Published: June 25, 2009 11:56 am      

Indianola bingo fighting citation

LELAND — A Leland animal shelter that gets support from a bingo operation in Indianola may see its funding reduced.

At issue is the failure of Animal Relief and Rescue Fellowship Bingo to abide that a Mississippi Gaming Commission requirement that a minimum of 40 percent of bingo proceeds go toward the cause the charity supports.

Documents show ARRF was giving only 34 percent of bingo proceeds for sheltering, feeding, treating and finding homes for dogs.

ARRF’s founder Ann Fratesi agrees that her organization is in violation of the commission’s rules.

The Gaming Commission staff has cited ARRF for the violation and recommended that its license not be renewed in October when it expires. Fratesi wants the commission to reconsider.