Howdy, can you believe fact or fiction.  Our Casino Aztar is up for sale. Yep, so that very large gambling river boat, the City of Evansville, is going to stay under a new name, go somewhere else, or SOMETHING is going to happen, and soon.  Evidently, Columbia-Sussex is selling off three casinos to keep from filing bankruptcy.  They are in Atlantic City, NJ, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and here in Evansville, Indiana.  This was a move after their license was denied in Atlantic City, NJ.  Plus amid Evansville, In, Mayor wanting them to explain some job losses  to our Indiana gaming commission as they were trying to rebuild leaner, plus add some additions to the facility place.  Yep, to then add more jobs.  I heard from a past President/General Manager that they wanted to add a restaurant in the lower floor of the gambling river boat but just couldn't get the permission from the US Coast Guard on that one....or was it the US Army Corp of Engineers.....felt it was too much in the bend of the river for passenger safety.  SO, the folks did try.  Was suppose to build a 1,000 theatre to attract huge name stars to even compete with Casinos in the several state area.   

So, folks, our river boat, gambling boat, may be here, may be somewhere else, or whatever.  This will be interesting.  Folks watching to see what the Kentucky state Governor does...but, he wants more parlor betting, I believe at the Race tracks. 

Golly, gee.  So, we may have the Casino river boat or not.  Who knows. Intersting stuff.  Where is that Donald Trump to help out.  Oh, where.

Mary

Howdy, I keep watching, reading, digesting the great information on the continuous drive to get the Delta Queen the exemption.  I've had the great opportunity and support from our statewide leaders, which have supported me through the local muck from five sorrowful ?men?......I don't don't know what else to state.  ANYWAY, when I brought up to some Indiana state leaders about the Delta Queen exemption, and to our office of Indiana State Senator Richard Lugar, they all agreed that this is a Federal issue. 

Now, construe that how you want.  Every issue needs grass roots to get it on the table, get it passed, get it done.  We have to have a grass roots effort.  But, the nuts and bolts of it all, draws down to the United States Coast Guard in the end.  So, does that mean some passion expressed to them.

I made contact with our Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson who referred me to someone in his Economic Development division.  The sentiment is to not forget two important factions that need to know about the passion for the exemption of the Delta Queen:

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the US Coast Guard.

Now, the Dept. of Commerce is active in the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation, and since 9/11 the Dept. of Commerce isn't involved with the steamboat inspections as it's authority is under the US Coast Guard which is now a part of Homeland Security.  So, we can wave the flag at some overwhelmed congressmen, but we also have to be aware of how the system works.  Who makes the final decisions no matter what bill is passed.  Just because a bill is passed doesn't mean it will go into play.

Oh, Congresswoman Julia Carson, of Indiana, age 69, did pass away and she was on Oberstar's committee.  SO, that vote will have to be relooked at when that position is filled early next year, 2008. Up in air between some names who will fill that position, maybe a grandson, who knows.

It is great to do the footwork for grass roots, but all angles have to be looked at as it is different times than in 1960, 1970, 1980.  I hear about the good old days, but, folks, times are a tad different than years past.  Trends come and go, cities rethink their market plan, cities relook how they want to spend their time and money, a lot has changed.  Some basics don't change, not ever.  But, all angles have to be looked at.

Advisory council on Historic Preservation

1100 Pennsylvania Ave.N.W., Suite 803

Old Post office building

Washington, D.C., 20004

and the

US Coast Guard Headquarters

Commandant, US Coast Guard

2100 Second St., SW.

Washington, D.C., 20593

Hang in there and only time will tell what goes on with the Delta Queen.  It is America's boat, but the Corporation that owns it has the right to do what they need to do with the boat.  Be it right or wrong in whoever's eyes, it is a business.  Helping to steer the course is always the American way.  So, keep in there, and time will tell what does happen.  Mary

Howdy, I love the neighbors we have in the northern part of southwestern Indiana.  They have got it going on.  These are the same folks not too far from Grandview, In, who will play host to the Delta Queen several times next year....it is a spit in the bucket but they just know how to do it right and do they ever.  Pure class in this area of Indiana. 

Jasper, Indiana, is a hot bed of wealthy people and companies that do national and international products.  Plus, the county they are in and a couple of neighboring counties don't take in account that they are small in size and can't do anything, they look at an idea and just find a way to make that happen.  I LOVE THEM!!!    Infact, Dave Buehler, one of the founders of Buehler Foods, known to us as Buehlers Buy Low, was one of my first sponsors for River boats, has always been behind me when we can get a boat in.  His Marketing staff has been stellar.  They have shined brightly.  We all the past three years hoped for far better conditions in bringing in river boats, but the political few/five or so cronies of the Mayor, who I think gives him lousey advice--and, he listens to the dribble, try and keep river boats from being here.  Now, one of the Marinas you all like up here, is head of that group against river boats.  A fellow Democrat of his, states that it is just folks watching their territory, their turf.  Say, what. 

 American History knows no 'boundaries' and tourism dollars are always important, and our public loves river boats, and we need the jobs here.  Statewide our area around Indianapolis, In, is doing great in jobs and elsewhere we're having to climb upward.

ANYWAY, this great guy, Dave Buehler, had a vision to get some tourism dollars in his town and be a part of the new French Lick Casino and Hotel business.  The Hotel alone is so beautiful you won't find many in the world this unique and beautiful. So, they are creating a train ride, 24 miles, from Jasper to the Casino.  Like a trolley, but it is a train.  Folks from Louisville, Ky, area come to that Casino as they have visited us a lot.  NOW, that is why I'm lucky to be a  part of such a great company like them.  They think outside the box, don't let any politician get in their way that naysays a project to pieces, and keeps on trucking.  I heard about this the past few years.  Yes, this grocery store chain went into bankruptcy for wanting to expand in Louisville, Ky.  But, they hung in there, had to reorganize, and sought to keep doing what they love and know best, the grocery store business. I got free ads in their circulars and instore posters with pix of the boats when river boats came to town.  We could have done more, and will do more as more river boats come and we keep going around some few naysayers. One marina keeps jobs from being here and not too popular here by folks.  The other larger marina keeps getting larger and remodeling to a great looking products folks around here are raving about.  He likes river boats.

I started with sponsors from over a Billion dollar in sales of companies in our area to help me when a river boat gets here.  They help in ads, coupons, company events.  Now, three years later, that number is over several Billion dollars in gross sales of companies who want to help when a river boat is brought in.  Mr. Buehler's company was a $350 million dollar company hoping to reach or has reached $500 million in gross sales.  There is support out there.  I like working with the visionaries like Mr. Buehler, since you don't have to explain the importance of river boats and the jobs, tourism dollars, the other things it brings to an area.  He gets it.

Excuse me, there, I get it.  And, I'm keep on trucking as I've even got Federal folks listening to my river boat cause for this area in development.

Checkmate.

We have Holiday World, right outside of Santa Claus, Indiana....yep, where Quarterback Broncos Jay Cutler comes from, and well, where Santa is there, too, kids sometimes he travels to and from the North Pole.

ANYWAY,  they have an amusement company that rivals Disney World and Six Flags and the largest roller coasters and have won awards for the past many years for their place in our country.  This town is  SMALL.  They didn't look at that.  They advertised in Indianapolis, Nashville, TN, was their latest charge, St. Louis, MO, and Louisville, Ky.  I don't know about Cincinnati, Oh, but sure they advertise there as it is a five state market we have. 

You can talk it, but can you walk it.  That is what I always look at.  I'm not one for bullying or intimidation--as some like to do it here, that is why I call them cowboys and indians--they are just kids in men's suits.  Lets get it done, do it right, reach beyond your nose and make something neat happen.  Thinking outside the box is why the southern Indiana market and the western Kentucky market along the Ohio River is going to be an exciting market place for any river boat customer.  Our smaller towns are waking up the area and making sure folks are excited about the river front, excited about the possibilities, excited that we can once again be a bigger player for boating as we were in the early 1900's in our country.  We want it to ring alive that our Ohio River is open for business in this area.  Mr. Buehler has that kind of spirit, he is making his dream happen, he is adding to tourism not only in his town but the county and other towns around to keep his area alive.  It doesn't matter the size, it is what you do with it......I'll just keep it at that. 

I'm proud of the many, many companies that I'm associated with on river boat projects.  Some are small companies and some are much larger.  The feeling, the excitement, the passion is the same--we love river boats.

So, for the Dave Buehler's out there, keep at it. It is folks like you that make things happen, make us all proud, and glad to be a part of your life journey.  Hey, it starts with a train, you lend a hand to river boats, and in time, the circle comes around full swing and we can do what we envisioned for river boats in this area and won't look back.  Make something unique happen and they will come.  Mr. Buehler, I'm proud of you.  Mary

Howdy, as you've heard in  Atlantic City, NJ, the Columbia Sussex company has now the chance to appeal the decisioin yesterday the loss of their Casino license for the Tropicana.  Well, our Casino Aztar is owned by the same company.  Our Mayor, who usually isn't for river boats, and couldn't attract one if it was him, two riverboats in a dessert, and a cow,  wants to now get a NEW river boat to replace the one that has been at our city river front the past eleven years.  This Mayor challenged Casino Aztar license for laying off folks and having lousey numbers.....well, a new Casino is one hour away, much higher quality to begin with, and they know how to treat customers.  Duh.  Anyway, I am impressed with the President of Columbia Sussex, Mr. Yung, as on a tour of Cincinnati, Oh, from our Chamber of Commerce, he had the impressive gall to stand up to our city Administration and directly tell this visiting group to Cincinnati, OH, his thoughts on our Casino Aztar, our Mayor, and his view of how he is running that business.  I almost sent the guy flowers, myself.  I about cried, it was touching.  I agreed with the guy. 

Anyway, our state of Indiana Gaming Commission, won't decide until about March of 2008, if they will continue that gaming license here and if they do is it Casino Aztar with or without Columbia Sussex.  If it is a new company or the current one, our Mayor has now decided he wants another river boat......gut one out folks....and make a new gaming boat.

SO, keep posted.  The state of Kentucky may get one or two gaming river boats or do parlor betting.  Whew.  A lot of action in this part of the company and gutting out some large, large boats could happen.  Whew.

I'll keep you posted.  There is a lot happening in our part of the country for river boats and river fronts and I'm not kidding you.  It will be exciting!!

Mary