Howdy, golly, great news about the new House Bill. Heck, I could have and should have asked that of our House Rep. Brad Ellsworth. Oh, well, but I didn't miss that opportunity with our state Indiana Senator Richard Lugar or Senator Mitch McConnell from Kentucky. I sure did call and email these guys. Plus, asked our Indiana Lt. Governor Becky Skillman to help with getting the word to Senator Richard Lugar to help with a Senate bill if the House bill passed. I asked Senator McConnell's office also. We want in this, don't be counting our states in the Ohio River region out!!
I'm sure that the media here will get the word out....they love broadcasting anything about the Delta Queen. So, count our area in. All of the offices I mentioned had also emailed the Delta Queen exemption information to folks.
Two months ago, I mentioned this Delta Queen situation with the Deputy Commerce Secretary, David A. Sampson, who I went to grade school and high school with and he passed the information to me of the area of our country that helps with Economic Development. Our Ohio River Region is ripe for being a large entity for our country with all of the revitalization of the river fronts and new harbors being either built or studied. I keep pushing for more river boats here and more interest in better docking and marinas in the southern Indiana and western Kentucky area. I've kept David Sampson aware of what changes, differences are being made in the river region.
Wait til you all on any of the Queen series eventually sees the $1.5 million plus water fountain that will grace their river front when completed in two years. It will be from the designers of the Belagio folks in Las Vegas, NV. It will be spectacular to cruise the Ohio River and see this magnificent water fountain.
So, Indiana is beating a path to this Delta Queen event. Don't count our state out. We're going to be tough, compete well to get the word out, and we're going to be strong. Our area was number one in the world for river traffic in the early 1900's and in river boats and I'm striving to make our Ohio River region one of the best in the nation to visit and cruise. Our Ohio River Region is taking it on!! Thanks, Mary Hukill, Evansville, Indiana
