October 6, 1998

Sundae Stelts
Staff Writer

Volunteers are needed to help Boone restaurants pass a petition allowing them to serve liquor by the drink.

The Board of Elections requires the petition to have 3,577 signatures of voters registered in Boone.

All the signatures must be turned into the Board of Elections by Oct. 21.

“If 3,577 valid signatures are turned in, then an election will be held,” said Director of the Board of Elections for the town of Boone Jane Hodges.

The election will be held between Jan. 19 and March 20, if the petition passes. Otherwise, another election cannot be held for four years, said Hodges.

The petition was started in July by Charlie Horse manager Michael Staiger along with the Caribbean Cafe, Rafter’s and other Boone restaurants.

Charlie Horse is offering volunteers a free meal for every 50 signatures and two free meals for every 100 signatures collected.

Interested students should contact Michael or Linda Staiger at Charlie Horse.

At the present date, 150 valid signatures have been collected, according to the Board of Elections.

According to Linda Staiger, the closest places to get mixed drinks are Blowing Rock and Banner Elk.

“Allowing mixed drinks would help the tourism in Boone and be better for the students,” said  Staiger.

“Many students get a DUI because they have to drive to get mixed drinks,” she added.

The last election on liquor by the drink was in 1993.

Hodges said that the law was defeated with 1,483 for the law and 1,793 against.

Boone was a “dry” (non-alcoholic) town until 1986.

An election held in March 1986 allowed the sale of beer and wine. Additionally, it allowed an ABC store to be built within town limits.