Casinos, roads closing due to flooding river

GREENVILLE and NATCHEZ — Tropicana Entertainment Inc. is temporarily closing its Lighthouse Point and Jubilee Casinos, both in Greenville, due to the rising water levels of the Mississippi River.

The Lighthouse Point Casino will close today at midnight and the Jubilee Casino will close tomorrow at midnight.

The re-opening date of the casinos will be determined at a future time based on the conditions of the river.

Interim CEO Daniel Ninivaggi said, “The safety of our employees and guests are of the utmost importance to us so we are taking proactive steps to ensure their safety. Throughout these very critical times, we will be actively monitoring the situation and working with local and state government as well as the Mississippi Gaming Commission throughout this time.”

In a separate flood-related item, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. has released an update on the effects of Mississippi River flooding.

Water levels along the Mississippi River continue to fluctuate and the company has been working closely with marine consultants, local and state officials and management staff to ensure the safety and security of its guests and employees, as well as secure company assets.

“We recently closed our properties in Caruthersville, Mo., and Lula, Miss.,” said Virginia McDowell, president and CEO. “Moving south, we have been working closely with officials from the City of Natchez and plan to close our casino on May 8 unless circumstances change. We continue to face pressure in Vicksburg and we are continually monitoring conditions there. We have been in contact with our insurance carriers regarding property and business interruption claims.”

On May 1 the company reopened its Davenport, Iowa, facility after a 15-day closure as water levels receded there.

Rising water is also affecting highways in the Delta. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced that SR 465 in Warren and Issaquena counties between US 61 and Eagle Lake is closed until further notice.

Probable future road closures include:

• U.S. 61 in Warren and Claiborne counties south of Vicksburg and north of Port Gibson at the Big Black River crossing

• U.S. 61 in Warren County north of Vicksburg at the U.S. 61/SR 3 intersection near Redwood

• US 61 in Warren County north of Vicksburg at the U.S. 61/SR 465 intersection north of Yazoo River Bridge near Redwood

• SR 3 in Warren County approximately 2.3 miles north of the U.S. 61/SR 3 intersection

• SR 3 in Yazoo County at Yazoo City

• SR 16/SR 149 (Old Highway 49 West) in Yazoo County at the Whittington Auxiliary Channel near Wolf Lake to Yazoo City

• U.S. 49 West in Humphreys and Yazoo counties at the Wittington Auxiliary Channel south of Silver City to Yazoo City

• U.S. 49 East in Yazoo County near Mississippi Chemical

• U.S. 49 East in Yazoo County near Eden

Source: Tropicana Entertainment Inc., Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., MDOT, MEMA

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