For hundreds of  folks, an afternoon rain shower wasn't about to keep them away from showing support for a proposed harness track and casino in Mahoning Township.

Backers of the "Valley View Downs" project held a rally complete with a free barbecue picnic near the site of the proposed "racino" just off Route 422 in Lawrence County.  One of the rally's organizers, Richard Wukich says, "we want to send a message," to Pennsylvania officials.

Although "Centaur Corporation" submitted its application to the state Gaming Commission last October, this project's been talked about across the region for close to five years  "way too long," claimed Beaver County Commissioner Joe Spanik, one of those addressing the rally.

But state lawmakers urged the crowd to be patient, thinking approval of Centaur's gambling license could be coming soon knowing that without it, the project is probably doomed.

Besides the creation of close to twenty five hundred jobs, and millions in new taxes for the region, ten million dollars just in Lawrence County alone, supporters stress this is more than just another gambling parlor.

For now, developers say they are close to completing a deal on financing for the project.  In the meantime, they're also waiting for what's being called a "suitability hearing" over Centaur's gambling application.  That could come September 30th in Harrisburg.

If all goes well there, formal approval of the slots license could come soon afterward.  Just not soon enough to suit some of those at today's rally.