For Immediate Release - September 25, 2002

Contacts:
Edgar W. Ennis, Jr., President, Exchange Club of Macon:  478-621-2415 Email: eennis@constangy.com

Harold Carlisle, Executive Director, Georgia State Fair: 478-746-7184 Email: gsf@georgiastatefair.org

Website: www.georgiastatefair.org

Commenting upon a seizure Tuesday night by the Macon Police Department of slot machines from a vendor at the Georgia State Fair, Macon Exchange Club President Ed Ennis expressed his support of this quick action by the police. Ennis noted that one of the police officers who detected the apparent violation of the new law prohibiting the possession of such devices—even for amusement purposes—is a member of the Exchange Club himself.

Ennis stated that both he and Harold Carlisle, the Executive Director of the Georgia State Fair, were briefed by police officials concerning their plan to seize these machines, and that both he and Carlisle had expressed their full support. “If the devices are determined to be illegal, then their presence at the Fair was not only a violation of the law but also a violation of the vendor agreement that the seller of the devices had entered into with the Fair which granted him permission to operate a booth in the exhibit hall,” said Ennis.

Ennis noted that to assure the protection of Fair patrons as well as to ensure that the Fair’s attractions are operated in way that is consistent with the Club’s goal of providing affordable, wholesome family entertainment, the Club has always encouraged a strong law enforcement presence at the Fair. Officers from the Macon Police Department, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Department, and the Macon-Bibb County Emergency Management Agency are always present—throughout the Fairgrounds—whenever the Fair is in operation.

The Georgia State Fair is owned and operated by the Exchange Club of Macon . Profits from the operation of the Fair not only provide upkeep for Central City Park through fees paid by the Fair to the City of Macon and fund a reserve to ensure that operating expenses of the Fair can be met, but also provide the Club’s only source of funding for its Charity and Community Service Fund. The Club uses this money to support worthwhile non-profit organizations throughout Middle Georgia. Recent recipients of grants from the Macon Exchange Club include the Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Peach County 4-H, Lighthouse Prison Mission, Macon Rescue Mission, and Macon Soccer Association. Over the years that the Macon Exchange Club has operated the Fair, the Club has returned more than $4,000,000.00 to the community in charitable grants, premiums to entrants in the Fair’s arts & crafts and agricultural competitions, and fees to the City of Macon.

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