Though development of the proposed casino in western El Dorado County remains stymied by litigation over freeway access, leaders of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians stepped up their public outreach efforts Thursday. About a dozen people, including area residents and media representatives, participated in the first of planned twice-monthly tours of the casino site.
"We thought we would do this to inform the public, foe or friend," Fonseca said, explaining that he gave a similar tour to El Dorado County Supervisors Charlie Paine and Helen Baumann a couple of months ago. The county has sued to block construction of a Highway 50 interchange needed to serve the casino and the 160-acre rancheria.
Fonseca said people often are surprised to learn that the casino would be built behind a hill and would not be visible from the freeway.
Many think the complex, featuring an 82,000-square-foot gambling floor, five restaurants and a 3,000-car parking garage, would be built in a prominent location along Highway 50 between Shingle Springs Drive and Greenstone Road, he said.
That site until recently was occupied by a giant white tent that for a few months in 1997 housed a casino and bingo parlor.
The tribe hopes its outreach will build public support for the Highway 50 interchange, to be funded by Lakes Entertainment, the firm backing the casino. The cost is estimated at $40 million, Fonseca said.
Construction of what he described as a "high-speed flyway" remains blocked by lawsuits filed by El Dorado County and the citizens group Voices for Rural Living.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly found that the state Department of Transportation and Lakes Entertainment failed to show that the interchange would comply with state air pollution regulations.
The case is pending in the state's 3rd District Court of Appeal.
Jan and Tim Thomas of Pollock Pines said they patronize casinos at Lake Tahoe but would rather spend their money in the county instead of ...
Read More - Click HereTribe hopes tours sway opinions on building casino
Rancheria officials need El Dorado County's approval for an access road.
By Cathy Locke -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PDT Friday, October 21, 2005
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B1
Tribal Chairman Nick Fonseca spoke of his vision of an Indian casino and resort nestled into an oak-studded hillside, out of sight and earshot of Highway 50.
Though development of the proposed casino in western El Dorado County remains stymied by litigation over freeway access, leaders of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians stepped up their public outreach efforts Thursday. About a dozen people, including area residents and media representatives, participated in the first of planned twice-monthly tours of the casino site.
"We thought we would do this to inform the public, foe or friend," Fonseca said, explaining that he gave a similar tour to El Dorado County Supervisors Charlie Paine and Helen Baumann a couple of months ago. The county has sued to block construction of a Highway 50 interchange needed to serve the casino and the 160-acre rancheria.
Fonseca said people often are surprised to learn that the casino would be built behind a hill and would not be visible from the freeway.
Many think the complex, featuring an 82,000-square-foot gambling floor, five restaurants and a 3,000-car parking garage, would be built in a prominent location along Highway 50 between Shingle Springs Drive and Greenstone Road, he said.
That site until recently was occupied by a giant white tent that for a few months in 1997 housed a casino and bingo parlor.
The tribe hopes its outreach will build public support for the Highway 50 interchange, to be funded by Lakes Entertainment, the firm backing the casino. The cost is estimated at $40 million, Fonseca said.
Construction of what he described as a "high-speed flyway" remains blocked by lawsuits filed by El Dorado County and the citizens group Voices for Rural Living.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly found that the state Department of Transportation and Lakes Entertainment failed to show that the interchange would comply with state air pollution regulations.
The case is pending in the state's 3rd District Court of Appeal.
Jan and Tim Thomas of Pollock Pines said they patronize casinos at Lake Tahoe but would rather spend their money in the county instead of ...
Read More - Click Here
Though development of the proposed casino in western El Dorado County remains stymied by litigation over freeway access, leaders of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians stepped up their public outreach efforts Thursday. About a dozen people, including area residents and media representatives, participated in the first of planned twice-monthly tours of the casino site.
"We thought we would do this to inform the public, foe or friend," Fonseca said, explaining that he gave a similar tour to El Dorado County Supervisors Charlie Paine and Helen Baumann a couple of months ago. The county has sued to block construction of a Highway 50 interchange needed to serve the casino and the 160-acre rancheria.
Fonseca said people often are surprised to learn that the casino would be built behind a hill and would not be visible from the freeway.
Many think the complex, featuring an 82,000-square-foot gambling floor, five restaurants and a 3,000-car parking garage, would be built in a prominent location along Highway 50 between Shingle Springs Drive and Greenstone Road, he said.
That site until recently was occupied by a giant white tent that for a few months in 1997 housed a casino and bingo parlor.
The tribe hopes its outreach will build public support for the Highway 50 interchange, to be funded by Lakes Entertainment, the firm backing the casino. The cost is estimated at $40 million, Fonseca said.
Construction of what he described as a "high-speed flyway" remains blocked by lawsuits filed by El Dorado County and the citizens group Voices for Rural Living.
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly found that the state Department of Transportation and Lakes Entertainment failed to show that the interchange would comply with state air pollution regulations.
The case is pending in the state's 3rd District Court of Appeal.
Jan and Tim Thomas of Pollock Pines said they patronize casinos at Lake Tahoe but would rather spend their money in the county instead of ...
Read More - Click Here| Local News |
