The latest request for an alcohol permit in Cleburne County was denied on appeal at the June 17 meeting of the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC). Twenty-Five 10 Restaurant in Heber Springs requested a permit to sell alcohol in their establishment.
The Dry County Coalition, after alcohol permits were being approved in dry Cleburne County, took a stand with Twenty-Five 10’s request, holding at least one meeting in the county and a rally at the state capitol. They wanted the ABC Board to know there was opposition to the request.
At the last hearing where a permit request was granted in the county (for the Inn at Anderson House), the ABC Board reportedly acted as if they didn’t care what local officials or the voting public had to say about the situation or that the permit was in a dry county. “The board was very considerate this time,” said David Smith, Heber Springs police chief. “It was a 180-degree difference.”
Smith said the board took into consideration the two existing alcohol permits on the eastern side of Hwy 25B North when making their decision. “Sheriff Moss, churches, and people from the community turned out. That helped make a difference too; for the board to see how people really felt.”
Pastor Jeff Feil from the Cleburne County Baptist Church said the board praised Cleburne County residents for their behavior. “I think they were impressed with the opposition taking a hard stand and I think they were impressed with the Dry County Coalition. They know there were over 1,000 people at the rally at the capitol and I think that played a role in the decision.”
Feil said he applauds Sheriff Moss and Chief Smith for doing an outstanding job on representing the people and forwarding concerns from the community.
ABC Director Michael Langley reported Monday the permit request isn’t necessarily a dead issue. “They (Twenty-Five 10) can take an appeal to circuit court in Pulaski County or in Cleburne County. They can also wait a year and reapply.”
Langley said the decision had a lot to do with representation. “Officials coming down had more weight than anything.”
A representative with Twenty-Five 10 could not be reached for comment regarding a possible appeal to circuit court.
Heber Springs, Ark. —
