Last year, voters in the Rockland West precinct approved a ballot issue granting the Par Mar at Ohio 7 and U.S. 50 in Little Hocking the ability to sell beer, wine and mixed drinks.

A year later, the nearby Marathon Food Center, 15 Arrowhead Drive, is asking voters in the Little Hocking North precinct for similar permits.

Brook Mollenkopf, a campaign consultant working for the issue, said the goal is to be able to compete with the other station and generate more business.

"The tax dollars go back into the community," she said.

The station is located in a dry district, so it needs voter approval before it can offer alcoholic beverages for sale, Mollenkopf said.

Mollenkopf said that next week she will begin calling voters in the precinct to gauge their support of the issue and "encourage the ones that want to vote yes for it to get out and vote."

That's what Little Hocking resident James Cunningham plans to do.

"I'll tell you why I support it - I drink beer," said Cunningham, 52. "There's plenty of people in this area that drink beer," and they ought to be able to buy it locally.

Little Hocking resident Mona O'Connor opposes the permits, in part because there are so many children in the neighborhood.

"We don't need it in this area," she said.

O'Connor said the proximity of the store to U.S. 50 is one reason she doesn't want the issue to pass. While not everyone who drinks abuses alcohol, she said, more and more people are drinking to excess.

"Nowadays people drink to get drunk," O'Connor said.

Cunningham said drinking and driving is unrelated to the permits.

"That's breaking the law," he said. "That's beyond the sales thing."

The second issue would grant the store a permit to sell alcohol between 1 p.m. and midnight on Sundays. A similar measure for the Par Mar was voted down in 2008.

Early voting is now under way in the Board of Elections office at the Washington County Courthouse. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.