Local News
Casino deadline expires with no nibbles
By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
GALENA, Kan. — Another deadline has passed without an applicant for a state-owned casino in Cherokee or Crawford counties.
The Kansas Lottery in November rejected an application from Ozark Trail Gaming because its application didn’t meet minimum requirements. Specifically, the Lottery said in a letter that Ozark Trail provided no information in its application that it had access to the financial resources to support the casino. The state requires a minimum $225 million investment and a $25 million privilege fee. The state’s letter also said Ozark Trail provided no evidence of experience with gambling operations.
Bob Knight, former Wichita mayor and a principal with Ozark Trail Gaming, said in November that the group might try again.
“We haven’t given up, yet,” Knight said. “We still have things we want to try.”
Knight on Thursday said finding financing remained an issue that the group couldn’t overcome.
“I will be very surprised if someone comes up with the necessary $225 million,” he said. “Two hundred twenty-five million dollars doesn’t make economic sense right now.”
Ozark Trail Gaming had planned its Ozark Trail Casino for an area off Interstate 44, along Highway 166 in Cherokee County, just north of Downstream Casino Resort.
Knight said he is skeptical that the Kansas Legislature will revisit the issue of reducing the minimum investment in the Southeast gaming zone during the session.
“I’ll be surprised if they do,” he said. “They should, but there are other issues that will probably take priority.”
Told that State Rep. Doug Gatewood, D-Columbus, was introducing a bill to reduce the minimum investment for a state-owned casino in the Southeast zone to $100 million, Knight said he hopes that is given consideration.
“That would make sense,” he said. “That’s not a small amount, but that would change our disposition to it.”
As for the matter of casino experience, Knight said previously that Ozark Trail was considering partnering with an existing casino operator. He said the group had communication with Penn National Gaming about the issue.
Penn National withdrew from a plan to build a casino in roughly the same area where Ozark Trail planned its casino. Penn National backed out after the state awarded its contract to the company. The withdrawal prompted Cherokee County to sue the company.
Knight said Thursday that he still wanted to make the project work.
“It’s something I’m very interested in,” he said. “I’d love to do something in Southeast Kansas. I’m very impressed with the political leadership, with the people. I’m impressed with Downstream Casino. I’m still very interested.”
- Local News
-
-
Joplin’s depot difficulty
The last developer to make a run at renovating Joplin’s historic Union Depot says she wishes the city success with its current proposal. Nancy Allman’s attempt in the late 1980s collapsed in a welter of red ink and a snarl of lawsuits.
-
Little Balkans Days draws crowds aplenty
Those involved with Little Balkans Days festivities called this year one of the best in memory, with participation up in several events and a steady stream of attendees Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
-
Union Depot timeline: Not in use since 1969
July 2, 1911: The Union Depot opens to serve four railroads. Nov. 4, 1969: The last passenger train pulls out of the Union Depot, closing it to public use. ... July 1998: The Department of Natural Resources secures the building after unsuccessfully trying to sell it at auction.
-
Expectations grow for higher education despite less funding
Less funding, more state expectations and perhaps even more central planning could be on the horizon for Missouri’s higher-education landscape. Recent months have been marked by a state audit that concluded that the usual steps for funding four-year institutions are “disjointed,” and by a summit meeting at which Gov. Jay Nixon called for a statewide review of all academic programs, for a new funding scheme, and for more collaboration among the state’s two-year and four-year institutions.
-
Joplin woman continues fundraising for MDA
Regular viewers of the annual telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association will likely notice a familiar face today in Stephanie Vaughn. Now 21, Stephanie has been a staple of almost every local MDA telecast since she was born, raising money each year for “Jerry’s kids” with her older siblings,
-
MoDOT makes $1.9 million available to area communities
Municipalities and other government and public agencies in Southwest Missouri have about a month to apply to the Missouri Department of Transportation for a share of the $1.9 million available for projects ranging from bicycle and walking trails to historic preservation efforts.
-
Jo Ellis: Hospital auxiliary plans fundraising sale
Looking ahead to the coming week, you can fill your calendar with several entertaining events taking place in Carthage.
-
Andra Bryan Stefanoni: Volunteers at heart of Pittsburg festival
Walking from event to event on Saturday — the day on which most of the annual Little Balkans Days activities are held — one could not help but see the best resource this community has to offer. Its people.
-
County approves operating plan for storm shelter
Residents of Stella are one step closer to having a safe place to go when severe weather strikes. The Newton County Commission approved a shelter operations plan for a new storm shelter and community center last week.
-
Joplin city staff to pitch softball field bids during Tuesday meeting
A bid to build three basic softball fields without lights and to rough in a fourth field at the Joplin Athletic Complex is slated for council action at a meeting Tuesday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
