ABC Approves Liquor License for Private Club on Winchester Road, with Earlier Denial Being Overturned
July 27th, 2010 by Joe BurgessSammie Lindsey’s application for a liquor license for private club, located at 1566 Winchester Road, was denied by the Arkansas Alcohol Beverage Control, on May 19, but that denial was overturned by the ABC board with a 3-1 vote, Wednesday.
Lindsey’s application, filed in April, received many letters of opposition, included letters from Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin, and Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Deen.
At the appeal hearing, the list of witnesses, included Judge Damon Lampkin, Sheriff Mark Gober, Police Cheif Robert Rosegrant, Cpt. Eddie Deaton, Lt. Steven Stain, and a local state trooper. A petition with 147 names was presented in favor of the “club”.
A local pastor also testified, supporting Lindsey, and the need for the club. Rev. Ronald Forte, in a telephone interview Tuesday morning said, “I’m not in favor of drinking, but I believe that this could bring a form of economic improvent to Monticello.” He added, “Going to Mr. Lindsey’s restaurant and bar is no different than going to Chili’s in Pine Bluff., If we don’t do something different, we’re just going to stay the same.”
Lindsey told MonticelloLive that our ealier story was incorrect, and that the business “it isn’t going to be a club, it will be a restaurant.” But for clarification, the ABC can only approve liquor permits for “private clubs” as defined by the legislature, there is no separate definition for restaurants.
Alcohol dispensed at private clubs is for “on premises consumption only”.
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It is America. It is free enterprise. Would the comments be the same if the “Club/Restaurant” was on US Hwy 425 or 278? Or is it just because it might threaten the Pine Hill establisments? If it succeeds fine. If it fails fine. What keeps happening in Monticello is the same thing that has happened for years. Certain people here don’t want to see anything new come into town because it might get into their cookie jar. That is the reason we can’t get anything new here. We have let the “select” few run this town with their close-minded ideas and now they are running it into the ground. Look at most of the other college towns in Arkansas. They have nice places to eat and places to do things without traveling out of town. Most of them are booming. Why is Monticello not? Maybe the leadership of this town needs a major overhaul with maybe some more openminded people to recruit new industies and businesses to the area.
why dont everybody just sit down and relaxs let people do wat they want its not you Monticello needs to be turned around!
It’s kinda like throwing a rock in the water, this has a ripple effect. It will touch more people than the ones drinking in this place.
College towns, most of them are in places with lots of industry, Searcy, they have Yarnell’s ice cream, the interstate, Several things going there. Fayetteville, they have Tyson, Wally world, etc. Lots of boom, but also with growth comes lots of other problems. Jonesboro, they have Nestle, Conagra, Alberto V05 shampoo to just name a few, lots of jobs, people go there.
There are no jobs here, who wants to work at a boat plant for 8 bucks an hour? There aren’t many options or industries. Lumber mills is all this place has, it’s almost like being in the Hills where everyone drives 50 miles to work, there’s nothing there.
Adding a club won’t make more here, more jobs, or help the economy, this place is headed for a Dermott, Dumas, McGehee, there is nothing there, period, old run down houses.
Good Luck Monticello. It’s like trying to shove a mule uphill in this town.
Taxi’s for the drunks. I’ve heard it all, well probably not. Then taxi them home, they don’t want to get out there, have a fight with the taxi person. Too risky to drive that cab. Or a bus full of drunks fighting and carrying on.
I’m sure all the insurance companies would be eager to jump on insuring a bus full of drunks or a taxi with drunks.
This will probably be over before it starts.
Why should they be allowed to sit in a restaurant and get drunk? They don’t do this in other places or states. If they do, the ABC pulls the permit.
Like I said I am a resident of Hwy 138. Yes you are right this is America, so I have my right to speak my views as well. Like I said earlier God is in control of all things. I am not the judge. And no I will not move. God Bless you!
No disrespect intended Trottergirl, but I assume that you are going to be dining at this fine establishment? Perhaps become a regular? Just curious….
None taken, Not-so-lucky. As a matter of fact I will patronize it, just like I do The River and All-Star, when I want to. You want to know why? Because I am a grown women that works and pay taxes, just like everyone else. I can go and choose not to go where ever want, just saying.
@138- I don’t think you know what you’re talkin about! I said no cabs, no bars. You sound like your vision is that of an old used home made school bus just to shuttle people around. ( Wouldn’t surprise me )
I don’t think your town is very progressive- so far far away and secluded from standard enterprising lifestyles and things are ALOT different in this town and this part of the state than most places. Take a trip somewhere besides the deer woods- Most places have restaurants with bars. And taxi cabs and busses. And lunch at the VFW with a bar!! Sorry off topic
if every gas station in town was allowed to sell beer the road to pine hill wouldnt already be full of drunks! i think its foolish to have people drive that far to get a beverage that is legal to drink!!!! illegal drugs are readily accesible on every corner why not make a drink that is legal on every corner too!!!! id way rather my kid drink a beer than smoke a joint…
i come from a town where every gas station carrys beer, this reduces the distance drunks have to drive to get beer. or how bout this, if you could buy it on every other corner people could walk to get beer or get it when they go to walmart to buy groceries!!!! where its at they are forced to drive to get beer! you people are so scared that your children will be exposed to alchol and drinking, let me tell you the more you try and protect them the more it appeals to them to try! and once they go to college elsewhere (where they have beer everywhere) they will go crazy!
college kids drink… this town has a college.. why not open more places for them to drink locally instead of them have to drive to little rock, pine bluff, or other states like LA or MS to go eat at a different place where they can get a drink with their meal or go to a true “night club”. no one wants to come to UAM because its not a fun town to live in… there are no activities to do whether your drinking or not!!!! there are hardly any bars and there arent other things to do that dont involve drinking! movie theater and a bowling alley…. there is two weekends worth of fun then what?? it gets old!
some people are more apt to fight when drinking… thats a fact but ive also seen parents at little league games get in fist fights over their kids playing time or a bad call… according to your reasoning you shouldnt let your kids play organized sports because one parent got mad at another and hit him in the eye!!
get off your stupid closed minded soap box!!! this town is slowly going down the drain and the school is going even faster! something has got to change or this town will go down the toilet! with the interstate coming through i think its a perfect time to do some changes and try to get this town back on track and attract some big business and maybe give the kids who come to this college a place to use their college degrees instead of taking them elsewhere and helping another towns economy out!
He ran the social club. What a great restaurant. Ask the people shot there or the police officer ran over by, drunk leaving after a shooting
The bar is open to 1:30 am Thursday through Saturday. Therein lies the problem. I have no issue with someone having a beer or a glass of wine or a mint julip. I have an abusive personality so I abstain from libations. I do have an issue with being drunk. It is wrong any way you cut it. Nothing good will come from an establishment that serves alcohol until 1:30 a.m.
Of course I may sound like the hypocrite here in view of my past and I have news for you. I am a hypocrite but so are you. In fact we all are. There is only one who is not a hypocrite.
I agree with Randy, it is no big deal in most towns to get a six pack of beer at the grocery store or enjoy a glass of wine with your meal but even in our largest cities, many, many, many of the townships do not allow alcohol sales after midnight. Experience is overwhelming alcohol sales after midnight is disastrous.
I see absolutely no logic or moderation in the ABC board’s decision. First they deny it and then they allow sales of firewater until 1:30 am?
Fire away this is just one reformed drunk’s opinion.
the places that are currently open for drinking and can allow people to drink till 130 or 200 what ever it is normally do not stay open much past 12 most nights! and there isnt any more than 15 people there till then… unles there is a homecoming or party or something like that.
i agree with ‘you closed minded people’ 110%
I think this article is a joke. It is not meant to inform about significant information, it is meant as a notification that somebody besides the powers to be in Monticello have figured a way to make some money around here. A police’s job is to protect and serve, they don’t make the law, they inforce it. With the bars, clubs and restuarants around here, no one can tell me police have not had to respond to fights or other things. By mentioning all the law officials that were against this ruling only shows how much of a good ol boy system this town is run on. Everyone is in on it. The bigger question should be why are the biggest business around here a lumber yard or Wal-Mart. With all the possibilities and resources Monticello has to offer, it is almost a joke that people with college degrees have to leave a town they have grown up in and love to find a decent paying job. For all of the folks who are not financially savvy, as long as there are no big buisnesses around, the powers that be will always manage to keep the wages down because there’s no competition. You do the hard work for minimum wages and they make all the money. I congratulate Sammy Lindsey on fighting for what he wanted and achieving his goal. If this establishment is really a problem because of the alcohol, lets not be fooled. If someone wants alcohol at 130 am, they will get it one way or another. As all of us know, there are plenty of bootleggers around to get what you need. So Monticello’s finest law officials should be prepared to patrol the Lindsey establishment no more and no less than the other establishments around town that sell alcoholic beverages because it is there duty.
In reference to the last comment, this article is a revised version of the earlier article about Lindsey’s application being denied.
Also, since this is comment #64 it must’ve contained “significant information.”
Yes people will find a way to drink at or after 1:30 am and I can tell with absolute certainty if you drink regularly at 1:30 and you do not have a non-standard hour job, you have a problem and need help.
How about some moderation? If you want to drink after midnight, find a hotel room, home, apartment or hunting camp and have someone take your keys.
Funny how a dry county is so rigorous about precluding the availability of booze yet they allow the operation of a bar after Midnight or even after 1:20 am.
In response to Andrew, I definitely respect your opinion but just because you drink doesn’t make you an alcoholic. I drink but in moderation. If I decide I want a beer at 3 am, I’ll drink a beer at 3 am, it’s my right as a responsible adult and an American citizen. Just because the local powers to be want to make an issue out of this doesn’t make it right. No one’s talking about the the reoccuring fights at The River or the fights that occur at the other establishments. They are talking about the “possibility” of bad things happening at this soon to be establishment. For this being a dry county, it funny how you can have access to so much alcohol “just outside” the county lines and bootlegged within city limits.
In response to Joe, I realize you are a journalist which it is your job to report information unbiased and factual. I would like for the readers of this article to request information regarding this matter from the ABC board because there has to be a serious disconnect to be denied a liquor liscense then when the factual evidence has to be provided, it is almost a unanimous decision for Lindsey. Regarding the significant information of this article, I think this article more or less brings to the forefront the overarching problems in Monticello; continuous low wages, profitable buisness suppression and a definite good ole boy system of getting things done. The Lidnsey establishment won’t fix any of these problems, but it is causing people to look at what really caused the denial in the first place. I definitely don’t mean this to be a slam towards you but after traveling the US and other countries, serving my country for 14 years, and doing four tours in the Middle East, it bothers me to come back and see something like this that should have been a happy moment for someone be put in such a negative light. Monticello, a city I grew up in and still speak highly of outside the community, has to change or this will turn into a Dermott or Hamburg. We are already running our kids out of town because there are limited job opportunities in the community. When will it end?
@tuesday,
I’m not from here, i’m from a bigger college town with industry, lots of jobs, a red lobster, chilis outback, you name it. And there aren’t drunks being shuttled from there.
If ya’ll don’t like the deer woods move to a bigger town.
I don’t see how a state trooper could voche for this type of establishment. He’s paid by the state, and don’t think that is a very good move on his part.
If you want to drink, people will find a way. I think they need to open up the town and county, wet. Then Parker will put one at the 4 way and you can have beer cans in town.
I can’t see this being a “Chilis” or “Outback”, maybe something far from that. What will be going on “outback”, and why does this restaurant have to stay open so late, who eats at midnight or later? Nobody wants to take a family to such an establishment with some drunks being loud in the bar area.
I’m sure it will draw crowds from Winchester, Tillar, Dermott, Reed and other areas.
I don’t see the money going for any school for kids to get tutored after regular school, maybe a daycare so the boozers to dump their childrens.
If you go to most towns the bars and clubs are open till at least 5am! So i’m not sure what the problem is with the bars in Monticello. All Star can only stay open until 1am due to it being in the city limit. The only way it can stay open later is with special approval and then its only till 2am. The River can stay open till 2am since its in the county and not city.
Does Monticello not relize what it is doing to itself. Look at the direction this town is headed. There is nothing in this town to make people want to come and visit or move to. Ideas that people have fall thorugh because of a select number of people think they are doing what is best. Well, look at this mess we are in now. The signs that people have to look while driving through this empty town says, “Shop here”, what for? There is nothing here. I know without a doubt, the so called people that make decision about what can come and what can’t come to this town, shop and do everything outside of Monticello. Come on Monticello, let’s actually put something here that will make people want to shop here or for that fact live here. Congrats Sammie.
Do what you do and make them all eat their own words.
being a resident of Monticello and an acquaintance of Sammie Lindsey… some fo these comments are crap! First and foremost with a town such as monticello we should be of open arms to anyone starting a business and to judge a pastor of his ability to convey theology accurately you must not know the meaning of being a christian. being a christian is not just being relgions. christianity is an attitude. a christian is open minded, supporting,loving and forgiving. i may not be a regular at chuch but i know what it means to be a good hearted person and by no means am i close to perfect but like the word says… only God can judge. in this small township there have been many establishments to open and fail because they did not supply the demands of the people in monticello. being a business owner is a harsh occupation. this is not a matter of safety for children. with you criticizing the being of drinking in a neighborhood… what kind of parents are you to have you children roaming about in the wee hours of the night? the finger can easily be turned as in my example. the population of monticello is diminishing because of the unavaliability of jobs and decent pay. the elite few business owners who own several establishments on highway 425,who are alumni and boosters of the high schools have taken control of everything monticello will eventually turn monticello into a township of several families forcing everyone else out. no one is interested in expanding because they are too cautious of change. this town has brilliant , talented people move out everyday beacuse they do not have the opportunity to use their education to make a living for themselves. this town is so small everybody knows everybody and everybody talks about everybody but nobody wants to talk about the positive. sammie is not the first businessman to face adversity but when is enough going to be enough. can you imagine how much of a difference there would be if we were able to get the car dealership here like petitioned in the past or a recreational center for the youth. we have many decrepit buildings here that are being used for nothing but storage and dust collectors. jobs with benefits could of been brought to monticello. then people would have more things to do than sit around and get drunk all day. an ample amount of these comments are directly based on these activities but no one is to say that a restaurant that sells alcoholic beverages will increse this. every business needs their time of trial and error to establish stability. no business is perfect from first day opening either they imporve and bloom or their place taken under by needed improvements or EXCESSIVE CRITICISM. it is not the people to blame for the criticism of others in monticello but the council members who allow us to sit around in our puddle of nothingness and laugh at us while patting their pockets beacuse everything is in their control. instead playing the blame game for the destruction, lets be supportive of one another to rebuild our community.
@138
you do realize that people get drunk at the river(a family restaurant) every night right? monticello needs to drop the small town attitude and look for bigger things.
This is CRAZY!!!!! Some of these comments are ridiculous: your ditch is already littered with beer cans and bottles – What restaurant, bar, or club have u visit that allow u to leave with your drink? Neighborhood and houses surrounding the area – how many houses surround The River, Allstar, and Country Club? When Sammie do get his restaurant up and running, the police will start harrassing It’s 2010, keep up or get left behind.
P.S. I never see this many comments about the people who cook Meth and can blow up the whole neighborhood with a drop a sweat. Just wondering….
I agree with KHendricks.
I AGREE WITH TROTTERGIRL AND KHENDRICKS ALSO!
Like I said before God is in control. My family and I will be praying about all of this. God bless you!
Oh No!! Someone wants to make a dime? Bad for them. Come on people, what is the big deal? I love a cocktail with my dinner or when I feel like listening to good music and dancing. As a
‘Free” country, it is my right. I am of legal age to drink if I like. With the economy in a total ruin, why would you be against any business whether they have alcohol or not. Some jobs have been created in the process. People get off your high-horse and get over your self-righteous indignation. The Parkers will not suffer from another bar, I think that is what bothers the lot of you. Jealous much? Perhaps you should have applied for a private club first. Best to you Sammie on your new endeavor.
Will this really boost the economy? Yea right! Some people will spend money they don’t have on alcohol. I just don’t understand… I don’t a need a private club to make a living. I have the right to state my concerns.