Joe Costanza, NN.N Editor
LAC Du FLAMBEAU – Jerome “Brooks” Big John, 48, was named Tribal President of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa on Monday night.
As leader of the 12-member Tribal Council, Big John succeeds Carl Edwards, who stepped down last November 23rd citing unspecified “differences” with other members in a brief one-paragraph resignation letter. Big John was one of three candidates for the top spot, the others being Tom Maulson and Bert Labarge.
For those of you who may feel a little anxious that things are not moving as fast as you think they should be, you should think about the things that have been accomplished since this new council has been together.
Every single council member should be congratulated on their efforts.
Deputy Administrators -
Deputy Administrator and several high-paying positions were eliminated and with a cost savings of approx $500K.
New Law Firm –
The tribe retained a new law firm – Michael Best and Friedrich. This firm has extensive knowledge with all areas that affect Tribal affairs. This law firm maintains commitment of the highest level for their clients, and have already provided huge relief to the tribe. (more)
Joe Costanza, NN.N Editor
(The following story was updated Saturday, Jan. 23 to incorporate new information, including comments from one of the original principal investors, Charles Cato).
A Mississippi resort-casino venture has turned out to be a bad bet for the Lac du Flambeau Indian Tribe, which as a minority partner sunk an estimated $25 million on the Grand Soleil project in Natchez, only to see it headed for the auction block in three weeks.
According to a trustee’s notice of foreclosure and sale, parts of the Grand Soleil Casino Resort property, including three separate tracts, will be sold to the highest bidder on Feb. 12. at the Adams County (Miss.) courthouse. The notice was published this week in the Natchez Democrat newspaper. click here to read published notice
LAC DU FLAMBEAU, Wi. — AmeriCorps VISTA member Abbey Thompson, serving at Northwoods Niijii Enterprise Community’s Woodland Art Initiatives Project organized a food drive on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
With the assistance of about 24 volunteers, over 345 lbs of food, additional laundry items, and monetary donations for Haiti were collected. The donations went to the Lakeland Area Food Pantry, the Lac du Flambeau Domestic Violence Shelter, and Yele Haiti . The drive was held at the Mikadawabo Coffee Emporium and featured live music and door prizes. (more)
I recently met the editor and board members from a local non profit news source. News of the North (newsofthenorth.net) is name of the online “newspaper” and they have been doing an excellent job of covering news stories in the northwoods in a real time fashion.
They were the media to break the Wells Fargo Bond story, along with the coverage of Saturday’s Tribal Chairman meeting.
Joe Costanza has a broad editorial background, and has expressed interest in covering Vilas and in particular Lac du Flambeau newsworthy stories. (more)
Published on NN.N
WASHINGTON — The United States Mint will launch the 2010 Native American $1 Coin in New York City on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET). United States Mint Director Ed Moy will join John Haworth, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian George Gustav Heye Center, to introduce the coin.
