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Anti
alcohol vote group to lauch awareness campaign A group of concerned citizens against a vote to legalize limited alcohol sales in one Green County precinct will conduct an educational campaign to try to convince that precinct’s voters the sale of alcohol is not in the best interests of the community. Meeting at South Greensburg Baptist Church Thursday, approximately 50 people agreed to form the Concerned Citizens Against Alcohol organization to try and defeat the measure that will appear on the May 20 ballot only for South Greensburg precinct voters. Rev. Jared Henry, who was elected director of the organization, urged members to keep the discourse about the issue civil and to encourage education about the issue, not become combative. “The actions we will take and the things we will participate in are not meant to attack anybody or to drag anybody’s name through the mud,” he said. “We are against the sale of alcohol and intimidation has never helped anything.” Henry said, though, that the issue needs to be discussed. “We need to be vocal,” he said. “The ones who are in favor of alcohol sales are gambling that you will be silent.” Henry was quick to point out the group was not anti-economic development. Supporters of the measure have outlined the economic benefits to the community if the measure is approved. “We are opposed to the ill effects of some of the decisions being made,” he said. “Why do we want to introduce something that is so destructive and leads to so much harm in the community?” Concerned Citizens Against Alcohol does not intend to be the only organization in the vote battle. Instead, Henry said, it will serve as an avenue for people, churches and organizations to take action, not do everything. “Anyone who wants to do something to oppose the vote does not have to bring it before the council, but we will coordinate efforts, if needed,” Henry said. Teddy Upchurch, the organizations treasurer, said he is trying to get churches involved in donations to help fund the effort. “But if anybody want’s to give, I will take it,” he said. “All money will be spent to oppose the sale of alcohol though advertisement, mailings and education of the voters in the South Precinct.” Upchurch said an anonymous donor is willing to match up to $2,500 for the campaign. Henry said he fears the May 20 vote is the first step in a progression that will push alcohol sales into the entire county. And he believes that educating the public will prevent that. “If we make the facts clear to the voters, it will be a landslide victory against,” he said. Among the proposals voiced Thursday were a possible public debate weighing economic benefits against alcohol’s effect on some people’s lives, a community worship service, using church message boards to lobby against the vote, conducting letter writing, door-to-door and telephone campaigns to South Precinct voters and providing transportation to the polls on election day. |
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