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Tater Day Attendees: For and Against Alcohol Sales

Steve Snodgrass (wikimedia commons)

Not a single beer can mingles with the soda and water bottles for sale in the crowd of vendors at Benton’s annual Tater Day celebration. However, that could change in the festival’s future.

Last week, a group named Marshall First delivered a petition with 2,400 signatures to the county courthouse.

The petition pushes for a referendum to legalize the sale of alcohol within county lines. At today’s festivities, Marshall County residents like Kim Bomgardner and her daughter, Terah, expressed mixed opinions regarding the issue.

Terah says alcohol sale could boost the economy, and her mother wonders how that boost could affect the community’s well being.  “Yeah, it will help the people selling the alcohol, but it will hurt the people buying the alcohol, said Kim.  “And it will provide some jobs, too. That will open up some jobs here in Marshall,” said Terah. But ultimately Kim doesn't think alcohol sales in Marshall are a good idea.

 Judge-Executive Mike Miller will have 60 to 90 days to order a referendum if the signatures are been verified.

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