By Jeff Skrzypek

MONMOUTH, Ore. -- Up until a few years ago, people in Monmouth couldn't even buy beer or wine. But with that law now abolished, folks there are now eyeing the only standing ban on hard liquor sales in the state.

It's a law that has defined the town of Monmouth since day one when it became a city more than 100 years ago.

"The first thing they did was enact ordinance number one, which prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages within the limits of the city," says Monmouth Mayor John Oberst. And even just a few years ago, Mayor Oberst says, just seeing these signs and this bar would have been against the law in this Oregon town. "Monmouth has been the last dry town on the west coast until 2002."

But even after the town voted to allow the sale of beer and wine, there's still one piece of the puzzle missing. The ban on the sale of hard liquor has stopped many restaurants from opening in Monmouth, but places that took a chance in the town are now feeling the law's effects.

"Everywhere has beer, so why stay in Monmouth when you can go over to Independence or Salem, Dallas and get the beer and the alcohol, and that's all revenue this town could be making," says Ray Stratton of Main Street Pub and Eatery.

But now with enough signatures on a petition to repeal the ban of hard liquor, Monmouth will be able to leave their dry past behind. Something folks here have been waiting to vote on for years.

Monmouth city officials say now that they've gathered enough signatures to repeal the ban of hard liquor. The petition will now go before city council and then back to the county to be placed on the ballot.