Court dismisses Oklahoma tribe's claim on Kansas land

DE SOTO, Kan. (AP) _ A federal appeals court is dismissing claims by the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma on a former government installation in Johnson County, Kansas. <br/><br/>Tribal officials have been pursuing

Friday, May 6th 2005, 9:03 am

By: News On 6

DE SOTO, Kan. (AP) _ A federal appeals court is dismissing claims by the Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma on a former government installation in Johnson County, Kansas.

Tribal officials have been pursuing the 9,000 acre site of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition plant. The tribe say it is the rightful owner of its historical reservation property.

The Tenth US Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver is rejecting that argument. The court says a decision by Congress allowing the Army to get rid of the property outweighs the tribe's claim.

The ruling clears the way for private development of the site for homes and business.