Home
   Weather
   Sports
   Opinion
   Obituaries
   Special Sections
   Forums
   Archive
   Search
   Front Page
   Subscription
     Services
   @ugusta Help

   City Guide
   Classifieds
   Employment
   Coupons
   Autos
   Real Estate
   Yellow Pages
   Maps
   Directions

   Applause
   Dining
   Movies
   Travel
   Television
   Lottery
   Horoscopes

   Net Music
   Quick Cooking
   Remote
   Your Health
   Fitness Files
   JobSmart
   Food & Recipes
   Newspapers
    in Education

   Xtreme
   Citizen Activist
   Augusta Golf
   Augusta
     Magazine
   Business
     Chronicle

   F.A.Q.
   Advertise
   Chronicle Staff
   Chronicle Jobs
   Internet Service

 The Chronicle welcomes you online! Please feel free to respond to these editorials or letters to the editor by sending your letters to the editor.

We condense letters; most, as published, won't exceed 300 words. A letter must include the writer's name and city, which will be published, and an address and telephone number for verification, which will not be published. Writers may be limited to one letter every 30 days. Open letters, letters to third parties and poetry are not considered. Letters from people living outside the Chronicle's circulation area usually are not considered.

Suggests Regency Mall for casino

Web posted August 30, 1999

Editor, The Chronicle

Gov. Roy Barnes is right in his cautious opposition to the creation of a Native American reservation and gambling casino in Sparta. Sure, Sparta and Hancock County could be transformed from one of Georgia's poorest areas into an economic hot spot. Just imagine: Sparta could become the Branson, Mo., of the South.

Sparta and Hancock County, however, are ill-equipped to handle the problems casinos bring. They'd have to dramatically expand their emergency medical facilities and fire, police and ambulance services. There would have to be a new jail. Homeless shelters, counseling centers, and suicide hotlines would have to be developed. The state would have to build new roads. Business people would need time to build pawnshops, flop houses, tourist traps and liquor stores. It would take years to develop the infrastructure and supporting businesses.

But don't despair, we have all those systems in place now in Augusta. The Native Americans can buy Regency Mall and build several casinos right there. And the additional tax revenues can be used to overhaul our water department. Think of it. We can play the slots at the Broken Pipe Casino or toss the dice at the Yellow Water Inn. Business will be so good and traffic so congested that we'll have to limit gambling patrons. On even days they can play blackjack and the slots, and on odd days roulette and craps.

What do you think, governor? We've got to do something with Regency Mall.

Greg Capers, Augusta