Andrea Whitney, reporter
Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 4:34 pm

As Nov. 6 approaches, a letter is being circulated to all postal customers regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages within the Lumberton city limits.

Election day will be a hot topic in the city of Lumberton as citizens head to the polls to determine their position on whether or not alcohol will be sold within the city limits. As of now, alcohol is available outside the city limits only.

The letter is of opposing nature to the alcohol sales. It lists several points stating that the sale of alcohol within the city limits will have a definite negative effect on the community.

Some of points made in the letter were stated that alcohol could have a negative effect financially to businesses and could possibly initiate the increase of crime due to alcohol sales.

Also mentioned in the letter were the effect that alcohol sales will have on the volunteer fire department and the close proximity of alcohol sales to schools.

Lumberton Mayor Don Surratt was on hand to give his side of the story regarding the letter.

Announcing at the beginning of a regularly scheduled city council meeting, Mayor Surratt made a simple statement asking citizens to make sure they know their facts are correct before heading to the polls.

"Sometimes in the city of Lumberton, people will send out things in the mail that are not true," stated Surratt. "Please be aware of this."

Surratt also emphasized that the City of Lumberton cannot and does not issue city ordinances pertaining to alcohol licenses that supurcede the state of Texas. All liquor licenses are issued by the State of Texas after a lengthy process and public hearing.

Councilmen Andy Kelly, who also serves as President of the Lumberton Chamber of Commerce, stated that as chamber president, he wants to see citizen's dollars remain in Lumberton and benefit the city, but he respects the opposition as well. As long as they are being told the truth.

"The recent flyer that has been sent out has a lot of misrepresentation and untruths," he said. "The same thing happened the last time this issue was on the ballot. I will respect and stand behind all opinions of our citizens as long as they are receiving the correct information."

For now, it is a game of waiting until after the Nov. 6 election to see what the outcome of the local option will be.