Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gurdon resident comments on potential wet/dry ballot issue in county

Tommy and Stephanie Potter are founders of the Faith Mission, Faith Based,

12 Step Program, with programs, with participants from Camden,

Arkadelphia, and Prescott. They have also help set up programs in other

places. This group is particularly concerned about the upcoming election

involving Clark County becoming wet or dry. Potter starts by recalling a

little history of Gurdon when the town was wet at one time, and Arkadelphia

was dry, until the men went off to war and the women united together and

voted it dry. But prior to being voted dry, Gurdon was a violent type city,

which goes along with being a wet city or town. Due to the fact that the cities

and counties has limited finances to house prisoners, minor offenses get

overlooked or accepted, and the back roads, rivers and underage drinking is

the norm. Just this year a young man drowned on the Caddo River, as a result

of alcohol, not to mention the ATV accidents that have resulted. As an ever

increasing deer hunter reflux to this county, taxes is our ability to keep our

roads safe, and having free flowing access to alcohol, will only compound

this issue.

The people of this county has been hounded into signing the petition, in

order to get it on the ballot. Potter said, "according to the Alcohol Beverage

Commission, liquor stores are based on the population, and in order to own

one, you must be a US citizen, live within 35 miles of the establishment and

not be a felon." "Also, permit fees for a liquor store, private clubs, and

restaurants for 100 or less people may be acquired for $500 per/year, and any

establishment to sell beer is $200 per/year." Potter points out, the easier the

access to alcohol, the lower the age of drinking will begin. He said, most

crimes, accidents and injuries are between the ages of 18-23, and with a

county that has two universities, there will be more policing of those

students. Parents send their kids to college for an education, not a party.

Potter voices, due to alcohol, domestic violence is consistently related. Potter

said, people are avoiding talking about the probability of private clubs,

which will bring a new set of problems, such as broken homes, broken lives,

and broken futures. He said, the pros are misleading people into thinking

there will be jobs, there will be no increase in DWI's, and that the crime rate

will actually drop. Potter asks the question, "how many people who agree

with this issue, will sign up to pick up trash, volunteer for youth programs, or

willing to raise taxes to cope with these issues, and who will show numbers

on the true effect of alcohol?" Potter said, "people we work with are

concerned with living in a wet county, due to they will have a problem with

temptation, if it is sold in area stores."

Potter said, "the question is not wet or dry, the question is QUALITY OF

LIFE. Do you honestly feel that having alcohol available locally will

improve the QUALITY OF LIFE?" People who need answers to their

questions the Alcohol Beverage Commission contact number is 501-682-

8174.