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Council OKs earlier Sunday alcohol sales

Proclaims Vietnam Veterans Week

Mayor Jim Staff, second from left, presented the proclamation to VFW Memorial Auxiliary members, from left, Arlene Delafosse, Jenny Hutto, and Jackey Odom.

By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer

Atmore City Council members voted during their Monday, March 14, meeting to lengthen the hours for off-premises sales of beer and wine on Sundays, designated an upcoming period to honor veterans of the Vietnam War and approved the use of a city park for a church-sponsored youth event.
The amendment to the city’s Sunday beer and wine ordinance allows for stores that sell such spirits to begin doing so at 5 a.m. on Sundays. The previous ordinance restricted such sales until 10 a.m.
“A lot of the hunters and fishermen would like to have it earlier, so we’re making it 5 a.m.,” explained Mayor Jim Staff, who added that, “we want those sales tax dollars to stay here, instead of going across the line to Florida.”
Three members of Atmore Memorial VFW Auxiliary — Jenny Hutto, Arlene Delafosse and Jackey Odom — attended the meeting, during which Staff read a proclamation designating March 27 through April 2 as Vietnam Veterans Week in the city.
Hutto spoke of the effect the COVID pandemic has had on the group’s annual celebration and noted that the Atmore unit is one of the few in the state who still conduct such ceremonies.
She also asked and was given permission to have Auxiliary members place yellow bows on the doors of city hall and yellow ribbons on the trees outside city hall.
In the meeting’s only other business item, approval was given for the use of Houston Avery Park at 3 p.m., Saturday, April 23, for the free youth-oriented affair.
“It’s an event promoting local and surrounding-area churches,” Staff said. “It’s something for the youth of the surrounding area.”