Western Enterprise Fire Co. Truck going out on a call. (Yvette May, AP) |
Western Enterprise Fire Co. has been writing checks to a business that provides workers to sell tip jars in the volunteer fire company's gaming operation, a revelation that has sparked a request for a police investigation.
The president of a for-profit cheer and dance business told The Herald-Mail that the volunteer fire company in Hagerstown had been sending a monthly check to his business in return for the parents of youth cheerleaders working in the fire company's gaming operation.
The money was used to help families offset the cost of cheer and dance training and competition, said Scott Braasch, president and co-owner of the Pennsylvania-based Cheer Tyme Inc.
Jim Hovis, director of the Washington County Office of Community Grant Management, said he began a preliminary investigation into the matter about three weeks ago after The Herald-Mail asked him about the situation.
Hovis said he wanted to determine whether Western Enterprise was violating Maryland's gaming law by paying people to help conduct gaming, and whether individuals were profiting from the gaming.
"Any gaming activities must be conducted by the members of the organization holding the license," said Hovis, whose office issues gaming licenses. "Now, we're not going to say that a person who's not a member, can't come in and help out, but they need to do so free of charge."
According to state law, an organization, such as a volunteer fire company, that is qualified to conduct gaming "shall manage the gaming event personally through its members."
To sell tip jars and/or offer bingo for prizes in Washington County, an organization has to be nonprofit and obtain licenses from the county Office of Community Grant Management.
Under the law, gaming may be held "for the exclusive benefit of a qualified organization if an individual or group of individuals does not: (1) benefit financially from the gaming event under this subtitle; or (2) receive any of the proceeds from the gaming event under this subtitle for personal use or benefit."
That means "no one can personally benefit from the proceeds of a gaming event," Hovis said. "And, it also says that charitable gaming events must be managed and operated by the members of the charity for the exclusive benefit of that charity."
Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith said Hovis told him it appeared further investigation was needed. So, on the advice of the county state's attorney, Smith turned to the Maryland State Police on Dec. 16.
Lt. Tom Woodward, commander of the state police barrack in Hagerstown, said his agency was asked to investigate "possible improprieties" involving gaming at Western Enterprise.
Woodward said Smith's request didn't detail the allegations.
Scott Braasch, president and co-owner of the Pennsylvania-based Cheer Tyme Inc., said Tuesday that because of the ongoing questions, he has suspended the fundraising program under which his business helped the fire company in its gaming operation.
He said the parents of his youth cheerleaders would no longer help the fire company unless "whatever's in question, that it comes out to be kosher."
Braasch said the arrangement his company had with the fire company was a "hand-me-down" from a similar deal he's been told Western Enterprise had with a youth cheerleading and dance group affiliated with the Hagerstown Area Police Athletic League.
Braasch said HAPAL is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, while Cheer Tyme is a for-profit business. Braasch said Western Enterprise was aware that Cheer Tyme is a business and not a 501(c)(3) organization.
Despite that, Braasch said the fire company told one of his key employees that the arrangement would be acceptable. Braasch said he approved of it, thinking it was a longstanding fundraiser in Hagerstown designed to help families afford cheer and dance training, and competition.
Braasch said the money Western Enterprise gave to Cheer Tyme every month is credited against the bills owed to his company by the parents who work in the fire company's gaming operation.
The president of a for-profit cheer and dance business told The Herald-Mail that the volunteer fire company in Hagerstown had been sending a monthly check to his business in return for the parents of youth cheerleaders working in the fire company's gaming operation.
The money was used to help families offset the cost of cheer and dance training and competition, said Scott Braasch, president and co-owner of the Pennsylvania-based Cheer Tyme Inc.
Jim Hovis, director of the Washington County Office of Community Grant Management, said he began a preliminary investigation into the matter about three weeks ago after The Herald-Mail asked him about the situation.
Hovis said he wanted to determine whether Western Enterprise was violating Maryland's gaming law by paying people to help conduct gaming, and whether individuals were profiting from the gaming.
"Any gaming activities must be conducted by the members of the organization holding the license," said Hovis, whose office issues gaming licenses. "Now, we're not going to say that a person who's not a member, can't come in and help out, but they need to do so free of charge."
According to state law, an organization, such as a volunteer fire company, that is qualified to conduct gaming "shall manage the gaming event personally through its members."
To sell tip jars and/or offer bingo for prizes in Washington County, an organization has to be nonprofit and obtain licenses from the county Office of Community Grant Management.
Under the law, gaming may be held "for the exclusive benefit of a qualified organization if an individual or group of individuals does not: (1) benefit financially from the gaming event under this subtitle; or (2) receive any of the proceeds from the gaming event under this subtitle for personal use or benefit."
That means "no one can personally benefit from the proceeds of a gaming event," Hovis said. "And, it also says that charitable gaming events must be managed and operated by the members of the charity for the exclusive benefit of that charity."
Hagerstown Police Chief Arthur Smith said Hovis told him it appeared further investigation was needed. So, on the advice of the county state's attorney, Smith turned to the Maryland State Police on Dec. 16.
Lt. Tom Woodward, commander of the state police barrack in Hagerstown, said his agency was asked to investigate "possible improprieties" involving gaming at Western Enterprise.
Woodward said Smith's request didn't detail the allegations.
Scott Braasch, president and co-owner of the Pennsylvania-based Cheer Tyme Inc., said Tuesday that because of the ongoing questions, he has suspended the fundraising program under which his business helped the fire company in its gaming operation.
He said the parents of his youth cheerleaders would no longer help the fire company unless "whatever's in question, that it comes out to be kosher."
Braasch said the arrangement his company had with the fire company was a "hand-me-down" from a similar deal he's been told Western Enterprise had with a youth cheerleading and dance group affiliated with the Hagerstown Area Police Athletic League.
Braasch said HAPAL is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, while Cheer Tyme is a for-profit business. Braasch said Western Enterprise was aware that Cheer Tyme is a business and not a 501(c)(3) organization.
Despite that, Braasch said the fire company told one of his key employees that the arrangement would be acceptable. Braasch said he approved of it, thinking it was a longstanding fundraiser in Hagerstown designed to help families afford cheer and dance training, and competition.
Braasch said the money Western Enterprise gave to Cheer Tyme every month is credited against the bills owed to his company by the parents who work in the fire company's gaming operation.
