GAMING COMMISSION GROWTH PROMPTS MOVE INTO NEW OFFICE BUILDING

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!”

Back

More News

Mar 9, 2026

WEEMEYAKWE: COMING HOME -- CATAHECASSA'S 1816 VISIT TO EASTERN CLARK COUNTY, KENTUCKY

By A. Gwynn Henderson and David Pollack On September 7, 1816, readers skimming the Niles’ Weekly Register might have noticed a story about two groups of Shawnee men visiting central Kentucky. It appears on a page with a variety of national and international news: an accounting of how many immigrants had arrived in America, details […]

Read More
Mar 5, 2026

CELEBRATING AMERICA RECYCLES DAY AT THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) NATION RECYCLING EVENT!

On November 15, Shawnee Tribe’s Environmental Manager, Cindy Riley, participated in the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s recycling event to explore new ways of collecting and processing materials—from electronics and batteries to tires, and many more items—and to bring those best practices back to our own tribal community. Key takeaways: Next steps: Together, we can grow our […]

Read More
Mar 4, 2026

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: TINY BUT TOXIC - BUTTON BATTERIES

Button cell batteries are the small, flat, round batteries found in watches, hearing aids, key fobs, calculators, toys, and medical devices. They may be tiny, but they contain valuable materials and can create safety hazards if thrown in the trash. Because they are so small, button batteries are often tossed with household waste. However, lithium […]

Read More
Mar 2, 2026

WRAP UP: TEMPORARY EMERGENCY FOOD BENEFIT ASSISTANCE

On October 22, 2025, the Shawnee Tribe was notified that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would pause operations during the month of November due to a protracted government shutdown. In response, the Shawnee Tribe developed the Temporary Emergency Food Benefit Assistance Program, which was established by October 29, 2025, to support Shawnee Tribe families […]

Read More
Feb 26, 2026

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT: MAG WALLS 105TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

Meet Magdalene “Mag” Walls, a proud Shawnee citizen born on February 25, 1921, in Ramona, Oklahoma. Her early years were spent in Ramona before her family moved to White Oak, where Mag attended grade school and met her first husband. Together, they had two wonderful children, Deloris and Jim. In 1942, Mag embarked on a […]

Read More
Feb 24, 2026

CHIEF RON SPARKMAN SHAWNEE TRIBE COUNCIL CHAMBERS

On Monday December 8, the new Chief Ron Sparkman Shawnee Tribe Council Chambers, located at 29 S. Main Street, held its naming, dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The newly designed interiors included the main tribal chambers, private tribal chambers, kitchen and prep space, restrooms, and a private meeting space all adorned with modern flooring, walls, lighting, […]

Read More
Feb 23, 2026

CALL FOR PROJECTS: 2026 SHAWNEE LANGUAGE FAIR

Shawnee language learners of all ages and abilities are invited to join the Shawnee Language Immersion Program for the 2026 Language Fair, Dinner and Stomp Dance on Saturday, July 25 in Miami, OK. Citizens of all three Shawnee nations are eligible to participate. Over $6,000 in prizes will be awarded to the top three winners […]

Read More
Feb 5, 2026

RECYCLING SPOTLIGHT: HOW TO RECYCLE CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Did you know that the average US Citizen throws away an average of 70 lbs. of clothing annually? The fashion industry is a major contributor to global pollution, generating about 10% of annual CO₂ emissions. Reusing, donating, or recycling clothing helps reduce its environmental impact. Clean Out Your Closet—Responsibly Finished cleaning out your closet and […]

Read More
See All News