Gambling News from http://www.accessnorthga.com
ATLANTA - Among the chicken houses and cattle pastures of rural Hall County, life was quiet until a horse racetrack came to town.
Since last year, the silence has been replaced on race Sundays with hundreds of cars and trucks, loud music, crowd cheers and even a Spanish announcer. Neighbors, hopeful for a return to their tranquil way of life, finally contacted authorities.
``Could I hear it?'' Larry Merck, 68, said. ``God, yes, I could hear it! I've been hearing it since last fall, since deer season. I couldn't take it anymore. That's why I got the law
"I'm glad they finally did something.''
Mike Seabolt
down on them.''
Vincente Escandon and nine others were arrested on gambling charges in a raid last week. Escandon, 50, also was charged with commercial gambling and running a gambling establishment. The men are scheduled to appear in Hall County Magistrate Court on May 19.
The raid was conducted by more than 100 officers participating from 11 agencies, including the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as city and county authorities.
In nearby woods, police with dogs rounded up about 20 people who tried to flee. They towed vehicles from the property. Authorities seized firearms and more than $60,000 in cash, said Hall County Sheriff Steve Cronic.
Any illegal immigrants under arrest ``probably'' will be deported whether or not they are found guilty of the gambling charges, but officials will decide on a case-by-case basis, said Temple Black, spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Maria Garcia, director of Hispanic Community Support in Duluth, said she's not surprised by the large crowds the racetrack attracted. About a quarter of the county's population is Hispanic.
``Many of these people come from small towns in rural Mexico where there are no movies, no restaurants and they have to entertain themselves,'' she said. ``They stage rodeos and horse races and cock fights. They are family entertainment. I don't know about the gambling. That's another matter.''
The racetrack prompted Mike Seabolt, 51, to put his house up for sale because he said he was tired of all the traffic and noise. He said he'd find beer bottles and trash in his yard after races.
Seabolt said the noise and wild driving in his neighborhood's rural roads were the main problem, since he didn't care about the horse racing or gambling.
``I've been calling the sheriff and the county for months about it. I'm glad they finally did something.'' |
|
