Casino

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County residents would have the chance to vote on casino table games at Charles Town Races & Slots, but if approved, they would have to wait a minimum of five years before they could vote again on the games' fate at the track, according to a proposal discussed Monday. Track officials maintain they need to have casino table games to stay ahead of gambling competition in other states. A bill was considered in the Legislature earlier this year to allow casino table games at the state's four racetracks, but it was criticized by lawmakers and other officials because it proposed to take away the rights of Jefferson County voters to control gaming at the track through elections.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - Whether or not casino table games are good for Jefferson County has not been a clear issue in the run up to the June 9 referendum on the games and the subject continued to be a source of debate during a forum Thursday night. Although casino table games are projected to funnel an estimated $1.5 million annually to Jefferson County Schools, concern was raised during the forum at the Charles Town Library whether the school system will have oversight in the collection of money that is to go to the school system.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - A group of local elected officials, including three members of the Jefferson County Commission, met Wednesday and discussed taking a position on casino table games for Charles Town Races & Slots. At the council of governments meeting Wednesday at the Charles Town Visitors Center, members discussed a possible resolution on casino table games. Ranson Mayor David Hamill said the city wants to support the games and he discussed in a letter to the commission a possible resolution in support of table games.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Thanksgiving Day might not be too lucky for turkeys, but that didn't keep people away from the Charles Town Races Thursday afternoon. While gambling on horses and playing the video slots may not be considered a holiday tradition, Jerry Durbin of Charles Town said betting the races beats spending the day in a house full of children. --cont. from front page -- "I've got 12 grandkids with my daughter at the house," Durbin said. "I'm too old for that.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) -- The PGA Tour is returning to the once-elite Greenbrier for the first time in 15 years, officials said Wednesday, just months after the resort's new owner promised to bring back a major tournament. Owner Jim Justice made that pledge in May, and his wish came full-circle with the announcement from PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem that The Greenbrier will hold a tournament over the next six years. It marks the first large-scale event at The Greenbrier since the U.S. women beat Europe in the 1994 Solheim Cup. The move was part of Justice's strategy to restore the shine to a resort and 721-room hotel that once hosted presidents and royalty.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - House Majority Leader Joe DeLong said Monday he doubts the Legislature will revisit a casino table games law it recently passed because lawmakers wanted to get the issue behind them. Del. John Doyle, an outspoken opponent of the casino table games proposal that was rejected by county voters in a referendum Saturday, said before the election that voters should reject the games until a better deal is offered. Doyle, D-Jefferson, argued that the county would not get a fair share of gambling proceeds from the games if they were approved for Charles Town Races & Slots.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. - More than 100 people turned out Wednesday night at a public forum at Shepherd University to hear supporters and opponents of casino table games put forth their best arguments for their stances on the games. Del. John Doyle, D-Jefferson, joined local pastor Douglas Fraim in an argument against the games as the two talked about the "paltry" deal the county will get out of the games and the threat of crime problems like prostitution. Table games supporters Walter Pellish and Alan Sturm emphasized the millions of dollars in revenue that county schools will enjoy if the games are introduced, and the good jobs at the track that would be created.

By JULIE E. GREENE / Staff Writer photo: RIC DUGAN / staff photographer CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Bonnie Osman has been to Atlantic City for New Year's Eve, she's seen the ball drop in Times Square in New York City and she's seen the pickle drop in her hometown of Dillsburg, Pa. This year Osman, her husband and her godfather decided to ring in 2000 at Charles Town Races. "We love to come down here to West Virginia because everyone's so friendly and it's a great state to come to to gamble," Osman said.

Here's something for the cloud-seeder types to chew on over the winter: A flashy Los Angeles entertainment syndicate just up and "out of the blue" purchases the Hagerstown Suns. Maybe somebody else understands this, but I sure don't. And if I know the Hagers-town conspiracy community, they will be able to take this baseball and run with it. Let's see: A major casino player just in the past couple of weeks comes to Maryland and meets with state lawmakers to discuss slot machines.

Editor's note: Tim Rowland is on vacation. This column originally ran in The Morning Herald on Feb. 6, 2003. Excellent, it's all coming together. For years I've been saying that we don't need slot machines just at Maryland racetracks, we need slots in many more convenient locations - preferably on everyone's front porch. Problem there, is that we may run into a few of those "private property" wackos who might believe it an infringement on their "rights" if the government were to forcibly install a slot machine next to the rose trellis.

A bill to significantly cut the number of racing days at West Virginia's two horse and two dog tracks has failed to come out of committee, state Sen. Herb Snyder said Thursday. “Senate Bill 455 is not going anywhere,” Snyder said. The bill called for scaling back racing at all four tracks from 220 days a year to 150, a move that could force many horsemen to quit racing because fewer race days mean fewer purses, Randy Funkhouser, president of the 1,500-plus member Horsemen's Benovolent and Protective Association (HBPA)

The inaugural Hollywood Poker Open (HPO) is coming to the Mid-Atlantic. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, W.Va., will host the only HPO regional tournament in the East from Thursday, March 21 through Monday, April 1. The action culminates with the main event on Thursday, March 28, through April 1. The top finisher walks away with first place cash and a $2,500 seat in the $500,000 Guaranteed HPO Championship at the M Resort in...

Everclear frontman and founder Art Alexakis might be 50 years old, but that's doesn't mean he's forgotten how to rock. "I think the one thing that when people go to see Everclear is that they're not prepared for how loud and rowdy we are as a rock band," he said during a telephone interview from his Pasadena, Calif., home. "We're a pretty rockin' band. " Everclear, which is best known for such hits as "Father of Mine," "AM Radio" and "I Will Buy You A New Life," will perform Saturday night at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, H Lounge, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, W.Va.

The music industry might have taken the kid out of Hell's Kitchen, N.Y., but for 1980s hip-hop and R&B artist Lisa Lisa, it never took it out of her heart. Best known for being one-third of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with such hits as “All Cried Out” and “Lost in Emotion,” the 47-year-old artist lives in Long Island, N.Y., with her family, which includes sons ages 6 and 8. And though her life has taken her all over the world, she's still quick to point out that she's from Hell's Kitchen.

A New York woman faces up to 10 years in prison for fraudulently obtaining cash from at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II said Monday that 29-year-old Rebecca Hill of Jamaica, Queens, pleaded guilty to using a counterfeit access device at the casino in Charles Town, W.Va. Ihlenfeld said Hill used a counterfeit credit card to obtain a cash advance at the casino in 2010. Hill entered her plea recently in federal court in Martinsburg.

Two brothers were being held without bond at Franklin County Jail on Thursday, facing several charges, including attempted homicide, police said. Pennsylvania State Police said they charged Jemoni L. Ghee, 21, and Jelani Q. Ghee, 25, related to the assault of a 28-year-old who is being treated at York (Pa.) Hospital for serious injuries. Clarence H. Green Jr., of Chambersburg, was listed in serious condition Thursday night, according to a hospital spokeswoman. Both Ghee men also are charged with aggravated assault and robbery.

Where's the 'liberal media' when you need them? To the editor: There is a major story that the so-called liberal news media are not covering. CNN had a two-minute story on it last week. It's about a factory in Freeport, Ill., that made sensors for cars. Bain Capital bought the factory in 2006. In January of last year the employees were told that they were moving to China at the end of this year. The company's profits for the first two quarters of this year were $972 million.

The wheel of fortune clacked slowly to a stop at a triple two, with one of the four women at the table winning a small stack of cash featuring the face of Father Chris Moore. Saturday was the 10th annual Mardi Gras Casino Night and Auction at St. Joseph Catholic Church. About 150 people ponied up $25 apiece for a chance to win some funny money, wine and dine, and help both the parish and the Parent-Child Center. “We mostly make money on the tickets, raffles and the two auctions,” Moore said as guests settled down to a dinner buffet prepared by chef Bob Vidoni.

The third annual Titanic Casino Evening will be Friday, Feb. 17, at Homewood Suites by Hilton. The event is a fundraiser for Discovery Station. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the gala includes a casino with card games, wheel games, board and bingo games.    There will be hors d'oeuvres and beverages, along with 50/50 cash raffles, and silent and live auctions. The Rocky Birely Trio will perform. Tickets cost $35 per person, which includes $25 per person of "Discovery Station Funny Money" that can be used for silent auction items.

For years, gamblers at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races were limited to $5 for each spin of a slot machine. But, in July, the West Virginia Lottery Commission gave the casino permission to increase the maximum bet per spin to $100. "With the ability to now bet $5, $10, $25 and $100 a spin, the Slot City area of the gaming floor just got hotter," casino General Manager Al Britton said in a statement. "Now, guests will have the opportunity to wager more per spin on the newest multi-coin machines featuring themes such as Double Diamond Deluxe and Poseidon.