Nation Of Sloganeers

By Kate Novack

THE LAS VEGAS CONVENTION AND VISITORS Authority launched an ad campaign this year touting Sin City with one of the nation's more unusual come-ons--"What happens here, stays here." Excelsior, Minn. (pop. 2,400), has started a campaign to lure twenty-and thirtysomethings away from franchise-dominated big cities, with "Secede from Starbucks Nation." Clearly, communities are taking their slogans seriously. A look at some others: --By Kate Novack

Hico, Texas "WHERE EVERYBODY IS SOMEBODY" The biggest somebody was Billy the Kid. Town legend has it that the outlaw died here in 1950.

Manhattan, Kans. "THE LITTLE APPLE" The home of Kansas State University throws down the gauntlet to N.Y.C.

Omaha, Neb. "OMAHA: RARE. WELL DONE" Sounds good for steaks, but the city is getting ready to make a change to simply "O!"

Hereford, Texas "TOWN WITHOUT A TOOTHACHE" A water supply chock-full of natural fluoride means tooth decay is rare here.

Tulare, S.D. "MORE THAN JUST A BLINK OF THE EYE" Wishful thinking? Maybe. But proud schoolkids also helped create a mural with the motto "Little City with a Big Heart."

Kalamazoo, Mich. "YES, THERE REALLY IS A KALAMAZOO" Not too many residents are nostalgic for an earlier slogan, "Where I-94 turns into fun."

Scottsdale, Ariz. "THE WEST'S MOST WESTERN TOWN" There's talk of replacing it with something more cutting edge. "The New West ... for the New Economy" is one idea.