Winfield commissioners have said that the ban is designed to protect the health of customers and employees. Many opposed to the ban in Winfield feel that a bar is an adult environment, and as an adult, the individual makes the choice to enter a bar that allows smoking.

Josh Rogers, bartender for the Newton Sports Grill and Bar, said he hasn't seen a change in pace for customers at his bar. He added that most people who go into the bar actually appreciate the lack of smoke.

"I haven't seen a drop in patronage at all," said Rogers. "From what I've seen, even people who smoke enjoy eating and drinking in a smoke-free environment. Most of them realize that it's not that hard to step outside to have a smoke."

But Bill Hedges of Bill's Bar in Newton is singing a different tune. Hedges said the ban has not only cut his business in half during the week, but even his weekend nights have downsized since the ban went into effect.

"I don't like the ban at all. It's cut our business about 50 percent," said Hedges.

Hedges also said he agrees with many ban opponents in Winfield when it comes to a person's choice to enter a bar. Hedges said no one is twisting their arm to go in, and if cigarette smoke actually hinders their ability to have a good time, then there are other places for them to go. Hedges said he agrees with the smoking ban in restaurants, but bars should be off limits.

"If they don't want to come into a place that allows smoking, then they can stay out," said Hedges.

Area city commissions that haven't touched the smoking ban issue, are saying that until public suggestion comes up, they don't see a need for an ordinance in their towns.

Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Janet Siebert said she hasn't heard any citizens say there is a need for a ban within city limits.

"To my knowledge, we have not even addressed it at this time," said Siebert.

Arkansas City City Manager Steve Archer said he hasn't heard any public support for a smoking ban.

"At this point, and I can't speak for all the commissioners here, nobody from the public has approached the City Commission to establish a smoking ban," Archer said.

He added that, although he doesn't smoke or frequent drinking establishments, he doesn't see a need to ban smoking in bars and private clubs, and he doesn't think it would ever go over well with the people of Arkansas City.

"I wouldn't go to a bar where they allow smoking, but I also don't go to the bars," Archer said. "I would be in favor of banning smoking in all restaurants, but the bars are not as much of a concern to me."

Burden Mayor Judy Colvin said a smoking ban isn't necessary in a small town like Burden. She feels that it would take an overwhelming amount of public support to even consider a ban -- which she said will probably never happen in Burden.

"The issue hasn't come up in Burden, and I don't really think we will need to pursue it if it does," said Colvin. "I've never had any complaints from anyone seeking a citywide ban on smoking. I think it would have to be a grassroots issue before we would even take it on."

With smoker-friendly establishments in Burden, such as the 160 Cafe and E&G's Hideaway, Colvin said the decision to make all publicly accessible city buildings nonsmoking was done many years ago. She thinks that's as far as a city government's involvement should be when it comes to telling people how to run their businesses.

She said a business owner should have the right to dictate what rules to abide by in their own establishments, and a customer also has the right not to enter that particular establishment.

"I am not a smoker, and I like a smoke-free environment," said Colvin. "But I also think people should be able to make that choice for themselves. I don't think government intrusion is necessary in Burden for this case. People should be responsible enough to make some of their own decisions."

Newkirk City Manager Harold Harris said he doesn't see a smoking ban ever seeing the light of day in Newkirk. Harris said that a typical smoking ban in city buildings has been in order for some time, but he doesn't see it going any further than that, especially in the instance of bars and private clubs.

"We're not going to touch the smoking issue," said Harris. "We do have a ban in all city buildings like the library and the courthouse, but as far as bars and private clubs go, they dictate what they allow."

Wellington City Manager Gus Collins said Winfield's ordinance reminds him of when a group of high school students brought the issue before the Wellington City Commission about three years ago.

Although a smoking ban was voted down at that time, Collins said he is open to public opinion on the matter. So far he has heard nothing since then. Collins added that with Winfield passing an ordinance, it is possible for Wellington to do so as well, but the public support needs to be there first.

"It has not been discussed for a while besides in a few passing conversations," said Collins. "And with the action Winfield has taken, maybe. But I have not heard any requests for future discussions."

Oxford City Clerk Betty Oliver said she has never heard of the idea for a smoking ban brought up to city officials in her entire tenure as a city employee.

"To my knowledge, it has never been brought to the attention of the Oxford City Council," said Oliver.

Dexter City Clerk Shirley Wilson said the City of Dexter has always left the smoking decision up to the individual business owner. But she added that a smoking ban has never come up because most businesses have either banned smoking themselves or found a compromise with their non-smoking customers. Wilson said the point is that Dexter's businesses have never had to get the city involved, since they were capable of taking care of it themselves.

"We don't need to make a ban because our businesses have already taken care of that," said Wilson. "Here, it's just more common courtesy that anything. A ban is something that's never even going to come up."