THE PUBLIC MIND: MORE ATTRACTIONS NEEDED TO PUT `ROSES' IN CITY OF CAPE; GAMBLING WOULD BE A THORN

To the Editor:

Cape Girardeau wants to be known as "The City of Roses." Is riverboat gambling a rose or a thorn?

Following the riverboat gambling defeat, I heard a disgruntled resident report on television, "This was the first offer we got" ... (to bring tourism to the city). "Oh, Puh...lease! (please)" as my teenagers would say.

Do we buy the first car we look at? Do we buy the first chair we sit in or the first dress we see or the house we spy? Oh, PUH..LEASE! Let's look for some roses to add to Cape.

I am not a resident of Cape Girardeau but work in Cape and spend a large percentage of my paycheck in Cape. However, my family goes elsewhere for vacations. Do you? Why do you go somewhere else for fun and vacations? ... Because we certainly don't have much here.

Let's brainstorm a bit. What would bring tourists to Cape? Why do we take our families somewhere else for fun?

What about a campground? (Could one be put in on the old St. Vincent's Seminary property? How beautiful overlooking the river!) ... A country western show theatre? (again, St. Vincent's Seminary?) ... downtown bowling alleys? ... Downtown horse-drawn cart rides and motorized trolley car tours? (both found in Hannibal) ... A big theme water park? (With slides, lazy river, surf pool, etc., fun for all ages, maybe bumper boats, go-cart track, mini golf course, etc.) ...What about a medium-sized or small excursion boat? Activities! We need Activities!

All these activities would provide jobs that a family-oriented community would support. Maybe local business people could invest in some ventures like these. We need more than one attraction though; there has to be enough variety to keep people interested for several days. THEN tourists will stop - and shop - and eat - and return.

The local successful business people should have some of their own ideas as well as the ability to finance something on their own to add some roses to Cape Girardeau. Let the thorns that will bleed our area dry go elsewhere.

Sincerely,

Gloria E. Arnold

Scott City