Queens of Hearts decision expected by Friday

AUSTINTOWN — A decision on whether the Queen of Hearts game will resume at Barry Dyngles pub will be made by 11 a.m. Friday.

Township Administrator Mike Dockry sent out a special meeting notice at 11 a.m. today, 24 hours before a special meeting by the trustees to have a vote on resuming the game at the pub, at 1601 S. Raccoon Road.

That meeting Friday can be canceled, however, if a meeting tonight between township officials and pub officials does not end in agreement.

“Assuming we [can] reach an agreement on resuming the game on his premises under certain conditions, that’s why I wanted to put out the 24-hour notice,” Dockry said.

When asked how the township could shut the game down, Dockry said: “Technically they’re conducting their business off premise so they’re violating the zoning code ... [and] when you get large crowds like that we have some safety concerns, so we think, under that type of situation, we also have authority.”

Dockry further said, “I could just say that there is a possibility of getting an agreement that we can live with to” have Queen of Hearts resume at the pub.

The game is anticipated to draw 15,000 people for an expected $1 million jackpot. It has been held at the pub on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and this week’s drawing was postponed late last week while pub officials determined what to do with the expected crowds and jackpot size.

Austintown schools Superintendent Vincent Colaluca said officials from Barry Dyngles did not reach out to the school district for space.

Greenwood Chevrolet Austintown Falcon Stadium, blocks away from the township pub, was suggested as a possible location last week by Austintown Trustee Jim Davis.

“They never reached out to us,” Colaluca said.

That’s also the case for the Canfield Fairgrounds, said Craig Myers, Canfield Fair board president, and Bev Fisher, fair manager. Both pointed out that alcohol is not permitted on the fairgrounds unless there is an unanimous board vote and a special permit issued through the state.