ST. LOUIS, July 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., today announced that the Company's founder and chairman of the board of directors, Bernard Goldstein, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2009.

 

"Bernie was a true visionary, an entrepreneurial spirit. He will be remembered fondly as a man who stood by his word, who cared deeply about all those who worked for the many companies he led and loved his family with all of his heart," said James B. Perry, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer. "He founded and built this company with his outstanding dedication and constant desire to help improve communities and create good jobs. He will be missed dearly by his family, friends and those who knew him, but his legacy will live on each day through the thousands of individuals who proudly go to work in a company Bernie built."

 

Complete Obituary of Bernard Goldstein:

 

Bernard (Bernie) Goldstein, chairman of the board of the Alter Companies and Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2009 surrounded by his family. A Quad Cities native and Florida resident, Bernie will be remembered for his entrepreneurial spirit and extraordinary commitment to his family, to the communities where his companies operate and to all those who worked with him at the companies he led.

 

Born in Rock Island, Illinois, in 1929 and raised in the Quad Cities, Bernie married his high school sweetheart Irene (Renee) Alter in 1949. Graduating from Rock Island High School at age 15, he earned a law degree from the [] in 1951 the same year he became a full-time employee at Alter Company, a Davenport, Iowa scrap metal company owned by his father-in-law, Frank R. Alter.

 

His career was marked by his innovative business spirit. Bernie always focused on his co-workers, his customers and his communities; over the course of his career Bernie created thousands of jobs essentially producing lifelong careers for many of his employees. In addition to building Alter Company into a multi-state scrap recycling business, he went on to found Alter Barge Line, River/Gulf Grain, Rock Island River Terminal, Azalea Fleet in Louisiana, Blackhawk Fleet in Davenport, Iowa and Green Bridge Company. He remained chairman of the board of Alter Companies until his death.

 

Following a successful 40-year career in scrap metal recycling, river freight transportation and affiliated businesses as leader of the Alter Companies, Bernie tested retirement in Florida before he started a second career. At that time in the early 1990s, many industrial towns found themselves in a recession and like today, were diligently looking for new sources of revenue. With strong ties to the Quad Cities region, Bernie became a pivotal figure lobbying for the original legislation for riverboat gaming in Iowa and opened the nation's first riverboat casino the M/V Diamond Lady, which opened in Bettendorf, Iowa, at 6:00 a.m. on April 1, 1991.

 

Bernie went on to found Casino America and opened the first riverboat casino in the South, Isle of Capri Casino, in Biloxi, Mississippi on August 1, 1992. Under Bernie's leadership as chief executive officer and chairman of the board, Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. owned and operated regional casinos in Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Florida. He retired from his role as CEO in 2008 and served as chairman of the board until his death.

 

He also served as chairman of the board and president of Casino Cruises, Inc., which opened and managed the gaming operations of the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino in Peoria, Illinois, through March 1993.

 

Bernie was often referred to in the gaming industry as the Father of Riverboat Gaming. His strong community commitment is illustrated in his pledge to a provision in the Iowa gaming legislation that requires the funding of community non-profit organizations, in effect creating a lasting legacy to support community needs. His community spirit was tapped once again in 2005 when three hurricanes wrought havoc on the lives of so many. His guidance and leadership led Isle of Capri to keep its employees in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida on the payroll until operations were repaired and reopened.

 

In addition to his interests in the gaming industry, Bernie Goldstein served as chairman of the board of Goldstein Group, Inc. The affiliated Goldstein companies include Alter Barge Line, Inc; Alter Trading, Inc; River/Gulf Grain Company, and Green Bridge Company.

 

The author of "Navigating the Century," a book published by the History Factory (1998), Bernie earned recognition from various organizations for his community spirit. He twice received the Simon Wiesenthal Distinguished Community Award. In 1993, he was selected Outstanding Business Leader by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Florida. In 1995, Passenger Vessel Association presented him the Compass Award, and in 1999, he was inducted into the National Rivers Hall of Fame. He was also honored in 1999 as Louisiana Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year. In 2004 he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the [] College of Law at Champaign-Urbana, where he served on the Board of Governors. In 2007, the Goldstein Family Foundation honored Bernie by establishing a scholarship fund at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at []. In 2008, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and was named to the American Gaming Association Hall of Fame.

 

Bernie's charitable donations included gifts to philanthropic and community organizations, including the Jewish Federation and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

 

Bernie is survived by his wife, Renee; his children, Jeffrey Goldstein (Regina) of Bettendorf, Iowa; Robert Goldstein (Susan) of St. Louis, Missouri; Kathy Goldstein of Bellevue, Washington and Richard Goldstein (Isabel) of St. Louis, Missouri; and his nine grandchildren, Michael Goldstein, Josh Millan, Marc Goldstein, Nathan Millan, Samantha Goldstein, Lauren Goldstein, Jeremy Goldstein, Alex Goldstein and Jesse Goldstein. He will be remembered by his lifelong friends and thousands of employees.

 

Services and burial will be held at the Tri-City Jewish Center in Rock Island, Illinois on Tuesday, July 7 at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, or the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

 

About Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., founded in 1992, is dedicated to providing its customers with an exceptional gaming and entertainment experience at each of its 17 casino properties. The Company owns and operates casinos in Biloxi, Lula and Natchez, Mississippi; Lake Charles, Louisiana; Bettendorf, Davenport, Marquette and Waterloo, Iowa; Boonville, Caruthersville and Kansas City, Missouri, two casinos in Black Hawk, Colorado. and a casino and harness track in Pompano Beach, Florida. Isle of Capri Casinos' international gaming interests include a casino that it operates in Freeport, Grand Bahama, a casino in Coventry, England, and a two-thirds ownership interest in casinos in Dudley and Wolverhampton, England.

 

This press release may be deemed to contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to change. These forward-looking statements may be significantly impacted, either positively or negatively by various factors, including without limitation, licensing, and other regulatory approvals, financing sources, development and construction activities, costs and delays, weather, permits, competition and business conditions in the gaming industry. The forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein.

 

NOTE: Other Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. press releases and a corporate profile are available at http://www.prnewswire.com. Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.'s home page is http://www.islecorp.com.

 

 

    CONTACTS:
    Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.,
            Dale Black, Chief Financial Officer-314.813.9327
            Jill Haynes, Director of Corporate Communication-314.813.9368
            http://www.islecorp.com

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.

CONTACT: Dale Black, Chief Financial Officer, +1-314-813-9327, or Jill
Haynes, Director of Corporate Communication, +1-314-813-9368, both of Isle
of Capri Casinos, Inc.

Web site: http://www.islecorp.com/

Evansville, IN- June 24, 2009-- Beginning July 1 through July 4, with any purchase, Shoe Carnival customers will receive a "BOGO When You Want 2" (SM) card. This card allows customers to buy one pair of shoes and then get a second pair of equal or lesser value for ½ off anytime they want through January 19, 2010.

"We know our customers continue to face tough economic times, so we wanted to offer this promotion again so that those that didn't have the opportunity to participate in April can do so now," said Todd Beurman, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Shoe Carnival. "With the "BOGO When You Want 2" card, our customers can take advantage of this valuable deal, even when the promotion isn't running in our stores."

Shoe Carnival first ran the "BOGO When You Want 2" promotion in April and wanted to offer this deal again to coincide with their July 4th Sale Event. This event, running July 1st - July 4th, allows customers to get great deals on name brand footwear for the entire family plus get Buy 1, Get 2nd Pair ½ off just in time for the 4th of July holiday.

About Shoe Carnival

Shoe Carnival is a chain of 313 footwear stores located in the Midwest, South and Southeast. Combining value pricing with an entertaining store format, Shoe Carnival is a leading retailer of name brand and private label footwear for the entire family. Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana, Shoe Carnival trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the symbol SCVL. Visit www.shoecarnival.com for more information.

The Shoe Carnival location in the Quad Cities is at the Village Shopping Center, 902 W Kimberly Rd in Davenport. They can be reached by calling (563) 391-5350.

Davenport, IA - The Ad Group is pleased to announce the creation of TAG Communications, an umbrella corporation that will serve as the parent organization for the specialized agencies working from the company's Davenport, Iowa, headquarters. TAG Communications will provide senior management oversight as well as shared technology and logistical resources to current divisions. The following entities, founded as The Ad Group, will continue to operate as divisions of TAG Communications;

The Ad Group will maintain the direction established over its nearly 20-year history, with efforts focused on service to local, regional and national retail and Business-to-Consumer clients. It will also provide an entry point for new ventures as well as offering marketing services to companies in all stages of development. (http://www.adgroup.biz)

 TAG Healthcare Marketing was formed in 2008 to serve the growing communication needs of The Ad Group's healthcare partners nationwide. Since its inception, TAG Healthcare Marketing has broadened its reach and service to include relationships with clients in Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois. (http://www.taghcm.com)

TAG Yellow Pages is a Yellow Pages Association "Certified Marketing Representative" that places advertising for clients nationwide directly with the publishers of thousands of online and print directories throughout the United States and Canada. This allows TAG clients who rely on print and online directories to ensure cost-effective performance consistent with their marketing plan. Certification is given only to those select agencies that have met the industry's strictest qualifying criteria. (http://www.tagyp.com)

TAG Legal Marketing is a full-service marketing firm dedicated to providing state Bar Association-compliant advertising and communications campaigns to law firms nationwide. (http://www.taglegalmarketing.com)

According to TAG Communications President and CEO, Mike Vondran, a key to the company's reorganization was the ability to secure senior management for the new entity. He's pleased to announce the appointment of three new members of the senior management team;

Randy (RJ) Jacobs has been named Senior Vice President. He most recently served as CEO/partner of Jacobs Thoms LLC from 2007-2009, Vice President and Account Director for Charleston Orwig (Milwaukee) from 2003-2007, and President, Managing Partner with Henry Russell Bruce from 1991-2003. RJ has more than twenty-six years of leadership experience in marketing, sales and operational management from successful start-ups to turnaround companies. Throughout RJ's career, he has been instrumental in leading strategy and brand initiatives for clients such as global elevator and escalator manufacturer KONE, Trinity Regional Health System, national healthcare equipment leader Hill-Rom, Genesis Health System, General Electric Major Appliance and Amica Wireless.

Tim Crosby has joined TAG Communications as Vice President Creative/Brand Management. Tim has more than 25 years of experience as the principal creative and marketing strategist for a list of clients that includes Haworth, HarperCollins, John Deere, Rockwell Collins, and Amana. Over the course of his career, he has guided successful product launches for several clients in publishing, the hunting/outdoor industry, the automotive aftermarket, telecommunications and healthcare. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a "Best of Show" Addy from the Quad Cities Ad Federation in 2001. Tim is the former owner of Crosby-Kirchhoff Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has worked with The Ad Group for several years as a consultant. Tim will oversee the creative and branding efforts of all TAG Communications divisions.

David Blake has joined TAG Communications as Vice President, Accounts Management. David brings a high level of strategic planning as well as sales and marketing leadership to the company. Being a proactive leader and coach, David has spent the last several years consulting for companies throughout the United States focusing on business development and overall business strategy.  He served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for i Wireless™  where he was instrumental in creating a pre-paid product as well as increasing the company's overall market share. David also brings experience as Operations Manager for a commercial real estate development firm along with a background in franchise management.

"Our common sense, results-oriented approach has become increasingly valuable to marketers in recent years," notes Vondran. "We're pleased and excited to find a management team that shares that commitment and vision, while providing seasoned, proven leadership. We believe we're building something special, both for our industry and the region. It is an exciting time."

TAG Communications is a complete advertising, marketing and public relations firm with divisions serving a variety of regional clients as well as healthcare, legal and Yellow Pages clients nationwide. TAG Communications is based in the Quad Cities, with offices in Cedar Rapids, IA, Rockford, IL, and Oklahoma City, OK. Founded as The Ad Group in 1990, the company specializes in strategic analysis and creative solutions that deliver results through creative, responsive and cost-effective communication for clients throughout the nation.

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On Thursday, June 4th from 4pm-6pm, Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee will hold a Grand Opening at the 4th official franchise on 53^rd Street just east of Division in Davenport. We'll start the event with a ribbon cutting at 4:30pm and will have plenty of samples of Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee on hand, along with door prizes and other refreshments.

Country Style Ice Cream has been a local favorite since 1947 and in 2006 Kent Kindelsperger added Hawaiian Style Coffee to the mix. "Coffee is a great complement to our ice cream line.  The unique and rich flavor of these two brands set this company apart," Kent Kindelsperger said.

The new owners, Kari and Tres Gomez, at the Davenport location add, "We are very excited to bring Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee back to Davenport.  We are proud to support a local product and feel the quality of the ice cream and coffee products are second to none."  This new location will provide a warm and relaxed atmosphere for customers to sit and enjoy an ice cream malt or latte or take advantage of our free wi-fi internet connection.  Customers will also be able to enjoy wraps, hot dogs and pastries while a drive thru window provides our products for people on the run.