Once zealously controlled by a religious sect, a small town tries to rehab its image -- with beer

COLORADO CITY, Ariz. - The religious leader predicted many an apocalypse in his time as the head of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There was supposed to be one in 2005. Then it was delayed until 2012. Scratch that; 2016.

Each time, the destruction was to be the same. Earthquakes. Fire. Swift and dramatic - in the later years springing Warren Jeffs from prison and returning him to Colorado City, where his breakaway polygamist flock awaited.

But Jeffs, convicted in 2011 of sexually assaulting two child brides, is still behind bars, serving a life sentence. And a different kind of apocalypse is slowly descending on the town, fueled by hops, barley and grains.

Edge of the World Brewery and Pub opened in March on Center Street - a development unthinkable even a year ago. Last month, a vape shop opened across the street from the town hall.

In November, there will be four seats open on the seven-member Colorado City Town Council. Of the 11 candidates running, none is FLDS, assuring the sect no longer will hold a majority.

Unprecedented change is coming to Colorado City, and one need not be a prophet to see evidence of it taking hold.

None of this pleases Joseph Allred, a member of the current council and an FLSD member who is not up for reelection.

"When you bring in a lot of things America likes - particularly the vices like alcohol and tobacco and that sort of thing - you lose a lot of the enjoyments of the simple things," he said. "I like the quiet of a small town. I like peace. I like no crime. I like neighbors helping neighbors. I think bringing a lot of those things in ... makes a small town lose its values."

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