County Commissioners say it was necessary, and they've already received more then $2200.

The Adult Travel Plaza opened late last year in a former truck stop just off Interstate 64. In that short time, it's caused quite a stir in Spencer and neighboring Dubois County.

County Commissioner Dan Rininger explains, "This isn't the image we hope to put forth."

The county has strengthened an ordinance, making it more difficult to operate an adult store. But owners are expected to appeal the changes, however, commissioners say it's a war worth waging.

Rininger continues, "It's not necessarily the establishment itself, it's the things that occur around that type of establishment - the prostitution, the drugs."

The County Commission can't shut the store down because that would be unconstitutional. But they can make the ordinance so strict that it's not worth it to run an adult store in Spencer County.

Rininger says, "Our ordinance isn't easy to comply with."

Commissioners say they've been receiving letters, e-mails and calls from folks supporting the ongoing court battle with the porn shop.

Many people have also given cash to help with rising legal fees. Which is why commissioners approved a special fund on Monday.

Rininger states, "Whenever you start degrading women in that manner, it touches people's hearts."

Store owners couldn't be reached for comment. But a worker there told us the shop has been busy, and some customers are upset because the entire plaza isn't up and running.

Money in the community defense fund will only go toward Spencer County's legal fees in this case.

The First Baptist Church in Huntingburg was one of the first to donate, but the pastor says many more churches will also be collecting. Churches also intend to solicit more donations from area businesses.

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Spencer County Sets Aside $40,000 to Fight Adult Business

ROCKPORT, AP, 1/19/06 - Spencer County officials have set aside $40,000 to go toward legal costs involved in an effort to shut down an adult entertainment center at a former truck stop.

Officials expect the owners of the Love Boutique to challenge the southern Indiana county's adult entertainment ordinance as unconstitutional and have retained lawyer Scott Bergthold of Chattanooga, Tenn., to represent the county.

Bergthold has helped many communities write laws regulating adult businesses.

County officials said they needed to beef up their legal team after learning the Love Boutique had hired H. Louis Sirkin, a Cincinnati lawyer considered one of the most experienced obscenity trial attorneys in the country.

The county has incurred about $28,000 in attorney fees on the case so far, according to attorney John Wetherhill.

Bergthold's first bill to the county, submitted Tuesday, was for $4,200. County Auditor Sara Arnold said Bergthold is charging the county about $195 per hour.

The county council on Tuesday voted to set aside $40,000 for the case out of riverboat casino revenues left over from last year.

Council members said they expect they could be asked to release more money if the case continues beyond a few more months.

Councilman James Ebert said he had spoken with 25 people and only one had reservations about spending money to fight the adult business.

"We're putting out the message we don't want this type of thing in Spencer County," Councilman Mike Schulte said.

The business opened as the Adult Plaza in a former truck stop along U.S. 231, 35 miles northeast of Evansville on Nov. 18, a week after officials approved a zoning ordinance restricting adult businesses.

In December, the county obtained an emergency injunction ordering the store to shut down, but officials said the business moved to another building at the site.

Under an agreement reached last week, the larger building is to remain empty and owners must file for permits before making any improvements or doing business there.

See also ...
Group Protests Construction of Porn Store

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