Thomas praises new horse arena

CLOVERDALE -- Crossroads USA Arena and Expo marked its first event last weekend with the 2008 Cloverdale Invitational Rodeo.

Although the horse arena will not open officially until next week, this event is just the first of more than 20 shows scheduled for 2008. State Rep. Amos Thomas (R-Brazil) is one of many local and state officials who worked to see this project come to fruition.

"Cloverdale should see huge growth in its local economy coming from the arena," said Rep. Thomas. "New businesses will be attracted to the area to accommodate the large influx of people, and in turn, there will be new jobs for folks in our communities. Additionally, I see Crossroads becoming a source of great pride to the people of Cloverdale and surrounding areas, a place where neighbors will gather and work to promote all of the great things Putnam County has to offer."

Rep. Thomas worked with IDEM to secure a waiver that would allow Crossroads to connect with Cloverdale's sewer system, so long as Cloverdale's town council was able to appropriate funds for the improvements.

"Things move slowly with government agencies, and the Department of Environmental Management is particularly busy and over-loaded," said Rep. Thomas. "I kept in conversations with officials from the governor's office and IDEM in an attempt to speed up the snail's pace of government."