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Samuel Stimmel, owner of Stimmelators, North Webster, petitioned the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a new Sunday retail sales alcohol permit Thursday for his business.
But to give the remonstrators and Stimmel more time to gather information for their sides, the ABC tabled the petition to its Nov. 1 meeting at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw.
Though there were two to three dozen remonstrators in attendance, Indiana excise officer Patty Fleck limited speakers to voting residents within the town limits of North Webster. Only four people spoke against the petition.
The remonstrators said there was a lot of fighting, cursing and violence associated with the business. Sexually oriented businesses like Stimmelators, a North Webster man said, have many secondary negative effects.
One remonstrator said neighbors in the area of the business have children and there are child molesters associated with businesses like Stimmelators. There is enough violence in the neighborhood to be concerned about, the remonstrator said, without the business having a Sunday sales license.
Stimmel said he commissioned a study of the adult businesses in the Fort Wayne area and there was found to be no negative effects from sexually oriented businesses in the area. Unfortunately, he said, he did not have the study with him Thursday.
His dancers, he said, have more than 15 rules to abide by when they work at his club.
As for the concern of child molesters being associated with businesses like Stimmel's, he said, "You're going to find more molesters tied with churches than with adult clubs."
Darwin Call, ABC chairman, said the remonstrators' opposition was well taken. Basically, he said, their opposition was a moral opposition to "this lifestyle" more than a legal one. As a member of the ABC, he said, he is working for the state of Indiana and therefore must abide by the state laws, which allow a business to operate. "Your opposition has to be more legal than moral," he said.
He said as presented, neither side gave the ABC enough information to help them make a decision.
"We don't have enough (information) to vote," agreed ABC member Gordon Vanator.
The board unanimously tabled the petition.
Afterwards, remonstrator Helen Hoy told the ABC she thinks she has a right to speak against the petition even though she doesn't live within the town limits of North Webster. She said the board was penalizing her for not living in the town even though she is actively involved in North Webster.
"Anyone here will tell you there isn't anyone else who pushes good more," Hoy said of herself. She said when Augsburger's petitioned for a alcohol license in North Webster, she was allowed to speak then. She also said she will contact Rep. Dave Wolkins to be at the November meeting to speak "my way."
In other business, the ABC approved the following permits:
• Beer and wine dealer, new, Wal-Mart, Walton Blvd., Warsaw.
• Beer, wine and liquor retailer, new, Spike's, Eastlake Drive, Warsaw.
• Beer, wine and liquor retailer, renewal, Warsaw Bowl, East Market Street, Warsaw.
• Sunday sales retailer, renewal, Warsaw Bowl, East Market Street, Warsaw.
• Beer and wine retailer, renewal, Pizza Hut, Lake Village Shopping Center, U.S. 30E.
• Sunday sales retailer, renewal, Pizza Hut, Lake Village Shopping Center, U.S. 30E.
• Sunday sales retailer, renewal, Wagon Wheel, East Center Street, Warsaw.
• Beer, wine and liquor retailer, renewal, American Legion Post 49, North Buffalo Street, Warsaw.
• Sunday sales retailer, renewal, American Legion Post 49, North Buffalo Street, Warsaw.
• Beer, wine, liquor retailer, transfer of ownership, Gordy's Sub Pub, South Buffalo Street, Warsaw.
• Beer and wine retailer, renewal, The Keg, Van Buren Street, Leesburg.
• Sunday sales retailer, renewal, The Keg, Van Buren Street, Leesburg.
• Beer, wine and liquor dealer, renewal, CVS Pharmacy, East Pickwick Drive, Syracuse.
• Beer, wine and liquor dealer, renewal, CVS Pharmacy, Ind. 13S, North Webster.
• Beer, wine and liquor dealer, renewal, Liquid Assets, East Center Street, Warsaw.
• Beer, wine and liquor dealer, renewal, Milford Party Pack, North Higbee Street, Milford.
• Beer, wine and liquor dealer, renewal, Service Liquors, Lake City Highway, Warsaw.
Members of the ABC include Darwin Call, Gordon Vanator, Kenneth Johnson and excise officer Patty Fleck. They meet at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Thursday of every month.
