STANLEY, N.C.,None — A group of about 100 people rallied against the sale of alcohol in grocery and convenience stores as well as restaurants in town.
On Tuesday, voters will have a chance to approve the sale of beer, unfortified wine or mixed drinks.
"Let's say 'no' in Stanley. Let's get out and vote," said Eddie McGinnis, Pastor of Stanley's Community Pentecostal Center.
McGinnis acknowledged that Stanley is unique as one of the state's few remaining dry towns but argued that the designation isn't a bad one. "The Bible talks about cities of refuge. Why not Stanley be one of those places?"
Across the street from where the rally was held, a worker at Stanley Convenience argued that the town's existing ban on alcohol sales isn't only bad for business; it's costing the town plenty of tax revenue.
"You've got customers going to [other towns] to buy their beer," Crystal Crosby said. "All of the money we could be making off of alcohol sales and Stanley is losing out on that, too."
This isn't the first time Stanley has voted on the issue. A similar measure was shot down by 60 percent of voters in 2005.
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