After more than 50 years as a legally dry county, Estill County is quickly approaching the date in which local voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether to allow alcohol sales in the county.
With less than two weeks until Jan. 15, the election date set by Estill County Judge-Executive Wallace Taylor, citizens on both sides of the argument are gearing up for the vote.
Two local groups have made strong attempts to let their beliefs on the matter be known: Citizens for Estill County Progress and the Estill County Ministerial Association.
Both groups have spent the last several weeks campaigning and each has a plan of action as they prepare for the upcoming election. Members of each took the time to speak with the Citizen Voice & Times in regard to their stance on the issues surrounding legalizing alcohol sales in the county.
Citizens for Estill County Progress
The Citizens for Estill County Progress is a group of local citizens concerned with regulating alcohol sales in the county.
According to the group’s website they are “a group of individuals who call Estill County home and who have watched as underground, illegal alcohol sales have contributed to the deaths of countless citizens and the harm of countless families.”
Jacob Estes, a member of the group and the man responsible for initiating the petition that forced the election, said he and the other members of the group are concerned for the local families who are or will be effected by alcohol, especially those with minor children.
He said he wants to legalize alcohol sales locally so that regulations are established.
“I believe responsible store owners can better regulate alcohol sales to my children or other minors better than any bootleggers can,” he said.
Estes, who has two children of his own and two step-children, said his group is focused on curbing the crime of bootlegging in Estill County.
He and other members of the group want to shed light on the problem locally and make citizens aware that alcohol is already in Estill County, but it’s not regulated. In his opinion, that’s what makes alcohol most dangerous.
“Regulation of alcohol sales would be better for our community,” he said.
Larry Lane is also a member of Citizens for Estill County Progress and shared similar opinions about legalizing alcohol sales.
“We are not trying to unleash the evils of alcohol on Estill County,” he said. “Alcohol is already here. But, the system we have in place is not working.”
Lane, who was born and raised in Estill County, said the big issue at hand is whether or not citizens decide to take control of the alcohol sales in the county.
“The opposing side is clouding the issue as us wanting to let alcohol in the county,” he said. “But, it’s already here and it’s being obtained easily by our young people. That’s why we need to regulate it.”
Lane said legalizing alcohol sales offers parents the opportunity to teach their children about the seriousness of alcohol use and abuse.
Those opposing the vote argue that alcohol destroys families. Estes and Lane said the issue boils down to much more than that.
“In my personal opinion, alcohol itself doesn’t destroy families,” Estes said. “It’s the misuse of alcohol that destroys families.”
Lane shared Estes’ sentiment.
“It’s alcohol abuse that destroys families,” he said.
In addition to promoting awareness and regulations, the group wants citizens to know they are concerned with keeping alcohol tax revenues in Estill County.
“There’s so many tax dollars from Estill Countians going to other counties,” Estes said.
Lane said he would like to see alcohol sales be legalized locally so that the tax revenues could be used locally.
“We need to keep this money in Estill County to be used to better patrol our citizens who do drink,” he said. “It’s about protecting our children.”
To prepare for the election, the group has been doing its best to spread the word and clarify its stance on the issue.
Estes said he has spent a lot of time talking with local people about the issue and remaining open to their opinions at the same time. He spent part of last week distributing yard signs and bumper-stickers encouraging people to “VOTE WET 1/15/13.”
More information about Citizen’s for Estill County Progress can be accessed at the group’s website: www.firethebootleggers.com.
Estill County Ministerial Association
Much like the other group, the Estill County Ministerial Association, has been preparing for the upcoming election by spreading the word about its stance on the issue.
The association is composed of local ministers who have made it a point to oppose the legal sale of alcohol in Estill County.
Delvin Reece, treasurer of the association, said he and his colleagues are doing so by writing letters to the editors of local newspapers, distributing yard signs and encouraging local ministers to discuss the issue with their congregations.
Reece, who has been the pastor of New Beginnings Fellowship since 1984 and a member of the association since the same year, said making alcohol more easily accessible locally will cause a lot of minors to use it when they normally wouldn’t.
He said he keeps hearing the same arguments made about alcohol as he has concerning legalizing drugs, like marijuana. He said the argument that legalizing alcohol sales will curb the crime of bootlegging isn’t very accurate.
“Legal alcohol sales won’t change anything,” he said. “The bootleggers will still have a client base. I don’t think it’s going to put anyone out of business because bootlegging is a subculture in itself.”
Reece argued that those citizens who frequently purchase alcohol from bootleggers aren’t likely to patronize an upscale liquor store or bar in the county.
President of the Ministerial Association Paul Groves said he doesn’t think legalizing alcohol sales is the right move to reduce the crime of bootlegging.
“Those for alcohol sales are saying bootleggers are selling to minors,” he said. “They’re pushing this as a way to control that. If that’s the control, the control is falling flat.”
He said there’s very little people can do to control alcohol, “even if it is legal.”
Both men said they have witnessed the negative effects alcohol has families and the community. This why they stand firmly behind the argument the association makes that “Alcohol destroys families.”
“I’ve personally seen the destruction of people I love dearly because of alcohol,” Groves said. “It just takes a few minutes to research the consequences surrounding alcohol.”
He noted the “drastic” physical and mental effects alcohol has on its users including heart disease, decreased brain function, high cholesterol and liver disease. Groves also said alcohol has an enormous impact on crime.
“Just take a look at any of the newspapers in town each week,” he said. “Even in a dry county the court docket is full of people charged with alcohol related crimes.”
He also said through research he’s discovered alcohol contributes heavily to violent crimes and sexual assaults.
Those opposing legal alcohol sales in the county do so because of their belief that alcohol paves the way for destruction in communities.
“A group of young people are being asked to grow up in a difficult world,” Groves said. “The last thing we need in this county on top of an illegal drug problem is to add a legal drug… And alcohol is a drug.”
Reece’s beliefs on the issue seem to align with Grove’s. He said making the decision to vote “yes” or “no” boils down to what’s best for the community, not the individual.
“Everyone has this mentality of ‘What’s right for me might not be right for you,’ and vice versa,” he said. “But, the quality of the life of the community is the result of the choices the members of the community make.”
Groves echoed this sentiment.
“Take a look at alcohol and the effects it has,” he said. “If you think the county would be better with more alcohol then vote for it. If not, vote against it.”