The Kosciusko County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission approved two new licenses and a transfer Thursday as well as several renewals, some with violations. New alcohol licenses were issued for M the Market, Syracuse, a specialty food market and cafe, and for Light Rail Coffee, Winona Lake, a breakfast and lunch cafe. The retail restaurant license will allow both establishments to serve alcohol for sit-in consumption but no carryout. The transfer of a carryout only license was approved for Eagle Creek Farms Market, Winona Lake, an all-natural store and deli set up in a grocery store location that was previously licensed to sell alcohol. The owners of five businesses also appeared before the commission to address violations they had received. Cathy Carter, representing Service Liquors East in Warsaw, told the board she received a warning during a state excise officer visit for forgetting to replace a no smoking sign after the store experienced a break-in that shattered the glass front door. She later received a citation, with a $50 fine, because the handmade sign she put up didn’t specify “within eight feet of entrance.” Jami Wright, owner of Warsaw Bowl, told the board she was cited for not having a smoking permit sign posted, as well as for going over the limit on gambling drawings and for not posting house rules for the games. She paid a $300 fine and said she addressed all the problems within a week. Sandi Fruitt, assistant manager of Stonehenge Golf Club, Winona Lake, addressed citations they received for serving a minor and for serving non-members, which netted $750 in fines. It was the first violation they had received in recent memory, Fruitt said, and they have been checked twice since with no problems. Barb Hamer, co-owner of Pie-Eyed Petey’s, Leesburg, addressed a citation they received for not having house gaming rules posted. She said she put them up that evening, and paid a $100 fine. And the license was renewed for Wings Etc., Warsaw, which had been cited for serving an intoxicated person and for not having adequate no-smoking signage. Attorney Randy Morgan, representing the business, said they paid no fines because they haven’t received any notice on fine amounts since receiving the violations in April, something Excise officer April Tackett said the commission can’t fault them for. The commission approved renewals for all businesses that had received citations, as well as the following businesses which received no violations: American Legion post #223, Syracuse; American Legion Post #49, Warsaw; BPO Elks #802, Warsaw; El Arriero, Warsaw; Fraternal Order of Eagles #3760, Syracuse; One Ten Craft Meatery, Warsaw; The Keg, Leesburg; Maria’s Original House of Pancakes, Warsaw; Oswego Mini Mart, Leesburg; Shopko, Syracuse; and Time Out Inn, Warsaw.
