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Health & Fitness

SUCCESSFUL CASINO COMMUNITIES - Indiana town is example of casino success

"The I-275 South exit onto U.S. 50 in Lawrenceburg, Ind., is less than two miles from the Hollywood Casino.
One might expect that two-mile stretch to be a haven for adult establishments — liquor stores, pawnshops, topless bars and massage parlors — but the road is instead lined with a series of family-friendly businesses. There is a 4-H fairgrounds; churches; a preschool; the usual McDonald’s and Burger King presence; chain hotels such as Holiday Inn Express; and a few gas station/convenience store choices.
There are no signs on the highway pointing to the Lawrenceburg Hollywood Casino, which is 15 minutes from downtown Cincinnati. There are no billboards promoting prizes or entertainment. When the rolling neon of the Hollywood appears on the left, it flashes the faces of patrons who won large jackpots, interspersed with images of celebrity entertainers appearing at the casino; on Oct. 2, that lineup included karaoke versions of Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper and Frank Sinatra."

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“We have built new swimming pools, splash parks, a skateboard park, a community center, firehouse, remodeled the police station, funded a library, funded an expansion of the hospital, new storm drains, a new water treatment plant, a new $22 million bridge … I could go on and on,” he said. “We built a new parking garage. The hospital has an MRI for cancer detection; there are only two of them in the country, and the city paid for it. We have our own utility companies, gas, water and electric. Every nonprofit in the area shares in the money. Development grants are shared. We host free festivals and concerts; Willie Nelson was here last week. Graduating seniors who go to college and maintain a grade point average get about $1,800 a year. We put money away for health coverage for our workers. We don’t have school levies. All of this has been done without raising taxes.”

Read the Full Article written by Michael Miller | Editor in Chief | mmiller@toledofreepress.com at http://www.toledofreepress.com/2009/10/08/indiana-town-is-example-of-casino-success/

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