Web posted
Friday, February 8, 2008
First Council Casino about to open
By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer
reporter@arkcity.net
CHILOCCO -- It's a busy time for the Otoe-Missouria tribe and workers at the tribe's travel plaza and casino just south of the former Chilocco Indian School. They are preparing to open a huge casino next door.
The First Council Casino plans a "soft opening" Feb. 28. The casino will employ between 400 and 500 people, a human resources spokesman for the tribe said Thursday.
"We're about done with construction -- just installing security cameras," said Oliver Littlecook, the HR spokesman.
Littlecook said his department has been busy the past three or four weeks interviewing people for "a lot of positions" at the new casino. About 60 people are being interviewed per day, he said.
Others interested in applying for positions should come to the construction site and ask for the HR department, he said.
First Council Casino will open fully by sometime in March, Littlecook said.
"We're still moving stuff in and doing last-minute things," an employee at the Seven Clans Travel Mart just north of the construction site said.
Seven Clans Travel Mart will remain open, the employee said. "Certain people like the small atmosphere."
The Travel Mart employee said the new casino will have probably 900 games and will have a poker room, blackjack area and full-service restaurant as well as a sports bar.
"It's nice, like walking into a Vegas casino," said the employee, who did not identify himself.
First Council Casino will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employees say.
The travel mart was dedicated in October 2006. A blessing was given by the chairman of the Native American Church, Otoe-Missouria tribe chapter.
The facility includes a service station and convenience store. Inside the store is the Lil' Bit of Paradise Casino #1. It contains 93 Las Vegas casino style games.
It was the second casino to open in the Chilocco area that year.
Native Lights Casino, located farther south on U.S. 77 between Ark City and Newkirk, opened in July 2006. The casino is owned by the Tonkawa Tribe and the 22,500 square-foot building is open 24 hours. It includes 564 machines, a 24-hour diner, two blackjack tables, and two poker tables.
The expansion of the South Wind Kaw Nation Casino added about 40,000 square feet of gaming space to a bingo hall. The casino houses about 1,300 gaming machines and 10 card playing tables.
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