TYLERTOWN — A Walthall County business is receiving scrutiny for illegally selling beer.
A citizen complained to the board of supervisors that the Family Dollar store in Dexter is flouting the county’s beer ordinance.
Walthall County and Tylertown voters legalized beer and liquor sales in a November 2020 referendum, allowing such sales in 2021 after both the town and county put ordinances governing the sales in place.
Businesses need both local and state authorization in order to engage in sales.
The Family Dollar “has a state license,” Tax Assessor Peggy Hilburn told the board. “I can’t give them a county license. They’re too close to the school and the church.”
Hilburn said the store is within 400 feet of both Dexter Attendance Center and Crystal Springs Baptist Church. That is the minimum distance a store selling alcoholic beverages of any kind can be from a school or church under state law.
Hilburn and the supervisors thought the local ordinance required such businesses to be farther away, but could not remember. Board attorney Conrad Mord said he thought the local ordinance mirrored state law.
Hilburn said she believed the sales only started last month, which she said might indicate the store’s owners or managers know the law.
“They probably know they’re not supposed to be selling beer, but they’re trying to slip it in,” she said.
Hilburn said she had sent a letter to the business about the matter, but received no response.
Sheriff Kyle Breland said he or a deputy would hand-deliver a letter to the store to ensure someone received it officially.
Breland said owners, managers or employees could be arrested if the store does not cease beer sales.
