ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — A vote to sell alcohol in Alexander County is creating controversy.
Right now, the county is dry, but in two weeks, that could change.
A church near Taylorsville that opposes the idea allowed someone to park a wrecked pickup truck with red paint running down the doors in its yard.
Some neighbors said the message goes too far.
Tasha Killian was going to vote early Tuesday and from the sign in her front yard, you can see she favors the alcohol referendum. But on her way to vote, she had to pass the pickup truck in front of Grace Baptist Church. She said the red paint looks like blood from an alcohol-related crash.
“As far as the blood on the side, it is really offensive to drivers going by that have little kids looking out the window, wondering, what is the truck there for,” Killian said.
But not everyone thinks the wrecked truck is a bad idea. Melissa Bolick provides home health care across the street and believes the message and the upcoming vote are important.
“I think they did a great job and it really stands out for our community, because that's what can happen if you have alcohol in your community,” Bolick said.
Bud Caywood has helped put up nearly 600 signs across Alexander County supporting the alcohol referendum, believing it would be an economic boost for an area hard-hit by the recession four years ago.
“More than 12,000 cars exit this county every single day, and they are doing all their shopping in our neighboring county,” Caywood said. “So basically, we are funding all our surrounding counties."
Doris Laws plans on using the Bible she's had for 40 years to guide her on how to vote.
“I'm pleading with people not to vote for it because we don't need it,” she said. “They say it may bring in more money, but I'd rather be alive than dead."
Many of the people on both sides of the referendum believe the county is evenly split and it will be a close vote. We'll find out March 19, when most will go to the polls.