While the Farmington City Council gave its approval to a smoking ban in and around most buildings earlier this summer, it was voters who would have the final say, and on Tuesday they said yes. According to the St. Francois County Electons Department, the ban passed with 58.89% of the vote, with 500 of the 849 ballots cast in favor of the ban. Only 11.76% of registered voters participated in the election.

Once certified, the ban will prohibit smoking in all enclosed public places and places of employment, as well as within 15 feet of entrances to public buildings and 25 feet of government buildings. Cigar bars that do not prepare food scored one of just a few exceptions, along with private clubs, up to 20% of a hotel or motel’s rooms and government-owned buildings used solely for governmental purposes. Outdoor dining areas at restaurants and bars are also excluded from the ban, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

Farmington is located approximately 60 miles south of St. Louis, with a population of nearly 18,000 residents.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.