Moore's owner looks to clear air
GREENCASTLE -- A Greencastle business owner is hoping to clear the air about a recent controversy at which her bar was the center.
Moore's Bar was set to host a "Girls Gone Wild" event on Wednesday, but cancelled the event amid the concerns of local citizens, clergy and authorities.
Owner Carolyn Hammon said it was, ultimately, potential scrutiny the event would attract that lead her to cancel.
"We were approached by people in authority, that we would be under a magnifying glass that day," Hammond said. "It's like going 56 in a 55 if you're speeding -- they could still site you for a 56.
"I just had the feeling that they would find something that we were doing wrong, even if we tried to keep it squeaky clean," she added.
In spite of the cancellation, Hammond expressed no regrets at planning the event and thought it could have been carried out without incident.
"I was in control of whatever was going to happen," Hammond said. "When I made these plans, it was very clear between me and the person I was talking to that I would be in control of it."
She pointed out the establishment's 65-year history in the same building, and said they had always tried to do things properly and "always tried to be a law-abiding business."
"I never tried to do anything to disgrace anyone," she said.
She also pointed to a recent "Girls Gone Wild" show in Terre Haute at which there was no trouble.
"I wasn't trying to bring people into this town that were going to snatch our girls off the street and make them do things they didn't want," Hammond said.
She also posed the question of why this event had caused such a stir, yet there is no such issue when all-male revues visit local establishments.
"What's the difference?" Hammond asked.
Ultimately, though, she emphasized she reached her decision based on what was best for the long-term viability of the business.
"I didn't want any black marks on my liquor license. Without that, I can't stay in business," Hammond said.