Queen of Hearts drawing officially postponed

Wednesday night’s Queen of Hearts jackpot has been officially postponed, said Jim Davis, Austintown trustee.

That decision was made by the owner of the 1601 S. Raccoon Road pub, Shawn Hannon, and follows a Saturday report in The Vindicator that the drawing's future was in a holding pattern.

“We left the ball in his court. The decision was made by him because he’s trying to find the best location,” Davis said Monday.

Davis listed a few possible locations, but said the problem is lack of oversight from Columbus and if Barry Dyngles can move the location.

“The rules are not spelled out as such to say he can move it,” Davis said. “Even if he rents out Youngstown State’s stadium, is he allowed to have the drawing there?”

Davis further said, “the big thing is when they set these rules, they don’t want to arbitrarily change the rules because of one location. This is something that is an anomaly.”

He also said that the township has not spent township funds on this event besides six hours of overtime pay for township police officers. Pub officials have hired off-duty officers at their own expense.

“All of this is being paid for by Barry Dyngles,” he said.

Davis, Austintown Township administrator and roads superintendent Mike Dockry, police officials and Hannon, the owner of Barry Dyngles, had a meeting to decide the next step Friday afternoon.