From staff reports

Thorsby residents on Tuesday voted to allow the sale of alcohol in town limits.

Three hundred ten residents voted in favor of the measure during the primary election, and 208 residents voted to keep the town dry.

The vote follows Jemison’s decision to do the same, in a special election.

For more on this story, visit clantonadvertiser.com on Wednesday and see Thursday’s newspaper.

While being interviewed by a television station, I was presented with several questions about Tuesday’s wet/dry election in Thorsby.
I responded with some very strong feelings and conviction. The station made it appear as though I had a  “don’t care” attitude about the subject at hand, or that I even supported alcohol sales in Thorsby. The most important part of the interview was omitted.
I am supporting the “no” vote because of the increased accidents and, most importantly, my convictions as a Christian.

Chad Foshee, Thorsby

By Scott Mims

It’s official. Thorsby residents will vote on whether to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages in their town on June 1.
The Thorsby Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to call a municipal option election on the date of the 2010 Primaries. A separate resolution was approved requesting that Chilton County Probate Judge Bobby Martin place the measure on the primary ballot set for June 1.
“Personally, I’m glad that the people have the same vote I have,” said council member Marvin Crumpton, who made the motion for the first resolution.
A state law allows dry towns with a population of 1,000 or more to draft a petition asking for a wet/dry referendum. In Chilton County, this statistic included Jemison and Thorsby.
Municipalities with the required number of signatures were given the option of either calling a special election or waiting until the primaries. Jemison held a special election in January, and citizens there voted to go wet.
Thorsby collected signatures from 183 registered citizens, more than the required 30 percent of participating voters in the last municipal election.
The question on the ballot will appear as follows:
“Do you favor the legal sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within this municipality?” Voters will then mark either “Yes” or “No” on their ballot.

By Justin Averette

Enough signatures have been gathered in Thorsby to allow a vote to determine whether alcohol can be sold within the town.
Signatures of 183 registered voters who voted in the last municipal election have been collected, pending certification of the town clerk. Actually 653 names were gathered, but not everyone who signed the petition lived in Thorsby or voted in the last election.
The referendum will be placed on next June’s primary ballot.
The number of signatures needed for a wet/dry referendum must equal at least 30 percent of the number of voters who participated in the town’s last election.
According to numbers from the 2008 municipal election, Thorsby voters cast 528 ballots, meaning that 159 signatures were needed.
Multiple council members said despite personal opinions, voters have the right to make the ultimate decision about selling alcohol in Thorsby.
“They (voters) deserve the right to make that decision,” said Councilman Marvin Crumpton.
“That’s what America was founded on,” Councilwoman Tara Jewell added.
Council members also pointed out the large percentage of people who were disqualified from the petition and encouraged residents to register to vote and exercise that right.
Last month, the Jemison City Council approved a resolution to have a wet/dry election Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010.

By The Clanton Advertiser staff

Rural towns in Alabama now have more freedom in deciding whether alcoholic beverages can be sold within their corporate limits.
Thanks to a new law enacted by the Alabama Legislature, any town with 1,000 or more citizens may put the wet/dry issue on the ballot with signatures from 30 percent of the town’s most recent election turnout.
Thorsby and Jemison fall into this category. Of course, the city of Clanton is already wet while rural Chilton County remains dry.
The town of Thorsby is getting close to putting the issue to a vote. With 145 signatures counted, they only need 14 more signatures from registered voters to close the deal.
Jemison has set a special election for a wet/dry referendum for Jan. 12, 2010.
We think it’s a good thing that these cities and towns can vote on this issue.
While not everyone will agree that revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages is the way to go, at least the people in each town can vote on it. This is a decision that should be made by locals, not somebody in Montgomery.
Because this referendum may be included in next year’s elections, it doesn’t have to cost municipalities anything.
Regardless of one’s stance, it cannot hurt to vote. These kinds of freedoms are what America is all about.
If indeed there are enough signatures to warrant a referendum, then let the people speak and decide what they want — or do not want — for their town.

By Scott Mims

At last count, the Town of Thorsby had collected 145 signatures needed for a wet/dry referendum.
A recent bill passed by the Alabama Legislature allows cities and towns with a population of 1,000 or more to file a petition for a vote on the legalized sale of alcoholic beverages.
Thorsby needs at least 159 signatures from registered voters in the town to warrant a referendum. The number equals 30 percent of the number of voters who participated in the 2008 municipal election.
“I think probably we’ll go over this time,” said Council member Neil Benson, who expects to have a new count by the next Town Council meeting on Monday.
Supporters of a referendum have had some difficulty collecting names for the petition, which began circulating around July. Many signatures were not from registered voters, while others were duplicate signatures, Benson said.
“We’ve had a lot harder time getting our numbers together than we would have thought,” he said.
Supporters may opt to wait until next year’s elections to hold a vote rather than holding a special election. Benson indicated waiting until next year could yield better results.
“We just need the tax base,” he said. “We’re running out of tax money to run things in Thorsby.”
Benson also said revenue from alcohol sales could help the school.
The petitions are available at Mizzell’s, Service Mart and City Hall.

By Scott Mims

As of Thursday night, the Town of Thorsby had collected about 117 certified signatures toward a wet/dry referendum.

The issue was discussed during the Town Council’s regular meeting, which was postponed from Monday due to Labor Day. The petition comes in response to new legislation that allows towns in dry counties with 1,000 or more residents to organize a referendum for the sale of alcoholic beverages.

“I think that the town and the council members are not eager for a wet city,” council member Willis Britt said. “I think we’re eager for the revenue.”

“I don’t know about that,” added council member Neal Benson.

While, according to Benson, Thorsby cannot hold a special election for the vote, a petition can be filed and a vote held during the next regular election. But before a signature can count, it must be from someone who is a registered voter.

“We’ve probably got 1,000 signatures, but only 117 of them are qualified, registered voters,” Benson explained.

The number of signatures needed for a wet/dry referendum must equal at least 30 percent of the number of voters who participated in the town’s last election. According to numbers from the 2008 municipal election, Thorsby voters cast 528 ballots, meaning that 159 signatures would be needed.

But Benson indicated he doesn’t think it will take long to get the needed signatures.

In other business, the council:

• Coted to vacate an alleyway and divide the property between the Grassee and Johnson families

• Put a gold Ford Ranger up for surplus

• Changed the format of its next regular meeting to a work session.