City Approves Liquor License; Hinton Eyes Former Mad Dog's Location

The City Council voted in favor to recommend a Class C liquor license application put forth by Bob Hinton concerning Mad Dog’s Sports Bar for approval by the state.

The council heard comments from Hinton who assured the council that if granted the license, he would make sure that no complications arose from it.

“This is strictly a landlord-tenantship between Tom Williams and I. If I do feel like that is violated, I will pull this license myself. I will not be dictated. I’m trying to make an establishment that could be good for people to go to and to be able to go home and say they had a good time,” Hinton said.

Kimball Police Chief Mark Simpson reassured the council on the validity of Hinton’s statement.

“I believe what he’s saying, and that he is the sole proprietor of that establishment. He’s done a lot more than the last group. He’s met with the Fire Marshall and the state liquor division. Everything looks good from our side,” Simpson said.

The council’s need for reassurance stems from an incident in July in which the ownership of Mad Dog’s was called into question when the management of that time requested a liquor license.

The proprietor at that time was declared to be Greg Reinninger who held the previous liquor license for the establishment. However, many speculated that this was not so, including Police Chief Mark Simpson.

“Tom is running this, in my opinion,” said Simpson.

Simpson’s speculation was shared by Nebraska State Patrol Liquor Division Investigator Tami Otto.

“As far as I am aware they have filed the proper paperwork except that it appears that Tom Williams is actually running the business, and he is not on the liquor license,” Otto said.

However, according to a document received by this paper at that time, Tom Williams had no ownership in Mor-Max Mortgage, LLC, which owns the building that housed Mad Dog’s Sports Bar.

The liquor license application at that time was returned to the state without comment or recommendation by the council.

This time around was a different story. After listening to Hinton’s and Simpson’s statements the council felt comfortable enough with the situation to recommend the liquor license for approval by the state and also to approve Mad Dog’s Sports Bar as a keno lottery outlet, with Hinton hoping to open for business some time after the holidays.

“I wanted to be open before the holidays, but I don’t see that feasible. It looks like i’m going to have to do some work there to appease myself before I open it,” Hinton said.