9 a.m.:
Hundreds were lined up outside the entrance of the new Hoosier Park casino for its opening day. Far back in the crowd, some were oblivious to the ribbon-cutting ceremony near the doors.
Up front, officials gave their ceremonial thank-yous to state officials and city leaders, many of whom were sitting in the VIP seats.
“Are you ready to be thrilled?” asked the last presenter to the crowd. “We’re going to cut a ribbon and enjoy!”
Security started greeting the swarm of people rushing through the doors. As if warming up, some made the motions of pulling the slot handles as they worked their way through the crowd into the casino.
One elderly woman slowly pushed her walker, decorated with a sign that said, “I stop for bingo.”
“She’s got to change that to ‘I stop for casino,’” remarked Ginger Shaw, a member of the marketing staff at Hoosier Park.
Walking through the double doors, patrons seemed almost overwhelmed by the flashing lights on the casino floor. Classic rock music overpowered the ringing of the penny slots.
Sharon Kennedy’s first stop was the quarter slot machine.
“I put $20 in, and I got $20 out,” she said as she sat at a 50-cent machine. “The dollar (slots) are my favorite.”
Rob Davis, of Muncie, sat at his first machine.
“I’m a lightweight gambler,” he said. “I was here Thursday (the test day), and I like it so far. I’ve been here 10 minutes, and I’ve already lost $50.”
A glance away, men and women were crowded around a blackjack table with a digital dealer on a video screen.
The seats at familiar slot-machine games filled up quickly. The “Star Wars” and “Wizard of Oz” seats were never empty for more than a minute. The “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy” machines kept on spinning, and the “Deal and No Deal” games continued to ring.
Jane Spears had better luck than Davis. Spears, who came with her mother from Van Buren, Ind., said she was frustrated at first. “Because I put in $600,” she said as she sat in the High Limits area for high-stakes gambling.
But her fortune changed suddenly as she played a $5 Game King, which deals electronic poker. The light — known as a “candle” — atop the machine flashed white and fuchsia as she hit a $4,000 jackpot only 10 minutes into play.
“I’m kind of nervous about it being so close,” she said of Hoosier Park’s proximity to her home. “My boyfriend says before long we’re going to lose the car, the farm, and soon we’ll have to drive the golf cart here.”
Special Reports
DAY ONE: 9 a.m. — Rush hour
- Special Reports
-
-
ACS dominates local headlines in 2010
In 2010, Anderson schools faced the consolidation of several school buildings, a controversial union contract and the dismissal of 163 teachers. ACS' struggle to handle a growing budget deficit while losing its student population was among the top local stories of the year.
-
2010's Top Stories: Republicans steal show in elections
The Republicans were the stars of this year’s elections with seven Democratic officeholders in the Madison County Government Center swept from power.
-
2010's Top Stories: Double homicide strikes community
A double homicide struck the city in November, leaving residents wondering who would kill a mid-20s couple. Less than two weeks later, the answer was given in a form of teenagers.
-
2010's Top Stories: Colts bring attention to Anderson
The return of the Indianapolis Colts to Anderson for training camp had a huge impact on Anderson with record-setting camp attendance records and an estimated economic impact of nearly $6.5 million.
-
2010's Top Stories: Parks officials make cases against city
The new year of 2010 brought the firing of Anderson Parks and Recreation Superintendent Fred Reese Jr. in January. As the year came to an end, Reese won a judgment of more than $54,000 against the city.
-
2010's Top Stories: Locals had swift response for Haiti
When an earthquake devastated Haiti in January, the response from Anderson and Madison County was swift.
-
2010's Top Stories: Mixed bag for city's economic development
The year produced a mixed bag for economic development in Anderson.
-
2010's Top Stories: Biddle was a quiet hero
Melvin “Bud” Biddle died at the age of 87. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge at Christmastime in 1944. It was the last major offensive for the Nazis and the Americans, especially with soldiers like Biddle, weren’t about to let the Germans gbain another foothold in western Europe.
-
2010's Top Stories: 'Teen Mom' grabs national headlines
Local celebrity Amber Portwood, 20, became the subject of tabloid fodder in 2010 as she was charged with domestic battery and neglect following an MTV episode of “Teen Mom” in which Portwood was filmed kicking, punching and slapping then-fiance Gary Shirley.
-
Parks and wrecks: The state of the city's green spaces
ANDERSON — Kayla Hinners enjoyed a fine late-summer day at Shadyside Park recently, and so did her 3-year-old son, Jonathan Moran, and 4-year-old cousin, Grace Hinners.
- More Special Reports Headlines
-
