Issue to be decided on general election ballot

PROCTORVILLE — When voters in the Proctorville precinct go to the polls on Nov. 8, they will be faced with a decision on whether to allow beer and wine sales at the village’s Kroger store.

The measure on the general election ballot would allow the store to sale on a carry-out basis on weekdays and Saturdays, but not Sundays.

Petitions for the issue were certified this week by the Ohio Secretary of State and the Lawrence County Board of Elections.

The measure would only affect the Proctorville Kroger store.

John Lambert, spokesperson for Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic Division, which includes Lawrence County, said the Proctorville store is one of only two stores in the division which do not sell alcohol.

“To us, it’s an economic issue,” he said. “It’s about jobs and the local economy. We have 85 employees at the store and this will allow us to secure a future and bring more jobs and a more modern store. We know a lot of people in Lawrence County buy beer and wine in West Virginia. If they buy it in Proctorville, the sales tax will go back to Lawrence County.”