As we’ve taken a look at news stories from the year 2022, we’ve looked back at a lot of GOODBYES. But we conclude by looking back on Danville and Vermilion County’s biggest HELLO of the year: the long awaited groundbreaking of the Golden Nugget Casino.
When it finally happened in April of this year, it was the end of a long journey of hope for so many. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr stepped up to the microphone, under the tent at 204 Eastgate Drive, and thanked many, many people. One of which, Alderman Mike Puhr, who also had his chance to speak.
AUDIO: We were all together talking about a casino; the mayor and myself we were up in Chicago; then the pandemic hit, and we missed our meeting with the Gaming Board because the state shut down. But now, two years later, we are happy to see this come to fruition.
For Mayor Williams, it was a journey he had been on since moving to Danville at age eight, and hearing something about a “riverboat” coming to town. And now that a casino was coming after all these years, yes, he was so glad to hear lot of inquiries about joining the Golden Nugget Casino in Danville. Mayor Williams said that day, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
AUDIO: I’m very happy to say that we are incredibly busy with positive movement versus negative movement. And so that’s great; we’re going to continue to grow and develop, and I just look forward to all of the folks who are going to come to Danville, and those who are here in Danville and Vermilion County, who are going to make investment to make this the best possible place to live, work, invest, and play.
Another person who had experienced the long road, Vermilion County Board Chairman Larry Baughn.
AUDIO: This is history in the making. It’s been talked about since I was in junior high school, I can remember. And it’s just a great day for Danville, a great day for Vermilion County.
Vermilion Advantage CEO Tim Dudley was part of the groundbreaking crew, with chamber director Nicole Van Hyfte cheering he and everyone else on.
AUDIO: It is so exciting just to see everybody out here, to see the big equipment working. This is about to change Danville, and it’s incredible to be a part of. We’re really looking forward to the development in this area out in Eastgate, and we’re just really, really excited to be here today.
Two people Mayor Williams also gave special thanks to were legislators who had seen this journey from up close. One of them, State Rep Mike Marron.
AUDIO: Just a testament to this community and all the work that a lot people have put in over the last, you know, 20-30 years; way back to when they first looked at the possibility of getting a casino in Danville. It’s pretty awesome to be here today and be part of it.
And finally, we remember another state legislator on the scene that day. He’s no longer with us. But on that day last April, he was all smiles like everyone one. The Late State Senator, Scott Bennett.
AUDIO: Danville has waited a long, long time to see their casino groundbreaking; a lot longer than I’ve been in public life. But the fact that we were able to get that done; Representative Marron and myself were able to make sure that Danville stayed on that list. This has been very special and a long time coming. And we’re looking forward to finding a lot of additional revenue for Vermilion County.
Now we move on to what should be one of our top news stories for 2023, the anticipated opening of the Golden Nugget Casino, this coming spring.
