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Tyler County Precinct One voters have a chance to vote on alcohol sales

Currently, only two towns in Tyler County, Woodville and Ivanhoe, are permitted to sell alcohol.

TYLER COUNTY, Texas — Tyler County residents living in Precinct One will have an opportunity to vote on whether to allow the sale of alcohol in that part of the county.

Currently, only two towns in Tyler County, Woodville and Ivanhoe, are permitted to sell alcohol and some resident drive across county lines to pick up beer or wine.

"I think if we had it here in Warren, it would be less drunk driving because they can walk and get it," said Warren resident Blossom Hill.

According to the precinct one commissioner, a Warren business owner and residents wanted to have permission to sell alcohol. They created a petition that gained nearly 900 signatures to get the proposition on the ballot.

"They had an election just like this to allow for the alcohol sales in the city," said Tyler County Precinct One Commissioner Joe Blacksher.

Some Tyler County residents are content with the current "dry laws," or lack of alcohol sales.

"It ought to be off the ballot. You can get alcohol up the road that way, you get alcohol up the road that way," said Warren Resident, Mike. "You start selling the whole [alcohol] here, it's going to be a bunch more more riffraff coming in."

Many residents do not mind driving across the county line to purchase alcohol.

"It [isn't] far at all, said Mike. "They go to Ivanhoe and Woodville all the time, anyhow, to go grocery shopping."

The majority of shelves and fridges in Tyler County convenience stores are alcohol free, however, things could change for convenience and grocery stores on Tuesday.

Restaurants in the area will not be impacted by the change.

"No not for us, not for us especially with everybody here that's so close that already sells alcohol," said Manager of Bar-B-Q Pitt Mike Talley. "There's no reason for us."

A Warren business owner and residents had people sign a petition to get the proposition on the ballot.

"People [were] going around the precinct and gathering signatures so, I think it was 800 to 900," said Precinct one Commissioner Blacksher. "It's gonna [going to] be up to the voters and they got [have] to decide if they want legal sale of alcohol or don't."

If passed, the sales tax will provide more money for the county and the emergency service district.

"I think it would help our fire department because part of the tax will go to that," said Hill.

Early voting continues through this Friday and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. this week.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

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