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Wet Vote Wins: Marshall County to Allow Alcohol Sales

VoteYes2015 Facebook

As a heavy rain came down over Marshall County Tuesday evening, citizens were at the polls voting to make the county wet, allowing packaged and by-the-drink alcohol sales.

The county clerk confirmed shortly after 7 p.m. all 25 precincts had reported totals. The measure for the county to go wet narrowly passed 6,431 votes to 6,229 - a difference of 202 votes.

Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Randy Newcomb spearheaded the effort to bring the measure to ballot.

“I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve done and the citizens of Marshall County voting to get this initiative passed," Newcomb said. "Now it’s up to us to make sure we keep Marshall County going on the right track.

“We have a wonderful group of citizens who wanted to see this and wanted to see something to help Marshall County move forward, to make us more competitive in the tourism industry, to help bring more economy and also bring more help to our law enforcement to control and regulate a substance that’s already coming to Marshall County," Newcomb said.

In May,Marshall County judge-executive Chyrill Miller signed an executive order authorizing a special election after 3,366 residents signed a petition in support of legalizing alcohol sales in the county

Newcomb said the sales will now allow visitor dollars to stay within the county and help bolster lake tourism.

He expects it will be about 60 days before the county appoints an Alcohol Beverage Control commissioner and begins the application process for businesses to receive licenses.

“Looking forward, to be honest, this is brand new," Newcomb said. "We don’t know what the future’s going to hold. We’re looking to getting everything going over the next 60 days and seeing what we can do to improve the economy in Marshall County."

 

The "Say No Now" initiative led the Marshall County dry vote in 2012 and led opposition to the measure again in 2015. The group issued a statement on its Facebook page after the polls closed Tuesday evening. 

 

To the residents of Marshall County: About five months ago, a drive began seeking once again to legalize the sale of... Posted by Say No Now on Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Turnout was also about 450 people fewer than the last time a wet vote was on the ballot three years ago, the same night a separate measure allow the city of Murray to allow packaged liquor sales.

Last year, the Calvert City Council unanimously approved the annexation of the Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Parkwhich was eligible to apply for a state license for by-the-drink liquor sales thanks to a 2011 law. The park has been serving alcohol since August last year.

Rob Canning is a native of Murray, KY, a 2015 TV Production grad of Murray State. At MSU, he served as team captain of the Murray State Rowing Club. Rob's goal is to become a screenwriter, film director or producer and looks to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for inspiration. He appreciates good music, mainly favoring British rock n' roll, and approves of anything with Jack White's name on it. When not studying, rowing or writing, Rob enjoys spending his free time with a book or guitar.
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