Registered voters check in with volunteers at Farthing Auditorium on Tuesday to complete a ballot for the liquor by the drink vote. Photo by Alisha Park

by ANNE BAKER
News Editor

According to unofficial results released Tuesday evening, voters overwhelmingly approved the sale of liquor by the drink within Boone town limits.

The polls  officially closed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

There were 1,106 votes cast  in favor of the referendum and 408 votes against, for a total of 1,515 votes.

The early voting period as well showed the desire for liquor in Boone, bringing in a total of 704 votes with 520 of those being for the sale of mixed drinks. 

Election results will become  official after the canvas of votes is completed, and provisional ballots are counted.

The precinct with the largest voter turnout was the Boone I precinct located in the Watauga County Administrative Building.             

One hundred fifty-eight votes were cast, with 114 in favor of the referendum.

The Boone III precinct, with a polling place located in Farthing Auditorium, had one of the largest voter turnouts in the election as well with 100 votes. Seventy-three of those votes were for the sale of mixed beverages.

There were minute reports of several Appalachian State University students who experienced problems at the polls after the date of their residency in Boone was called into question.

In order to participate in the election, voters were required to be a resident within the Boone town limits as well as have lived at their place of residence for 30 days before the vote took place.

Betty Webb, chief judge of the Boone III precinct, said there had been no problems with students voting at Farthing Auditorium.

Election officials at the polls  in Plemmons Student Union were unable to comment on the situation.

Appalachian Student Government Association President David Mofford said despite the odds stacked up against students, they were still able to vote and make sure their voice was heard.

“The consensus of students was that they were in favor of liquor by the drink,” he said.

Stephen “Skip” Sinanian, chairman of the ABC task force was pleased by the outcome of the election.

“I didn’t think it would be such a big blowout,” he said.

Sinanian is also the owner of the restaurant and bar Boone Saloon, located on King Street. Although the restaurant was damaged in April due to fire, Sinanian said he plans to re-open in approximately two weeks and, due to the passing of the referendum, have a full bar.

Sinanian  said Boone will report to the state of North Carolina during the week in order for businesses to begin the process of acquiring a liquor license. 

According to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Web site www.ncabc.com , a mixed beverages permit authorizes the sale of mixed drinks on the premises of restaurants.

A family enters Farthing Auditorium to cast ballots for the liquor by the drink vote on Tuesday. The referendum was passed by a large margin. Photo by Alisha Park

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