The Catawba Indian nation has dropped plans to start a 24-hour bingo operation off I-95 in the Orangeburg County town of Santee. The Catawbas have allowed an option on property there to expire.

The head of the Santee Business Association is glad the proposal is dead. So is resident Bryan Patrick who says he doesn't want his town to become what he called "The Casino of the South."

Some estimated the high-stakes bingo hall would have brought in a payroll of $5 million.