Roscoe Soon to Have Fourth Restaurant and Bar

Having grown up in Roscoe, I don't know which is more surprising: that Roscoe is soon to get its fourth restaurant, or that one of them will have a bar.

Apparently the new restaurant, The Lumber Yard (Abilene Reporter News story), will feature live music on weekends, a dance floor (there's a subject for another post altogether), outdoor seating, and a bar.

I hope it is successful.

Sweetwater Wild West Trade Days

... Gilbert Lopez is the general manager of the Trade Days and is looking to bring this event to the Sweetwater community on a regular basis.

"We've been talking about this for about a year," Lopez said. "We are hoping that it will continue to grow and eventually be a big event, like the one that used to be in Post."

The Trade Days are scheduled for the first weekend of every month starting in December. The Trade Days will run Friday through Sunday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Vendors will be allowed to set up on Thursday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. and doors will open an hour early for them, Friday through Sunday.

Read full story in the Sweetwater Reporter.

Sweetwater Commissioners Meet to Discuss Key Local Issues

Among the issues being discussed:

C. City Commission to consider appointment of task force comprised of two commissioners, the City Manager and the Chief of Police to work with Nolan County Commissioners' Court in the planning of a joint law enforcement center for Nolan County Sheriff's Office and the City of Sweetwater Police Department.

D. City Commission to consider adoption of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to pursue all Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding made available through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and being allocated by the State Energy Conservation Office to be used to assist in reaching the City's goals of energy efficiency.

E. City Commission to consider authorizing Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development (SEED) to expend funds for infrastructure construction of water lines, sewer lines, electrical service and gas service for the 88 acre Industrial Site improvement.

Read full story in the Sweetwater Reporter.

Election Opens Doors to Businesses

The results of the election are in and Sweetwater now has the option to sell liquor by the drink. This allows restaurants and other businesses to apply for a liquor license. There were 1227 votes for allowing this and 467 against. "Just because the option is there doesn't mean that they are going to apply, but it does give the opportunity, if they choose to do so," Ken Becker, Executive Director of Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development, Inc., said.

Read full story in Sweetwater Reporter.

Sweetwater and Nolan County Get Wet in Tuesday Elections

On Tuesday, Nolan County voters voted to allow the sale of alcohol by the drink in restaurants. The measure should attract more restaurants, hotels and related businesses to Sweetwater and Nolan County.

The Big Country became a little bit wetter Tuesday.

On a day when 28 local-option elections were being held around the state, voters strongly passed pro-alcohol measures on area ballots:

*Nolan County, sale of all alcohol countywide: 1,227 for (72 percent), 467 against (28 percent).

...

In Nolan County, Ken Becker, executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development, said Tuesday’s passage will attract more restaurants and hotels and help expand that area’s sales tax base.

“I personally think it’s a step for progress,” Becker said late Tuesday.

Like not having to play the lottery, Nolan County residents don’t have to drink, he said.

“It’s a choice,” Becker said.

Read full story in Abilene Reporter News.