Let me go on record with the obvious comment. The state should have NOTHING to do with the procurement, distribution, or sale of alcoholic beverages.

That said, there are some developments here in the state of Mississippi. Mississippi is by the salt default (that dictation thingy cracks me up) a dry state. The sale, possession, transportation, and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited unless the citizens of a county or municipality vote otherwise. On January 1, 2021 Mississippi will become a wet state. The possession, transportation, and consumption of alcohol will no longer be against the law, though again, local jurisdictions can still prohibit sales within their boundries.

A quick perusal of our little local newspaper’s “Arrests” section indicates that the sheriff’s office has stopped tacking “possession of alcohol in a dry county” onto more serious charges already. And in the years we’ve lived here, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone charged solely with that– it was always “domestic violence and…,” “simple assault and…,” and so forth.

So Welcome to Mississippi, 21st Century!

What’s up in town? The legislature passed, and the governor signed, a bill designating town a resort area. (This actually makes sense.) Resort areas can by-pass the referendum requirement for putting issues on the ballot. This is big, as that means folks don’t have to sign the petition to get the issue to a vote, and therefore the county clerk will not tell preacher-man who among his congregants voted for the Devil. Only kidding a little.

So the town folk may also vote to Welcome the 21st Century!

This cat is now officially out of the bag.