subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Tue, Nov 24 2009 

Resources

print this story   Print this story
email this story   E-mail this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Photos


Globe/Roger Nomer Fran Wallain, a retired Carthage schoolteacher, fans out cards at a blackjack table at the Downstream Casino just west of Joplin. Wallain said her job as a dealer pays well and is fun.

Published July 03, 2009 10:44 pm - When she retired after 23 years as instrumental music teacher at Carthage Junior High School, Fran Wallain had some ideas about her next career. “I don’t want a sad job,” Wallain said. “I don’t want a hard job. I want a fun job.” Wallain will tell anyone who asks that she found that fun job as a card dealer at Downstream Casino Resort.

Downstream notes $107 million impact in first year



By Roger McKinney

rmckinney@joplinglobe.com

When she retired after 23 years as instrumental music teacher at Carthage Junior High School, Fran Wallain had some ideas about her next career.

“I don’t want a sad job,” Wallain said. “I don’t want a hard job. I want a fun job.”

Wallain will tell anyone who asks that she found that fun job as a card dealer at Downstream Casino Resort.

The casino opened a year ago Sunday, with the hotel opening last Nov. 22. The $200 million casino and hotel are just west of Joplin, off the Baxter Springs, Kan., exit to Interstate 44, where Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas meet.

Economic impact

Sean Harrison, casino spokesman, said in its first year, Downstream has been an economic stimulus for the area. Harrison said Downstream has made an impact of about $107 million on the area economy in its first year. That includes payments to area vendors totaling about $77.5 million, and payroll and benefits totaling nearly $29 million.

The state of Oklahoma also has received revenues from the Quapaw Tribe from Downstream and Quapaw Casino totaling about $4.5 million during the fiscal year that just ended, according to the Office of State Finance.

Of the vendor money, Oklahoma vendors have received $58 million of the total; Missouri vendors, $16 million; Kansas vendors, nearly $2 million; and Arkansas vendors, about $1.5 million.

Harrison said Downstream started with about 1,250 employees on opening day, when 10,000 people came through the doors. He said since then, through being more efficient and by natural employee attrition, the employee ranks have decreased to between 1,100 and 1,150.

He said there never was any consideration of layoffs, because business has been so good.

Wallain has been employed there since the first day. She said she interviewed with a person, who called her soon after to ask if she would like to go to dealer school.

While still teaching, she took classes to be a dealer from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday for about two months.

Eye-opener



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements


Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!


Featured Transportation

SUBARU, 1994 IMPREZA,
great mpg, runs excellent, needs paint, $1200. 434-8591....>MORE

2005 SUZUKI TWIN PEAKS 700,
4x4, Vtwin, automatic, $5,000/offer 417-451-8860....>MORE

CHRYSLER 1998 TOWN AND COUNTRY
$1775
loaded, front/rear heat and air. 437-4424.
...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

SHIH-TZU/LHASA,
female, 6 months, all shots, $75. (417)776-8215....>MORE

ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPS, AKC

Champion bloodlines. Family raised. Would make great Christmas presents. Ready to go now! $800-$1000.
417-52
...>MORE

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE
Pear-shaped, one carat, diamond solitaire in gold setting. $2,000. Please call 417-825-3238...>MORE

2007 CUB CADET LT1050,
leaf bagger, 50” deck, $1150/best offer (417)451-8860....>MORE

SHIHZORKIEPOO PUPS
(2) 8 week old female Shihzorkiepoo pups. mom is Imperial Shih-Ttzu, dad is a Yorkiepoo. 1st shots and dewormer. paperwo...>MORE

MAHOGANY DROPLEAF TABLE
Duncan Phife mahogany dropleaf table and 4 chairs, great condition, $400 or offer. (417)782-2565, (417)782-2771...>MORE

CHIEFS TICKETS
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TICKETS FOR SALE. 417-438-8988....>MORE

STORY & CLARK PIANO,
lots of sheet music and books, $500 or best offer. (417)649-6174, (417)438-9432...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition