GOV. EDGAR AT CASINO'S OPENING CEREMONY

Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar had a busy weekend.

He cut a ribbon during open-house ceremonies for the new Players International Riverboat Casino at Metropolis Saturday morning and that night attended the Illinois Class A State Basketball Tournament at Champaign.

Friday, Edgar was in Chicago where he and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley discussed the governor's budget, gambling issues and a third Chicago-area airport.

Earlier in the week, Edgar cut the ribbon to officially open the new Big Muddy River Correctional Center near Ina.

Edgar joined celebrity and business executive Merv Griffin, spokesman and partner in Players International, Sen. James Rea, and Players International Chairman Ed Fishman in the official open house ceremony at the Players Riverboat Casino project at Metropolis.

"We owe a lot of thanks to Griffin, Ed Fishman and David Fishman, vice chairman of Players International and president of Player Lake Charles, for selecting Southern Illinois for their project," said Edgar. "We have an operation here that is providing employment for 800 people, 75 percent of them from Southern Illinois."

About 1,500 guests attended the grand-opening gala despite bitter cold winds, which were blowing off the Ohio River, lowering the wind-chill factor to below zero.

The guests and other customers toured the riverboat casino throughout the afternoon.

Griffin said VIP cruises had been planned during the afternoon, but the boat had to remain landlocked due to high-river conditions. The boat is open to the public 365 days a year.

Included in the operation at the Merv Griffin Riverboat Landing at Metropolis are the Players Riverboat Casino, a 100-by-600 foot port harbor, 1,000 parking spaces, and a permanently moored floating and entertainment center, including a ticket office, gift shop, Merv's Bar and Grill, and the Celebrity Buffet.

The riverboat casino started operation Feb. 23 and had more than 18,000 passengers during the first full week.

During the open house event, David Fishman announced that Players International had received a certificate of preliminary approval from the Louisiana Riverboat Gaming Commission for a riverboat casino at Lake Charles.

"The certification is the first major step in licensing to operate a riverboat casino out of St. Charles, La.," said Fishman. "Operations there are expected during the first quarter of 1994."

Earlier last week Edgar cut the ribbon for the new prison in Southern Illinois.

"I want to compliment people who helped make the Big Muddy center a reality," said Edgar. "This is an important day for Southern Illinois. It means another 375 jobs."

He said the prison's opening will assist the Illinois Department of Corrections in dealing with overcrowding at its other prisons.

"Our goal should not be to build more prisons in the state of Illinois," said Edgar. "We can't really afford it and it underscores what is wrong with society. But we have to do what is needed to keep our streets safe."

Ground was broken for the $48 million, medium-security prison May 11, 1990. It is the 24th prison built in Illinois and is designed to house 952 inmates. Because of overcrowding, cells will be equipped with dual bunks to accommodate a maximum of 1,600 inmates. The first 100 inmates arrived at Bid Muddy March 8. the facility will fill up within the next few weeks with prisoners from other Illinois medium-security facilities.