Published: June 12, 2006 11:16 pm      

COG hears Riley update

MERIDIAN — The executive director of the Mississippi State University Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts told members of the Council of Governments on Monday the ball is now in their court to ensure the center’s success.

Dennis Sankovich, director of the Riley Center, said the center’s opening will hopefully mark the beginning of exciting things to come.

“It is important that we bring together and show people the rest of the opportunity that’s here waiting to happen,” he said. “The Riley Center is only the beginning, the bigger picture is much larger and will have a major impact on this region.”

Sankovich said the center is the impetus, but others need to step in to ensure success. One way of doing that would be to create more hotel space around the Riley Center, he said.

“It is really important that we have quality hotel rooms and a higher level of quality that is only going to set Meridian aside and put us on par where we should be with Jackson and Biloxi,” he said. “If we take advantage of this, we can make a major change in this, we can make a major change in this state and bring a lot of attention to East Mississippi.”

Sankovich said it is time for city and county leaders to carry the baton and make sure the appropriate actions are taken.

Sankovich updated city and county officials at the monthly meeting of the Council of Governments at Rush Foundation Hospital.

George Thomas, COG’s vice-chairman and Ward 1 Meridian Councilman, said city officials are working to secure a hotel in the abandoned Threefoot building and to make traffic flow two ways around the center.

Sankovich said the grand opening of the Riley Center is set for Sept. 8, with a gala and concert. He said the concert will repeat on Sept. 9. The center’s first season of events should be announced by the end of the month.

In other business, Patricia Flowers, executive director of the Meridian Transit System, updated COG members on the transit system’s first major fund-raiser.

The $5,000 goal would fund operating costs for the transit system. She said for a $10 donation, tickets will be sold for the winner and 19 others to take a trolley ride that will include bowling at Dixie Lanes, go-cart rides at Ultimate Fun World and dinner at Crescent City Grill.

The prize is valued at $1,000. Tickets can be purchased at the transit system administrative office inside Union Station or at Dixie Lanes.

The drawing is set for July 4 at the Cellular South Meridian Symphony Orchestra’s annual Pops Concert at Bonita Lakes.

The “Family and Friends Reunion Fun for Twenty Raffle” is the name of the event. For more information, call Flowers at (601) 693-6904.