James Owen Hines, a Jonesboro resident, urged the City Council to oppose a private-club liquor-license application for Las Brisas Bar and Grill during public comment at the Jan. 7 meeting.

Hines, who gave his address as 508 Ridgecrest, told the council he does "not think it's wise to introduce places having alcohol in areas where there's high traffic." He referenced a recent Surgeon General report and said the report recommends warnings on alcohol similar to tobacco labels, and that alcohol "is a causal factor in seven different kinds of cancer" and causes "over 100,000 new cases of cancer each and every year." He concluded, "I highly urge that you vote against this."

The application is embodied in Ordinance 24036, which would authorize Las Brisas Bar and Grill to apply for a private-club liquor license with the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division for operation of a restaurant within Jonesboro city limits. After the public comment, the council advanced Ordinance 24036 to a third reading; no further council debate is recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: Ordinance 24036 will return to the council for a third reading and any formal vote the council elects to take at that time. The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Division handles licensing; the council's action at this stage authorizes the applicant to proceed with filing for a state permit.