Approximately 100 people, along with several media outlets, crowded into the Red River Fish & Game Club in Adairville on Tuesday for the public hearing concerning the Tenn-Tucky State Line Tavern.
Owner Sheila Haley has applied for an entertainment license with Logan County to pay pole dancers on the Kentucky side of her establishment, which straddles the state line with Tennessee.
At the meeting, Haley reiterated that there would be no nudity whatsoever, and that the dancers would be wearing bikinis and go-go boots.
The topic has been much-discussed all over Logan County, but especially in and around Adairville.
“I have heard that you are concerned about your children and drugs and prostitution,” Haley said. “You should not be. You have to be 21 to enter, so your children will not be affects. As for the drugs and prostitution - I don’t want that any more than you do. That’s why I have security.”
About a dozen people spoke in favor of allowing Haley to have the entertainmentt permit - including Adairville city council member Donna Blake, who said the issue is “one of the hardest things this town has ever had to go through,”
Blake said that she is a Christian and has sinned like everyone else, but has been forgiven by Jesus Christ.
“Is one sin worse than another?” Blake said. “Is pole dancing worse than talking about people or cheating people? I think we need to give her a fair break, and I don’t think we are.”
The hearing also brought several out-of-towners in to speak on the issue.
Richard Nelson, a policy analyst for the Family Foundation who lives in Trigg County, said that Haley should have to provide a survey of her business along with a floor plan to prove that the pole dancing would be taking place in Kentucky.
Also, Tony Jones, who owns the strip club Tattle Tails in Bowling Green spoke in favor of Haley.
“They made a big deal when I opened a strip club in Bowling Green 20 years ago,” Jones said. “Now, nobody cares. They just know that I pay a whole lot in taxes every year.”
Several area pastors also spoke out against the club having pole dancing.
Adairville Baptist Church pastor Mark Bond said that while he was against granting the entertainment permit, it did not have anything to do with Haley personally.
“This is about a business,” Bond said. “I think what goes on out there will filter back into the homes.”
Mark Keith, who identified himself as a pastor from Russellville said that the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy got his start by looking at pornography and drew comparisons to the pole dancing that would be going on at the Tenn-Tucky State Line Tavern.
Former Logan County magistrate Dickie Carter also spoke out against the bar.
“Anytime you have a dance floor and alcohol, you’re going to have problems,” Carter said. “I oppose it as a Christian. That’s what we’ve got to do.”
Haley pointed out that she has never had any trouble in the eight years she has owned the bar, stating that the police has only been called out one time.
“And I was the one that called them,” Haley said. “And the business was closed. I was at my house and two men started fighting in the parking lot, so I called the sheriff’s department to come out.”
The ultimate decision is now up to Logan County Judge/Executive Logan Chick. He will either approve or deny the entertainment permit. He has said that he will take his time making a decision, but hopes to do so in the next few days.
Haley has said that if Chick turns her down, she will appeal his decision in court.
“There is no legitimate, legal reason not to let me do it,” Haley said. “You can’t deny it just because you don’t like it.”















