us how to live! Crap! The war was over years ago, get over it! I even had someone tell me that if the county went wet he was afraid the African-Americans would move in here like in Newport Arkansas. (he didn't say African-Americans, but I won't repeat the exact word he used).

Circuit judge Phil Smith decided to keep the wet/dry issue off the ballot in the November election. He decided that many of the signatures on the petition were not valid. It's not over however, there is another election in two years, plenty of time to get all the signatures they need and have another go at it.