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Here's what to know about the push to legalize alcohol sales in Sherwood

With Election Day just one week away, we're taking a look at Act 4 and what that could mean for alcohol sales in Sherwood.

SHERWOOD, Ark. — With just one week left until Election Day, voters in Sherwood who are headed to the polls may be thrown off by the wording of one proposal.

Months ago, a group called "Act 4 Sherwood," petitioned to get Act 4 Sherwood on the ballot. The ballot proposal is all about seeking to allow alcohol on the north side of Sherwood by changing the 1956 Gray Township. 

So, when you're walking into that polling location, Monica Treat, a representative of Act 4 Sherwood explained that voters should not be alarmed by what they see on the actual ballot because it's the same thing they have been petitioning for.

"Whenever you want to vote for Act 4 Sherwood, you are going to see a mentioning of the defunct Gray Township," Treat described.

Though it's a tactic that has been attempted before and has failed many times, this time around Treat hopes things will end differently because of a modification that was made.

"Before, they were going to make us incorporate that part of Jacksonville into our numbers of how many people had to actually sign the petition. This year is whenever they actually got it modified to where they said, hey, we'll just allow you to take the Gray Township Sherwood residents and focus on those folks," Treat said.

She said the point of this ballot proposal is not just about alcohol but it's about a fair opportunity of economic development and keeping tax dollars local on the northside.

"We are a population of means, and we have very little places to actually spend it in our own town. If you want to see more parks, if you want to see a stronger city, we need those tax dollars to stay in Sherwood instead of us going to the outlying cities to spend our money," Treat explained.

Opposition to the initiative isn't organized, but it is there.

Kay Jester, who lives in the area, explained how she disagrees with the way Sherwood city leaders have pushed the change and not actual citizens. She also explained how she believes the area doesn't need more alcohol because they are a small community with children and schools.

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