Tribal Leader says legal fight has no merit…
The Oregon Supreme Court decision announced yesterday is concerning to tribal leaders, but they say it will have no impact and is misdirected.
210 – “It’s not going to have any effect on Three Rivers Casino.”
Bob Garcia is the council chair of the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians.
211 – “This is, in many ways, you know I personally consider this a waste of tax payers’ money to take this issue on.”
Garcia adds that the method being used to challenge Three Rivers Casino’s legality is the wrong one. Even if opponents are successful in winning their argument that the state and tribal agreement violates the Oregon Constitution, gaming will go on. That’s because federal law allows tribes to do anything that states do. Garcia says Oregon allows video poker terminals, Keno, and other forms of public gambling.
212 – “When people talk about how would someone stop the tribes from being able to game at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel it’s a very, very simple answer to the question. The thing is the residents of Oregon would have to decide to abolish the Oregon Lottery.”
Casino opponents say the battle that’s been going on for six years has been about getting a fair hearing in court. Yesterday’s announcement paves the way for them to make their case in Lane County Circuit Court later this year.
Gov. Kulongoski's veto threat failed to stop the Legislature's budget committee from advancing a $5.8 billion plan to fund Oregon schools. The governor wants to keep an extra $200 million tucked away, just in case the economy doesn't improve in the coming months. Legislative leaders say they have the votes to override a veto if need be. The state Senate is expected to vote on the education budget today.
Oregon has already gained thousands of new acres of federal wilderness this year. Now there's a push for more. Three news bills would extend federal protection to parts of the Lower Rogue River, the Oregon Caves and the remote Devil's Staircase area on the central Oregon coast near Reedsport.
213 – “These things are relatively non-controversial; you've got the Senator supporting it and the local House member, which helps a lot. I wouldn't expect these to take years - it could take a year or two."
David Dreher, working with the group Campaign for America’s Wilderness says he doesn’t expect any major problems in gaining approval.
It’s getting deep in Reedsport… the pile of chips that is. The Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Sculpting Championships began yesterday and will continue through Sunday afternoon. Organizers say the daily 75-minute “quick carve” competitions draw large crowds and have become favorites. Carving begins at eight each day, those quick-carves are at 10:45 until noon and then a sculpture auction will be offered at 5:30 today and tomorrow, with the final sale at 12:30 Sunday afternoon. The chainsaw sculptors also work on the ‘masterpiece’ carving twice daily.
TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:
It’s not too early to begin thinking about Pac-Ten football. The Oregon Ducks will host seven home games this coming season and a limited number of season tickets go on sale today. The cost for all remaining tickets is $370… but some of them require an additional donation to the Duck Athletic Fund. The Ducks open up at home September 12th against Purdue. They’ll host five Pac-Ten teams including USC and Oregon State.
On the Schedule…
The Three Rivers Sandblasters return to action at Hamlin Middle School in Springfield against the Titans this evening. Game time is at five o’clock and the game will be broadcast on FM 106.9 beginning at 4:45. Saturday the ‘Blasters will be in Albany against the Mid-Valley Rockets at five.
The Eugene Emeralds kick off their 2009 Northwest League season at home tomorrow against the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes at 7:05. The two teams meet again Sunday at four.
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