Two local businesses were recently cited by Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for the same violation.
On Aug. 10, an agent with ABC, along with officers from the Blytheville Police Department, conducted an inspection on Bill's Liquor, The Hut, and a pool hall, all located on South Elm. When officers arrived, they found people consuming alcohol on the parking lots outside of all three businesses.
Guivenia Dixon, owner of The Hut, was charged with permitting the consumption of alcohol in unpermitted areas.
Bill Harrison, owner of Bill's Liquor and the pool hall, was also charged with permitting the consumption of alcohol in unpermitted areas. Harrison was asked by officers if he would like assistance in clearing the crowd from around his business, but he said he did not want the people removed from his property.
Dixon said she has called the BPD to ask for officers to come and clear out the crowds in front of her business, but officers never respond. According to the police report, dispatchers from both BPD nightshifts were asked about the matter and said the only calls they receive from The Hut are in reference to an occasional fight, not requests to clear the parking lot.
sharris@blythevillecourier.com