St. Clair Times – Ashville plays electronic bingo

“It’s a great day for Ashville.”

Those words spoken by Mayor Robert McKay after electronic bingo machines were moved into the American Legion Post 170 late Friday and all day Saturday.

Electronic bingo is being played in the City of Ashville.

McKay said he received word Friday around noon that St. Clair County Judge Charles Robinson said there is no reason for them not to continue to pursue the idea of playing electronic bingo.

“Finally, finally, after about seven or eight months of pursuing this we finally have succeeded in opening the doors,” McKay said. “We had the machines certified by two different laboratories. Everything is a go, so we are here. Not only is it a great day for Ashville, it is a great day for the St. Clair County School System. We plan on giving 90 percent of what we generate this weekend to the school system as early as Monday. The kids will benefit from this.”

McKay added they would be able to pay off city hall, extend the sewer to the schools and build new ball fields.

Bobby Cook, resident of Ashville for over 50 years and a member of the American Legion since it started, said electronic bingo is wonderful.

“It is a win-win situation for the American Legion and the City of Ashville,” Cook said.

via St. Clair Times – Ashville plays electronic bingo.

 

Alabama governor approves stronger beer | GadsdenTimes.com | Gadsden Times | Gadsden, AL

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Alabama governor approves stronger beer

By PHILLIP RAWLS Associated Press Writer

Published: Friday, May 22, 2009 at 4:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 22, 2009 at 4:03 p.m.

Alabama has a new law allowing stronger beer to be sold in the state, which means previously banned specialty and imported beers can soon begin appearing in restaurants, bars and some retail stores.

Gov. Bob Riley said he signed the bill Friday to immediately raise the alcohol limit on beer from 6 percent to 13.9 percent by volume. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, won legislative approval last week.

Bob Hill, attorney for the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, said new beers should start showing up this summer. Brewers will have to line up distributors and register with the ABC Board before sales can begin.

Free the Hops, a grass-roots organization of more than 1,300, had worked to increase the limit to allow specialty and gourmet beers with higher alcohol levels to be sold in the state.

“We’ve been working this for over four years,” President Stuart Carter of Birmingham said Friday. “I’m shellshocked from hearing the news.”

The Rev. Joe Godfrey, executive director of the church-funded Alabama Citizen Action Project, had fought the legislation and was disappointed by Riley’s signature.

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