State officials have issued the first permits allowing the construction of liquor stores in Little River County in southwest Arkansas after voters legalized alcohol sales last year.
The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission unanimously approved permit requests for the following:
• Geraldine Haskins of Jerry's Drive-In, 1210 S. Constitution Ave., Ashdown. The location is a drive-in that serves fast food and ice cream products.
• Ralph C. Brainerd Jr. of Bogey's, 125 Webster Drive, Ashdown. The location is a couple of blocks west of the Ashdown Police Department.
The vote was 5-0 for each applicant during the commission meeting in Little Rock.
Both of the applicants were the top two in a recent drawing.
The measure to apply for the sale of alcohol was placed on the ballot in Little River County after supporters turned in more than 4,100 petition signatures.
Voters approved the proposal to sell beer and wine in retail stores in a 3,068-to-2,088 vote on Nov. 8, 2016.
Little River County has 7,192 registered voters, and 73 percent of the voters turned out to vote, County Clerk Deanna Sivley said.
The last time a local-option initiative was on the ballot in Little River County was about 70 years ago, County Judge Mike Cranford said. It failed.
With voter approval, retail stores such as E-Z Mart, Wal-Mart, Brookshire's and others that want to sell beer and wine can apply to get permits from the state's Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
The Jerry's Drive-In liquor store will be in the building and the eating place will be behind it, Haskins said.
"We made history. It was the first time in 70 years. I'm a pretty old person to be making history," Haskins said.
Under Arkansas law, only one permit may be issued for every 5,000 people living in the county as of the last census (2010). Little River County qualifies for two liquor stores.
"I appreciate the commission. It's been a lot of work. It won't be long and we will be in business," Brainerd said.
Information for this article was contributed by The Associated Press.
State Desk on 08/18/2017