Missouri town’s gambling promoters face uphill battle

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Connie Farrow

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001 | 9:56 a.m.

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Mo. -- A struggling southwest Missouri town has passed its first -- and admittedly easiest -- test in its quest to bring in a riverboat casino.

Rockaway Beach residents approved a nonbinding referendum Tuesday allowing city leaders to pursue legislation to operate an excursion gambling boat in the town. The final, official tally by the Taney County clerk's office showed it passed by a vote of 120 to 56.

Although it was the largest election turnout in recent memory in the town of 577 residents, most believed the referendum would handily win simple-majority support.

By most accounts, the measure also was the easiest obstacle in the effort to bring gambling so close to family-oriented Branson, nine miles to the north.

Nonetheless, businessmen Chuck Walters and Denny Howard, who have led the gambling effort were satisfied. In fact, the counting machine had barely spit out the final ballot, when they announced a committee of five people -- both business owners and private citizens -- had been formed to move ahead. They also plan to set up a fund to finance the effort.