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After 90 years, beer could be here
(by Joan Demirjian - June 23, 2010)
After 90 years, beer could be here
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
Russell Township's long-standing status as a dry community could change. It has not had sales of beer, wine or alcohol since the Prohibition era.
However, there is a movement afoot that could bring such sales to the township.
Representatives of the Circle K store at 14857 Chillicothe Road (Route 306) have expressed interest in selling packaged beer or wine for carryout.
A representative of the Geauga County Board of Elections said information was gathered for a petition required to put the issue on the ballot. No petitions have been taken, however, petitions can be taken out anywhere in the state.
The deadline for placing an issue of the ballot is Aug. 4 for the November general election.
Information gathered included how many voters and what precinct would be affected. It was requested for the Circle K location in Russell. Circle K is in the township's Precinct C.
Young Independent Consultants Inc. requested the information, according to the board of elections.
Signatures of 159 registered voters are required to place the issue on the ballot. Application also must be made to the state liquor control office.
Resident Marty Winston who has been looking into the matter, said he has been told by Geauga County Board of Elections that Circle K is starting the process of a precinct vote to allow carryout alcoholic beverage sales from its store on Chillicothe Road.
Mr. Winston said he talked to a Cleveland and Akron regional representative in the Circle K's Great Lakes division.
"Jeff Beight (the representative) said they would be remodeling and expanding the store," Mr. Winston said.
"This is the only Circle K store location in Ohio that does not already sell beer. Russell has been dry since the temperance era," he said.
"If they are allowed to sell beer and wine, Circle K management has pledged to expand and improve the store location, delay its closing time, hire additional personnel and take other positive steps," Mr. Winston said.
Mr. Beight said Tuesday, he could not comment publicly on the efforts at this time.
Mr. Winston said there has been some effort to maintain the township's dry status as a way to discourage restaurants, in part because of public safety concerns and the water and septic or sewer requirements those can create.
Russell has remained uninteresting to anyone considering locating a restaurant or tavern in the township, Mr. Winston said.
However, the township zoning commission is revising rules and sale of carryout packaged will no longer be a zoning topic when the revisions are accepted.
Former Trustee Christina Livers, a member of the Russell Historical Society, said the temperance movement was strong in the region and it is the reason Russell is dry today.
Russell had some active groups involved in the movement, she said.
Prohibition made a lasting affect on the township and it kept true to that cause, Mrs. Livers said. Prohibition took effect in 1920, making it illegal to manufacture or distribute beer, wine and alcohol. Prohibition was repealed in 1933, but Russell remained a dry community.
In more recent years, the Hillbrook Club in the township attempted to get permission in the precinct for sales of alcohol by the glass but was unsuccessful and resorted to a bring-your-own-bottle policy, Mrs. Livers said.
"I believe it's up to the voters," Mrs. Livers said. "It wouldn't bother me personally if they sold beer and wine as carryout, but it is a community decision and I'm comfortable with what the community decides.
"I don't know if a community ends up with more crime with sale of beer and wine," Mrs. Livers said.
Russell Trustee Jim Mueller said, "If packaged beer and wine were sold for carryout, like the grocery store, I wouldn't be opposed."
Russell Police Chief Tim Carroll said such sales should not affect the department. "It's right down the street. It will be up to the voters to decide.
"I would not anticipate any problems," he said.
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