ABC Warns Bar Owners About Gambling
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Liquor licenses could be lost if Kosciusko County bars and taverns don't get rid of their illegal professional gambling devices.
Every alcohol permit is renewed annually. Permits with violations against them are cleared with the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission before the permit goes before the local alcohol board for yearly renewal.
Thursday, the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved a motion that any permit with a report of a violation against it regarding illegal gambling or gambling devices in the establishment may be given a 30-day continuous extension to correct the violation before the local board decision is made.
If the violation is not corrected, the board could make a decision based on the violation report not to renew the alcohol permit.
Each case may be judged on its individual merits.
Two businesses with permits up for renewal before the local board Thursday were warned about gambling devices on their premises.
The hearing on Knocker's Sports Bar's beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits was postponed to Jan. 6 to give the business time to remove gambling devices. Knocker's is at 717 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, and previously was cited for retail to retail alcohol sales as well as warned for the gambling devices on its premises.
Knocker's paid a $250 fine for the retail to retail violation, as it is illegal for them to buy alcohol off anyone except a wholesaler.
Excise Officer Patty Fleck, an ABC member, said Knocker's has been warned twice about gambling, and if Knocker's receives another violation for gambling, the business faces the possibility of losing its license. The Kosciusko County ABC has a policy of "three strikes and you're out."
At the Jan. 6 meeting, the ABC will ask the owners of Knocker's if they still have the gambling devices on their premises. If they do, the ABC then will make a decision on whether or not to renew Knocker's permit.
At the Thursday meeting, a representative of Knocker's said the gambling devices still were on the premises but would not respond when asked if he knew it was illegal to have them.
The other business whose beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits were continued to Jan. 6 was Warsaw Bowl, 1702 E. Market St., Warsaw.
On Sept. 9, 2003, Warsaw Bowl was cited for public nuisance, professional gambling and possession of gambling devices.
Jami Wright owns Warsaw Bowl 100 percent effective Nov. 1, but because she did not have enough information regarding the violation and transfer of stock, the permit was continued to the January meeting.
The gambling devices still were on Warsaw Bowl's premises as of Thursday.
Time Out Inn, West Lake Street, Warsaw, cleared up its violations with the ABC, which had nothing to do with illegal gambling. The business' renewals for beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits unanimously were approved.
The permit renewal was continued from the November meeting after no representatives of the business appeared at the meeting.
Time Out Inn was cited for two violations Nov. 8, 2003.
According to a report, at 11:15 p.m., excise officers at the Time Out observed no employees carding people entering the business at any of the three doors. A 19-year-old woman was found sitting at the bar. Though the woman had not consumed any alcohol, she was underage and legally is not allowed on the premises. Excise officers then asked for all the bartenders' permits, but one bartender did not have his. Time Out Inn was cited for one count of no employee permit and one count of allowing a minor to loiter.
For a third year, the ABC approved Coyote Grill & Cantina's beer, wine and liquor retailer permit to be put into escrow and approved the permit. According to Fleck, the business does not plan to reopen and is attempting to sell its permit through a Fort Wayne company. An alcohol permit can be put into escrow for up to five years.
On June 9, 2002, Blue Coyote, South Buffalo Street, Warsaw, was destroyed by fire, and the permit has been in escrow since that year.
In other business, the ABC approved the following permit renewals:
• Mentone Party Pack, West Main Street, Mentone, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• Ye Old Pub, South Street, North Webster, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• The Pastime, North First Street, Pierceton, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Lakeview Liquors, East Main Street, Silver Lake, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• American Legion Post 223, South Huntington Street, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• CVS Pharmacy, North Detroit Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• El Arriero, North Detroit Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• JD's Roadhouse, West Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
Members of the ABC are chairman Gordon Vanator, excise officer Patty Fleck, secretary Kenneth Johnson and Elim Smith. The board meets at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Thursday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]
Liquor licenses could be lost if Kosciusko County bars and taverns don't get rid of their illegal professional gambling devices.
Every alcohol permit is renewed annually. Permits with violations against them are cleared with the Alcohol & Tobacco Commission before the permit goes before the local alcohol board for yearly renewal.
Thursday, the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved a motion that any permit with a report of a violation against it regarding illegal gambling or gambling devices in the establishment may be given a 30-day continuous extension to correct the violation before the local board decision is made.
If the violation is not corrected, the board could make a decision based on the violation report not to renew the alcohol permit.
Each case may be judged on its individual merits.
Two businesses with permits up for renewal before the local board Thursday were warned about gambling devices on their premises.
The hearing on Knocker's Sports Bar's beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits was postponed to Jan. 6 to give the business time to remove gambling devices. Knocker's is at 717 S. Huntington St., Syracuse, and previously was cited for retail to retail alcohol sales as well as warned for the gambling devices on its premises.
Knocker's paid a $250 fine for the retail to retail violation, as it is illegal for them to buy alcohol off anyone except a wholesaler.
Excise Officer Patty Fleck, an ABC member, said Knocker's has been warned twice about gambling, and if Knocker's receives another violation for gambling, the business faces the possibility of losing its license. The Kosciusko County ABC has a policy of "three strikes and you're out."
At the Jan. 6 meeting, the ABC will ask the owners of Knocker's if they still have the gambling devices on their premises. If they do, the ABC then will make a decision on whether or not to renew Knocker's permit.
At the Thursday meeting, a representative of Knocker's said the gambling devices still were on the premises but would not respond when asked if he knew it was illegal to have them.
The other business whose beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits were continued to Jan. 6 was Warsaw Bowl, 1702 E. Market St., Warsaw.
On Sept. 9, 2003, Warsaw Bowl was cited for public nuisance, professional gambling and possession of gambling devices.
Jami Wright owns Warsaw Bowl 100 percent effective Nov. 1, but because she did not have enough information regarding the violation and transfer of stock, the permit was continued to the January meeting.
The gambling devices still were on Warsaw Bowl's premises as of Thursday.
Time Out Inn, West Lake Street, Warsaw, cleared up its violations with the ABC, which had nothing to do with illegal gambling. The business' renewals for beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits unanimously were approved.
The permit renewal was continued from the November meeting after no representatives of the business appeared at the meeting.
Time Out Inn was cited for two violations Nov. 8, 2003.
According to a report, at 11:15 p.m., excise officers at the Time Out observed no employees carding people entering the business at any of the three doors. A 19-year-old woman was found sitting at the bar. Though the woman had not consumed any alcohol, she was underage and legally is not allowed on the premises. Excise officers then asked for all the bartenders' permits, but one bartender did not have his. Time Out Inn was cited for one count of no employee permit and one count of allowing a minor to loiter.
For a third year, the ABC approved Coyote Grill & Cantina's beer, wine and liquor retailer permit to be put into escrow and approved the permit. According to Fleck, the business does not plan to reopen and is attempting to sell its permit through a Fort Wayne company. An alcohol permit can be put into escrow for up to five years.
On June 9, 2002, Blue Coyote, South Buffalo Street, Warsaw, was destroyed by fire, and the permit has been in escrow since that year.
In other business, the ABC approved the following permit renewals:
• Mentone Party Pack, West Main Street, Mentone, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• Ye Old Pub, South Street, North Webster, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• The Pastime, North First Street, Pierceton, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• Lakeview Liquors, East Main Street, Silver Lake, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• American Legion Post 223, South Huntington Street, Syracuse, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• CVS Pharmacy, North Detroit Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor dealer permit.
• El Arriero, North Detroit Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
• JD's Roadhouse, West Center Street, Warsaw, beer, wine and liquor and Sunday sales retailer permits.
Members of the ABC are chairman Gordon Vanator, excise officer Patty Fleck, secretary Kenneth Johnson and Elim Smith. The board meets at 1 p.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the first Thursday of every month. [[In-content Ad]]