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Argument Between Canvassers & Liquor Store Owners Caught On Video

FORT SMITH (KFSM) — Cell phone videos of a confrontation between petition canvassers, who are part of a campaign to make Crawford County wet, and the owne...

FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- Cell phone videos of a confrontation between petition canvassers, who are part of a campaign to make Crawford County wet, and the owners of a popular liquor store in Fort Smith have been circulating on local Facebook groups, like Ilovevanburen.

The videos, which were taken by Keep Dollars in Crawford County canvassers in May, show a confrontation that took place outside Shamrock Liquor Warehouse on Midland Boulevard, which is in Fort Smith directly across the Midland Bridge from Crawford County.

The argument broke out between canvasser from Blueprint Action and Shirley and Ed Yeager, who own Shamrock Liquor Warehouse.

"From my understanding, [the Yeagers] got out [of their SUV], took some of the signs that were on the highway right-of-way, put those in there in their vehicle and when our canvassers tried to get them back, they got out of their car and confronted them." Keep Dollars in Crawford County Spokesman Kevin Holmes said Thursday (June 2). "There was a scuffle and the video shows that."

Police were eventually called. In the report, the Yeagers told officers the canvassers were blocking entrances and yelling at people as they came out of the liquor store. They said they confronted the canvassers to tell them they were on private property. However, the canvassers disagree saying they were on public property.

Both sides said they were pushed by the other and police found that because of conflicting stories, they could not determine who the aggressor was in the incident.

In the videos, Shirley Yeager could also be heard bringing up Walmart's involvement in the Keep Dollars in Crawford County campaign.

Financial reports filed with the Arkansas Ethics Commission show Walmart gave $101,000 to the campaign, but Holmes said the company is just one of many contributors.

"They have made donations, but we have had thousands of dollars from other people as well; small business owners, people in the community that want to see this happen," he said. "It is not Walmart completely financing the operation."

Holmes said the video also points out where the opposing group, Stay Dry, Stay Safe, is getting some of its money from.

According to Holmes, in the video one of the canvassers can be heard responding to Shirley Yeager saying that she and her husband have spent $80,000 to campaign against making Crawford County wet and Ed Yeager can be heard saying that they have spent $100,000.

Holmes said his group is now focusing on moving on, but understands why emotions ran high.

"It is unfortunate what happened," Holmes said.  "Our committee is passionate about doing what is best for Crawford County and get liquor sales and keep those dollars here in Crawford County and I think [the Yeagers] are passionate about keeping their business alive."

Holmes also addressed why some of the canvassers are from out of state. He said they are hired through Blueprint Action, which specializes in gathering petition signatures.

5NEWS asked the Yeagers whether they made any donations to Stay Dry, Stay Safe. Shirley Yeager recommended looking at the group's financial reports filed with the Ethics Commission. Those documents show a group called Citizens for Our County's Future has donated $84,000 to keeping Crawford County dry.

Keep Dollars in Crawford County has until next month to gather enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot in November, so that Crawford County voters can decide whether they want liquor sales.

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