A period which began with prohibition...is about to come to an end...at least partially...for the city of Belpre.

Three establishments...two of them convienence stores...could soon be selling alcohol.

It was a close vote two years ago when voters rejected a request by two Speedway stores to sell alcohol.

It was another close vote Tuesday...but this time people in two precincts approved the local option measure.

And voters in another precinct gave approval for sales by the drink at the Napoli's restaurant on Main Street.

But Mayor Mike Lorentz is concerned more about sales which will be made to traveling motorists.

"That's the one I worry about, because it's a convienence store and it's convienent to the interstate to stop and pick up alcohol," Mayor Lorentz says. "When people questioned me about it, I said, 'let's do the restaurant only, not carryout."

Voters for years rejected proposals allowing belpre businesses to sell beer or wine...either city-wide or at specific businesses.

One reason always given was a desire to keep Belpre a safe community for its residents.

Mayor Lorentz believes it will continue to be that way...and also denies rumors the city is expanding its police force to prepare for the expected changes.