ANTI-GAMBLING FORUM TO BE HELD THURSDAY IN SIKESTON

SIKESTON -- Members of the United Methodist churches in Missouri will host a forum Thursday in Sikeston to talk about the boats in moats campaign.

However, no one from the casino organizations is expected to attend the meeting that will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the United Methodist Church, 1307 N. Main St

The Rev. Tom Grey, head of the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling and a Methodist minister, will speak. He also is affiliated with Show Me the River, a grassroots campaign in opposition to casino gambling.

Missouri voters will decide Nov. 3 whether or not to allow slot machines on boats in moats. The state constitution currently allows slot machines on riverboats on the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

The Methodist denomination began a grassroots campaign in July to help defeat the constitutional amendment. So far, few public meetings have been held for voters in the area.

But meeting organizers say they are holding to their promise of debates, made during earlier meetings.