Heard on the Street

CURIOUS COMBO

In 2000-2001 revenues from commercial gambling in Missouri totaled $1.25 billion with 24.4 million gamblers visiting the nine casinos in the state, according to the Mental Health Department, which keeps tabs on that sort of thing. Just this past week, the Missouri Department of Mental Health sponsored "Responsible Gaming Education Week 2001" that focused on seniors and gambling. We wonder ... how much does the free counseling to compulsive gamblers and their family members cost taxpayers? And when the legislature wrote that the money raised by the Missouri Lottery is supposed to go to education, did that include 12-step education? The Department of Mental Health offers treatment at 22 outpatient centers for your convenience. In the meantime, for the curious, the Missouri Alliance to Curb Problem Gambling's Web site is located at www.888BETSOFF.com. The members of the alliance include representatives from the state Mental Health Department, as well as the Missouri Council on Problem Gambling Concerns, the Missouri Lottery, the Missouri Gaming Commission and the Missouri Riverboat Gaming Association. Well, you know what they say: If you're not part of the solution, you're, uh ... hmm, ...

STADIUM CONSTRUCTION STARTING?

As the city closed Chestnut between Sherman (a.k.a. Hammons) Parkway and Kimbrough this past week to lay sewer lines for Jordan Valley Park, and with John Q. Hammons' desire to start building the baseball stadium in August and it's knee-deep in August and Killian Construction champing at the bit to take the first bite of dirt, the time has come for a new developer agreement between the city and Hammons. When last SBJ checked with the city bond attorneys' office, the agreement was in its 19th version. Louise Whall, city public information officer, said nothing is final yet, but City Council did hear a bill to approve funds to purchase Virginia Bay's property for the stadium development and parking this past week. SBJ hopes to obtain a copy of the new developer agreement before it is formally presented to council. The last one was most interesting. We can't wait to see the new one. Meanwhile, phase I of the park will break ground in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 near the recreational ice facility.

IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT APPEAL

Hot on the heels of a ruling in St. Louis that declared its downtown community improvement district illegal is the deadline for appeal briefs in our own CID case. On Jan. 23 William A. Graham Jr. appealed Circuit Judge Tim Perigo's ruling. Perigo said that though proper procedure in establishing the district hadn't been strictly followed there was no real harm. The city and the CID must respond by Aug. 9. Those who opposed the district claimed they didn't receive proper notice of the public hearing, the boundary map didn't properly define the area concerned, the legal descriptions were wrong and the petition to create the district wasn't properly signed. Hmm ... sounds like some of the same issues related to a certain TIF district. Very interesting. Stay tuned.

CASA FACTS

Every day in Missouri, 140 calls are made to the Child Abuse Hotline, according to the Court Appointed Special Advocates' fact sheet. While 88 percent of the abuse happens at home, 11 percent is caused by a relative or trusted friend. Each day seven children are sexually abused, 43 others are victims of abuse or neglect, 16 babies are born with low birth weight, 28 teenage girls give birth, 39 babies are born to mothers without high school degrees, 18 children enter foster or residential care and 303,000 children live in poverty. That's 303,000. That's every day. In Missouri.

SLICE OF NICE

Water gardens evoke peace and tranquility, a commodity that's in short supply these days. Readers will have the opportunity to take a relaxing stroll through 10 area water gardens Sept. 15 to benefit the Regional Girls' Shelter. The shelter cares for females between ages 11 and 21 from rural, suburban and urban homes. These young wo-men have difficulties because of family issues divorce, separation, abuse or neglect. They don't need institutional commitment for therapy, just a safe place to regain control of their lives. However, the Presbyterian Children's Services can't pick up the whole tab. The $5 tour tickets, sold in advance, entitle purchasers to a booklet with each water garden owner's name, address and directions. Tickets are available at Maple-wood Gardens, Maschino's Home Expressions, Nixa Hard-ware, O'Quinn's Water Gar-dens, Springfield Seed Com-pany, Wickman Gardens and the shelter at 2740 E. Pythian.