Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.

In the middle of May, a new ordinance was enacted in Olive Branch without much fuss. The new ordinance permits the sale of alcoholic beverages on Sunday between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and midnight. That means you can now get a Jack & Coke on Sunday while watching the game. Here is a recap of the current hours of sale regulations in the "The O.B.":

Beer & Light Wine: regulated by local ordinance

Mon-Sat 7:00 am--midnight

Sun 1:00 am--midnight

Liquor & Wine: regulated by state law (tax commission/ABC)

Mon-Sat 10:00 am--midnight

Sunday 1:00 pm--midnight

For those that are really interested, here is a link to the State Tax Commission's order approving the new ordinance: AlcoholOrder

Hearing Set on DeSoto County Sunday Beer Sales

By Wayne Risher at the Memphis Commercial Appeal

DeSoto County supervisors have set a July 7 public hearing to take the public's pulse on whether Sunday morning beer sales should be allowed in unincorporated areas.

The board voted 3-2 Monday to call the public hearing after the owner of a convenience store near Arkabutla Lake complained he's losing money because of curbs on Sunday sales. Supervisors discussed the possibility of calling a referendum on the question Nov. 4, but decided to start with a less formal means of getting citizen input. The board's attorney said calling a referendum could be complicated because it would have to be voted on by people living outside the county's five cities. Attorney Tony Nowak said the referendum would be nonbinding, meaning supervisors wouldn't have to follow the results.

Store owner Jon Williams said customers are bypassing the store and going to Hernando on Sunday mornings because city stores can sell them beer with their fishing supplies. Williams owns the Old Road Store on U.S. 51, five miles south of Hernando. County ordinance allows Sunday beer sales to start at 1 p.m., while Hernando stores can sell it at 7 a.m. Williams is seeking to get the county ordinance changed to follow Hernando's hours. "I'm asking for just equal consideration," Williams said. Although the ordinance has been on the books since the 1960s, Williams said it wasn't enforced until Sheriff Bill Rasco came into office this year. It affects about 18 convenience stores in the county outside the cities. Williams said, "I've seen my business Sundays drop off tremendously, as have other stores, and it's primarily people going fishing."

An identical request from Williams failed on a 2-2 vote May 19, when board president Allen Latimer was absent. Latimer joined Supervisors Bill Russell and Tommy Lewis voting for it Monday. Jessie Medlin and Gene Thach voted no. Thach said churches would likely be against allowing beer sales during prime church-going hours. (see my prior post for the troubling impact this has) Latimer said, "I would like to see some public input." Russell said he could be convinced otherwise, but he believes the ordinance is outdated and that owners of small businesses deserve the board's help. "I have a strong feeling about small businesses," Russell said. "I think our laws are antiquated. But I don't want to do it without a referendum." "I feel like a referendum would be a better way for the people to have their wishes heard," Russell said. "They wouldn't have to come up here." Russell withdrew a motion for a referendum after Nowak's advice about potential complications.