The town of Register may be the only municipality in Bulloch County that won't have a Sunday alcohol sales referendum on the ballot in November. Register Mayor James Oates said the city council saw no need to vote on the matter, since the town's only convenience store owner showed no interest in selling beer on Sundays.
      "Nobody cared about it," he said. "I talked to the store (owner) and he said he was not interested," he said.
      Oates said the issue could be revisited at a later date if the store's owners or a new establishment wished to have an alcohol sales license and sell alcohol on Sunday.
      After state law passed July 1 allowing cities and counties to decide whether they will allow Sunday sales, municipal and county governments are taking the next step in deciding whether to allow citizens to vote on the matter.
      Even if county voters denied Sunday sales in unincorporated Bulloch County, voters in a municipality could approve Sunday sales within that city's limits.
      Citizens in unincorporated Bulloch County will be voting on the Sunday sales issue Nov. 8. Bulloch County Commissioners voted last week to have the referendum included on ballots, agreeing that citizens should have the right to decide whether they agree with selling alcohol on Sunday.
      This applies to sales of beer and wine only, said Bulloch County Clerk Maggie Fitzgerald. There are 33 convenience stores in the county that offer alcohol by the package.
      Only three other establishments in unincorporated Bulloch County hold alcohol licenses, but they won't be affected by the Sunday sales referendum since they only sell beer and wine by the drink. These establishments are Crabby Joe's Seafood, Forest Heights Country Club and the Moose Lodge, she said.
      Brooklet City Council also voted last month to include the referendum on ballots.
      "We said we would let the voters make the decision," said Brooklet Mayor Joe Grooms. "We've done what we're supposed to do (be deciding on the referendum." Let the voters decide."
      There are three stores in Brooklet that sell beer and wine by the package - Ken's IGA and two Clyde's Market stores.
      Portal City Council members will discuss the referendum during their Tuesday evening meeting at 7 p.m. at Portal City Hall, said Portal City Clerk Mike Arrieta. Council members could take action on the issue during the meeting.
      Portal has two convenience stores which sell beer and wine - Clyde's market and Mill Creek convenience store. Lanier's IGA, the town's only grocery store, does not sell alcohol.
      The Statesboro City Council also voted last week to include the referendum on the ballot.

      Holli Deal Bragg may be reached at (912) 489-9414.