United Keetoowah Band won't talk about plans for potential casino

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Chief Joe Bunch of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Photo from Facebook

Speculation continues about a casino from the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.

News reports surfaced about potential development in Enid, more than 180 miles from tribal headquarters. But Chief Joe Bunch, who is running for re-election, didn't have time to talk about it even after The Tahlequah Daily Press said he scheduled a meeting to talk about it.

"I just wanted to put a name to a face," Bunch told a reporter during a short meeting at the paper's offices.

The tribe operated the Keetoowah Cherokee Casino in Tahlequah for nearly 30 years. But it closed in August 2013 after the state of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation raised questions about its legality.

According to The Enid News & Eagle, a developer associated with the tribe has reached out to officials in Enid about the casino. But nothing has been confirmed.

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