Two more Hanceville businesses have joined the Pop-a-Top package store as liquor licensees, after the city council approved their license applications at its Thursday regular meeting.

The council unanimously approved applications from Hardik Patel and Greg Black following public hearings on both applications, which fielded no comment from residents.

Patel operates the FiveStar Food Mart No. 3 at the Chevron service station and convenience store on U.S. Highway 31 just north of the Wallace State Community College campus. His license will allow the store to begin selling beer and wine.

Black has planned a new-construction package store building at the intersection of Ala. Highway 91 and Edmondson Road. The new business, named in the application as Dale’s/Black Mountain Beverage, plans to feature separate entrances to separate the sale of liquor from that of beer and wine.

The council approved Pop-A-Top owner Eddie Hamm’s license at its last meeting, and Hamm has been busy readying his store, located on Highway 31 near downtown, ever since. Like Black’s proposed store, Pop-A-Top will also feature separate entrances — required under state law — to accommodate all types of alcoholic beverage sales.

In other business at it regular meeting, the council:

• Recognized several Hanceville High School students for their accomplishments in both academics and athletics. Thursday’s honors went to the school’s math team, which captured top honors overall at the state math tournament, as well as a first-place finish for the Geometry team, and a second-place finish for the Algebra II team.

The school’s track team was also recognized for finishing second in the state track meet, and for having seven athletes earn all-state honors.

• Recognized Hanceville police officer Anthony Chiders for saving ‘Bama, a local family’s pet dachshund, from a house fire last month by entering the burning building and retrieving the animal.
• Passed a resolution authorizing the city to conduct public hearings ahead of an effort to enforce its weed control ordinance at 15 separate locations, pending some research by the city attorney to determine whether the city can legally expedite the process more quickly using steps other Alabama cities have taken in the past.

The next council meeting will be held at 5 p.m. June 14 at Hanceville City Hall.

* Benjamin Bullard can be reached by e-mail at bbullard@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.