(A selection from the 2019 public comment period for the original Casino Gaming Rules.)
Dear Racing Commission,
I am writing to you regarding the casino issue in Pope County. Having lived in various places with casinos, I can attest that while crime rates may be affected, the impact is minimal. On the other hand, the economic benefits of having a casino are significant. In Pope County, job opportunities are usually limited to minimum-wage work in factories or offices, which are often temporary positions without benefits or regular pay. In contrast, casinos offer competitive pay and excellent tips.
The citizens of Arkansas have already voted and determined that Pope County will have a casino. I read another citizen’s letter that suggested those opposing the casino are the very ones who gamble in other states. I agree with this statement. Therefore, I am requesting that the casino be established in Pope County, either inside or outside the city limits of Russellville.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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Buck Mountain is in the background.
The two-story church was later destroyed by a tornado and rebuilt with only one story.
Moreland’s had a post office as early as 1856. It closed June 18, 1976.
According to Arkansas Place Names by Ernie Deane, Moreland was once known as Cross Plains or Isbel Creek.
Leland Duvall (1911-2006), a writer and editor for the Arkansas Gazette, grew up on a 40-acre farm near Moreland. Duvall wrote several books, including Moreland’s Laws of Human Behavior and Economics, which was named in honor of his hometown. Duvall didn’t finish eighth grade, although he went to Tech for a few months after World War II when he read about the GI Bill.
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(random images of the day)
“Lost” three-span pony truss bridge over Illinois Bayou on AR 7 just northwest of Dover.
“Lost” means that the bridge doesn’t exist anymore.
The bridge was built in 1933 and replaced in 2003.
Design: Three riveted, 10-panel Parker pony trusses
Dimensions
- Length of largest span: 102.0 ft
- Total length: 444.8 ft
- Deck width: 23.9 ft.
Random images of the day: I will post one or more randomly selected photos, maps, or other images regularly, usually daily, on the Pope County Majority Facebook Group. Images may have been previously posted.
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(oops—my original post said this week… sorry)
Pope County will host its annual Spring Cleanup from Monday through Thursday at the Pope County Road Department located at 5 County Complex Circle off Weir Road.
The cleanup will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Burn barrels, businesses, or contractors will not be allowed.
Items accepted that can be dropped off include trash (must be in bags), metals, tires (not on rims), appliances, batteries, paints (oil base only), household hazardous materials, etc. (such as antifreeze, insecticides, herbicides, spray paint, etc.)
Items that will NOT be accepted include household trash, yard waste (tree limbs, stumps, etc.), latex paint and medication.
(Note: My original post was an article from The Courier on the 19th, with the headline “Pope County Spring Cleanup starts Monday.” It did not list dates.)
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They want to stop a casino from being built there.
Most of Choctaw’s money in Pope County has gone to petition campaigns to remove the constitutional authorization for a casino in Pope County. In 2022, they “donated” almost $4 million.
So far, their contributions are up to $650,000 for this year’s drive.
It’s rumored they will spend up to $10 million on it.
Stopping the Pope County casino will deprive the entire state of significant amounts of future revenue.
After the casino opens, projections are that taxes on casino gaming alone will pump as much as $34 million every year into Arkansas’ general revenue.
These projections do not include other revenues, such as state taxes on goods and services or the income tax the casino and its employees would pay.
They also do not include revenues going to Pope County or to Russellville.
Choctaw claims it is doing this because a casino in Pope County would cost its Oklahoma casino business $13 million annually.
Choctaw has been meddling in Pope County since its attempts to acquire the Pope County casino license failed in 2019.
(see https://fairplayforarkansas2022.com/rejected/)
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$400,000 in March alone
That’s how much Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has contributed to “Local Voters in Charge.”
Total donations reported to date are $650,100.
They are already collecting petition signatures for a ballot initiative to remove Pope County from Amendment 100.
The wording on the petition is a trap. Nothing new. Same game, different words.
They keep changing their name.
They have used Citizens for Local Choice, Concerned Citizens of Pope County, Citizens for a Better Pope County, Pope County Decides, United Pope County, United for a Better Pope County, United Pope County for Accountability, Fair Play for Arkansas, and two years ago, Fair Play for Arkansas – 2022.
Don’t sign their petition!
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![New Starbucks location. (Russellville on North Arkansas [Hwy 7] near I40, next to Arby's and across from Burger King)](https://i0.wp.com/pope-county-info.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-starbucks-location-Russellville-Arkansas.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&ssl=1)
New Starbucks location.
(Russellville on North Arkansas [Hwy 7] near I40, next to Arby’s and across from Burger King)
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(A selection from the 2019 public comment period for the original Casino Gaming Rules.)
