"By comparison to the opulent, Las Vegas quality casinos it operates in Neshoba County, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians appears to be expanding its gaming operations into the Jones County community of Sandersville relatively on the cheap.

Tribal spokesman Warren Strain has said that the tribe is considering an $18 million project that would include about 500 to 700 slot machines and a snack shop in a 27,000-square-foot building. The casino would employ about 250 people, with 170 of those employed slated to be non-Indians.

Allen Nix, director of missions for the Jones County Baptist Association, has organized a group called the Coalition for Family and Community Values that will flatly oppose the new Choctaw casino.

But from a legal standpoint, the Choctaws seem well within their rights to locate such a facility on reservation lands. Indeed, the new casino is likely a reaction to expanding Indian gaming operations in Alabama and other competition to the tribe's Neshoba County gaming complex.

While the tribe apparently can expand into Jones County at the Bogue Homa reservation, it would be advisable for the tribe to earnestly seek additional local input.

In addition to religious and moral objections to gaming, there are some in Jones County who have concerns about the whether the development will be of the same quality as the Neshoba County complex - a valid concern that the tribe should address."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Choctaws: Local input necessary (The Jackson Clarion Ledger 6/13)

Also Today:
Opposition to Jones County casino grows (WDAM-TV 6/14)

Related Stories:
Mississippi governor plans to fight proposed Choctaw casino (6/11)
Mississippi Choctaw leaders back casino off main reservation (6/9)
Opinion: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt the community (5/31)
Letter: Mississippi Choctaws look out for their communities (5/24)
Letter: Mississippi Choctaw casino will hurt local community (5/21)
Mississippi Choctaw council delays action on casino project (5/20)
Church groups line up to oppose Mississippi Choctaw casino (5/19)
Mississippi Choctaw tribal council delays vote on casino bid (5/11)
Mississippi Choctaw tribal council to vote on casino plans (5/7)
Mississippi Choctaws planning casino off main reservation (5/5)