Cherokee council schedules vote on alcohol sales

Cherokee council schedules vote on alcohol sales
Received by Newsfinder from AP
Nov 14 2011, 07:41 Eastern Time

Editors Note APNewsNow.

CHEROKEE, N.C. (AP) – The principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokees says he hasn't decided whether to veto the tribal council's decisions to hold a referendum to allow alcohol sales on the reservation.

Principal Chief Michell Hicks tells the Asheville Citizen-Times that he's still praying on the issue. The council voted last month to hold the referendum in April on whether to allow alcohol sales on the reservation in Cherokee County.

Voters in 2009 approved alcohol sales at Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel. The business is the only one on the reservation with the privilege.

The referendum would ask voters to approve a tribe-run liquor store, the sale of beer, wine and mixed drinks only in restaurants and the sale of beer and wine only in grocery stores.

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Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com