Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 20, 2006 CAIRO...OUTSIDE INSTIGATORS?

In Cairo's storied past, the trouble was always caused by "outside agitators". Now, some Mounds residents, in crying foul, are pointing fingers at Cairo "instigators".

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Mounds bar owner says hearing racially motivated

BY JIM MUIR, THE SOUTHERN

MOUNDS - A large and loud crowd turned out Monday afternoon for an emotional 90-minute public hearing in Mounds - a hearing that will determine the fate of the L & N Lounge, a trouble-plagued drinking establishment.

Mounds Mayor Waymon Butler, who serves as liquor commissioner, called the hearing after he received a letter from Pulaski County State's Attorney Grayson Gile asking for the liquor license to be revoked. Gile detailed a long and troubled history at the bar, which is located directly across from city hall.

In the letter Gile said the incident that prompted him to take action was the death of Jamaal Foulks, a Mounds man who was killed in a single-car crash after leaving L & N Lounge. Foulks had a blood alcohol content of .239, nearly three times the legal limit of .08.

"This hearing would have never been held if I didn't have a genuine and sincere concern for the people of this county," Gile said. "I don't want to see a good man lose his business and a county that desperately needs sales tax lose a business, but more than that I don't want to see anybody get hurt. The decision to ask for the license to be revoked was not made lightly. It was made after watching a pattern of violence escalate during a five-year period."

Butler announced at the beginning of the meeting that a decision would not be made at the hearing but said a final ruling on the revocation request would come within five days. Butler said he will seek the advice of his six-person council before making a final decision on Gile's request.

During the hearing Gile questioned Pulaski County Sheriff Randy Kern, Mounds Police Chief Harold Richardson and two state police officers about frequent requests to quell disturbances at the bar.

Kern and Richardson both said that of the three bars in Mounds, between 80 and 90 percent of the calls are to the L & N Lounge.

The large and boisterous crowd reiterated throughout the hearing that nearly all the trouble at the bar is happening outside in an adjacent lot and parking lot by people Morris has told to leave the bar.

Gile said less than a month ago there was what he described as a "small riot" at the lounge involving approximately 30 to 40 patrons, a number that many in the standing-room-only crowd contended is not accurate.

"These patrons were fighting among themselves and then unfortunately after law enforcement was called they decided they would fight with police," Gile said. "Shortly after that incident took place there were six shots fired inside the bar and miraculously nobody was hit."

Leroy Morris, the owner of the bar, claims he's being unfairly targeted.

"This is a conspiracy and it's racially motivated," Morris said. "This was all planned and made up. I didn't have time to prepare for this or to even contact an attorney. The city wants my building and they're going to try and get it any way they can. They are just trying to get something on me so they can close me down."

Gile said another troubling aspect that hastened his decision to try and close the bar was Morris' refusal to close the bar on the night when the alleged fracas involving 30 to 40 people took place. Morris disputed that claim, saying he was never asked to close down.

Lashawn Johnson said she is a regular at the bar and was there on May 14, the night Gile said a "small riot" took place.

"There wasn't any 30 or 40 people, maybe four or five," Johnson said. "Most of the trouble comes from people coming from Cairo. Why don't the police set up a road block and then they'll know who's got guns and who don't have guns."

Johnson said she knew Foulks well and said the night he was killed he did not arrive at L & N until 1:15 a.m., 30 minutes before the bar closed. She contended that Foulks had been drinking in Cape Girardeau that evening and that Morris should not be blamed for the alcohol-related death.

Larry Winston spoke on behalf of Morris during final comments and said police provided faulty information about the number of people involved in the alleged melee. Winston also said that on many occasions the people who are instigating the trouble are from neighboring Cairo.

Winston laid the blame for the continuing problem on local police, who he says are not properly handling teenagers who often gather outside the bar and drink.

"I've never been in a community like this one where nobody really cares what goes on," Winston said. "We've got an organized gang of thugs running around here calling themselves police officers. We need to be more careful about the officers we hire in this town. That's where the problem is."

After the meeting Butler sounded an optimistic note by saying that along with his discussions with council members and Gile about his decision, he also plans to talk with Morris and see if any common ground can be reached. Morris also said he would be open to such a meeting.