Talk of Lufkin

By concerned citizen

May 6, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this

Before Lufkin became wet of course there were teenager drinkers but since it was voted wet there is alot of drinking going on.It is very sad to know that a community the size of Lufkin is falling apart before my eyes. The crime rate is gone up and alot of illegal transactions taking place,such as restaurants stores selling to minors.If you dont believe me start looking around. You will be surprised the kids that are in the bars at these restaurants.It is time for someone to put a stop to this. Beer is like candy in Lufkin you can get it anywhere or you someone that will get it for you. These kids arent buying a six pack anymore it is a couple of 24 or 30 pack everynight.

By concerned citizen

May 6, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this

Before Lufkin became wet of course there were teenager drinkers but since it was voted wet there is alot of drinking going on.It is very sad to know that a community the size of Lufkin is falling apart before my eyes. The crime rate is gone up and alot of illegal transactions taking place,such as restaurants stores selling to minors.If you dont believe me start looking around. You will be surprised the kids that are in the bars at these restaurants.It is time for someone to put a stop to this. Beer is like candy in Lufkin you can get it anywhere or you someone that will get it for you. These kids arent buying a six pack anymore it is a couple of 24 or 30 pack everynight.

By lufkin resident

May 6, 2008 7:19 AM | Link to this

To all of the Carthage residents: If you drive to Lufkin on a Friday or Saturday night it might help you make a decision for your town to stay dry. Yes it has brought alot more money into the community but as a whole there are alot children developing drinking problems.What kind of example are we setting for our children?

By Lufkin Daily News Reader

May 6, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

It’s good to see the Lufkin Daily News print a real story for a change about one of there biggest advertisers Brookshire Brothers the owners of Polk Oil.

By unbelievable

May 6, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

It is amazing to see people still complaining about the Lufkin election in a story about Carthage. In reading the comments, I almost forgot that none of the “kids” in Lufkin had cars, so the 7 miles to the river kept everyone from drinking. I personally haven’t noticed any difference other than I save gas when I go to fill up my beer fridge.

By lufkin resident

May 6, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

Yeah it is people like you that really show your tru colors. The bridge is only 7 miles however it was much more controlled than it is now.You must not have any teenagers, or if you do you dont care.

By sansmentis

May 6, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

“LONGVIEW — A second Lufkin business has contributed money in support of alcohol sales in Carthage.”

Are you sure this consitutes a “second” Lufkin business? I thought Brookshire Brothers and Polks had merged recently in order to more efficiently deliver the essential ingredient for substance abuse to the East Texas communities they serve. The Carthage move is nothing more than a widening of that circle in order to increase profits. Profit is what everything is all about. Principle and local quality of life issues evidently do not carry a lot of weight in determining business pursuits. If passed, it will be interesting to see if local government in Carthage will be as eager to please and pliable as Lufkin officials were in granting exceptions and passing ordinances allowing alcohol sales in locations usually prohibited. Booze revenues apparently have many secret admirers in the halls of local government and front pews of the Bible Belt.

By jrags

May 6, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

This is out of hand - I just can not understand how making the county dry again would solve all the problems, I just don’t see large increases in drinking related deaths and crimes. People need to learn responsiblity for rasing there chldren and teach them how to behavie in public. You can not legeslate morility.

By David

May 6, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this

Umm…Brookshire Brothers has a store in Carthage that I am sure they would love to sell alcohol products out of and , of course, if the issue passes i am equally as sure Polks would be building new locations in a flash. Not sure why the newspaper reporter would be confused as to why the contributions went to Panola county

By unbelievable

May 6, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

lufkin resident, No you are right I don’t have teenagers, I do have 3 kids, and although it was some time ago, I was a teenager myself. I remember that although there were laws preventing it and the nearest store that sold was 10 miles away, anyone and everyone that wanted to drink did. So my suggestion to you would be to teach your children the best you can and hope that some of it sinks in. Although judging by the narrow minded opinions and your obvious believe that yours is the only opinion that counts I doubt you have a lot to teach anyone.

By scotty34

May 6, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this

When I was a young teenager, you could buy whiskey outside of Center from a bootlegger. That bootlegger had bought it in Shreveport and charged $5.00 for a 1/2 pint that cost about $2.00 at a liquor store in Shreveport. Of course he had to buy it and bring it back. The point in this is that if people under the legal age want to drink they can get it from someone somewhere. That doesn’t mean that I condone nor encourage drinking by minors. And, if you legalize package store sales in Carthage there will always be someone that will buy it for minors. The only difference is that the liquor will have come from Center, Longview, Marshall, Shreveport or some other nearby city or town.

I have lived in many different towns and cities over the years. Louisiana typically has more liberal liquor laws that Texas. In my opinion Texas liquor laws are arcane. I am originally from the piney woods of East Texas, but I now live in Lubbock. You can buy liquor by the drink in downtown Lubbock, but not by the bottle. You have to go to a recently annexed area in order to buy it by the bottle. That area was annexed in order to provide Lubbock with additional sales tax revenue.

Because Brookshires and Polk Oil contribute money to the pro alcohol effort to realize more revenue that’s true. But, if Carthage doesn’t pass the measure to allow alcohol sales much of the revenue will still go to Brookshires and Polk, but the sales tax revenue will go to Center, Longview, Marshall and Shreveport. Perhaps if the measure passes, fewer adults and minors will die on the highways between Carthage and the town or city where the alcohol was purchased.

I think that “concerned citizen” may have exaggerated somewhat as to the cause of the “falling apart” of Lufkin. Unfortunately the alcohol as a drug of choice has been replaced to a large extent by marijuana, speed, cocaine and cheese (heroin and the ingredients of Tylenol or Benadryl).

I do believe that any individual who knowingly sells alcohol to a minor should go to jail along with the purchaser. Somehow we always want to put the monkey on the back of the seller. I think it also belongs on the back of the purchaser.

That’s all!

By Kyle T

May 7, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Good Lord some of you people are really stupid. Do you actually think teenagers didn’t drink before Lufkin went wet? What a bunch of morons.

By Ima Moron

May 7, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

The concern is about the accessibility of alcohol to minors. Few think teenagers don’t drink, but many think it should be as difficult as possible for them to do so. What’s stupid about that? Do you believe it is in their best interest to be able to easily buy and consume alcohol?

By Val

May 7, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

This again?! Haven’t people learned that if people want to drink that they are going to get it any way they can? Teens, adults…it doesn’t matter. Some folks just need to get off of their holier than thou horses and realize that their teens could be the ones sneaking the drinks. Don’t think that they aren’t because 20 years ago we had friends that would hop across the river and pick us up whatever we wanted…for a small fee of course. I can’t wait to come back to Lufkin and buy myself a lovely adult beverage in a grocery store.

By Ima Moron

May 7, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

What is holier than thou about expressing concern that young adults may not handle alcohol in a responsible manner when it is too easily available to them? And what does the fact that many adults likewise fail to handle alcohol responsibly have to do with society’s obligation to protect the young? Irresponsible behavior by adults is no justification for excusing foolish choices by minors. One would think the learning curve would improve over time. There is nothing wrong with the consumption of “adult beverages” done in a responsible manner by bona fide adults. It is not coincidence they are not referred to as “minor beverages.”

By Carthage Resident

May 11, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

Interesting article - FYI both options failed by huge margins. The sales tax revenue was one angle that was stressed during the race here but Carthage sales tax revenue has increased every year for the past 5 years without alcohol. Voters decided it. That’s democracy…