Video: Fulton Next North Mississippi Town to Vote on Alcohol Sales

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FULTON, Miss. (WCBI) -Next week voters in yet another Northeast Mississippi city head to the polls for a referendum on legal alcohol sales. WCBI’s Allie Martin was in Fulton to get both sides of the usually volatile and emotional issue.

Fulton voters will vote on two referendums next Tuesday. One will determine the right to sell light wine and beer, the second would allow for the sale of liquors with higher amounts of alcohol.

Last month, a group known as Fulton Forward, gathered enough signatures of registered voters to put the issue on the ballot.

Although the vote is next week, the few signs we spotted around town asked citizens to vote against the issue.Proponents say they are waging a low key campaign.

“Things seem to be pretty quiet, at Fulton Forward, we’re not out to change anybody’s mind about right or wrongs of alcohol, we just want to allow the city of Fulton to vote on this issue.”

Montgomery says the city could use the tax dollars that now are going to Lee County and other nearby cities and towns where alcohol sales are legal.

On the other side of the issue, a group calling itself “Preserve Itawamba.”They claim any increases in tax revenue would be offset by the changes legal alcohol sales would bring to the city and the county.

“People talk about the crime and that sort of thing, but you know, you’ve also got the litter on the side of the road, you’ve got, when you go in a store, you have got to walk around the beer cases stacked really high.”

Baggett says he came to the area nearly ten years ago in large part, because of its family friendly atmosphere. He believes allowing alcohol sales would undermine that image. Members of Fulton Forward say they have gone door to door to educate voters. “Preserve Itawamba” will hold a rally next Sunday afternoon at Playgarden Park. In Fulton I’m Allie Martin WCBI News.

In the last six weeks, Pontotoc voters have approved the sale of beer and liquor while Amory voters have rejected both. The small town of Pittsboro votes next month.