Local News
Alcohol bill has one more chance
By Patrick McCrelessAlabama senators have one more chance during this legislative session to override Gov. Bob Riley’s veto of a bill that would give small municipalities the option of selling alcohol.
“It’s got a chance to be brought up again next week on Thursday,” said Sen. Zeb Little.
The legislative session ends May 15.
The Senate failed to override the veto in a 13-15 vote Wednesday. Eighteen votes were needed for the override.
“When the governor vetoed it, he lobbied it pretty hard,” Little said. “Some senators who voted for it last time changed their votes. That sometimes happens.”
Little, who voted against the bill and supported the veto, said he did not know why some senators decided to change their votes.
The House overrode the veto last week and had the Senate followed suit, the bill would have become law.
If approved, House Bill 175 would allow municipalities with populations of at least 1,000 to vote on whether or not to go wet. Currently, state law allows towns with at least 7,000 people to vote to legalize liquor sales in dry counties.
In Cullman County, which has been dry for decades, the affected municipalities include the city of Cullman, 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.
The bill would also allow for Sunday alcohol sales in some Shelby County restaurants.
In a written statement, Riley said he vetoed the bill because, “as currently drafted, it is unconstitutional in that it attempts to treat two different and distinct issues in one bill."
Little said that was not his reasoning for voting against the bill.
“I hadn’t looked at that part of it ... I don’t know if it was constitutional or not,” he said.
To Little, the bill would have placed an undue financial burden on small municipalities.
“Towns at that level don’t always have the resources to support police to deal with that,” Little said in a previous story.
Under state law, cities that allow alcohol sales must have a municipal court to deal with alcohol-related offenses, such as drunk driving.
Little’s counterparts, Reps. James Fields and Jeremy Oden, also voted against the bill and supported the veto due to the financial burden it would supposedly cause.
‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
- Local News
-
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
A Cullman County man who has been on the run since he was accused of molesting a child in 2006, was found in Mississippi Tuesday.
-
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).
- More Local News Headlines
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
