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Rees attended the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission meeting Thursday to remonstrate against Pamida's petition for a new beer and wine dealer permit. Pamida is at 1101 Indiana Ave., Syracuse.
"Alcohol is a detriment to society," she also told the board. "It helps the pockets of those who sell it but not those who buy it."
With more than 25 alcohol businesses in Syracuse, she said, Syracuse has enough.
There are nine Pamida stores in Indiana, according to Dale Kovarik, representing Pamida. Only one other Pamida store in Indiana sells alcohol, and that's in Mount Vernon.
Asked why Pamida wanted an alcohol license, Kovarik said, "To better serve our customers, customer convenience," to stay competitive with competitors and for profit.
"It's like a miniature Meijer store, Wal-Mart," said excise officer Patty Fleck of Pamida. "The products are similar to what you'd see in a grocery store."
Kovarik said they will check identification of buyers. Two of the store's clerks are not yet 18 but the rest are over age 21.
Based on the information provided, ABC chairman Gordon Vanator said he approved of the permit. It "meets the law."
Board members Kenneth Johnson and Elim Smith also approved.
Fleck said Pamida meets all the guidelines and she also would have to approve the application, giving the application 4-0 approval.
In other business, renewals with no violations approved by the ABC included:
• Etna Pub, Etna Green, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.
• Boathouse Restaurant, Winona Lake, beer and wine and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Channel Marker Restaurant, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Silver Inn Tavern, Silver Lake, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Wagon Wheel Theatre, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.
• Milford Party Pack, Milford, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• Jeff's, Syracuse, beer and wine dealer permit.
• Liquor Locker, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• Nana's Broadway, Mentone, beer, wine and liquor retailer permit.
• Aldi, Warsaw, beer and wine dealer permit.
• Wal-Mart, Warsaw, beer and wine dealer permit.
Members of the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission are Kenneth Johnson, Elim Smith, Gordon Vanator and excise officer Patty Fleck. They meet at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Thursday of every month.
