Distilling the Future

SERVING THE GREATER TEXARKANA AREA SINCE 1875

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Drinking and Driving Has the wider availability of beer and wine affected alcohol-related accidents?

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$1.00 1875 2016 4 DeKalb | @ texarkanagazette.com JUNE 30, 2017 | 4 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES VOLUME 141 NO. 181 TEXARKANA, TEXAS/ARKANSAS New Boston A look at beer and wine sales and the regional economy Redwater Nash Area Cities Area Distilling the Future 0 EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a two-day series about the evolution of beer and wine sales in the area, of which Texarkana, Ark., long held a monopoly. Today’s stories chart the changes as several Bowie County towns have gone wet in recent years, drying up SOURCE: Texas DepartmentArkansas-side’s of Transportation revenues. Also, how Texarkana, Ark., city officials Staff graphic by Kristen Doss and alcohol retailers are adjusting business practices is examined. High and Dry: 100 years of prohibition Saturday’s two stories will highlight economic benefits reaped in the area and how crime trends have been affected by alcohol sales. Texas Arkansas U.S. 1910s 1910s 1910s By Karl Richter n Texarkana Gazette 1919: Texans adopt prohibition. 1915: The General Assembly passes the 1919: The 18th Amendment to the U.S. all it a beer boom: Northeast Texas is Newberry Act, prohibiting the Constitution is ratified, making the going wet, altering the region’s cultural 1930s manufacture and sale of alcohol. production, transport, and sale of 1933: Beer (3.2 percent) is legalized. alcohol—though not the consumption or and economic landscapes. ¶ But the 1917: Bone Dry Liquor Law prohibits private possession—illegal effective a year biggest changes caused by the trend 1935: Texans repeal the state dry law. All transportation, delivery and storage of counties return to their status 1918 status later. C liquor except for scientific, religious or are happening just across the state line in Tex- until local elections can be held. ‘Absolutely1930s no increase in crime related medical purposes. arkana, Ark., where alcohol has been available 1950s 1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt 1930s signs the Cullen-Harrison Act into law, for decades. 1950: Bowie County residents outlaw beer. 1933: Beer (3.2 percent) is legalized. legalizing sale in the United States of beer 1951: By a 2-1 margin, Bowie County with an alcohol content up to 3.2 percent Life goes on in the former- where the sudden competition voters elect to keep the county dry. 1935: Thorne Liquor Act allows hard by weight, pending approval by each state ly dry cities in Texas’ Bowie is raising alarms. No longer liquor package sales by local option, raises separately. Near the end of the year, the beers alcohol limit to 5 percent. Miller and Cass counties, including able to count on Texans’ cash, 1960s 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Texarkana, that have elected to Arkansas-side beer and wine 1960: Private clubs may sell alcohol under a Countyto goes wet. Anti-saloon alcohol law permits is ratified. sales at all,’ city official says sellers and the city government locker law. Members may buy beer in beer and wine in restaurants and hotels in allow beer and wine sales since cases or bottles of liquor to be stored at the wet counties and some sales in nonprofit Nash led have club, or customers may buy a three-day, $3 private clubs with Class 6 permits. the way been membership to drink at the bar. By Karl Richter The moredomestic things are forbidden, violence top in 2013. forcedviolence, etc., have actually lated crashes in 2016, up or three times what they 1960s Besides to adjust Texarkana The Arkansas Supreme Gazette Court the more Miller’spopular they listbecome. of the harmful SHIFTING remained fairly constant slightly from the average for would normally buy. Oh, 1969: Domino incorporates as a city and 1969: the obvi- to dwin- elects to allow beer, wine and liquor sales. revokes all Class 6 Club Permits, declaring results of convenient access over time. However, the the previous nine years, 1.2. and do you think they might them illegal.The The concern Arkansas Legislature is common -—Mark Twain ous— dling 1970s revokesplace: the state Allowinganti-saloon law and alcohol to beer and wine. But askalcoholic SPIRITS reveone- area that we have seen Such statistics do not pop a top on the way back?” 1970: Texans repeal the last vestige of allows private clubs operating in all drinks nues. statewide prohibition, the open saloons countiessales to serve will liquor bring by the drink. more crime, those in newly wet townsappear - Battle for the Bottle Andan they increase is beer thefts surprise John Hatch, whose Hatch said. ban; bars may sell mixed beverages or including drunken driving, who have watched carefullying on fearfrom that stores. Those have company Texas Petition Still, not all problems liquor by the drink by local option. 2000s store Battle for the Buck the next 2003:to The a Arkansas formerly Alcohol Beverage dry town. for any rise in such crimes, remained relatively high Strategies was behind most caused by alcohol will show 1980s step— Control Board begins granting private club nearby cities approving hard 1980: State locker law repealed, letting But local officials and and the response is conshelves—some- reported finan- since they started selling it of the wet-election petition up in crime statistics, Miller licenses, giving proprietors in dry counties decline,” DeKalb,liquor Texas, sales—will city be a death private clubs act like bars with members. the right to serve alcohol. sistent: They just have notcial benefit is the only indica- on our side,” he said. drives undertaken since argued. He cited neigh- police agree that no such tion that anythingadministrator has changed Abbiblow to Capps the local economy. 2000s 2010snegative consequences have seen it. in those places,said. and DeKalb even that went“If that wet happens, in we mayTexas Department of 2003, when he was instru- borhood deterioration, the 2003: State makes it easier for citizens to 2014: An Arkansas ballot initiative to unify Nash has seen “absolutelyis hard to measure. as well turn out the lights,”Transportation records mental in changing Texas effect on children of perva- initiate a local-option election. the lawbecome and approve evidentalcohol sales statewide since 2013, “I haven’t Novemberreally seen any 2015.Texarkana, Ark., Mayor Ruth fails; prohibition remains a State lawmakers allow sampling and when Nash became the first no increase in crime relatchanges,- per se,” said Darla Penney-Bell said. reveal a similar story law to make them easier. sive alcohol advertising and 2004: county-by-county issue in the state. “We have had these dis- package sales at all wineries. Bowie County, Texas, town ed to alcohol sales at all.Faulknor, city secretary for The possibility becameregarding real drunken driving Since 1998, Hatch—whose the personal devastation 2016: Little River County, Ark., residents New Boston,cussions Texas, which with ourin November local 2016, when voters that can result from alcohol- 2010s voteto for salego of wet.beer and wine in retail None,” said city administrawent wet- inpolice November chief, 2015. andin adjacenthe has Little River County,in Bowie County since 2013: clients include Walmart, 2011: Texarkana residents veto beer and stores andThe to perception that drink- tor Doug Bowers. That assessment is echoed by Ark., approved two liquorThe rate of alcohol-related Brookshire’s and other ism even when the alcoholic wine sales for off-premises consumption. allow one liquor local officialsnot regionwide. seen any typestores of there. crime In May, Maud, store per 5,000 “We actually did exhaus- car crashes has remained major retailers—has pushed does not run afoul of the 2013: Nash voters approve a similar ing is generally harmful DeKalb, Texas,rates which increase also becauseTexas, followed of suit, becoming measure, with mixed drinks in restaurants. countyhas residents. a long history in the tive studies. We contactedwent wet in 2015, “is the same the first Bowie County cityabout to level or decreased. more than 300 petitions in law. as it was before,”(alcohol said City sales),” allow said not Darla only beer and wine 2014: Texarkana allows beer and wine sales. the Alcoholic Beverage Countywide, such crashes almost 200 jurisdictions, “What I do as a pastor United States, culminating AdministratorFaulknor, Abbi Capps— city secretarybut also hard ofliquor sales. 2015: Atlanta and Queen City voters reject in complete Prohibition Commission and foundthe out same, that is, except for The developments couldaveraged be 95 per year from forcing elections 84 percent in pastoral care is to help beer and wine sales. New Boston, Redwater increased revenues.New Boston, Texas,disastrous which for small, indepen- people recover from a lot and DeKalb legalize. from 1920 to 1933. Almost a what cities had gone wet dent stores on the Arkansas2007 through 2013. That of the time. Taxes collectedalso onelected retail to allow beer of problems that alcohol 2016: Wake Village and Atlanta allow century later the idea lives with the same permits wealcohol sales are not tracked side, said Ben Brewer, owneraverage dropped to 90.67 “The fallacy on the crime package beer and wine sales. specifically,and but the wine correlation sales ofin Southtown 2015. Liquor. Brewer created, whether it’s contri- on in claims, often made by were looking for and con- worries that the recent changesper year from 2014 through issue is simply that these seems clear: When“There towns aren’t go any drunks bution to domestic violence, 2017: Maud allows sales of all alcoholic drinks. religious leaders, of a direct tacted the chiefs of policewet, ofsales tax income jumps. could wipe out all that he2016. and towns are not dry for con- business owners like him have whether it’s a contribu- correlation between alcohol several of those. The boosthanging can spur econom around- on the cor- Texarkana, Texas, aver- sumption; they were just ic development,ner, Nash no Cityprostitution,” worked hard said to build. tion to people foregoing availability and a host of “I really came to the Administrator Doug Bowers “We’re working 70 hoursaged a 37.875 alcohol-related dry for the sale. It wasn’t week in these stores because a responsible life and just understanding that hadsaid. our Mayor Robert Lorance of crashes per year from 2007 that people in Bowie social ills, including crime. “Because of beer and wine we own them, they’re ours. having fun drinking and Redwater, Texas,They’re the ourthird babies. Nobody John Miller, pastor of crime rate increased, wesales, and because of our through 2014; the average County weren’t drinking. partying. Texarkana’s Church on the would have been the onlygrowth, we Bowiebecame attractive. County elsetown does that anything for us,”dropped he to 34.5 per year in They were just buying it Growth spawnswent growth, wet and in 2015.said. “And alcohol is an entry Rock, is typical of those one in the state of Texas’that’s the mode we’re in. Slow The future looks brighter2015 on and 2016. There were somewhere else,” he said, door to drugs; most people history. And I said, ‘I’mand steady, butWith it’s growth,” one exception,the Texas side, where storenone in Redwater in 2016, arguing that selling alcohol who argue that when alco- he said. “All we can answer is owners are happy to keep cus- who do drugs drink. It’s Texarkana Gazette, Texas Almanac, The hol comes to town, reper- not saying for sure, but facts. Yes, it’sgoing helped wet us, bot has- nottomers increased close to home. whereas the average for the closer to buyers decreases Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and “Now that Maud is able to kind of a first step that our Culture, The New York Times, Texas Monthly cussions follow. He opposed I’m going to bet you it’stom-line a dollar.”crime in Texarkana, Texas, previous nine years was one both consumption and alco- SOURCES sell alcohol, hopefully we’ll culture promotes vigorously, It’s in Texarkana,either, Ark., according long to Police the Texas side going wet 99 percent chance it’s notthe nearest place for Texas-side gain back all the customersper year. Nash’s average has hol-related driving fatalities. yet we kind of sweep under in November 2014 and says going to increase.’ And tipplersit to buyDepartment their supply, publicSee ALCOHOLinforma on- Pagestayed 3A virtually the same, “When you’re forcing the rug the problems that his thinking about it has not looks like, lo and behold, we tion officer Shawn Vaughn. 1.86 from 2007 through 2013 somebody to go drive 20 happen.” changed.” were correct,” Bowers said. “Given that alcohol has and two from 2014 through to 30 minutes, guess what Miller said the potential Arkansas side grimlyAlcohol has a watchesvery bad Other alcohol city officials agree. salesbeen readilytrickle available away2016. DeKalb never saw they do when the get there? consequences of the city’s “The sale of beer and across the state line for more than one alcohol-relat- They don’t just buy a six- By Karl Richter with other economicand darkpressures, side to totravel it,” to he the said. Arkansas side for right wet law weigh on his mind. Texarkana Gazette have made the municipal“Logically, budget the their easier alcohol alcoholsupply. wine in Aour sign announcescity has beer had and wine for years, having beer and wine ed crash per year from 2007 pack. They buy a case, they “I wonder every time I Its beer and wine monopoly bro- tighter than everis before to get, and theleft moreArkansas-side available sellers’ zeroonly effect sale Tuesday on our at Moderne crime Primitives, sales in Texas have not had through 2015, and there was buy two cases, because they hear or I read about an alco- ken and grip on hard liquor sales mom-and-pop liquor stores with remaining advantage, the ability a smoke shop in Texarkana, Texas. slipping, Texarkana, Ark., faces a little margin for errorit is, as the concern more to problemsoffer hard liquor, are soonrate. could There has been no a meaningful impact on one there in 2016. don’t know when they’re hol-related death or injury, grows about their ability to remain be a thing of the past, as well. Owner Sandy Spades tried selling new economic reality that threat- going to be created.” increasebeer whatsoever, and wine in the otherwiseand suc- us. The numbers of DWI, The only outlier, New going to get back to the ens both business and government. open. Little River County elected last did they buy that alcohol on After more than 80 years of reap- Beginning in 2013,Drunken city elections driving November and to allow not onlyin retail fact therecessful seemsshop but found to be it was a not a public intoxication, family Boston, saw two alcohol-re- store again. So they buy two the Texas side?” ing most of the area’s retail alco- in Cass County and formerly dry beer and wine sales but also two good fit. She now is selling off her hol spending—and the associated Bowie County in Texas, including standalone stores that can sell remaining inventory, wine racks and sales tax revenue—the city now the third try in Texarkana, Texas— liquor. Eleven businesses have coolers. “It never really caught on, faces increasing competition not literally across the street from applied to compete for those two and it was never profitable for me. If only in Northeast Texas but also in Texarkana, Ark.—have allowed store licenses. I had had hard liquor, it would have adjacent Little River County, Ark. beer and wine in stores much clos- Maud, Texas, followed this May been fine,” Spades said. The resultant losses, combined er to buyers who previouslyThe contents had of thisSee publicationSALES on Page are 2A the propertyStaff photo of by the Joshua Texarkana Boucher Gazette and may not be reproduced, publicly displayed or used commercially in any way without permission from the Gazette. Copyright © 2018

INDEX w REGION: Official says Telford inmate Pete Ayala has died a day after allegedly being In Your Accent ...... 1-3C Advice ...... 3C assaulted by his cellmate, Justin Williams. 4C Comics ...... 4B View Deaths ...... 4A Metro/State ...... 4C, 6C w METRO: The jury is continuing delibera- Readers speak Nation/World...... 2-3D Sports ...... 1-3B tions in a child sex abuse trial. If found guilty, out on plans for Jared Harper could get life in prison. 4C affordable hous- Copyright 2017 ing in Hotel Grim. w ARKANSAS: Ashdown School District board met in a special session to discuss w PAGE 5A 7607863 00100 plan for proposed millage increase. 6C

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High and Dry: 100 years of prohibition Texas Arkansas U.S. 1910s 1910s 1910s 1919: Texans adopt prohibition. 1915: The General Assembly passes the 1919: The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Newberry Act, prohibiting the Constitution is ratified, making the 1930s manufacture and sale of alcohol. production, transport, and sale of 1933: Beer (3.2 percent) is legalized. alcohol—though not the consumption or 1917: Bone Dry Liquor Law prohibits private possession—illegal effective a year 1935: Texans repeal the state dry law. All transportation, delivery and storage of counties return to their status 1918 status later. liquor except for scientific, religious or until local elections can be held. medical purposes. 1930s 1950s 1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt 1930s signs the Cullen-Harrison Act into law, 1950: Bowie County residents outlaw beer. 1933: Beer (3.2 percent) is legalized. legalizing sale in the United States of beer 1951: By a 2-1 margin, Bowie County with an alcohol content up to 3.2 percent voters elect to keep the county dry. 1935: Thorne Liquor Act allows hard by weight, pending approval by each state liquor package sales by local option, raises separately. Near the end of the year, the 1960s beers alcohol limit to 5 percent. Miller 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution 1960: Private clubs may sell alcohol under a County goes wet. Anti-saloon law permits is ratified. locker law. Members may buy beer in beer and wine in restaurants and hotels in cases or bottles of liquor to be stored at the wet counties and some sales in nonprofit club, or customers may buy a three-day, $3 private clubs with Class 6 permits. membership to drink at the bar. 1960s The more things are forbidden, 1969: Domino incorporates as a city and 1969: The Arkansas Supreme Court the more popular they become. elects to allow beer, wine and liquor sales. revokes all Class 6 Club Permits, declaring them illegal. The Arkansas Legislature —Mark Twain 1970s revokes the state anti-saloon law and 1970: Texans repeal the last vestige of allows private clubs operating in all statewide prohibition, the open saloons counties to serve liquor by the drink. ban; bars may sell mixed beverages or liquor by the drink by local option. 2000s 2003: The Arkansas Alcohol Beverage 1980s Control Board begins granting private club 1980: State locker law repealed, letting licenses, giving proprietors in dry counties private clubs act like bars with members. the right to serve alcohol. 2000s 2010s 2003: State makes it easier for citizens to 2014: An Arkansas ballot initiative to unify initiate a local-option election. the law and approve alcohol sales statewide fails; prohibition remains a 2004: State lawmakers allow sampling and package sales at all wineries. county-by-county issue in the state. 2016: Little River County, Ark., residents 2010s vote for sale of beer and wine in retail 2011: Texarkana residents veto beer and stores and to wine sales for off-premises consumption. allow one liquor 2013: Nash voters approve a similar store per 5,000 measure, with mixed drinks in restaurants. county residents. 2014: Texarkana allows beer and wine sales. 2015: Atlanta and Queen City voters reject beer and wine sales. New Boston, Redwater and DeKalb legalize. 2016: Wake Village and Atlanta allow package beer and wine sales. 2017: Maud allows sales of all alcoholic drinks.

Texarkana Gazette, Texas Almanac, The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, The New York Times, Texas Monthly SOURCES

A look at beer, wine sales and regional economy EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the trend are happening went wet in 2015, “is the their supply, where the The developments could side,” said Kyle DeLaughter, the first of a two-day series just across the state line same as it was before,” said sudden competition is be disastrous for small, owner of DeLaughter’s about the evolution of beer in Texarkana, Ark., where City Administrator Abbi raising alarms. No longer independent stores on Grocery in Maud. and wine sales in the area, of alcohol has been available Capps—the same, that is, able to count on Texans’ the Arkansas side, said The results of Maud’s and which Texarkana, Ark., long for decades. except for increased reve- cash, Arkansas-side beer Ben Brewer, owner of Little River County’s choic- held a monopoly. Today’s Life goes on in the for- nues. and wine sellers and the Southtown Liquor. Brewer es may not be clear for stories chart the changes as merly dry cities in Texas’ Taxes collected on retail city government have been worries that the recent years, but nearby cities have several Bowie County towns Bowie and Cass counties, alcohol sales are not forced to adjust to dwin- changes could wipe out all been wet long enough that have gone wet in recent including Texarkana, that tracked specifically, but the dling revenues. And they that he and business owners the effects are beginning to years, drying up Arkansas- have elected to allow beer correlation seems clear: fear that the next step— like him have worked hard emerge. Crime including side’s revenues. Also, how and wine sales since Nash When towns go wet, sales nearby cities approving to build. drunken driving has not Texarkana, Ark., city officials led the way in 2013. Besides tax income jumps. hard liquor sales—will be “We’re working 70 hours increased. Texas-side sales and alcohol retailers are the obvious—alcoholic The boost can spur eco- a death blow to the local a week in these stores tax revenue is up, while that adjusting business practices drinks appearing on store nomic development, Nash economy. because we own them, on the Arkansas side has is examined. Saturday’s two shelves—some reported City Administrator Doug “If that happens, we may they’re ours. They’re our dipped. And depending on stories will highlight eco- financial benefit is the only Bowers said. as well turn out the lights,” babies. Nobody else does nomic benefits reaped in the indication that anything has “Because of beer and Texarkana, Ark., Mayor anything for us,” he said. which side of the state line area and how crime trends changed in those places, wine sales, and because Ruth Penney-Bell said. The future looks brighter they call home, locals are have been affected by alcohol and even that is hard to of our growth, we became The possibility became on the Texas side, where responding to the evolving sales. measure. attractive. Growth spawns real in November 2016, store owners are happy to environment as either an “I haven’t really seen any growth, and that’s the mode when voters in adjacent keep customers close to opportunity or a threat. By Karl Richter changes, per se,” said Darla we’re in. Slow and steady, Little River County, Ark., home. In a special three-part Texarkana Gazette Faulknor, city secretary for but it’s growth,” he said. “All approved two liquor stores “Now that Maud is able to report beginning today, the Call it a beer boom: New Boston, Texas, which we can answer is facts. Yes, there. In May, Maud, Texas, sell alcohol, hopefully we’ll Gazette takes a close look Northeast Texas is going went wet in November 2015. it’s helped us, bottom-line followed suit, becoming gain back all the custom- at what the Northeast Texas wet, altering the region’s That assessment is echoed dollar.” the first Bowie County city ers that we lost as a city. beer boom has changed, cultural and economic by local officials region- It’s in Texarkana, Ark., to allow not only beer and With the liquor aspect of it, what it hasn’t and what it landscapes. But the big- wide. long the nearest place for wine but also hard liquor maybe we’ll gain just a few could mean for the region’s gest changes caused by DeKalb, Texas, which also Texas-side tipplers to buy sales. more from the Arkansas future.

The contents of this publication are the property of the Texarkana Gazette and may not be reproduced, publicly displayed or used commercially in any way without permission from the Gazette. Copyright © 2018 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 10 C M Y K 50 40 30 20 15 10 CYAN PLATE MAGENTA PLATE YELLOW PLATE BLACK PLATE PAGE 1A 08/14/2013 03:36 pm Updated ACCENT: AREA FIREWORKS SHOWS | CATFISH FESTIVAL IS SATURDAY | SONIC ROBOT TO PERFORM, 1C Sports: Texarkana Twins overcome Acadiana for 9-4SERVING win- THE GREATER1B TEXARKANA AREA SINCE 1875 FRIDAY PRESIDENT TRUMP‘S TRAVEL BAN GOES INTO EFFECT, 3D REPRINTED | June 30-July 2, 2017 | texarkanagazette.com Established $1.00 Distilling the1875 Future

JUNE 30, 2017 | 4 SECTIONS, 20 PAGES | VOLUME 141 NO. 181 @ texarkanagazette.com TEXARKANA, TEXAS/ARKANSAS A look at beer and wine sales and the regional economy Distilling the Future EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a two-day series about the evolution of beer and wine sales in the area, of which Texarkana, Ark., long held a monopoly. Today’s stories chart the changes as several Bowie County towns have gone wet in recent years, drying up Arkansas-side’s revenues. Also, how Texarkana, Ark., city officials and alcohol retailers are adjusting business practices is examined. High and Dry: 100 years of prohibition Saturday’s two stories will highlight economic benefits reaped in the area and how crime trends have been affected by alcohol sales. Texas Arkansas U.S. 1910s 1910s 1910s By Karl Richter n Texarkana Gazette 1919: Texans adopt prohibition. 1915: The General Assembly passes the 1919: The 18th Amendment to the U.S. all it a beer boom: Northeast Texas is Newberry Act, prohibiting the Constitution is ratified, making the going wet, altering the region’s cultural 1930s manufacture and sale of alcohol. production, transport, and sale of 1933: Beer (3.2 percent) is legalized. alcohol—though not the consumption or and economic landscapes. ¶ But the 1917: Bone Dry Liquor Law prohibits private possession—illegal effective a year biggest changes caused by the trend 1935: Texans repeal the state dry law. All transportation, delivery and storage of counties return to their status 1918 status later. C liquor except for scientific, religious or are happening just across the state line in Tex- until local elections can be held. medical purposes. 1930s arkana, Ark., where alcohol has been available 1950s 1933: President Franklin D. Roosevelt 1930s signs the Cullen-Harrison Act into law, for decades. Staff photo by Evan Lewis 1950: Bowie County residents outlaw beer. 1933: Beer (3.2 percent) is legalized. legalizing sale inn the Robert United Lorance, States mayor of beer of Redwater, Texas, talks about one of the capital improvement projects that was made possible through added tax revenue from alcohol sales in the city. Since residents 1951: By a 2-1 margin, Bowie County with an alcohol votedcontent to go up wet to 3.2in November percent 2015, the city’s sales taxLife income goes has roughlyon in doubled,the former increasing- from whereabout $3,500 the a monthsudden to arou competitionnd $8,000, Lorance said. The additional revenue has allowed the city voters elect to keep the county dry. 1935: Thorne Liquor Act allows hard by weight, pendingto provide approval services by each and infrastructurestate improvements, including about $30,000 in street upgrades in May, without raising the property tax rate. “I do everything with sales tax. My property tax is the liquor package sales by local option, raises lowest in Bowie County,” Lorance said. ly dry cities in Texas’ Bowie is raising alarms. No longer separately. Near the end of the year, the and Cass counties, including able to count on Texans’ cash, 1960s beers alcohol limit to 5 percent. Miller 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution County goes wet. Anti-saloon law permits Texarkana, that have elected to Arkansas-side beer and wine 1960: Private clubs may sell alcohol under a is ratified. sellers and the city government locker law. Members may buy beer in beer and wine in restaurants and hotels in allow beer and wine sales since cases or bottles of liquor to be stored at the wet counties and some sales in nonprofit Cities pour revenueNash led boost from alcohol saleshave into upgrades private clubs with Class 6 permits. been club, or customers may buy a three-day, $3 EDITOR’S NOTE: This the only players,”the said way growth than is occurring elected to go wet in May membership to drink at the bar. 1960s The moreis things the second are offorbidden, a two-day city administratorin 2013.Doug thisforced fiscal year, but why 2016. According to the series about the evolution of Bowers, referringBesides to the isto difficult adjust to determine, Comptroller’s Office, The Arkansas Supreme Court the more popular they become. SHIFTING 1969: Domino incorporates as a city and 1969: beer and wine sales in the year between Nash’sthe obvi wet - Chiefto dwin Financial- Officer the city’s sales tax reve- revokes all Class 6 Club Permits, declaring area, of which Texarkana, election and Texarkana, Kristin Peeples said. elects to allow beer, wine and liquor sales. dling nue jumped 26.6 percent them illegal. The Arkansas Legislature —MarkArk., Twain long held a monop- Texas’. ous— “We saw some favorable between 2015 and 2016, 1970s revokes the state anti-saloon law and oly. Today’s two stories In that year, whenalcoholic Nash SPIRITS salesreve tax- growth, between increasing more than highlight economic benefits was the only city in Bowie 3nues. and 4 percent. We don’t $100,000 for the year. 1970: Texans repeal the last vestige of allows private clubs operating in all reaped in Bowie County drinks County that allowed sell- know what that was attrib- Kyle DeLaughter, owner statewide prohibition, the open saloons counties to serve liquor by the drink. cities selling beer and wine ing beer and wine,appear sales- Battle for the Bottle utableAnd theyto, but it was a good of DeLaughter’s Grocery in ban; bars may sell mixed beverages or and how crime trends have tax revenue went up 40 yearfear last that year. This current ing on Maud, said he supported liquor by the drink by local option. 2000s been affected. Friday’s sto- percent, but halfstore of that Battle for the Buck yearthe thatnext we’re in has not ries charted the changes as gain disappeared when been as favorable. We’re this year’s successful wet 2003: The Arkansas Alcohol Beverage ing the property tax rate. Brookshire’s, which oper- step— campaign there, not only 1980s Control Board begins granting private club several places have gone Texarkana followed suit, actually down a little less wet in recent years, drying Bowers said. shelves—some“I do reported everything finanwith - atesnearby the Spring cities Market approving gro- than hard 1 percent compared to because it would help him 1980: State locker law repealed, letting licenses, giving proprietors in dry counties sales tax. My property up Arkansas-side’s reve- Other growthcial offset benefit the is the only indica- ceryliquor store sales—will chain, responded be a lastdeath year. It’s not that we’re retain customers and stay private clubs act like bars with members. the right to serve alcohol. nues. Additionally, Friday’s decrease, however, so tax is the lowest in Bowie to an interview request. losing a ton of money; in businesses, but also stories examined how revenues have tionremained that anythingCounty,” Lorancehas changed said. blow“Being to a smallthe localtown, economy.we’re just not gaining any would keep tax revenue in 2000s 2010s Texarkana, Ark., city offi- steady. Bowers incited those the places,The figuresand even are similar that in having“If that enough happens, revenue is we moremay this year. Down a town. 2003: State makes it easier for citizens to 2014: An Arkansas ballot initiative to unify cials and alcohol retailers Nash Business isPark, hard which to measure.DeKalb, Texas, which went alwaysas well a challenge, turn out having the lights,”little bit, but not huge. “Alcohol is just a way for initiate a local-option election. are adjusting their business provides 500 jobs, and wet the same month, city enough funds to do what It’s just we had hoped for us to be able to survive. the law and approve alcohol sales statewide practices. “I haven’t administratorreally seen Abbi any Capps weTexarkana, need to do onArk., a daily Mayor Ruth fails; prohibition remains a tractor-trailer dealership another 3 or 4 percent If we lose 10 customers a 2004: State lawmakers allow sampling and Lonestar Truckchanges, Group as persaid. se,” There, said the Darla picture is basis.Penney-Bell So it has taken said. a lit- growth, and we’re just not day because we don’t sell county-by-county issue in the state. By Karl Richter two engines of local eco- blurrier because of new tleThe bit of possibility the pressure off, became seeing real that trend in this something that everybody package sales at all wineries. Faulknor, citygrocery secretary stores opening for in as far as that goes. We do Texarkana Gazette nomic growth.” current year,” she said. else sells five minutes New Boston,town Texas, since thewhich election. havein November a large street 2016,proj- when voters 2016: Little River County, Ark., residents Precise measurements We have started rapidly Asked if she was con- down the road, 10 custom- 2010s “Since that time, we have ectin adjacentcoming up inLittle the near River County, vote for sale of beer and wine in retail may be unattainable, but growing our retailwent sales wet tax in November 2015. cerned that more Bowie ers a day will put us out of 2011: Texarkana residents veto beer and noticed about a $3,000 to future, and that increase in stores and to the economic benefits of base over here,That so we assessmenthave is echoed by Ark., approved two liquorCounty cities going wet business. Ten customers not been hurt totally by $5,000 a month increase in sales tax dollars is going to could negatively affect wine sales for off-premises consumption. allow one liquor allowing alcohol sales seem stores there. In May, Maud, a day doesn’t mean squat clear to officials in many the lack of saleslocal of alcohol. officials sales regionwide. tax revenue. However, be really beneficial in help- Texarkana, Texas, sales to Walmart or some other 2013: Nash voters approve a similar store per 5,000 Bowie County cities using We’ve not lost anyDeKalb, money, Texas,the same which month thatalso this ingTexas, to pay followed off the loan suit, that becomingtax income, Peeples took a big store. But 10 customers measure, with mixed drinks in restaurants. county residents. boosted sales tax revenue but we’re at a plateauwent andwet inpassed, 2015, we“is got the a Walmart. same wethe will first get Bowiein order toCounty do wait-and-see city to approach. It didn’t even stay a year, the streets,” Capps said. a day to me or the gas sta- to make improvements. we’re staying theas same.”it was before,” said City allow not only beer and“It’s wine not something up 2014: Texarkana allows beer and wine sales. Calculating exactly how I do know from talking to and they pulled out. And New Boston, Texas, also until this point that we’ve tion down the street, it kills much tax revenue beer our beer and wineAdministrator retailers so for Abbi a few Capps—months there wentbut alsowet in hard November liquor sales.worried too much about,” us, and it almost did. 2015: Atlanta and Queen City voters reject and wine sales generate is that when Texarkanathe same, went thatwas is,nothing except down for there, 2015.The According developments to state couldshe said. be “We’ve been keep- “Now we’re going to be beer and wine sales. New Boston, Redwater challenging, since Texas wet, their salesincreased dropped 50 revenues.but we didn’t notice really records,disastrous sales taxfor revenue small, indepening a trend- of the sales tax able to compete and offer and DeKalb legalize. authorities do not track percent on average here. too much of a decrease in there rose 7.6 percent, that we know we receive our citizens something sales tax by merchandise And yet our salesTaxes tax con -collectedsales tax onduring retail that period moredent than stores $92,000, on fromthe Arkansasor anticipate receiving and that now they don’t have 2016: Wake Village and Atlanta allow type. However, public tinued to grow.alcohol So that tells sales of time,”are not Capps tracked said. 2015side, to said2016. Ben Brewer, goowner by that. I think because to leave town. And now records and anecdotal you that we werespecifically, not as but“And thethen correlationSpring Market ofSince Southtown going wet in Liquor. Brewerthe detail is so limited, it’s we’re going to be able package beer and wine sales. reports show a correlation dependent on alcohol as came in, and we’re still November 2014, Texarkana, really hard to know if any to hire four or five new seems clear:holding When steady. towns So I gocan say Texas,worries has shownthat the the samerecent changes 2017: Maud allows sales of all alcoholic drinks. between going wet and some people might have one change is attributable employees and not lay any- increased sales tax income. thought,” he said.wet, sales taxa $3,000 income to $5,000 jumps. a month trend,could state wipe records out show. all that to he any and one thing. body off. When this finally Nash, Texas, provides the Since Redwater,The Texas, boost increase can spur in sales econom tax reve-- Salesbusiness tax revenue owners here like him“Obviously, have we hope that goes through, we’ll be able most data because it went residents voted to go wet nue, but with both of those averaged more than $13.7 those who currently shop to have 12 employees at ic development,stores andNash a couple City of millionworked per hard year from to build. 2007 wet first, in November in November 2015, the and live in Texarkana, 40 hours a week—pretty city’s sales tax income has other new businesses that through“We’re 2014. working The average 70 hoursTexas, awill continue to do 2013. According to Texas Administrator Doug Bowers significant for a town this Comptroller’s Office roughly doubled, increas- came in, there’s no way to for 2015 and 2016 increased that if that’s where their said. week in these stores because size, for a grocery store. records, Nash’s average ing from $3,000 to $4,000 differentiate what was from to more than $15.5 million. home is. Hopefully they “We’re just a little guy annual sales tax revenue a month to around“Because $8,000 theof beeradditional and businesses wine Totalwe own sales taxthem, collected they’re ours.will shop at the stores that leaped from more than a month, Mayorsales, Robert and becauseand what wasof ourfrom the sale roseThey’re 2.79 percent, our babies. more Nobodysell alcohol in Texarkana, trying to make a living. $366,000 for 2007 through Lorance said. The revenue of the beer and wine.” thanelse $412,000, does anything from calen -for Texas.us,” he At this point, we’re I was tired of our town growth, we became attractive. losing not just sales tax 2013 to more than $666,000 increase has allowed the Capps could not say with darsaid. year 2014 to 2015 and just going by trends; it’s for 2014 through 2016. city to provide Growthservices and spawns certainty growth, that DeKalb’s and another 4.3 percent, more not something that we’re money from alcohol, but “It has been very good infrastructure improvethat’s the- modechoice we’re to go wet in. was Slow a thanThe $650,000, future from looks 2015 tobrighter concerned on about until we sales tax money from overall, as far as finances ments, includingand about steady, decidingbut it’s factor growth,” in those 2016.the Texas side, where storesee that it’s a reason to be everything: fuel, clothes, go. But of course it was a $30,000 in street improve- stores opening locations ownersFiscal year are 2015-16 happy saw to keepconcerned.” cus- tools, groceries, every- lot better when we were ments in May, withouthe said. rais “All- there. we canNeither answer Walmart is nor more sales tax revenue Wake Village, Texas, thing,” DeLaughter said. Texarkana Gazette, Texas Almanac, The facts. Yes, it’s helped us, bot- tomers close to home. Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and “Now that Maud is able to Culture, The New York Times, Texas Monthly tom-line dollar.” SOURCES It’s in Texarkana, Ark., long sell alcohol, hopefully we’ll The contents of this publication are the property of the Texarkana Gazette and may not be reproduced,gain publiclyback alldisplayed the customersor used commercially in any way without permission from the Gazette. the nearest place for Texas-sideCopyright © 2018 tipplers to buy their supply, See ALCOHOL on Page 3A Arkansas side grimly watches alcohol sales trickle away By Karl Richter with other economic pressures, to travel to the Arkansas side for right Texarkana Gazette have made the municipal budget their alcohol supply. A sign announces beer and wine for Its beer and wine monopoly bro- tighter than ever before and left Arkansas-side sellers’ only sale Tuesday at Moderne Primitives, ken and grip on hard liquor sales mom-and-pop liquor stores with remaining advantage, the ability a smoke shop in Texarkana, Texas. slipping, Texarkana, Ark., faces a little margin for error as concern to offer hard liquor, soon could grows about their ability to remain be a thing of the past, as well. Owner Sandy Spades tried selling new economic reality that threat- beer and wine in the otherwise suc- ens both business and government. open. Little River County elected last After more than 80 years of reap- Beginning in 2013, city elections November to allow not only retail cessful shop but found it was not a ing most of the area’s retail alco- in Cass County and formerly dry beer and wine sales but also two good fit. She now is selling off her hol spending—and the associated Bowie County in Texas, including standalone stores that can sell remaining inventory, wine racks and sales tax revenue—the city now the third try in Texarkana, Texas— liquor. Eleven businesses have coolers. “It never really caught on, faces increasing competition not literally across the street from applied to compete for those two and it was never profitable for me. If only in Northeast Texas but also in Texarkana, Ark.—have allowed store licenses. I had had hard liquor, it would have adjacent Little River County, Ark. beer and wine in stores much clos- Maud, Texas, followed this May been fine,” Spades said. The resultant losses, combined er to buyers who previously had See SALES on Page 2A Staff photo by Joshua Boucher

CYAN PLATE MAGENTA PLATE YELLOW PLATE BLACK PLATE 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 15 10 C M Y K 50 40 30 20 15 10 Page 4 Texarkana Gazette O Reprinted from June 30-July 2, 2017 Arkansas side watches alcohol sales trickle away By Karl Richter small store to begin with, Texarkana Gazette and it’s just difficult,” he Its beer and wine monop- said. oly broken and grip on Brewer added that the hard liquor sales slipping, state recently raised liquor Texarkana, Ark., faces a license fees and a law just new economic reality that passed by the Arkansas threatens both business and government. Legislature has made it After more than 80 years practically impossible to of reaping most of the compete with larger stores area’s retail alcohol spend- in selling wine. Dubbed by ing—and the associated some the “Walmart Law,” it sales tax revenue—the allows grocery and conve- city now faces increasing nience stores to sell wine competition not only in from large-scale manufac- Northeast Texas but also turers, not just small vine- in adjacent Little River yards as had been allowed County, Ark. The resultant losses, combined with previously. other economic pressures, “It’s a shame. You try to have made the municipal get through the storm, but budget tighter than ever I tell you, the state is no before and left mom-and- help to any of us. We had pop liquor stores with little already been kicked hard margin for error as concern down here by the wine grows about their ability to sales in Texas, but when remain open. this Walmart Law got Beginning in 2013, city elections in Cass County passed, the rest of the state and formerly dry Bowie got screwed,” he said. County in Texas, including Store chains Walmart the third try in Texarkana, and Brookshire’s did not Texas—literally across the respond to interview street from Texarkana, from 2015 to 2016. That requests for this story. Ark.—have allowed beer loss in sales tax revenue, in Hughes is pessimistic and wine in stores much addition to lower income about what would happen closer to buyers who pre- from franchise fees, led to if the Texas side began sell- viously had to travel to a 3.24 percent decrease in ing hard liquor. the Arkansas side for their the city’s general fund rev- “I believe that some of alcohol supply. enue, a drop feared to be a Arkansas-side sellers’ us will go out of business harbinger of financial woes immediately. That might be only remaining advantage, to come. us. There’s just not enough the ability to offer hard “I expect our sales tax liquor, soon could be a revenue to be negatively to go around. If they did thing of the past, as well. affected by the changes that, I don’t see how every- Little River County elected in beer, wine and liquor body would stay in busi- last November to allow not sales,” finance director ness,” he said. only retail beer and wine TyRhonda Henderson said. Brewer agreed. sales but also two stand- City Hall has responded “It would be bye-bye alone stores that can sell with a variety of belt-tight- liquor. Eleven businesses liquor stores in the city, ening and money-making have applied to compete except for the two very measures. Haskin has for those two store licens- big stores, Chubby Cheeks cut staff and decreased es. and The Party Factory,” he work hours for some who Maud, Texas, followed said. “I would suspect that remain. The Board of this May by becoming the there are quite a few liquor first Bowie County city to Directors has added or raised a long list of animal stores just sitting on the allow liquor sales. Those edge.” moves have left many in shelter, fire department and public works fees. And Staff photos by Joshua Boucher Still, some say liquor Texarkana, Ark., worried n at the prospect of the hard the city is even passing the A sign announces beer and wine for sale at Moderne Primitives, a smoke shop in Texarkana, sales are profitable enough stuff becoming available on proverbial hat, asking for a Texas. Owner Sandy Spades tried selling beer and wine in the otherwise successful shop but found that allowing them in the Texas side. voluntary $10 donation on it was not a good fit. She now is selling off her remaining inventory, wine racks and coolers. “It Northeast Texas is inevi- “It makes me real ner- every property tax bill. never really caught on, and it was never profitable for me. If I had had hard liquor, it would have table. vous, there’s no question, “We’ve had some drastic been fine,” Spades said. “It’ll come. Hard liquor because our margins are so cuts to our administration will come on the Texas budget, to record lows. thin,” Texarkana, Ark., City side, but I don’t know Manager Kenny Haskin We respond the way we’ve Once it dropped off, it just chance on anything any- called E-Z Street Liquor always responded to citi- stayed down there; it didn’t more. New products come in Texarkana, Ark., and when it’ll be. I’m going said. “A little bit here and to say within five years,” a little bit there in a clutch zens’ needs, but in terms of come back,” said Brent out, but unless there’s sells hard liquor in some said Sandy Spades, owner this tight makes a world of having the resources that Hughes, store manager at something you think is Louisiana locations. difference for us. We have other cities have, we just BJ’s Refreshment Center, going to be a guaranteed “Between ‘must have’ and of Texas-side smoke shop no fat really to trim off, so don’t. And things are only which has operated on seller, you say forget it, ‘nice to have,’ selling beer Moderne Primitives. if we start to hemorrhage going to get more expen- North State Line Avenue you don’t even order it. and wine would probably Spades gave beer and wine in terms of sales, then sive over time. Yet our for more than 40 years. The only people that get fall into the ‘very nice’ to sales a try but says the we’re right at the bone. So sales tax is flatlining, and “We’re trying to stay hurt are the liquor stores, have range” for the compa- economics involved made we have to make sure that a lot of that has to do with competitive with our pric- period.” ny, Hubbard said. “While them a bad fit for the oth- we’re extremely conserva- alcohol sales. So now we’re ing. And then, if we can do The challenges of low-margin items, they do erwise successful shop. saddled with trying to put any advertising, which it’s ever-increasing competi- provide volume that helps tive about our approach, “It never really caught together creative initiatives tough to do, we’ll try and tion come as stores like offset costs of operations that we’re not too aggres- on, and it was never prof- sive. We’re not panicking in hopes to generate reve- do some advertising.” BJ’s and Southtown are and ensure more financial at all, but certainly we hear nue to offset our escalating Ben Brewer, owner of squeezed by larger stores’ stability and viability.” itable for me. There’s no the alarm.” expenses,” Haskin said. Southtown Liquor on East and chain retailers’ buy- That volume may be margin on beer and wine. I Street for the past 16 years, ing-power advantage. great for E-Z Mart, but it decided to get out of it, so CITY COFFERS SMALL VENDORS is seeing similar cause Texarkana, Texas-based makes staying viable hard I’m going to sell everything COULD TAKE A HIT FEELING THE PINCH for alarm, and said his convenience store chain for the little guy, Hughes off,” she said. The city’s total sales The city’s small, indepen- purchasing practices have E-Z Mart, for example, said. “Now if I had had hard tax revenues rose from dent liquor stores are also changed dramatically since sells beer and wine in 83 “It really hurts us in the liquor, it would have been almost $5 million in 2002 adjusting to the new Texas- the Texas side went wet. percent of its 300 locations, way we buy the alcohol, great. There’s a good mar- to more than $7.07 million side competition. “Our wine sales are prob- up from 70 percent just because we have to pay gin on hard liquor, and I in 2015 and then took an “We’ve lost a consider- ably down at our store 70 five years ago, CEO Sonja more if you’re not able to think it would bring people uncharacteristic tumble, able amount of business. percent,” he said. “You’re Hubbard said in an email. order the big deals. Then according to Arkansas Our wine sales have obviously ordering much, In those stores, alcohol you pay more per bottle in.” Department of Finance and dropped to nearly nothing, much less. It’s taken about sales make up almost 25 than anyone else, and when Members of the Administration records. and the beer, as well. I’d a year to determine what percent of non-fuel sales. you start doing that, you’re Texarkana, Ark., Board of The figure dipped 1.6 per- say about 60 to 70 percent you’re absolutely going The company also operates going to fold up if you can’t Directors contacted for this cent, more than $115,000, is just the hard liquor. to sell. You can’t take a a standalone liquor store come out of it. We’re a story did not comment. Did beer, wine wars leave us thirsty for more? There have been winners lenges and confrontations. Some would define win- were beating each other medical marijuana hotbed and losers as the shuffle If you missed it, Karl ners and losers differently. up about beer, in conve- could be Texarkana?” for the alcohol dollar has Richter’s special report Dry, of course, is a relative nience stores, on our street Several national news unfolded in the region. “Shifting Spirits” in the concept. Many a draft is corners. Shortly, we will outlets found this develop- The landscape has trans- Friday and Saturday edi- drawn in restaurants, bars almost assuredly have sev- ment interesting enough to formed dramatically in tions is worth a read. It and homes in jurisdic- eral medical pot dispensa- pass on. a handful of years, with delineates many of the tions that have restrictions ries in town. The important “When one door closes, more changes on the way. changes we have seen against picking up a six- distinction, of course, is another opens,” inventor Some predicted grave within the region as a pack or bottle of wine and “medical.” But a lot of peo- consequences when beer, result of alcohol expansion. carting it home. Millions of ple won’t see it that way. Alexander Graham Bell wine and even hard alcohol Some have been subtle, dollars were spent this way Some suggest Texarkana, said long ago. outlets began popping up— some not so much, and a long before the so-called Ark., is a prime location Maybe he was on to with voter approval—in few rather unexpected. alcohol expansion. because of nearby markets something. places that were perenni- Once, Texarkana, Ark., Les Minor It’s all relative in a rela- that are currently closed, It’s funny how this new ally considered dry. But, as had almost all these eggs in tively reliable way, and all specifically Louisiana, opportunity is now emerg- with many things, after the its basket. Now, there are Gazette Editor subject to change, includ- Texas and Oklahoma. ing on the backside of the new wears off, people get eggs everywhere. ing new incursions. Investors are apparently regional redistribution of acclimated to the idea, and Obvious winners: Cities ism; a sense, though debat- Last week, for exam- looking beyond our bor- alcohol dollars that hurt it all blends into the com- that added this revenue ple, we learned how the ders, beyond the immedi- able, that Texarkana is no Texarkana, Ark. Not quite munity wallpaper. stream, convenience, equal- regional landscape might ate. longer as safe; cities that the same, true; not in direct In many ways, it doesn’t ization of alcohol spending be changing again, thanks Based on the number of competition, likewise true; seem as much a transfor- and fairer distribution of got a bigger piece of the to the medical marijuana calls to City Hall by poten- pie through this expansion, but not altogether different, mation as a reconciliation. the proceeds, related city trade, which Arkansans tial investors seeking infor- either. In the course of a few improvements, jobs, those only to find nearby towns voted in last election. mation about applications, Another type of player years, we threw off the veil, who intend to take this exercising the same option The Arkansas-side Board there seems to be an unde- changed our wardrobe and expansion a step further. and taking big bites out of of Directors got its first niable readiness to bankroll will soon burst onto the acknowledged we were Obvious losers: the original portion; those public overview of how these startup endeavors, scene—medically speaking, pretty much like any other Texarkana, Ark., which lost who understand that a these businesses would be and even to be first in line. of course—and will own a town along America’s high- its monopoly; eye fatigue series of small steps even- regulated in the city. It’s Even The Cannabist, a ready-made monopoly. ways. from the abundance of tually lead to a new vista, coming, and quickly. Big website about the pot cul- Which leads to the ques- It was a long time com- signs, slogans and displays uninspiring and unwanted decisions ahead. ture, had a headline advis- tion: The devil you know? ing, and not without chal- tied into this commercial- as it may be. Just a few years ago, we ing “The country’s next The devil you don’t?