Public Notice in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, posted at 12:00 AM, 5/12/24

“Notice to Casino Gaming License Applicants”

The application period for the Pope County casino license is now open.

It was declared by an email sent out just before midnight this morning. A public notice is in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette today.

The email says:

Please be advised the Arkansas Racing Commission has elected to open the application period for a casino gaming license in Pope County, Arkansas, on May 12, 2024. The application period will remain open for 30 calendar days.

The Arkansas Racing Commission office is located at 1515 West Seventh Street, Suite 505, Little Rock, AR 72203. The office will be open during regularly scheduled business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm).

If an interested party wishes to submit an application on a day the office is not regularly open (weekends, holidays, etc.) please call (501) 682-1467 and our staff will accommodate you.

Thank you,
Nikki Langston
Administrative Analyst
Arkansas Racing Commission

Local Voters in Charge want to take the Pope County casino out of Amendment 100.

Canvassers for their petition have been saying it is for other purposes, such as
….bringing more casinos to Pope County, or
….authorizing a casino in Pope County.

I haven’t seen or talked to any canvassers.

If you have, please comment about your experience, including as much information as you can remember.

If you are approached by Local Voters in Charge canvassers, please note as much information as possible, particularly if they provide false information (including recording if possible and you feel comfortable doing so).

If a canvasser knowingly misrepresents the purpose and effect of the petition or the measure affected to induce a person to sign a petition, the canvasser is committing petition fraud, a Class D felony.

(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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Traffic on I-40 and vehicles waiting on Hwy 7 to turn onto the westbound on-ramp at Exit 81

ARDOT drone shot

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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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As some asked in earlier posts, the food truck has to move.

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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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