A local committee, Let Hempstead County Decide, is racing against time. John Sitzes, a local businessman and organizer of the campaign, said they need around 2,000 more signatures from Hempstead County registered voters by August 10. The goal is to put the initiative on the November ballot allowing the county’s voters to choose whether to allow alcohol sales or keep that prohibited.

For the initiative to be placed on the ballot, the Let Hempstead County Decide campaign, which Sitzes heads, needs to submit the signatures of 38 percent of the county’s registered voters before the August 10 deadline. If a majority then votes yes on the initiative in November 2022, county leaders will decide what the rules will be for alcohol sales.

A copy of the petition form can be downloaded from the campaign website for printing and then gathering signatures.

The initiative’s passage, Sitzes said, would not result in Hempstead County towns having “liquor stores on every corner.” Arkansas state law, said Sitzes, allows only one liquor store license to be granted for every 7,500 people in the county’s population. Since Hempstead County has only 20,000 people, the county would only have two liquor store license-holders.

While many signatures have been gathered so far, Sitzes says there are many more needed.  “We’ve had a lot of people sign, but we need their relatives, too,” he said. He urges those who wish to volunteer to help gather signatures and those who simply wish to sign, to send the campaign a message on its Facebook page.

During the campaign Sitzes said his experiences soliciting signatures and support has been a positive one. “I haven’t had a single person come up to me and tell me I was doing something wrong,” he said.

Sitzes says there are many reasons Hempstead County’s registered voters should consider signing the petition and then voting yes on the initiative.  The Facebook site includes postings of researched articles demonstrating the helpful effect of going wet on counties’ economies.

Additionally, Sitzes points to the increased financial health of current restaurants and additional new attractions that would come. That, in turn, may stop the exodus of people from the county and draw many who have gone to return. Passage of the initiative would also be a way for citizens to see their activism rewarded. And, finally, as a Facebook entry for the campaign puts it, “Most importantly, STOP OUR TAX DOLLARS FROM LEAVING OUR COUNTY!!!!”

Those wanting to sign also have several locations to choose from where forms are available:

• Bobcat Freight -108 South Main

• Terry Powell’s Grocery-310 E Greenwood

• Neighbors -1301 E 3rd St

• One24 Salon-124 E 2nd St

• Beard and Shears-114 W 2nd St

• Tailgaters – 101 South Main.

Or a copy of the petition can be downloaded HERE