Committee Makes Push for Fentress Liquor Sales

A committee is looking to pass a referendum in Fentress County Tuesday that would legalize liquor sales in the county.

Lynn Dayhuff, Chairman of the Committee to Legalize Whiskey, says allowing retail package sales will allow residents to purchase their liquor legally while benefiting the county.

“It’s bootlegged here [and] it’s been bootlegged here all my life. It wasn’t moonshine but bottled whiskey,” Dayhuff said. “A lot of people have got to go to other counties to buy it, giving them our tax money. This is a low-income, poverty-stricken county. We could use that tax money as much as they can, maybe even more.”

Linda Goodman, who also petitioned for the referendum, said passing the referendum would decrease or eliminate bootleg liquor from being produced in the county.

“A store will ID people. People now are buying from bootleggers and they will sell to anybody,” Goodman said. “All they know, they just want to make sure that the money you give them is green. ”

Goodman says the additional tax income from liquor sales would benefit a county struggling economically.

“Ever since NAFTA, it’s all but gutted our manufacturing jobs and our county is slowly dying,” Goodman said. “We need income. We need jobs. If this referendum passes, it would open up opportunities of growth for our county.”

Goodman says the Committee encourages people to let their voices be heard on Tuesday whether they’re for or against the referendum.

“All I say is get out and vote… I told my nephew, you either vote yes or no. I don’t care,” Goodman said. “We have veterans who have fought for our right to vote, and it’s our responsibility to get out and vote.”

Dayhuff said the committee has tried passing similar referendums in previous elections but have come up short each time.

Over 3,600 people cast their vote in Fentress County during early voting. Polls close at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening across the Upper Cumberland.