Since January, the Shawnee Tribe Gaming Commission are the new residents of 314 Northridge Circle in Guymon, OK. Commission staff moved out and began setting up the new office space in under a week, without any interruption to the operations of the Golden Mesa Casino.
“Our staff was growing, and our building wasn’t,” said Gaming Commission Director Otis Hughs. “We have regulations to maintain, and we were simply at capacity for safety and storage.”
In addition to more office and breakroom space for staff, the new location enhances the Commission’s ability to store valuable and confidential information securely as required by law and offers a safer workspace in general. The previous building had a single point of entry and no emergency exits.
“This made it difficult for us to write procedures that would assist in helping staff and guests in case of emergencies,” continued Hughs.
Beyond safety and security, the Gaming Commission is able to keep up with the demand of vendor applicants from the expansion of the casino and hotel. Applicants include construction employees in addition to new casino and hotel staff.
“My office at the old address also functioned as the conference room,” said Deputy Director Lisa Gipson. “We can now host our trainings in this new conference room, and I get an office all to myself!”
“I want to express our gratitude to our tribal leaders for listening to our needs and making this move a possibility in a short amount of time, said Hughs. “I also want to express appreciation to my staff – they worked extremely hard to get moved into our new building in a short timeframe. I couldn’t ask for a better team!”
The Shawnee Tribe is accepting public comments from tribal citizens about the Low Income Home Energy Program (LIHEAP) in preparation for next fiscal year, which begins October 1. All Shawnee households residing in the state of Oklahoma are encouraged to provide comments. Submit comments here through Monday, August 27, 2026. The LIHEAP program also still has funding […]
The Shawnee Tribe is proud to celebrate the accomplishments of Marina Staubus, whose artwork Whispers in the Wind earned First Place in the Painting category at the 2026 55th Annual Trail of Tears Art Show in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Marina, a Shawnee Tribe citizen, continues a family tradition of service and dedication to the Tribe as the daughter of Mike Staubus, […]
A traditional bow-making workshop recently brought together Shawnee youth and cultural instructors to share knowledge, skills, and values that have been passed down through generations. The opportunity began when a request was made to teach Shawnee relatives the traditional craft of bow making. Having previously shared these skills with Muscogee participants, the instructors were honored […]
By David Pollack, A. Gwynn Henderson, and Edward R. Henry A people’s relationship to their homeland is dynamic. How they alter the landscape reflects their sense of place, their social relationships, and their connections to their ancestors. This is as true now as it was in the past. The North Elkhorn Creek Earthworks Around 500 […]
The Hidden Cost of Four Everyday Products When we buy a product, we usually see only the price on the shelf. What we don’t see is the environmental cost of making it. For example, it takes about 2,700 liters (713 gallons) of water to produce a single cotton T-shirt—about the same amount one person drinks […]
Mark McDowell, Treasurer and Keni Hood, Business Council Seat 7 have filed seeking re-election to their respective offices. The filing period for candidates has passed, with no additional candidates declaring their intention to run for office. Therefore, in accordance with Title 6, Sec. 6.20.080 of the Shawnee Election Act, both unopposed candidates are hereby deemed […]
YOUR CAN COULD BE BACK ON THE SHELF IN JUST 60 DAYS! You enjoy your beverage and recycle your aluminum can. Recycling trucks collect the cans and take them to a facility to be sorted. The cans are cleaned and shredded into small pieces. The aluminum pieces are melted down and rolled into large sheets. […]
The Shawnee Tribe’s Environmental Department recently hosted a hands-on learning experience focused on water systems, runoff, and watershed education in the Miami community. During the event, students participated in the installation of a rain barrel system while learning how rainfall moves through local watersheds and contributes to flooding.