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It wasn't a great day Thursday for a few local alcohol permit holders before the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
One was accused of telling lies. Another had remonstrators against them. And a third had a violation against him, though the fine has been paid.
Bruce A. Miller, Fort Wayne, petitioned the ABC to renew his beer and wine dealer permit for his convenience store, Marge's Marina, on Diamond Lake, Silver Lake.
When ABC chairman Gordon Vanator asked Miller if the permit was for his use and not for the use or benefit of another, excise officer Patty Fleck warned Miller to be careful about how he answered that question. She said if he lied, she will charge him with perjury and take away his permit.
Miller said he sold his license to Bruce Matthews for an initial $30,000 and is going to sell the business.
Fleck said Miller had come before the board previously and at that meeting admitted he lied. Miller also allegedly tried to sell the license to a man from Chicago, but the Chicago man could not qualify for an alcohol license in Indiana.
In December 2003, the ABC approved the renewal of Marge's Marina's beer and wine dealer permit and approved to hold the permit in escrow for a third year.
At that meeting, Miller said he was selling the property on land contract to Bruce Matthews. Once Matthews has the grocery and video store up and running again, Miller said, Matthews will petition to have the permit transferred into his name.
Thursday, Miller said, "I don't know what I supposedly lied about last time."
Fleck continued the hearing until the permit to the March 3 ABC meeting. At that meeting, Fleck told Miller, she wants to see a petition for transfer of ownership of the permit or Miller's attorney with him. She said Miller told the board he is in the process of selling the business and permit. She gave him until the next meeting to show the board he is properly doing just that.
Approximately five remonstrators against the renewal of Hoggle's beer, wine and liquor retailer permit were on hand at the ABC meeting Thursday. Hoggle's is at 209 S. Buffalo St., Warsaw.
The permit has no violations against it and with no violations, the permit usually would be an automatic renewal. However, since there were remonstrators against the permit, but because the permit holders were not present, the permit renewal was tabled until the March 3 meeting.
On March 30, 2004, the Turf Bar, South Main Street, Milford, was cited for eight counts of credit sales and not having enough food on hand to feed 25 people. The excise officer who filed the violations also observed video and paper gambling on the premises, which is illegal.
Thursday, Turf Bar owner Stephen Hurst said he paid a $500 fine for the violations. He also is selling the bar and the persons buying the bar are operating under Hurst's licenses until the transfer is approved.
The ABC approved the renewal of the beer and wine retailer permit for Turf Bar.
In other business, the ABC:
• Approved the transfer of stock for The Great Wall's beer and wine and Sunday sales retailer permits. The Great Wall is at 2308 E. Center St., Warsaw.
• Approved the renewal of the beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Sleepy Owl, Ind. 13N, Syracuse.
• Approved the beer and wine and Sunday sales retailer permits for Lucky's Tavern, South East Street, North Webster.
• Approved the beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for American Legion Post 258, corner of First and Catholic streets, Pierceton.
• Approved the beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for RC's Pier, East Northshore Drive, Syracuse.
• Approved the beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits for Maple Leaf Grille, North Detroit Street, Warsaw.
• Approved the beer, wine and liquor dealer permit for Leesburg Liquors, South Main Street, Leesburg.
Members of the ABC are chairman Gordon Vanator, secretary Kenneth Johnson, member Elim Smith and excise officer Patty Fleck. They meet at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Thursday of every month.
