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Kansas Tribal Casino Plan Not Sure Thing

SHABBONA, Kansas – As reported by the Daily Chronicle: "A Kansas-based American Indian tribe's plans to build a casino in the Shabbona area "seem much less definite" now that it has allowed an option to expire on a piece of land east of town, the tribe's attorney said this morning.

"Washington, D.C., attorney Fran Ayer confirmed what local officials have been saying in recent weeks - that the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's plan to build the casino-resort complex has lost some momentum.

"…Based on an 1829 treaty, historical claim has been laid by the tribe to 1,280 acres that includes all of Chief Shabbona Forest Preserve and part of Shabbona Lake State Park. In 2001, the U.S. Department of the Interior acknowledged that the tribe had a 'credible claim' on the land.

"Over the last two or three years, tribal officials have approached Gov. Rod Blagojevich about entering into a so-called 'compact agreement' to allow the development, purchased a 1-acre piece of property including a home, placed an option on the Ward property and tried to build relationships with local officials…"

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