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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 16, 1993                   TAG: 9302160336
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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YEAR-ROUND CROWDS

YEAR-ROUND CROWDS A casino deserves serious thought

THE LOSS of jobs in this region can be remedied by the powers that be in the cities and counties, especially in Roanoke since it is looked upon as an All-American City.

What this region needs is a casino. With Hotel Roanoke coming to life again, city fathers should purchase Norfolk Southern's empty office buildings, gut them, remodel and furnish them with roulette and blackjack tables, a nice bar and as many one-armed bandits as possible. To bring people here year-round, local and national advertising should be done.

Lots of people would and could benefit financially and jobwise. The region could benefit from people coming from places such as West Virginia, Southeastern Kentucky, North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and other areas of Virginia. Before the shouts of "It will never work" or "just say no," let's give the idea some serious thought. AUDREY W. HUMPHREY ROANOKE

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