Jackson voters to return to polls in January
By TOM BERRY
Staff Writer
A local area election is scheduled for January in Calloway's Jackson precinct where voters will decide whether to allow a winery to open.
Ruth and Rita Daughaday, co-owners of Stone Brook Vinyard & Winery on Airport Road, have filed a petition with the Calloway County Clerk's office to put the question on the ballot as required by state law. Judge-Executive Larry Elkins has signed the paperwork ordering the election with the date set for Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009.
Ruth Daughaday said similar businesses have opened in west Tennessee and parts of the Purchase area in Kentucky following similar elections and believes Calloway should be next.
“We started out planning to have a small vineyard and a place to have parties and weddings and things like that, but we've got really interested in the making of the wine. So it just kind of developed,” Daughaday said.
She said wineries were established in Henry County, Tenn., and Lone Oak, Ky., following local option balloting.
“It's kind of come into the area and Calloway needs their own,” Daughaday said.
Stone Brook already features a grape arbor growing four varieties of grapes for wine production, as well as an outdoor wedding chapel and a large reception building.
Rita and her husband, David, are partners in the business. Rita Daughaday could not be contacted for comment; however David said the move is just a logical next step for the business.
“It'll be a small scale operation; possibly getting up to about 5,000 gallons per year,” he said. “We've just added a new variety of grapes so we're trying to expand a little bit and hoping to open up by the middle of the year.”
The wine will be made and sold by the bottle to local customers or shipped to buyers elsewhere from the site. The bottles will be labeled “Stone Brook Vineyard & Winery, Murray, Ky. - American Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc De Noir”
In gathering names for the petition, David Daughaday said the family talked to neighbors concerning the move. They reportedly gathered support from 149 residents. Eleven residents reportedly opposed the election and establishment of a winery.
County Clerk Ray Coursey, Jr. says the election must take place not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days from the date the petition is submitted, according to state law. Voting will take place at the Jackson Precinct ballot location at Murray-Calloway County Airport from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the election.
Only precinct residents will be allowed to vote and absentee ballots will be available for those that qualify.
For more information about option balloting, contact the clerk's office at 753-3923.
Story created Nov 25, 2008 - 12:13:34 EST.
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