[For a complete breakdown of the bingo story, including comments from Sheriff Terry Surles and Argo officials who have been debating the bingo issue since the beginning of the year, see this week's News-Aegis on Thursday]

Ashville mayor Robert McKay said that he is glad that Circuit Judge Charles Robinson ruled that electronic bingo machines are allowed to be used in St. Clair County.

�Of course we�re pleased,� Ashville Mayor Robert McKay said of the ruling. �We were very optimistic and we knew we had a judge that had a big decision here. We knew that whatever ruling he came down with we would accept.�

The ruling has temporarily put to rest the hot button issue that has brought public outcry from many area citizens.

McKay said that allowing for electronic bingo to be played in Ashville would help to raise needed money when it comes to the town and its finances.

The American Legion Post 170 has been operating traditional card bingo since Amendment 542 went into place in the 1980s. That amendment called for a 10-cent card tax to be placed on each card used while playing bingo at the American Legion.

During a trail held before Judge Robinson two weeks ago, the case was made by an expert witness brought by the Town of Ashville and its co-plaintiff, Shooting Star Entertainment, LLC, that electronic bingo machines could collect the 10-cent tax as well as provide a means for players to participate in the game of bingo.

�We�ve been playing bingo here in Ashville for a number of years,� McKay, who is also affiliated with the American Legion Post 170, said. �All this is doing is giving us a advanced version. Technology has changed and the only way we can compete [with surrounding counties� electronic bingo] is to keep up with everyone else.�

There are thousands of electronic bingo machines already being used in the state, including in Walker County, where McKay testified two weeks ago that he was told that Post 170s previous bingo players had been flocking to over the last few years.

�I think the citizens of Ashville will see in short order what having these [machines] will do,� McKay said. He said that citizens can expect to see improved fire and police departments as well as new ball parks.

Ashville went from having $140,000 in its budget to $19,000 in just one year and town�s council has had to cut police services and pay $275,000 in bills from its water fund.

�This will create the revenue to do many things,� McKay said of the revenue that the bingo machines are expected to bring. He said that one plan on the books will be to take the sewer system and have it linked into the Ashville School System. �We�re going to be able to t do a lot of things that we�ve not been able to do. There are so many good things that can happen with this ruling.�

Shooting Star has told McKay that it will pay Ashville $100 per electronic bingo machine and help being in a hotel, restaurants and new jobs for northern St. Clair County.