Gambling seen as way to save struggling town

Connie Farrow

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001 | 9:54 a.m.

ROCKAWAY BEACH, Mo. -- The odds of one day being able to wager on cards or plunk coins into slot machines on a gambling boat in southwest Missouri may be slim, but that won't discourage some residents of this economically depressed town.

There was no question, however, that residents would have a fight on their hands as Sen. Doyle Childers said this week that he would fight any effort in the Legislature to allow a floating casino on the White River.

"I can guarantee you that it won't pass because I am personally opposed to it, and I guarantee they won't override my opposition," said Childers, R-Reeds Spring, whose district includes Rockaway Beach.

His comments caused tempers to flare among some of the approximately 75 people gathered at the community center for a public hearing to address lingering concerns about a nonbinding referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot.

The measure asks residents whether city leaders should pursue legislation to permit excursion boat gambling in Rockaway Beach. The Missouri Constitution allows slot machines and other games of chance on boats only on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

Alderman Denny Howard and businessman Chuck Walters are the main force behind the move.

The two said they are tired of seeing tourists bypass the town on their way to Branson, nine miles to the west, to eat in restaurants, sleep in hotels and watch entertainers in theaters that were built in the 1990s. Many stores on the main street through Rockaway Beach are empty.

Several resort owners said they have converted their units to apartments because anglers and tourists are no where to be found. They persuaded city leaders to put the nonbinding referendum on the ballot after collecting 370 "yes" signatures and 10 "no" signatures on a petition on whether to pursue gambling in the town of 577 residents.

"What else can this town do? This town is dying," Howard told residents at the hearing. "We get a lot of suggestions. We could put in a go cart track and a lot of other things. But the point is that nobody's got the money to do it."

Even if the referendum won simple majority approval from the town's 436 registered voters, city leaders are not bound to pursue an issue that is sure to mean a fight. An amendment to the Missouri Constitution would require statewide approval. The proposal also would need approval from the Legislature.

That is where Childers could do the most harm.

State Rep. Estel Robirds, R-Theodosia, whose district includes Rockaway Beach, was ill and did not attend the meeting. Childers said Robirds asked him to pass along that he, too, was opposed to the proposal.

"I represent 216,000 people, and of those 216,000 people -- the majority are opposed to gambling," said Childers.

Some residents pointed out that they are included in that number.

"What about us, don't we count?" one man yelled out.

Missourians have been duped by casino operators, Childers said. Gambling was sold to residents as a "genteel" operation with riverboats floating down a lazy river, he said.

"Now we've got boats sitting in moats," Childers said.

His comments didn't seem to deter supporters.

"What the city of Rockaway Beach is trying to do is simply ask, why is that door closed to us?" City Clerk Susan Kettelcamp said.

If things go as planned, Walters would like to see an excursion boat docked at the marina he owns on a stretch of the White River that forms Lake Taneycomo. Walters has talked with a casino company about the project, but he declined to give details.

Steven Shanholtzer told residents that a casino would bring a host of problems to the tiny town. Shanholtzer, who lives in nearby Springfield, said he is recovering from a gambling addiction.

"I would just warn that there might be a lot of gamblers coming here with a lot of money, but a lot of people will suffer the consequences," he said.