BestCraps.com

Oxford County Deals with Casino Second-guessing

Posted on October 13th, 2010

News Sponsored by Online Vegas Casino

Rated 5 Stars by BestCraps.com

Read Review

Visit Casino

Download Software

————————————————

Residents of Oxford County, Maine, are struggling with an issue that has been plaguing a number of towns all across the United States – whether to allow gambling facilities in their areas or not. As in most places, a good number of residents have leaned towards approving casinos, citing the economic and employment benefits of such a facility. However, it cannot be denied that there is also an outspoken minority who do not want their town corrupted by what they consider to be unwholesome sources of entertainment and revenue. Take for example the Hewsons who just moved from Michigan months ago after determining that the area would be the most conducive place for them to have their children be raised. However, now that plans of a casino are looming, they are reconsidering if moving to Norway was the best decision.

Kerry Hewson commented that rural Maine has been known for wholesome family values and work ethic, something that they wanted their children to imbibe. With the entry of a casino, they think that that may be replaced with a way of life that would lack values and a mentality of easy money they certainly do not like. She adds, “Casinos don’t belong here. They belong someplace else.” On the other hand of the spectrum, there is Don Winkler, a resident of Norway who claims that the county needs to grab all the help it could get. He is a leader of the initiative of his church’s to extend assistance to the homeless and unemployed. The residents of the county are currently having one of the highest unemployment rates in the entire state at more than 10 percent. Despite his church leanings, he said he would definitely vote “yes” on the ballot on November 2, which would ask the state’s voters whether they would allow the construction of a casino in the county.

For voters of the rest of the state, Question 1 would just be another item that would not necessarily have an effect on them, but in Oxford County, it is an issue that has residents divided and evokes strong sentiments, with both sides citing very valid points. No site has been finalized yet as to where the casino will be built, but the project already has investors, and they are eyeing the area of Route 26 in Oxford. As for support, they have the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce to count on, being the measure’s biggest campaigners. The investment group, Black Bear Entertainment, had to accumulate 105,000 signatures of support, petitioning for the measure to be put on a vote. Black Bear Entertainment has under their helm prominent people in local business – Rupert and Suzanne Grover, founders of Grover Gundrilling which is a specialty drilling company located in Norway, Bob and Gary Bahre who used to own Oxford Plains Speedway; and Robert Lally Jr. who co-owns the Mount Abram Family Ski Resort in Greenwood.

On the other side of the debate are Zizi and Scott Vlaun of Norway, the leaders of the opposition who used to publish Oxford Hills Magazine with the cooperation of the chamber. The couple decided to stop the magazine’s production because the chamber enlisted their help in promoting the casino through the magazine. If historical voting patterns were to be studied, though, Oxford County residents would most probably give the casino project the green light with a “yes” to Question 1. In 2003, they downright rejected a casino proposal in Sanford, but in 2008, voted in favor of a casino in their own county by 60 percent to 40 percent. The proposal though, was rejected by the rest of the state.

Although they voted overwhelmingly in 2003 to reject a casino proposed for Sanford, they voted 60 percent to 40 percent in 2008 to support a ballot measure that would have allowed a casino in Oxford County. That proposal failed statewide. The supporters are ultimately lured by one magic word that remains to be something very scarce in the county these days: jobs. With more than 1,000 jobs in store should the casino open, residents for the proposal see it as the hope their county has been looking for. Some remark that casino employees in other Maine casinos have testified that they get paid well and enjoy what they’re doing.

Others who are not so crazy about the idea are still leaning towards the affirmative because no one has offered other solutions. With those in opposition, they do not like the fact that their county’s reputation will be eroded, that Oxford County will be nothing more than just another “casino community.”