Arkansas casino hits snag with Ark. high court ruling

Oct. 16—TAHLEQUAH — A proposed casino in Pope County in Arkansas has hit a snag, with the Arkansas Supreme Court's ruling valid the signatures on the petition to put the question of removing the license in Pope County on the Nov. 5 ballot.

The second count by Cherokee Nation Businesses, challenging the title and language of the question, is still under consideration by the court. At the Tribal Council meeting Oct. 15, members heard the latest report on the progress of the casino from Cherokee Nation Businesses CEO Chuck Garrett.

In 2018, Arkansas residents voted to allow four casinos in Arkansas, with the last one to be built in Russellville. A petition was started to get the matter back on the ballot to pull the license in Pope County, and to require a vote by the people in any area affected by future proposed casinos.

"Yesterday, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled the challenge we had made on the signature collection methodology... we had challenged the validity of those signatures because of the methods, and they ruled the signatures were valid," Garrett said.

The court ruled against count one, but the second count is still being considered, Garrett said.

"We have a second count which is challenging the title and the language of the state question," Garrett said. "Whether that is vague and misleading, which is what we assert, the court will ultimately determine."

The release of findings on the second count could be as early as Thursday, Oct. 17, Garrett said.

"We are going to be fighting those legal fights, but ultimately we have a political fight here," Garrett said. "We have a state question that would remove the Pope County license from the state constitution."

Garrett said he believes the people of Arkansas knew what they were doing when they voted for the four licenses, and CNB doesn't see them undoing that.

"If you were [in Arkansas], you would see ads on both sides; the Choctaws are funding this campaign [against the CN casino] to the tune of $12 million so far," Garrett said. "We are fighting a good fight and have some really terrific political teams that we've assembled — pollsters, lawyers, strategists, communications people."

Pope County Quorum Judge Ben Cross has done a couple of ads for the effort, as well as other Arkansans, to push the "no" vote, Garrett said.

In another matter, Garrett said when employees are working, they don't need to be worried about how to protect themselves in a natural disaster. When a tornado struck Will Rogers Downs, the security personnel took charge, and although a lot of damage happened, no lives were lost.

During the meeting, Mike Davis, Rick Anthony, Jason Siereveld, Noel Shearer, Brad Oliver, Ronnie Batt, Brandy Hummingbird, Kery Grunewald, Ryan Cochran and Rusty Stamps, employees of Will Rogers Downs and/or the casino, were recognized for their heroic actions the day of the tornado in Claremore.

"In a harried moment of crisis, [this group] knew exactly what they were supposed to do and they did it and they did it because they had practiced," Garrett said. "They were planning and thinking about how they would do it if that moment ever came."

On Memorial Day weekend, storms were building in the north, and it looked like a tornado was headed toward Claremore and Will Rogers Downs, Garrett said. The individuals who took charge and helped people at the casino were at the Tribal Council meeting and were recognized.

"They faced danger and looked it right in the eye," Garrett said. "[They] said 'I've got people I need to protect, whether they are people in the casino, at the KOA Campgrounds, whether they are colleagues, I'm going to get out there and put myself at risk to protect those people I'm in charge of protecting.'"

Garrett said he couldn't be more proud of the people who were responsible for helping that day, and he brought them before the Council to receive the recognition they deserved.

Deputy Speaker Kevin Easley Jr. drove to Will Rogers Downs the next morning with Tribal Councilor Danny Callison.

"You can't explain it unless you saw it — the amount of devastation that was there," Easley said. "The fact that nobody lost their lives was a miracle, but also not to take away from the reason nobody lost their lives was probably related to this group right here."

Easley said it was a "work of God, but God put the right people in the right place."

"When you drove over at 8 a.m., you would think there were no survivors," Easley said.

As Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. was traveling, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner gave a report in his stead, and spoke about the car tag compact.

The car tag compact issue is still ongoing with the governor's office, and Warner said it is vital that the Nation retain this piece of sovereignty.

"I am extremely optimistic about the conversations that are ongoing, but we will need continued prayers for those conversations," Warner said.

What's next

The next Tribal Council meeting is Nov. 12, 6 p.m., at the Tribal Complex.