MARBLE HILL'S LLOYD IVEY GETS RCGA CROWE AWARD

Tourism is where everyone is going these days, including the Regional Commerce and Growth Association.

But tourism isn't the only thing the RCGA is involved in, and it displayed that Thursday night by presenting Loyd Ivey with its John T. Crowe Award.

Ivey has started a number of businesses in Marble Hill after returning home to Bollinger County from Chicago. Ivey has opened a lumber yard, car wash, restaurant and real estate company since his return.

Greg Williams, RCGA director, said Ivey has put "a lot of heart and soul back into Bollinger County."

Also honored at the RCGA's ninth annual awards banquet at Drury Lodge were: Ernest Beussink, president of 730 Land Development Corp., who received the Regional Spirit Award, and First National Bank, which was presented with the Industrial Appreciation Award.

Nearly 200 people attended the banquet. Two of the night's speakers were Mary Miller, director of Cape Girardeau's Convention and Tourism Bureau, and Dr. Paul Keys, dean of Southeast Missouri State University's College of Health and Human Services.

Miller spoke of the importance of developing tourism in Southeast Missouri and some of the ways that can happen. Her brief presentation followed an exhibition by members of the Northern Cherokee Nation.

Miller said working with the Cherokee Nation could open avenues of tourism. "Cultural tourism is the latest aspect that could be developed," Miller said. "We're fortunate that we are on the national trail of the Trail of Tears."

Keys, the night's closing speaker, said he hopes to establish a tourism base through the university. He said Southeast is looking to offer a four-year degree program in tourism. Working with the Mineral Area Community College, it hopes to establish a tourism workshop, he said.

Keys said these might lead to a center for tourism development on campus. "We hope to persuade the Missouri Division of Tourism to maybe fund tourism development efforts in Southeast Missouri," he said.

The Division of Tourism is active in getting tourists to the state, but once they are here the division does little to promote regional tourism, Keys said.

"We need a plan to bring people to this region," Keys said.

Keys said the state and region need a theme to revolve tourism efforts around. He said other states like Illinois and Virginia have themes that all regional tourism efforts are geared toward.

"You need a theme that people can buy into," he said.