With the loss of large manufacturing companies in the recent past, tourism is the largest industry in Trigg County. In order to grow the local economy we must attract more visitors and keep them happy.
Trigg County has declined under the out-dated laws of Prohibition for too long. These laws, seeking to control consumption of alcohol, date back to the 1930’s and are no more effective now than they were then.
In fact, far more DUI citations are issued in “dry” counties than in “wet” counties. More traffic accidents involving alcohol occur in “dry” than “wet” counties. “Wet” counties bordering “dry” counties prosper when the citizens from “dry” counties cross the county lines to purchase alcohol. About $1.7 million in alcohol tax revenue goes from Gracey to Christian County each year. I’d bet most of that comes from Trigg County.
Think for a moment what this county could do with that much money!
Consider this: Prohibition doesn’t prevent drinking. Everyone in Trigg County who wants to drink already does and will probably continue to do so. People who don’t want to drink won’t drink. What Prohibition has prevented, however, is property sales; fine restaurants, hotels and resorts coming to the county; and new businesses moving into the county. Prohibition has weakened the economy by eliminating opportunities for growth.
But we can change this. We can finally repeal Prohibition as a county. If we simply vote to allow the sale of alcohol in Trigg county we can increase tourism, increase overall sales revenues for our local businesses, and bring manufacturing companies back to increase employment. And if you are not happy seeing your area “wet”, it is possible for a precinct to vote itself “dry” again.
I usually purchase wine in Paducah or Hopkinsville. While there, I also buy groceries, hardware, lumber, plants, maybe have a meal. But I wouldn’t go out of town to buy just these things. If wine were available in Trigg county, most of that money would stay here. There would be very little that I couldn’t find right here at home. There is a committee forming to make this vote possible. Please join me when that vote comes up by saying yes to economic growth in Trigg County.
Jan Culwell,
Cadiz
