Covington County: It was the Covington County Coalition Against Gambling, which includes a lot of Baptists from Covington County, that made the difference for Covington County Commission chairman Lynn Sasser.
According to the Andalusia Star-News, Sasser changed his mind about setting rules and regulations for electronic bingo gambling during the June 8 commission meeting. Instead he said he now plans to work to outlaw electronic bingo gambling.
“I saw something,” Sasser said on a June 9 radio show, the Star-News reported. “I saw concerned people as I began to scan the crowd — people who were concerned over what could come into our county if we allowed electronic bingo.”
He also said the legal ramifications of bringing it into the county played a part, the newspaper reported.
“It’s my personal conviction — the deepest thing — that [electronic bingo is] not right,” he said, according to the Star-News. “I can’t tell you the number of phone calls I’ve had from people expressing their opinion that it’s not right.”
In other news in Covington County, Florala Mayor Robert Williamson said he still plans to explore electronic bingo gambling for his city despite Sasser’s latest move, the Star-News reported.
Etowah County: The Etowah County Commission adopted rules and regulations for electronic bingo gambling during its June 2 meeting. The next day Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin issued an interim electronic bingo permit to D&F Charitable Trust, which allows CBS Supply LLC to operate electronic bingo gambling in the county.
Entrekin also asked District Attorney Jimmie Harp to petition the Etowah County Circuit Court to assess the new rules, regulations and machines to see if they violate any state laws. Once the legality of electronic bingo gambling and these specific machines are determined in Etowah County, officials have reported that a temporary location could open within 90 days, according to The Gadsden Times. This location would operate until the already-planned $200 million electronic bingo gambling development near Pleasant Valley Road and Interstate 59 is built.
St. Clair County — Ashville: St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles and District Attorney Richard Minor have just a few more days to complete their inspection of the new electronic bingo gambling machines being played at the American Legion Post 170 in Ashville. From there, more legal proceedings will come through Circuit Judge Charles E. Robinson’s courtroom and there will be a final hearing for certification of the machines brought in by Shooting Star Entertainment Group LLC.
Even though Ashville Mayor Robert McKay said numerous times, including in an interview with The Alabama Baptist, that he would not bring in machines until after the Supreme Court ruled on the appeal, he opened up shop June 6 with about 250 machines. There will be a total of 690 machines in the current facility, which is a temporary location holding the machines while the major hotel/casino-style facility is being built on 75 acres at the southwest corner of Highway 231 and Interstate 59 in Ashville. Sources from the new Ashville bingo facility reported more than $20,000 coming in daily during the first week of operation. The facility is open 24/7 and has had lines of people pouring through it since it opened. Plans are already underway to expand parking and open up a restaurant, sports bar and liquor store next door to the American Legion building, sources from the facility explained.
According to Talladega’s Daily Home Online, Minor and Surles have filed a joint supplement motion to the Supreme Court asking for an emergency stay to halt electronic bingo gambling in Ashville pending appeal of the current case before the Supreme Court. Attorney General Troy King also has stepped in, filing an emergency motion for a stay as well.
In other news in St. Clair County, Moody Mayor Joe Lee is ready to set regulations for electronic bingo gambling there, according to The Leeds News.
EDITOR’S NOTE — As a way to consistently monitor electronic bingo gambling issues across the state, The Alabama Baptist will provide updates such as these each week.
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