Kentucky’s summer temperatures have sweltered lately but things are hotter than usual in Christian County where two strip bars are under fire. In mid-July, the Cat West--a strip club located between Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell military base, was the most recent casualty in a string of such establishments being targeted by local government.

The manager of the club, John Walters, a former special deputy for the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department, was arrested for trafficking in cocaine and methamphetamine and unlawful transaction with a minor. Four others were arrested in the raid, which resulted in a temporary shutdown of the bar.

Earlier in the year, Christian County Judge Executive Steve Tribble denied an entertainment permit to a "gentlemen’s club" called Towman’s Lounge for operating without a permit. Critics contend that because Christian county lacks a solid ordinance, residents remain exposed to the influx of strip bars and their negative influence.

But Christian county is not alone. Of Kentucky’s 120 counties, only eight have comprehensive ordinances that both protect communities and are likely to stand up in court. Thirteen other counties, including Christian, have ordinances that are either deficient or are unable to pass judicial scrutiny.

Christian county government regulates only those clubs that sell retail alcohol--a loophole which has resulted in two attempts by strip clubs to move in over the past 16 months. The first, outside of Crofton, failed over community objections to the strip bar’s attempt to locate on the outskirts of their quiet town. The second, Towman’s Lounge, located Northeast of Hopkinsville, opened for a short time last spring but was shut down twice for operating without a permit.

Don Johnson, the owner of Towman’s Lounge denies that his business was a strip club, but County Magistrate Lewis Croft said that the flashing lights with mermaids on the front gave many people the impression that it would eventually become a strip club. Croft, who represents the district, was one of the first to sign a petition opposing the club. Over 700 citizens signed the petition in opposition to the club, while 124 signed a petition favoring it.

Tribble denied the club’s entertainment permit in May because the owner was twice cited for operating without a permit. The club was also located on a "dangerous stretch of highway," Tribble noted in his decision. "Unless magistrates want to do something about [strip clubs,] they’re probably not going to be an issue," he said. "Magistrates need to hear from more people [before anything will happen.]"

But Rachel McCubbin, who is opposing Tribble in the November 5 judge-executive election, said that it is an issue since these clubs demean and exploit women. McCubbin believes there would be sufficient support among the men on fiscal court to pass an anti-strip club ordinance.

"I suspect that we’ll have to deal with the strip club issue in the future, one way or another," McCubbin said. "The question is, will we be prepared with a well-crafted ordinance to keep these establishments out of our county, or will we simply have to deal with the aftershocks when they roll into town?"

In the meantime, Cat West, which has been involved in several legal battles since it opened in 1984, has been added to the Army's off limits list according to post spokesman Master Sgt. Kelly Tyler. "The measure was taken as a precaution to protect the health, morale and safety of Fort Campbell soldiers while the matter is under investigation by civil authorities," Tyler said.

But if Oak Grove Mayor Jean Leavell had her way, the strip bar would be off limits to civilians as well, and permanently. At the direction of Leavell, City Clerk Colleen Ochs filed for a suspension and revocation of the strip bar’s entertainment permit. A decision may not be made for several months.

In the meantime, Christian county citizens will continue to debate the problem of what to do with strip bars. And their leaders will continue to debate solutions: "County government should lead the way in drafting an ordinance that would protect these small communities," McCubbin said. "Waiting to write an ordinance after a club tries to move into the county is like waiting until after your house burns down to buy insurance."