Grammy and Country Music Association winner, Lee Greenwood, will appear for one show at the Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater on May 19. Most recognized for his patriotic hit, "God Bless the USA," Greenwood has recorded other hits such as "Ring On Her Finger, Time On Her Hand" and "Ain't No Trick." Tickets are $20, $25 and $30, call 1-800-447-8700 or 702-298-8510.

The Colorado Belle has converted a portion of its parking lot into a special staging venue called the Center Circle Event Area. Here a series of free outdoor spring shows, dances and food fests are taking place.

On Friday and Saturday, May 10 and 11 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Top 40 bands will be featured. This party is being held in conjunction with the Laughlin Mile Dragon Boat Challenge set for the Colorado River on May 11.

The new Laughlin event will feature teams of paddlers racing in 44-foot long open boats with traditional Chinese war canoe ornamentation. The 200-year-old tradition involves 22 people working in unison to be the first to cross the finish line. Teams will be both local and national. For information on this event, call 702-298-7150.

The Colorado Belle is offering Rock the Boat Room Packages through May 31, excluding holiday periods. Packages start at $54 for two nights during mid-week and include a two-for-one meal in the Captain's Food Fare buffet, two "Million Dollar Match and Win" cards, and a free night at the hotel this summer. The free night is valid Sunday through Thursday, May 12 through June 13. For reservations or information, call 1-800-477-4837.

Due to popular demand, the River Palms has extended "Joey and Maria's Comedy Italian Wedding" dinner show in the Crystal Sands Room to the end of the year. The show will continue to run at 5:30 p.m., two to three Saturdays a month.

The fun loving show is a caricature of the famous Italian wedding scene in Francis Ford Coppola's "Godfather" film. Audience members are invited to "Crash" the party and become wedding guests at the marriage of Giuseppe Antonio Gnocchi and Marie Angelina Cavatelli. Due to all the adlibbing, you never know what will happen while you watch, listen, dance, sing and eat a full dinner.

Tickets are $19.99 with a players club card and $24.99 without. For information and show dates, call 1-800-835-7904.

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The Ramada Express has introduced a new game with nickel slot machines called Cash Bonus Guaranteed. There are three separate progressive payout meters for the 34 nickel machines that are tied into the game. The progressive payouts start at $25 and can reach up to $1,199.

Each meter has an established range of payouts and a player can see instantly how close it is to paying off since the meters can't exceed the posted top amount.

The Pioneer Hotel and Gambling Hall hosts a variety of golf tournaments, both regulation and miniature. On Sunday, Oct. 14, the resort will present its latest installment of the Boys and Girls Club Charity Miniature Golf Tournament. Proceeds from the $100 entry fee go to the charity.

The Pioneer's engineering department constructs a unique, and challenging, 18 hotel miniature gold course throughout the casino grounds.

Among the gift prizes, the Pioneer will be contributing $500 for a first place prize. Players can register in advance by contacting the marketing department, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 1-800-634-3469 or 702-298-2442.

The Edgewater will hold its first Let It Ride Tournament on Oct. 8. A little action now may mean a free entry in the tournament. From now until the tournament, players at Let It Ride tables can earn free and discounted entry into the tournament by receiving qualifying hands.

The regular fee is $139 and includes four days and three-nights hotel accommodations, $500 in tournament chips, a kick-of cocktail party, entry gift and food coupons.

The prizes will begin with $10,000 and go through 32nd place for $100. Players who sign up before July 31 will receive an additional bonus by becoming eligible to participate in an Early Bird Tournament at 5 p.m. on Oct. 8, for a $500 prize. For information, call 1-877-972-7222.

Laughlin has unveiled a new monument welcome sign at the corner of State 163 and Casino Drive. Check it out.

A good deed goes with the search for good luck at the Edgewater, where the mythical Native American figure of Kokopelli representing good luck is located throughout the property with signs explaining its meaning. Since patrons regularly rub the Kokopelli for luck, workers cut slots into the clear plastic stands supporting each figure so donations could be deposited inside. The resort donates the money to local charities.

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