Here is Patrick LeBeau’s fine review of Robert Dale Parker’s “The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through the Sky: The Writings of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft.”
Michigan Indian
Bomb Threat at Soaring Eagle Casino
MT. PLEASANT — Employees head back to work at the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant after a bomb threat Wednesday afternoon. It was like any other day at the casino until a call came in that turned the resort upside down. “The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Police Department at approximately 1:30 this afternoon received a bomb threat,” said Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier.
Six other law enforcement agencies were called and within minutes the resort was swarming with police ready to shut the area down.
Casino player Kim Jones drove an hour to get to the casino when she was turned away. “Yes we were coming here to the casino and we got up here and we saw all the police cars…a friend…was here earlier and was playing a slot and the (police) come in and told them they all have to leave,” said Jones.
“We had a bomb threat and they evacuated us very professionally and we’re dealing with it the best we can,” said evacuee Randy Thompson.
Frank Cloutier said the bomb scare was unlike any evacuation he’s ever seen. “We haven’t had an impact on the property to this magnitude,” Cloutier said.
The search continued for over six hours but no evidence of a bomb turned up. Kim Jones said she was cashing in on her own theory about what took place.”Because I think somebody just lost and was upset and it doesn’t surprise me,” said Jones.
Greektown Revenues Improving
From the Detroit News via Pechanga:
Detroit — Greektown Casino-Hotel, the city’s smallest casino, reported a 21-percent increase in its November revenue over the same month in 2008.
Greektown took in $28.44 million last month compared to $23.51 million a year earlier.
Overall, gaming revenues were up just slightly in November, 0.6 percent, compared to the same month last year, according to numbers released by the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
MGM Grand Detroit and MotorCity casinos reported respective year-over-year declines of 7.8 percent and 1.8 percent during the same time period.
News Article on Grand Traverse Band Fee to Trust Issues
From the Traverse City Record-Eagle:
PESHAWBESTOWN — A local American Indian tribe wants to expand its reservation.
Nearly 80 acres of additional land in northwest Michigan is a good start.
The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians acquired a 78-acre parcel in Antrim County’s Milton Township last week.
Tribal Chairman Derek Bailey said the land trust soon will house 22 residential sites for band members.
The recent land acquisition addressed a “fundamental need” for tribal housing located near Turtle Creek Casino in Williamsburg and Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Acme, Bailey said.
The parcel originally was zoned for agricultural development, said Chris Weinzapfel, Milton Township zoning administrator. But the band spent $1.5 million on road, sewer, water and electrical improvements, in hopes it could obtain residential zoning rights.
New Firekeepers Casino Crime Impact Never Materialized
From the Battle Creek Inquirer via Pechanga:
Four months after the opening of FireKeepers Casino, local police say crime hasn’t risen as some casino opponents had feared.
While some critics feared the casino would lead to an increase in burglaries, embezzlement and crimes of that ilk, that hasn’t materialized, police and residents said.
Increased traffic is the thing most residents near the casino are going to experience, said Emmett Township’s acting Public Safety Director Kenneth Cunningham. Gamers at the casino might see the occasional drunken and disorderly conduct, but nothing more than would be expected at a place selling alcohol, Cunningham said.
Cunningham and casino officials said data on the number of incidents near FireKeepers and on casino grounds were not immediately available. Those statistics are tracked by the Huron Potawatomi Police Department, the force for the Athens Township-based Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi, FireKeepers’ owners.
Residents living near the facility say its impact has been minimal.
“It’s not really been a problem,” said Sue Bess, 67, who lives on Ackerson Drive, directly east of the casino property. “Traffic’s not really been much different. Everything’s moved pretty smooth.”
The tribe in October 2008 signed a $1.1 million agreement with Emmett Township for Emmett to police the casino around the clock for three years. The tribe pays for five cross-trained police, fire and emergency medical public safety officers and a new patrol car for the township, which is housed at the casino. Fire or medical calls are handled and paid for on a per-call basis.
Four months after the casino’s opening, “Things are going very good,” Cunningham said.
SCIA Trust Acquisition Delay Hearing — Featuring Derek Bailey
Via Indianz.
Written Testimony in SCIA Hearing on Trust Land Acquisition Delays
From SCIA:
Panel 1
MR. GEORGE SKIBINE
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Accompanied by: MS. VICKI FORREST, Deputy Bureau Director for Trust
Services, Ll.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Panel 2
MR. CARL J. ARTMAN
Esquire, Professor of Practice, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
THE HONORABLE DEREK BAILEY
Chairman, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Ind ians, Peshawbestown, Michigan
News Coverage of LTBB Casino General Manager Hiring
From the Petoskey News-Review:
The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians Tribal Council did not take action Sunday, during its regular meeting, to suspend the hiring process for a new general manager at the casino.
According to John Bott, tribal council member, the action request item was presented by tribal chairman Ken Harrington, but was not fully explained.
“We never got an explanation as to what it was about,” Bott said. “As a result, no action was taken, and no motion was made.”
The tribe began its search for a new general manager for the casino after Sean Barnard, who had been in the position since May of 2008, tendered his resignation on Nov. 23, making his last official day Dec. 4.
Harrington said he couldn’t fully explain the reason he brought this potential hiring suspension to the tribal council, but said it was directly linked to tribe’s current renegotiation process for the casino’s financing.
“(The reason) is tied to a confidential report, and I can’t go into great detail,” he said. “I wanted to slow the (hiring) process down until we were complete with the forbearance agreement … there might still be some unknowns.” Continue reading
SCIA to Consider the Carcieri Fix and Akaka Bills Tomorrow
Here is the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting, from SCIA.
SCIA Hearing on Trust Acquisitions — Witness List
From the SCIA (there might be a typo down there… 🙂):
Panel 1
MR. GEORGE SKIBINE
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Accompanied by: MS. VICKI FORREST, Deputy Bureau Director for Trust
Services, Ll.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC
Panel 2
THE HONORABLE CARL J. ARTMAN
Updated: Esquire, Professor of Practice, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
THE HONORABLE DEREK BAILEY
Chairman, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Ind ians, Peshawbestown, Michigan
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