CLEARFIELD – In order to maintain a family atmosphere and reduce liability, the board members of the Clearfield County Recreation and Tourism Authority voted in favor of the no alcohol regulation, which reinforces the current prohibition of the sale, consumption and sampling of beer and liquor, at the Curwensville Lake Recreation Area.
Wes Weymers, chairman of the CCRTA, said alcohol regulation issues arose at the last recreation committee meeting.
He said Jennifer Sharpless, owner of the Curwensville Dam Inn, had written a letter and inquired about having a beer tent for specified times during the Bikes at the Lake event Aug. 30 to 31.
According to Weymers, Sharpless said Yuengling Lager is a potential sponsor for the event.
Weymers said she also wrote a huge sponsor would be lost without a beer tent at the event.
In her letter, Sharpless also noted she was “shocked” to hear a local winery had offered samples at the lake in the past because of the “no alcohol“ regulation.
Mike Yeager, solicitor for the CCRTA, addressed his own letter to Mark Sopic, who serves as the authority’s recreation director.
Yeager wrote the lease between the county and Army Corps of Engineers for the lake property prohibits the sale, storage or distribution of both beer and other intoxicating liquors without first receiving consent from the district engineer.
He also wrote the sponsor is required to obtain a permit. He said both the county and authority should inquire about an entity’s sponsorship and obtain a permit as well.
After Weymers read the letters to the board, members discussed whether the no alcohol regulation should be waived for exceptions such as sampling or the two-day bike event.
Board Member, Mark McCracken said CCRTA had three options, which included continuing to prohibit alcohol, deciding on a case-by-case basis or waiving the regulation completely.
Nancy Micks, board member, expressed concerns about having alcohol near and potentially on the lake, which creates the possibility for accidents.
“I just think it’s a liability,” she said.
Sopic said individuals who are found with alcohol on the lake are asked to leave. He said law enforcement officers are contacted if individuals refuse to do so.
Terry Malloy, board member, added the authority had just reinforced the slogan, which centers around family, for Curwensville Lake at a meeting a few months back.
Lynda McCracken, board member reminded the board the event was scheduled for a holiday weekend and the lake’s slogan.
“It’s the family place to be,” she said.
