Video: Group Submits Signatures To Get Liquor Measure On Nov. 3 Ballot

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IUKA, MISS. (WCBI) – Tishomingo County voters will decide in November if liquor can still be sold.  This after the Board of Supervisors gets more than enough signatures from a group calling for an election.  WCBI’s Allie Martin talked with people on both sides of the issue.

Members of the “Keep Tishomingo Dry Coalition” were discussing their next course of action, only moments after turning in a petition to the Board of Supervisors.

“With the help of the good Lord,  and work and effort and prayer, it will be the beginning of the end of alcohol sales in Tishomingo County,” said Pastor Tony Curtis.

In May of 2013,  beer, wine and liquor sales became legal, after a close election.  The margin of victory was only 42 votes.

Now, when voters go to the polls November 3rd in the general election, they will also decide the fate of future liquor sales in Tishomingo County. And because voters are heading to the polls anyway, a special election is not necessary, and that means a $20,000 savings for taxpayers.

“We will let the people speak and whatever happens happens,” said District 5 Supervisor Greg Collier.

In Mississippi, cities collect tax revenue anytime alcohol is sold, so we checked with the Iuka city clerk who says since the area became wet in 2013, there has been no noticeable increase in sales tax revenue, in fact, some months, that revenue has dropped.

Chris McMeans is co owner of Old 25 Wine and Spirits.  He says there is another issue to consider.

“I just wish everybody would take into consideration that it’s made our town safer actually, there are not drunks running up and down the roads now, there are not people on the back roads drinking and driving that had to sneak it back to their home,” McMeans said.

Both sides will work hard the next two months, taking no vote for granted.

The Coalition for a Dry Tishomingo County says if they are successful in November, they will mount an effort to take on the sale of beer and wine in 2018.