In order to be permitted to sell beer in Cannon County, an establishment must be a maximum of 2000 feet from any church or school and as a result of last night’s Cannon County Beer Board meeting, that particular stipulation will not change anytime soon. The board upheld the ruling that was passed some 50 years ago and denied a beer permit request from the Short Mountain Market. The market is 1300 feet away from the Short Mountain Church of God. Ralph Harvey, owner of the Short Mountain Market contended that his store should be allowed to sell beer because church is only in session on Sundays and Wednesdays and that the County doesn’t allow beer sales on Sundays leaving Wednesdays as the only day in conflict with possible church goers. However, Charles Stanton, who pastors a church in the area got up before the board and gave statistical information about the hazards of excessive drinking. Neither side of the argument seemed to impress the Beer Board who upheld the ruling based on the fact that if they were to indeed grant the Short Mountain Market a permit, it wouldn’t be too far down the road before they would have to grant one to the Eastside Market, which just sold earlier in the day and they are located right next door to the Eastside School. There are no plans to reconsider the 2000 foot maximum in the near future
