Gilley organizing Country Crossing rally
JIM COOK/Dothan Eagle
Ronnie Gilley talks about the offer to move Country Crossing to Mississippi Saturday during an exclusive interview with the Eagle.
A week ago, Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley was feeling pretty good about the multi-million-dollar entertainment complex under construction on U.S. 231 South.
The project, first proposed by Gilley 11 months ago, was moving along until the governor put together this task force last week looking at the legality of electronic slot machines. Country Crossing’s economic facilitator is an electronic charitable bingo hall that will operate with 1,500 machines.
“We had a moment of peace and silence, then it was shot,” Gilley said.
Some more recent investors pulled from the project. The bulk of those who knew the venture for what it was – risky from the get-go – are still on board.
On New Year’s eve, a casino interest in Gulfport, Miss., tried to recruit Gilley to move the project to the Magnolia State. Gilley said because of family, he does not want to relocate though some investors see the offer as a “back-up plan.”
On Saturday, Gilley said he did experience some sleepless nights last week, as 2009 was swept in with an air of uncertainty. By Sunday night, he had recouped his optimism.
“I am feeling good. Feeling confident,” he said. “I am surrounded by supporters as we speak.”
Gilley is in the midst of planning a second Country Crossing support rally, similar to one held last spring which showed one local politician and others in opposition, that many do want the jobs, the outlet and the opportunities the project is expected to bring – even with the bingo component.
Gilley is currently working on getting singer and actor Jamie Foxx in for the rally, as well as a major country music star. He expects the event to happen within the next three weeks at the Dothan Civic Center. The rally could be moved to the Country Crossing site if more space is needed.
Gilley re-emphasized his commitment to keep the project in Houston County.
“We have no intentions of moving this project. We would have to be ran out before we leave. I have my heart, body, soul, money ... everything I have is invested in this project. We are going to ride it out and I am confident we will bring it to fruition.”
The Enterprise native said he does remain frustrated at the continued opposition to bingo, which currently operates in other parts of the state.
“The food and beverage industry is risky,” he said. “This project is not possible without some kind of main anchor tenant. Whether it is bingo, slot machines, or a lottery – people will play. They will play it anyway.
“What we are doing that is different is, we are going to use the bingo to create more opportunity. That’s opportunity for ourselves sure, but also opportunity for other people. Opportunity like no one has ever seen before.”
Gilley’s first-ever BamaJam festival last June drew upwards of 150,000 people from 29 states. He expects eventually every weekend at Country Crossing to become like a mini BamaJam.
Since the onset of the project, Gilley has taken a grassroots approach in fighting the the politicians and the preachers. Supporters of the project are vocal, and during BamaJam, Gilley often took to the stage and urged the crowd to take a hard look at their elected politicians.
“Politics is an ugly, ugly, ugly business,” Gilley said Saturday. “This project is economic development. Why would the governor be against it? At some point, somebody has to start standing up. This project is crucial to the state. We need support and we need people to come together.”
The rally date and entertainers could be announced as early as today.
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I did not support BamaJam because i disagreed with, disliked the vendor system at the event.
There had to be a better way of doing it and not appearing as a scam as a number of my friends and associates described it.
The shows were great, but the food services were “iffy” to them.
nothing more than that.
DavidA, just as a point of information: Victoryland and Country Crossing are two entirely different entities,differnet in many ways.
Victoryland is in no way a “Charity anything”...no charity bingo! Less than 1 Million dollars per year are donated to and charities.
Victoryland is also NOT any kind of other entertainment. No fine restaurants, no supper clubs, no dinner theaters, no RV camping, no amusement park, no water park. It is a casino that happens to have a legal form of bingo, according to the state.
Country Crossing is an “Entertainment Venue” first, which is planned to have all the above amenities. It will take some time for the “Entertainment” aspect to become a viable entity to stand alone, thereby as a means of a financial facilitator Electronic Charity Bingo is included within the plan. That plan will be the structure that supports the entire complex during ‘off season’ times as well as during the first several start up years.
What makes CC Bingo different? The contracts already signed contracts that requires CC to pay very large and substantial payments with minimums of 5 Million Dollars per year, up to over 10 Million Dollars per year, to several Charity facilities including, but not limited to, the “Houston County Foundation”. This foundation is a charitable foundation run much like the “United Way Foundation” but is directed to our own local communities for various people in need. Further more, also written in the contract is a stipulation that guarantees a minimum of 2 Million Dollars, even should the entire complex become non successful.
Look at Victoryland as an example, that area, if I am not mistaken, has grown.
We in the southern part of the state would also like to see that growth here. Current business owners would like to see new growth in their business. Citizens would like to see new businesses open as well as new industries. All of which means more jobs.
As an after thought, I really do wonder just how much of the ‘Christian Activists’ influence would totally die out, and how quickly convert to agreeing to Country Crossing IF they were guaranteed a million dollars or more, per year for their own charity efforts?
After checking online and many other sources the word “GAMBLING,“ does not appear in the Bible.
Recently I was told a story a nieghbor was telling me of how ther son was canvassing the nieghborhood selling tickets for a local Baptist church for $1.00 on a chance to win a $100 and a $50 bill. The young man was asked is selling those tickets gambling? The young man answered,“Not if you are doing it for the church.“ It also reminds of the movie Road House where Patrick Swazey and a man he was renting a room from was charging $125. a month. The other actor states, if I don’t charge you something understand the local Presberyterians will pray for my damnation. Swazey answer was if it will keep you in the grace of the church. The other actor said,“Isn’t it pecular how money will do that very thing.“
Recently I won $7100.00 in Tunica, Ms. I went to the church I attend and told the preacher I was going to make a $1420.00 offering and told him where the money came from. All the preacher could say was bless you for your offering. Not even a word that I missed church to get the money.
I fully support the Country Crossing project. There is already bingo in Dothan, there is already gambling in AL. I don’t think Wetumpka has been harmed nor has the area around Victoryland. We are already sending our money out of state everytime someone chooses to purchas a lottery ticket. People who choose to gamble, have no trouble finding places to do so. Building CC is going to be good for the Wiregrass. It’s time to get behind something that will help this area prosper!
HEYYYYYYY….I still need to know a church that would turn down the $100,000.00 tithe.
#1 - This is 2008 not 1802. The separation of church and state has evolved into just that! Politics have slowly pushed the church out from under its wing at a steady pace for the past 50 years… Also, when I talk about “the church”, I am talking about the congregation as a whole… NOT the individual taxpayer that attends! I said nothing about Christians getting involved! I spoke solely of “the church” getting involved.
#2 - Digressing on the rights of those that are NOT religious is discrimination as well. You can’t force me to go to church just as I can’t force you to go to a bingo hall. Let alone the fact that I don’t oppose new churches from being organized/built just because I think they are detrimental to the judgment of beneficial business decisions such as Country Crossing!!!
#3 - Bible school was a long time ago for most of us so you need to brush up on your scripture knowledge… The scripture is about welcoming those who you might find immoral rather than shunning them because you are afraid for your own image. His parables describe Jesus earning respect from “sinners”. He did this by using wisdom and brotherhood instead of deposing their ideas and telling the “sinners” that they were wrong. All I see on this forum from the Christians is fingerpointing at those you find immoral! What Would Jesus Do?
#4 - Gambling is wrong in YOUR eyes just as talking on your cell phone while driving is wrong in MY eyes (which has already been proven more dangerous than drunk driving). I love to gamble! If I lose a little, then so what… if I win a little, then yay! I like it because it is fun just as others enjoy putt-putt or playstation… Nothing much more than betting on a football game you have no interest in or swinging by Atlantic City to drop a few hundred on BlackJack or Craps.
#5 - The biggest issue here can be solved by you and you alone: If you find Bingo Halls immoral and sinful… DON’T GO!!!
#6 - Nobody has any GOD-GIVEN right to judge those that build casinos and those that indulge in gambling!!! Telling people they are sinful and immoral is JUDGING!!! If you truly believed the WHOLE Bible rather then pieces of it that suit to you when you feel like it… The you all should know to reserve judgment for God! (and this all comes from an agnostic)
Why is it that when I as a simple question about where gambling is prohibited in the Bible, I can’t get an honest answer like “It’s not in there”? Instead I get a 2 hour morality sermon by someone who thinks they have some sense of duty to protect mankind from themselves. The truth is that the Bible doesn’t prohibit gambling.
thorntonwes,
Most scholars know that Jefferson wrote about the seperation of church and state to mean that there would be no one religion established by the Government like the Church of England was established by the King. You had to be a Church of England member to do anything and the King was the head just under God. That is what the seperation of church and state means. Not that religious people have no right to make thier voices heard. I learned this in public highschool in the 70’s.
Just because you belong to a church or worship regularly or even preach from a pulpit doesn’t mean you lose your first amendment rights. This has been held up in court over and over.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.“
The Church of England thing applies to the establishment first part and the second part expressly says you have a right to exercise it openly without persecution…some here should read that. It also doesn’t say that only non-Godly people can assemble and seek redress from the government. Just because you are a Christian, I as a student of history believe does not preclude you from speaking out on lwas, elected officials and issues that concern the public.
Ain’t America Great!
Jesus said bring them on??? What he said is repent of your sins, trust in him and don’t sin again. You’ll find yourself in heaven. The Gospel message is pretty simple. I was taught this in bible school.
I know nobody likes the cut and past but I’m just not as smart as the guy who wrote this. Here is what I found online at http://www.giveshare.org/BibleStudy/098.gambling.html and I looked up the scriptures online, it makes sense to me and I’m not a church going person.
Why Gambling is Wrong
(1) Gambling discourages honest labor. The Bible supports the concept of the so-called “Protestant work ethic.“ Proverbs 14:23 (Amplified) tells us, “In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads only to poverty.“ Profit should come through productive labor, not by chance.
“Wealth not earned but won in haste, or unjustly, or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use, such riches will dwindle away; but he who gathers little by little will increase them” Proverbs 13:11 (Amplified). See also Proverbs 28:19.
(2) Gambling encourages greed, materialism and discontent. See Luke 12:15, Hebrews 13:5, I Timothy 6:6-10, Psalm 62:10. Lottery promotions induce people to covet the money of others. Gambling such as lotteries are engaged in by people hoping to win a lot of money without earning it, which is a dishonest attitude. Money won in gambling comes from other players, including some who can ill afford to gamble. Gambling in its essence is a form of robbery, which is stealing. Each gambler wants to get the prize money for himself. It encourages greedy obsession with material wealth, which is having another god in place of the true Creator. Gambling directly breaks the first, eighth and tenth commandments, and all the others in principle.
Gambling is basically LUST. Anyone with the Spirit of the Eternal should be able to discern this fact. Here at Caesar�s Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, where “pleasure” and self-indulgence reign supreme, lust is everywhere.
I John 2:15-17, “Love not the world neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.“
Proverbs 21:25-26, “The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.“
(3) Gambling encourages “get rich quick” thinking. See Proverbs 28:20, 22; 21:5.
Proverbs 23:4-5, “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.“
(4) Gambling encourages reckless investment of God-given resources. See Matthew 25:14-30. If gambling is “fun” and “pleasure” to you, you already have your reward. If you are denying yourself, serving the Eternal 100% with your time and resources, you will not make the pitifully weak (and false) excuse: “But I have a right to throw away my money at gambling!“ You know that your life, your wealth are not yours. If you follow the Bible, you are a slave to the Messiah. You, your money, everything you have are His. Would Jesus gamble? Definitely not!
Sabbath keepers who spend second tithe on gambling are no different than infidels who spend their allotted vacation money on gambling. Gambling, prostitution, drunkenness and ribald night clubs are no atmosphere for the Bible believer. One year we kept the Feast of Tabernacles at Squaw Valley, California, across the border from Reno, Nevada�s other gambling Mecca. One evening of the Feast we went over to Nevada to a dinner show where we heard male vocalist Ed Ames. Mr. Ames’ music is generally very wholesome and uplifting. However I have often felt since that time that a gambling casino was no atmosphere for us to be in. Jesus was invited to dinners given by Pharisees as well as tax collectors. He preached the truth wherever He went, but He did not support corrupt practices.
Makes a lot of sense to me, maybe I’ll be in the local Methodist church this Sunday.
To those with a lack of dark humor:
My previous two posts were loaded with sarcasm and are not intended to be demeaning or judgmental toward ANY religious beliefs or doctrines. And be forewarned because there are hints of sarcasm in this one as well…
I have one question though… what happened to the separation of church and state??? To prevent religious and moral ideals from clashing with politics was the whole reason church and state were separated. Based on this statute, the chruch receives tax-exempt status AND free religious expression. So, if the church wants a vote in this matter then they should become taxpayers like the rest of the businesses around town that would love to see the increased tourism!!!
Oh… and city growth means church growth so why are you opposed to this again? Maybe you should let the gambling come to town! Wouldn’t that bring a multitude of “sinners” to witness to? Or are you going to keep them in the “Sodoms and Gomorrahs” aka Vegas and Nawlins? And we all know what Jesus said about associating with “sinners”... if not try reading Luke 15:3. Jesus says bring ‘em on!
To “toobad”....sounds like the “pot calling the kettle black” to me.
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