Ozark Entertainment District Is Approved

by Vernon McDaniel

Ozark’s City Council was hesitant for nearly a year but finally at its April 14 meeting approved an entertainment district on a 4-2 vote.

Voting against were Randy Melton and Charles Meeker, while those voting in favor were Angela Harris, Summer Miner, Loren Maier and Argest Hyler.

Sponsored by Main Street Ozark, district boundaries will be the intersection north of Commercial Street from Fourth Street, east to Second Street; the block of Third Street to College Street, east to Second Street; the intersection south of Commercial Street from Fourth Street east to First Street; the intersection of Main and Third streets east to the Anderson building; and Riverview Plaza on River Street, west to Third Street.

Crystal Wright, Main Street Board vice president, gave reasons why she expected the district to bring more people downtown, but a citizen opposed asked who would want to come downtown to see old, crumbly buildings.

Speakers

Speaking against the district, which would allow alcohol in designated paper cups from 5 p.m. until midnight on Thursdays and all day on Fridays and Saturdays, were Joanne Perea, Michelle Brown, Rev. Don Simpson, Larry Page, Carleen Hannah, Gres Franks, Caleb Wheat, Darnell Collins, Tamara Wheat, Brian Tjader, Tamara Tjader and Nicholas Webb.

Wright was the only person speaking for it.

The opposition turned in petitions with 320 names on them and pointed out an online poll by The Graphic in October 2024 showing 89 percent of the respondents opposed.

Wright said at an earlier Council meeting that a Main Street poll indicated the district favored by a majority…The full story can be found in the April 23 edition of The Graphic, found in businesses throughout Johnson and Franklin counties.