Church leaders ask governor to drop lottery push

Saturday, March 8th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov. Brad Henry says he has no plans to stop working to let voters decide if they want a lottery, despite a request from church leaders to do something else to help education.

Leaders of five of Oklahoma's largest religious denominations sent Henry a letter Friday asking him to create an education task force to come up with solutions for the state's school funding problems.

``Our churches recognize that public education plays a critical role in the betterment of society,'' said the Rev. Anthony Jordan, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

``We're calling on the governor to relinquish his pursuit of the lottery and form an education task force made up of business, education, church and government leaders who will seek positive solutions for funding education that do not leave a wake of social and economic ills.''

The church leaders represented the state's United Methodists, Southern Baptists, Free Will Baptists, Church of the Nazarene and Assemblies of God.

They pledged the support of their 3,000 churches, promising to urge ministries to adopt schools in their districts and assist schools in other ways.

Henry, a Southern Baptist, said he appreciates church leaders' willingness to adopt public schools but said, ``Oklahomans have made it very clear that they want their voices heard on this issue.''

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Boardwalk plaza planned near aquarium

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Construction of an entertainment and retail plaza near the Oklahoma Aquarium should begin May.

The $25 million project along the Arkansas River will take at least a year and half to complete and will be a mix of restaurants, specialty stores, a national chain motel and a large entertainment venue.

Riverwalk Crossing is expected to bring 300 jobs to the area, said Jerry Gordon, the project's developer.

The plaza will have more than 90,000 square feet suitable for retail restaurants and entertainment and 20,000 square feet of office space.

``A family can come here and spend the weekend,'' said Steve Walman, Riverwalk Crossing's leasing broker. ``We're trying to create a project that is the next stop after visiting the aquarium; we're trying to create an experience.''

Negotiations with local restaurateurs and out-of-state chains are in progress, and at least six are seriously looking at entering the Tulsa market, Walman said.

``We definitely need these types of businesses in the area,'' said Jenks City Manager Randy Ewing. ``What they proposed to us is a good mix of specialty shopping, restaurants and an entertainment anchor _ something unique.''

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Tribunal to rule next week on election chances

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) _ A longtime Cherokee Nation tribal councilor will learn next week whether he will be allowed to seek another term.

Harold DeMoss' eligibility to run in the May 24 tribal election is being challenged by Rogers County resident Kelly Prout.

The election commission ruled last week that because DeMoss' recreational vehicle in Rogers County was on wheels, ``not fixed and permanent,'' it wasn't considered a home under election statutes.

His tax preparer, friends and an expert on Indian land allotments testified Friday that the RV was DeMoss' home. They spoke before the tribe's Judicial Appeals Tribunal, which heard five hours of testimony.

The attorney for DeMoss argued that Prout was a first cousin of Cherokee Principal Chief Chad Smith and challenged DeMoss' eligibility only for Smith's political gain.

But attorneys for the election commission said their defendants had no ulterior motives and the case was legally open-and-shut.

Meanwhile, another appeal filed by principal chief candidate Robin Mayes to challenge the election commission's ruling allowing Smith to run in this year's election was continued until Thursday.

Mayes said Smith's permanent residence is in Sapulpa _ outside the Cherokee Nation boundaries _ while claiming to live in a duplex in Tahlequah.

The election commission ruled last week that Smith's permanent home is the small downtown duplex he has rented since 1998.