Southern Cherokees announce plans for riverboat casino

The Southern Cherokee tribe is planning to open a riverboat casino in Oklahoma, but not without some opposition. <br><br>The tribe would like to open the casino along the Arkansas River, near Webbers

Thursday, November 14th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The Southern Cherokee tribe is planning to open a riverboat casino in Oklahoma, but not without some opposition.

The tribe would like to open the casino along the Arkansas River, near Webbers Falls. The tribe's chief, Gary Ridge, says they hold the land by treaty, but Cherokee Nation Chief Chad Smith says the casino would infringe on Cherokee Nation territory.

Plans call for a 4 story gambling boat, costing $10-million. It would be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the Southern Cherokees say it would provide 450 new jobs.

Before that happens, the US Attorney's office will have to decide which tribe owns the land in question.