Local News
Ala. Senate can’t override veto on liquor bill
Associated pressMONTGOMERY — Legislation to permit liquor sales in small towns in dry counties died for a short time in the Alabama Senate on Wednesday and then got new life.
Initially Wednesday, the Senate failed to override the governor’s veto of the bill. Proponents who wanted an override got 13 votes, and opponents pulled 15 votes.
Then a proponent, Democratic Sen. Lowell Barron of Fyffe, got the Senate to agree 17-9 to reconsider the override issue later. That could be any time before the legislative session ends May 15.
“There’s hope,” said the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jimmy Martin of Clanton.
State law currently allows towns with at least 7,000 people in dry counties to vote to legalize liquor sales. Martin’s bill allows towns as small as 1,000 people to legalize liquor, but it excludes three dry counties: Clay, Randolph and Blount.
According to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, 26 of Alabama’s 67 counties are dry, but 12 of them have wet cities. For instance, Chilton County is dry, but Clanton allows liquor sales.
In Cullman County, which has been dry for decades, the affected municipalities include Hanceville and Good Hope.
To place the choice on a local ballot in a special election, the bill requires supporters to collect signatures equaling 30 percent of the voters in the city’s last general election.
Martin’s bill would also make sure that restaurants in Shelby and Houston counties can continue to sell liquor on Sunday. Restaurants in the two counties have been doing that by using private clubs licenses on Sunday, but the state liquor agency says that’s not proper.
The Legislature passed Martin’s bill last month, but Riley vetoed it. He said combining two topics — municipal sales and Sunday sales — into one bill is unconstitutional. The House voted 54-19 last week to override the veto.
In the Senate, Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo, encouraged senators to support the governor’s veto. He said small towns don’t have enough police to handle the problems caused by liquor sales.
Sen. Bobby Denton, D-Muscle Shoals, said some small town residents are already buying liquor in other locations.
“If a little town in east Lauderdale County votes to sell liquor, it’s not going to be the end of the world because they are going to be buying it,” he said.
- Local News
-
-
Man arrested for impersonating deputy
A local man who allegedly impersonated a Cullman County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by a real one Thursday.
-
Possible homicide in Fairview
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible homicide, which occurred in Fairview Friday.
-
Residents tour local farm, industries
The Cullman County Farm-City committee held their annual tour Thursday and toured Birmingham Fastener, Tinney Farms and the Cullman Stockyard.
-
Veterans Day celebration starts Saturday morning
A city and county-wide Veteran’s Day celebration will be Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with Civil War re-enactors a Depot Park. Events will continue throughout the day at the Festhalle Market Platz.
-
Hanceville police recover active meth lab, stolen property in home
Two Hanceville men are behind bars after police allegedly recovered a working meth lab and about $20,000 worth of stolen property Wednesday from a local residence.
-
City: Water meets all standards
As far as Cullman city officials are concerned, they provide some of the highest-quality water in the area.
-
Sumiton fugitive returned to Cullman to face charges
A Sumiton man who eluded about 50 area law enforcement officers during an April manhunt, only to be arrested in Walker County in July, was recently returned to Cullman County to face charges.
-
Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
-
Baileyton receives grant for electrical problems at park
The town of Baileyton has received the Land and Water Conservation Grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).
-
Smith Lake residents split on water plans
Residents on Smith Lake seem to be spilt which secondary water source would be best for Cullman County.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Man arrested for impersonating deputy
