MORE THAN 600 APPLY FOR WORK AT AZTAR CASINO

CARUTHERSVILLE -- Pemiscot County, one of four counties with a double-digit unemployment rate, may see that figure dwindle over the next three months with the arrival of the Aztar Corp. riverboat casino.

Aztar started the first phase of its hiring process Thursday during a special three-day "Job Fair" being held at the Aztar employment office at East 18th Street and Adams Avenue.

"More than 600 people filled out applications during the first two days of the job fair," said Alton Phillips of the Aztar Human Resource Department. "And we expect the biggest day yet Saturday."

Job applications have been received from as far north as Cape Girardeau, but the majority have been from Pemiscot and adjoining counties. Some applications are from Tennessee, just across the Mississippi River from Caruthersville.

Aztar will employ between 400 and 500 people for the City of Caruthersville riverboat when at full operation.

The company will need a variety of employees, including kitchen and food-service workers, maintenance workers and dealers, Phillips said.

Construction continues on the land-based pavilion and landing operation, to be completed by June 1. The riverboat will operate from a temporary facility starting in April.

"We're hopeful that the Missouri Gaming Commission will complete their application process by then," said Mike Facenda of the Aztar marketing department.

The gaming commission is reviewing riverboat casinos for Aztar and Boyd Gaming Corp.'s Kansas City operation.

The Aztar operation will start under a new general manager following the retirement of vice president and general manager Fritz Johnson. Robert "Red" Wooten, a vice president at Aztar's Laughlin, Nev., operation, has been named general manager of the Caruthersville project. He will assume his new position within the next month.

The boat is undergoing some final preparations for its journey from Jeffersonville, Ind., Facenda said. The riverboat, which can hold about 600 people, will have 500 slot machines, 24 blackjack tables, two roulette wheels and two crap tables.

Aztar's $40 million investment at Caruthersville includes the land-based facility, which will have two levels, a 40,000-square-foot pavilion to house boarding facilities, restaurant, sports bar and lounge, and a 1,000-car parking lot.

Aztar estimates that from 840,000 to 1.2 million people will visit the boat during its first year.