In the last couple of years Bonnie Johnson has written several letters to the editor, all concerning the sale of alcohol.
Johnson’s letter today is critical of Humboldt City Council members entertaining the notion of allowing Sunday morning sales of alcoholic beverages.
Intrigued, I called Bonnie Wednesday afternoon to get a better understanding of her position.
She graciously allowed, and for the better part of an hour we sat at her kitchen table visiting over a glass of cold lemonade. Later, we moved to the swing on her front porch. Across the road of her rural home were cows grazing in a pasture. Birds chirped. A breeze kept the afternoon heat tolerable.
That bucolic scene, however, quickly evaporated when our discussion turned to alcohol.
“It gets me riled up,” Johnson admitted.
Though she doesn’t care to share how alcohol has affected her life, suffice it to say that from “personal experience,” Bonnie has witnessed “the problems, headaches and destruction,” its abuse can cause.
“I’ve seen all the problems drinking causes,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing good that comes of it.”
“I’ve seen all the problems drinking causes,” Johnson said. “There’s nothing good that comes of it.”
When Johnson saw the news that the Humboldt Council is considering allowing Sunday sales to begin at 9 a.m. as opposed to noon, “smoke just rolled out of my ears,” she said.
The measure was brought before the council at its June 14 meeting and likely will be decided at its July 12 meeting.
“I think the Humboldt Council needs to practice saying no,” she said. “They’re always considering how much money such things would bring in, and not their social impact. They act as if it doesn’t include any risk.”
“I wish more people would stand up and speak out against this.”
JOHNSON grew up unfamiliar with alcohol.
“It was never in our house,” she said of her upbringing in Blue Mound as one of six children.
