Dear editor:

With all of the negative publicity going around, no one is thinking of the organizations and individuals who have already booked the use of the Covington Center for the 2009 year. To date, there are approximately 14 events booked (and that’s before the new year is even here). Most of these events will last two to three days. Which in turn, will bring money into our county. Yep, that’s right. These people will stay in our motels, eat at our restaurants, fuel up at our gas stations, and, more than likely, shop at local businesses.

Close the arena and it still has to be paid for. Find a way to keep it open and everyone benefits. Sure, there has to be a better way to make the arena profitable, but the negative publicity floating around is not the better way. With all of the negative publicity, people will cancel their shows and take them elsewhere. Then we really lose.

I think it would behoove our new administration to calm the troubled waters and come up with a solution before all booked events are lost to other arenas. No one in their right mind will want to keep their event here, or book their event here, based on the public assumption that the arena is closing.

Think it might be a good time for a little damage control?

Susan Musgrove

Andalusia