Officials with the American Legion post in
Houston say the death of bingo at the organization’s South Sam
Houston Blvd. quarters has caused a cash crunch.
The last weekly bingo game came on the last
Saturday in December. Organizers called it quits after sagging
crowds and revenue made it no longer feasible. Fewer people caused
smaller jackpots, and prompted its patrons to flee to bigger prizes
offered at Licking, Rolla and Springfield.
“We’re still digging for an answer and
trying to get around it,” said Bud Sutton, finance officer and
adjutant at the American Legion post situated at Cleveland Road and
South Sam Houston Blvd.
The organization has provided thousands of
scholarships over the years for students.
Members of the Houston City Council heard
last week that one plan under consideration was to abandon the
group’s charter and revert property back to the national
organization. That has not happened, City Administrator Larry
Sutton said, noting a study was still under way.
The council last week authorized a study of
property lines. The city has a stake in the matter – one of the
community’s water towers sits on property donated by the
organization to the city.
It’s the second veterans’ group struggling
in less than a year. The Houston Veterans of Foreign Wars post on
North U.S. 63 closed in 2009 and was sold.
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