Three electronic bingo permits OK'd

During another angry meeting, the Bessemer City Council tonight approved three electronic bingo permits in a 4-2 vote.

The permits were granted to Save the Youth, Set Free Community Development Corp. and VFW Post 1762.

Perhaps more importantly, the Bingo Committee said that the Lucky Royale, which is operated by Don Baylor, former assistant to Mayor Ed May, is not in compliance and hinted that if it doesn't move quickly it will be shut down.

—Tribune staff report

Alert deputy captures carjacking suspect

An alert Jefferson County yesterday spotted a stolen vehicle in Brighton that led to the arrest of a man who had carjacked the vehicle in Bibb County.

Arrested by Lewis Williams, 29, who along with another suspect allegedly stole a 1990 Cadillac Deville in the Woodstock area after robbing and pistol whipping the driver.

The search for Williams began on Eastern Valley Road, but the car was spotted in Brighton.

Williams, the vehicle and recovered property were turned over to Woodstock police.

—Tribune staff report

Signing party

A signing party was held last night for three Hueytown High School softball players. From left, Lindsey Broom, is going to Beville State; Leigh Streetman, UAB; and Madison Scott, will be playing next year at Wallace State.

—Tribune staff report

Detour, please

Road paving in Bessemer happens so infrequently that no one seems to know what to do as traffic today is again backed up on 19th Street, actually inside the Hueytown border. Officer T. Cook directs vehicles into a detour.

—Tribune staff report

Gang that can't shoot straight scores again

Bessemer's City Council — the original Gang that Can't Shoot Straight — did it again tonight by canceling a special meeting on bingo and then failing to communicate with anyone but themselves.

Sitting outside a dark City Hall were two reporters and two attorneys.

One of the reporters, Anita Debro of the Birmingham News, says she confirmed as late as 4 p.m. that the meeting was on schedule.

"I could have been home cooking dinner," she said, getting into her car for the ride home.

Incredibly bad show by a group that seems to know no bounds of stupidity.

The meeting, according to a piece of paper posted outside, has been rescheduled to Friday.

—Tribune staff report

'Mad Dog' May strikes again

Bessemer Mayor Ed May yesterday ordered his police to shut down the Magic Castle Bingo hall for the fourth time since September.

Dubbed by his enemies as "Mad Dog" May, he has stayed away from another bingo parlor operated by his former assistant on Ninth Avenue.

He took the action a couple of hours after the City Council again failed to approve new licenses.

Council members seem to get bogged down in arguments over questions that May throws at them to keep them occupied.

The council will try again tonight at 7 to straighten out the mess.

—Tribune staff report

Council sues mayor

Bessemer's City Council today voted 4-3 to sue Mayor Ed Mayor over yet another last-minute veto of a bingo resolution.

Kim Davidson will represent the council.

The council is upset because it thinks May is violating Circuit Judge Eugene Verin's order last year in allowing electronic bingo to operate unfettered until he makes a ruling.

—Tribune staff report

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MLK celebration in Bessemer

Rev. Edward E. Rodgers, pastor of the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham, preaches at the MLK celebration service at Canaan Baptist Church this afternoon. As might be expected, the church was packed.

McCalla man dies in single-vehicle crash

A McCalla man was killed early Sunday morning in a single vehicle crash.

Donald Leslie Logan, 50, was prounounced dead at the scene of the crash off Morgan Road, between Seales Road and Twin Oaks Drive in Bessemer, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

The 1997 green Chevy Silverardo had been traveling south along Morgan Road when Logan lost control, struck an embankment causing the vehicle to spin counter-clockwise.

—Tribune staff report