MRHD TO GIVE HOLIDAY GIFT

THE MISSOURI RIVER HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT GROUP WILL BE GIVING A POST CHRISTMAS GIFT TO A SIOUXLAND ORGANIZATION.

MRHD'S BOARD VOTED TUESDAY NIGHT TO APPROVE A 100-THOUSAND DOLLAR GIFT TO A YET TO BE DECIDED ORGANIZATION OR GROUP IN JANUARY.

THAT WAS THE BIGGEST PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF A MEETING THAT WAS LARGELY A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS LEGALITIES INVOLVING PENN NATIONAL GAMING'S LAWSUIT AGAINST MRHD OVER THEIR PARTNERING WITH A NEW CASINO GROUP....SIOUX CITY ENTERTAINMENT, WHO WANTS TO BUILD A HARD ROCK CASINO AND HOTEL IN THE OLD BATTERY BUILDING AREA AT 3RD AND WATER STREETS. 

MRHD CHAIRMAN MARK MONSON SAID HE COULDN'T COMMENT ON THE DETAILS OF THE CLOSED SESSION, WHICH INCLUDED A DISCUSSION OF LEGALITIES ON HOW THE NEW PARTNERS WOULD PROCEED IN THEIR BID TO IOWA RACING AND GAMING FOR THE NEW CASINO AND IN DEALING WITH FUTURE LAND OPTIONS.

NOVEMBER 5TH IS THE DEADLINE FOR BIDS TO THE I-R-G-C.

TWO MEMBERS OF THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WERE AT THE MEETING, BUT NOT IN THE CLOSED SESSION PART OF IT.

MONSON SAID IT WAS AN ANNUAL VISIT BY THE AGENTS AND HAD NO OTHER SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE.