We believe that something less draconian than Proposition A is possible and that lawmakers should explore all options. Lebanon is packed with visitors for the Babe Ruth World Series this week, and we welcome you. Most of you came by car, and you probably already had hotel reservations before you arrived. But maybe you didn't know about some of Lebanon's attractions until you saw the billboards on Interstate 44 for Shepherd Hills Factory Outlet or the Walnut Bowls Factory Store or Factory Stores of America or the Russell Stover Candies Factory Store. We're in the newspaper business, so we believe that advertising in this newspaper is the most effective way to reach customers who call Lebanon home.
Tourism is a major industry for our community as well as our state.
We've been around 28 years now. I would say 90 percent of our customers come in off the interstate because of our billboards. Billboards also are a key to our city's plans to promote tourism with revenue from our new hotel-motel tax. If you return to Lebanon someday for an eighth Babe Ruth World Series, you'll see billboards promoting our community up and down the highway. Then again, maybe you won't.