According to the Clark County Property Valuation Administrator’s office, Cob Inc., owned by Eugene Culton III, owns the Winchester Bingo Hall. Henry said the Lions Club’s sublease was terminated Sept. 30.
Mark Posnansky, staff attorney at DCG, said the Lions Club has not applied for a new license since the one expired in August. He said he could not say when the investigation into the club began “because that’s part of the ongoing investigatory file.” He also could not say what the investigation is about.
The money the booster club receives from subleasing the space does not go directly to GRC athletic programs, Henry said, but is used toward rent, utilities and general maintenance of the bingo hall. He said the high school athletic programs instead benefit from the proceeds from Friday and Sunday night bingo operated by the booster club.
“Since we lost them (the Lions Club sublease), it has put a strain on us as far as, you know, we’ve had to cut back on our expenses and stuff,” Henry said.
According to an addendum to the sublease, obtained as part of the open records request, the $650 fee obtained from the Lions Club for one bingo session was used for the following: gaming space, $250; insurance, $20; utilities, $145; parking, $75; tables and chairs, $40; storage space, $45; janitorial services, $75.
There is no indication among the documents received as to how much GRC Athletics is paying the owner of the building in its lease.
Lynn Hollingsworth is listed as the president of the Lions Club on the last gaming license the club received. After several attempts, he could not be reached for comment at the numbers listed on the lease.
Herschel Anservitz, president of the Boonesboro Lions Club, which works with the Winchester Lions Club on different events, said Hollingsworth was a member of that club years ago and then transferred to the Winchester Lions Club.
Hollingsworth reportedly left the Winchester club in the spring.
Clint Bumgardner, a member of the Winchester Lions Club for more than 50 years, said Gordon Frazier is now the president. Frazier could not be reached for comment.
The Lions Club International is a volunteer organization in 206 countries, according to its website. One of its main focuses is support of eyecare programs and services that include vision screenings, eye banks and eyeglass recycling.
The Winchester branch was chartered in 1931, and it puts providing eyeglasses for those who can’t afford them at the top of its priorities. As of Jan. 30, the club had 83 members, with 38 of them being new since 2009, according to a previous Sun report.
In 2010, the club purchased about 140 pairs of glasses at the cost of about $15,000, according to a previous Sun report. The club also supports the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, the Lions Eyebank of Lexington and Camp Crescendo, for children with hearing and visual impairments.
Contact Katie Perkowski at kperkowski@winchestersun.com or follow her on Twitter, @TheSunKatie.
