Casino Relocation Placed Before Voters

On this Saturday's ballot, voters shall decide on the question posed on the ballot on whether to allow a riverboat casino to move and settle in the parish along Lake Palourde Road and Bayou Boeuf in the quite business-sleepy community of Amelia. Polls open Saturday at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

"It'll bring additional job opportunities for residents of the parish. Second, there will be opportunities for local vendors to sell things to the riverboat which will be good for business," said St. Mary Parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry "Bo" LaGrange. "There will be additional traction to bring folks into the parish that will patronize other businesses."

Saturday of last week marked the completion of absentee voting and of the issue of a local proposition for the unincorporated area of Patterson. When early voting began, 35 ballots were cast in Franklin and 114 in Morgan City according to the Registrar of Voters of the St. Mary's Parish. On Thursday, the number of ballots slightly decreased with 34 voters cast in Franklin and 88 in Morgan City. Friday saw 42 votes from Franklin and 122 in Morgan City.

The final total was tallied at 600, when another 42 votes came in from Franklin and 123 in Morgan City.