In the spirit of giving, our team members are busy showing appreciation for community partners. Throughout the year, the team members at Ameristar Casino generously give back to our community through volunteering more than 350 hours and donating more than $96,000 to various charities.

In the next few months, we will serve lunch at the Vicksburg Senior Center, pack food boxes at Good Shepherd Community Center and organize toys for distribution through The Salvation Army.

As we reflect on 2014, we have donated 6,000 pounds of food to Mountain of Faith Women’s Ministry and the Salvation Army.

Our hotel has collected 380 pounds of hotel amenities to be shipped to impoverished countries through Clean the World to aide in sanitation efforts, and we have contributed more than $55,000 to local charities and organizations through the Ameristar Cares program.

Get ready to laugh with comedy every Wednesday night in the Bottleneck Blues Bar. We are home to the blues every Friday and Saturday. Guests can enjoy famous blues artists like King Edward, Eddie Cotton and the International Blues Challenge winner Mr. Sipp.

We are excited to host the Vicksburg Blues Challenge each year, where winners advance to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. Plan to spend New Year’s Eve with us listening to Nu Corp in the Bottleneck Blues Bar and Memphis All Stars in the Cabaret Lounge. You can always check out our live entertainment calendar by visiting www.ameristar.com.

Let Executive Pastry Chef Stan Taylor and the bakery team do your holiday baking this season. They are already busy taking orders for holiday pies and cakes, plus creating their annual gingerbread village near Heritage Buffet. Bring your children to take a peek! The buffet will feature special holiday menus and hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

We want to give a huge thank you to the Vicksburg Post readers who voted us Best Casino, Best Casino Buffet, Best Night Spot and One of Vicksburg’s Friendliest Service. All of us at Ameristar wish you a blessed holiday season and a happy New Year!

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Lori Burke is public relations manager for Ameristar Casino.