Osceola boat finally floats

Osceola’s riverboat casino finally got into operation Friday as 1999 slipped away. Some last minute computer problems added to the delays which had already set back the opening of the boat. Osceola Mayor Fred Diehl has pushed for the boat since its inception and was pleased to see it finally happen.Diehl says the boat and hotel complex bring many things to the community, including a new Interstate off-ramp, new development and hundreds of people coming in to gamble.Detractors say the boat will bring trouble to Osceola, including more problem gamblers. Diehl says people who already have a gambling problem can gamble at several places in the state and adding a new boat won’t change that.Diehl says the goal of the city now is to get the people who come to play the slots to stay and visit other sites around Osceola.