This November, those of us who live in Benton County will vote on a measure that, if passed, would turn our current dry county into a wet county. If this measure passes, Benton County could be home to as many as 55 liquor stores.
This does not include the beer and wine that would be allowed to be sold in grocery and convenience stores. According to a University of Arkansas study, approximately $33 million in sales would begenerated for the county as a result of this change.
I personally am going to vote against passage of this measure. If passed, this will drastically change the landscape of our beautiful county, and not for the good. I have had more than one person who has moved here from other parts of the country call Bentonville “pristine.” This is due, in part, to the fact we don’t have dive liquor stores lined up along U.S. 71 or Arkansas 102.
Unfortunately, if the alcohol issue passes,Benton County streets will look very similar to what U.S. 71B in Springdale and Fayetteville look like. I dread that outcome.
The city of Bentonville, the Bentonville City Council, the Parks and Recreation Department as well as civic groups have worked so hard to make our community a lovely place to live. I don’t want a bunch of nasty liquor stores polluting that beauty and I don’t feel any amount of money gained is worth losing that quality of life. I mean, good grief, BentonCounty is surrounded on all four sides by wet counties, so it’s not that major of an inconvenience to drive and buy a bottle of booze. Let the surrounding counties dot their communities with ugly liquor stores and keep Benton County clean.
Picture this if you will: A big ol’ Liquor Mart right at the entrance of Crystal Bridges. Or how about a Liquor World on north 71 beside the walking trails/ dog park? Pretty, isn’t it?
CAROLYN LARIMER
Bentonville
Opinion, Pages 10 on 09/23/2012