•March 20, 2019•

By Mike Brothers

The village of Bethany denied American Legion Post 507 a video gaming license once, but further investigation into the state gaming code has changed that.
Village president Bill Ashley Jr. explained that once the group had completed the state requirements for a gaming license the village doesn’t get to determine who gets a license since the local ordinance has no limit.
On Wednesday, March 20 the Bethany Village Board will meet in special session to correct the mistaken vote by rescinding the motion and allow the American Legion to proceed with their plans to operate gaming along with their bar six days a week.
The veterans group and community supporters met with the board March 14 with the question remaining up in the air.
“We were kind of in shock at not getting the license,” said Paul Snyder, American Legion representative attending the meeting.
Snyder explained the 99-year-old veterans organization had invested in new carpeting and applied to the state for gaming licenses and contacted vendors in anticipation of being allowed to operate video gaming at the Hwy. 121 club in Bethany.
He explained the club membership voted to open the American Legion to the public with gaming and a bar with 4 p.m.-10 p.m. hours six days a week in 2018.
Snyder explained the first Friday of the month fish dinners are the only funding source Post 507 has now, and over the past six months the club has lost $800.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.