Harrah’s huge expansion
Why did WLOSers bury a gianormous story about a massive planned expansion of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino? We don’t know, but we think Russ “Beefcake” Bowen got the shaft on this.
Russ’ story did not run until after the weather report, some 17 or 18 minutes into a 30-minute infotainment-cast. Why? Harrah’s is only the biggest thing happening this side of Charlotte.
Russ told us that Harrah’s planned:
– a $254 million expansion, to be completed over seven years
– build a third hotel tower
– add a fancy new spa
– build a new, 3,000-seat theater and turn the current one into more gaming space
– employ 3,000 people; that’s double the number of employees Harrah’s has now in Cherokee
What’s driving all of this? Aging Baby Boomers, according to the casino spokesman. All these retirees like to have nice hotels and spas, and they like to gamble. The casino, the spokesman said, wants to become a world-class resort and destination.
The casino is slowly remaking the eastern end of the state. Five, seven years from now, we’ll hardly recognize it.
Wolf Laurel debate
Imagine a real real story by Julie Blunder. As Diva Darcel said in her intro, in this report, Julie “talks to both sides.” Wow!
Julie explained that the owners of the World Laurel ski resort want to build a shitload of new homes on several hundred acres of land they own. Only some of the folks in Madison County want the county to remain as it is. They afraid all of the development will ruin the bucolic countryside.
Welcome to Western North Carolina.
Party time
A couple of parties are coming to the Grove Arcade. First, Downtown After Five is moving from Pack Square to a stage set up in front of the federal courthouse; second, Jazz After Five will be a new series starting this month inside the arcade. Cool, huh?
Honk if you hate DSS
Larry “Old Glory” Blunt continued his sweeps series about a woman who lost custody of her son and blames a couple of local judges, as well as South Carolina DSS, for not doing anything to restore him to her.
Larry continues to build his case, pounding the local judges for making mistakes and doing nothing about it. He pounds South Carolina DSS for allowing the child to remain with a father who has tested positive for cocaine use, something that the DSS woman Larry interviews has no good answer for. All the while, allegations against the mother have been unsubstantiated, he reminds us.
Part three will come tomorrow. Larry tells us that the woman filed a complaint against the local judges, and he’ll tell us the outcome.