Coal Ridge Brewery approached Homecoming Committee about one-night event to promote business and create new offering at annual gathering
By Randy Arrington
STANLEY, March 11 — During its monthly meeting in March, members of the Stanley Council were divided on whether or not to allow the introduction of a beer garden among the long list of activities provided during the annual four-day Stanley Homecoming.
“When I was young, we came [to Homecoming] to see who was going to fight, and I don’t want to go back to that,” Mayor Michael Knight said.
The annual Stanley Homecoming — held during the days leading up to or surrounding the Fourth of July — dates back more than a half century, and in its earlier days did have a historical reputation for being a place where “differences” were reconciled. However, that atmosphere has faded over the last 25 years. Around the turn of the millennium, the Homecoming event registered 19 arrests after a large brawl broke out, but no such incidents have been recorded since that time…at least not on that scale.
“Homecoming hasn’t been like that in years,” Councilman Jeremiah Knight said during the March 11 meeting. “[The] Homecoming [Committee] asked for this, so we should consider their request… This is a local brewery, which has another business in Town… I mean, how many breweries and distilleries have popped up in the last few years?”
Coal Ridge Brewery, which sits just outside the town limits of Stanley, submitted a request to the Stanley Homecoming Committee to operate a Beer Garden for one night at Homecoming. Owners Jeff and Daphne Dinges opened the brewery in an old barn on their property along Honeyville Road one year ago. The couple purchased Stanley Auto Parts and Stanley Auto Service in town from Louis Bosley in 2014. They also oversee five poultry houses handling about 90,000 chickens every seven weeks. Now the couple, along with their daughter Danielle, are operating the Page Valley’s newest brewery.
The Beer Garden proposal included plans for an enclosed area, with wristbands, ID checks, and a limit of two drinks per person. A similar set-up was utilized when the Council allowed a wine garden operated by Wisteria Vineyards at a previous Homecoming. Both events offered an extra revenue stream for the Homecoming Committee — but money wasn’t at the heart of the debate.
“This isn’t about the money,” said Council member Robin Caracofe, “but about rolling with the times.”
For some Council members, public perception was the key issue.
“We can’t have gospel music one night and have alcohol the next,” said Councilman Doug Purdham, who noted he was somewhat torn on the issue. Purdham said he was mainly concerned about what message the Council might be sending to the community.
“I wouldn’t say it won’t ever happen,” Purdham said. “We’re just postponing it this year, until we have a better thought-out plan.”
Vice Mayor Bruce Stoneberger voiced strong opposition to serving beer at Homecoming and said he wanted to decline the proposal “fully”. He stated that the four-day Homecoming was a family-oriented event and the Stanley Police Department is short-handed.
Stoneberger made a motion to deny the request, and it was supported by council members Purdham and Joseph Mauck. Council members Jeremiah Knight and Caracofe voted against the motion.
The motion for denial passed 3-2.
For more information about the Town of Stanley,
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Ahh, more government abuse of its authority.