Heavy Hitters!

First - I think it is important to state that I am non smoker.

And I applaud the recent action by the City of Nitro when it comes to attempting to take action that will allow smoking at Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center. This has been long overdue.

With Kanawha County the only county in the state with such a restrictive ban on smoking - it was and is time for someone to stand up. Those opposed to Nitro actions should ask themselves - if you truly believe smoking should be banned in all establishments - then why haven't you stood up to speak out against the smoking that takes place in every bingo parlor in Kanawha County.

It is important to note that every Thursday Nitro has bingo at the Nitro Community Center (this building has no ventilation to direct smoke) and the smoke is a rolling. This is just down the hall from a day care center. Where is the outrage - but let Tri State Racetrack and Gaming Center with the proper ventillation request the ban be lifted so that they can open smoking up to their patrons and every former smoker and smoker hater comes out in force. It would stand to reason that smoking should have been banned first in the bingo parlors considering the majority of those in attendance are elderly and many have breathing issues.

Other Gaming Centers already have facilities set up that allow smoking outside WV. For example Argosy Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana allows smoking - it is not an issue - nor are the rooms filled with smoke endargering customers to their facility.

I want to see Nitro stand up and speak out for Tri State and fight against the Kanawha County Commission. By the way the Kanawha County Board of Health is not an elected body but you do have an elected body in the Kanawha County Commission and these individuals are interested in nothing but control. King Kent Carper and Little Prince Hardy and Court Jester Shores need to realize they do not control the lives of the people living and the businesses within Kanawha County.

NITRO - STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT AGAINST THIS RIDICULOUS BAN ON SMOKING AND ALLOW A BUSINESS THAT PROVIDES JOBS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO GROW. I can't believe in these hard economic times we want to keep bans in place that hurt business and drive consumers away from Tri State to other facilities out of state.

I would like someone to explain to me what the Kanawha County Commision and Kanawha Charleston Health Dept. has against Tri State Park. Do they want to shut it down? Is it a religious thing? Is it because there are no '' kickbacks'' involved? I have only been there one time but I don't want to see it closed. Can someone enlighten me on this?