Kosciusko County Alcohol and Tobacco Commission renewed Etna Pub’s license Thursday after hearing about four violations it received in July. The pub, at 204 E. State St., Etna Green, was cited by state excise police July 20 for selling alcohol purchased by retail rather than wholesale and three counts related to allowing smoking without an exemption. Owner James Slough told commissioners business has been slow and his alcohol orders didn’t meet his distributor’s minimum size, forcing him to buy some alcohol from a retail store instead. Slough also said he plans to sell the business after he clears up the fines, which he has not yet received but which are estimated at $500. Commissioners approved his alcohol license renewal with the understanding that he will pay the fines once he knows the amount. “We don’t want to drive him out of business,” board member Elim Smith remarked before making the motion to renew the license. The board also approved a license transfer for Cerulean, Winona Lake, after restaurant owner Caleb France explained he is in the process of forming limited liability corporations for Cerulean in Indianapolis and Cerulean and Light Rail Cafe in Winona Lake and wants to move the licenses from his parent company to the individual locations. He added he will probably start sales in late fall after training his staff. Also Thursday, the board approved the following license renewals with no violations: Aldi #31, Warsaw; Claypool Inn, Claypool; Channel Marker, Syracuse; and Owen’s J-836, Warsaw.
