SLIPPERY DEALS AND FOUL-UPS ATTRACT SAULT TRIBE CHAIRMAN

From The News-Herald...Huron Township. August 28TH, 2010

"She said it’s irrelevant that Pinnacle is in a land bank. She said the property has a value of $14.5 million, and should pay its taxes.
Mary Collins, a township Board of Review member, said at Wednesday’s meeting that she couldn’t believe an entity that size wasn’t taxed.

“I can’t figure out for the life of me how we missed Post-It Stables,” she said.

Crains Detroit

COMMENT FROM ANONYMOUS POSTER:
" JP... Post it Stables, owes the twp. police $150K for services rendered, they have not paid water bills on time, their electric has been shut off twice for non-payment, they have not lived up to their promises made to the twp. and they have not been good neighbors. They knew they owed taxes, Jerry Campbell is a multi-millionaire, and multi business owner. You can't tell me he didn't know that he owed taxes... "

Post-it Stables / Did the Sault Tribe Buy It?

Sault Ste. Marie, Mi...Did the Sault Tribe buy Post-it Stables (a horse racetrack) and the 320 acres it sits on for $180,000.00, plus back taxes of $1,460,000.00, or did it buy seven acres near the racetrack for the smaller figure.
Those questions were batted around yesterday by Huron Township and Wayne County officials. They concluded, that there has either been sloppy clerical work...as the sale recorded in the registers of deeds office is for the whole racetrack...or there has been some top secret communications going on between Post-it Stables and the Sault Tribe.

Seeking an answer to that question, The News Herald, providing news services to the lower river, called both the Wayne County Register of Deeds office and the Sault Tribe and neither had responded as of late yesterday.

Township officials say Post-it Stables also owes $150,000.00 for police protection and is in arrears with its water bill. Although no land use plans have been filed todate by the Sault Tribe, township officials speculate that they want to build a casino.

The answer is out there somewhere. Perhaps a board member can help you with it.

Thank you, Charles Forgrave

SURE SAW 'US' COMING!

Let's see now...blow $77,000,000.00 on attorneys and legal fees to come up with a plan to exit from bankruptcy but the Sault Tribe chairman, Joe McCoy, backed out at the last minute on 'said plan' even though it could have saved Greektown and kept it under the ownership of the Sault Tribe otherwise known as 'US'. Instead McCoy chose to give Greektown away but to "WHOM?"

Imagine what $77,000,000.00 could have provided for 'US'. 'US' would not have lost jobs and the 'Elder US' would not have been forced to give up so much including medical assistance. Those of 'US' who are students would not have had to give up education assistance that the leaders of 'US' provided very little of to begin with.

Investment firms were prepared to loan 'US' the money to pay off creditors at a very favorable rate with a payment plan that would still leave 'US' with the revenue to re-fund the lands claim that was drained to pay attorneys and poorly laid business plans which, as it turns out, amounted to none at all.

Now McCoy made the decision to purchase property at almost $26,000.00 an acre. Say what?!...$26,000.00 an acre?! Wow...what a lucky broker who made that deal and a seller who saw a sucker just waiting to bite. Did McCoy do it for 'US'? Not likely, since he never asked 'US' if it was okay to invest more of our money on something we were never informed of in the first place. Did McCoy send the Elders a thank you note for giving up so much so he could use more of their money without permission?

It's not really fair to say that 'THEY' saw 'US' coming...'THEY' did see McCoy, likely assisted by Bouschor, the king of failed business ventures, coming though....didn't they.

Sault Tribe Enters Into Another Mess?

"Another concern for Doom is that Post-It Stables sought and received a land division on the 320-acre property and sold seven acres to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians for $179,000 for to-be-determined development."

"A land division can’t be granted unless all taxes are paid in full, she said. There must be verification that all the taxes are paid."

Do we even own this land? And if we do, we certainly hope we are not going to get stuck with a tax bill. Why is it time and time again our leaders are incompetent to check all the facts before making such a purchase? We blame this on the old board.

Taxes

Nathan Wright

Michigan’s New Green Economy & Green Jobs

Experts gather at UAW Family Education Center on Black Lake to discuss

Michigan’s New Green Economy & Green Jobs

Featuring US Senator Debbie Stabenow


On Monday, August 30, numerous stakeholders from business, education and training, labor, environmental, and community organizations, who are currently working on various facets of creating a green economy, will gather at the UAW Family Education Center on Black Lake to discuss Michigan’s New Green Economy and Green Jobs.

The Panel Discussion promises to be an extraordinary event dedicated to transforming our ideas into action and building a revitalized, green economy that creates good jobs and preserves Michigan’s economic and environmental security. The meeting will include discussions by experts on policy, green job creation and workforce development, civic engagement and education, and sustainable development, followed by a roundtable discussion.

What: The Michigan’s New Green Economy & Green Jobs panel discussion is the premier event for bringing together key stakeholders - including union, economic developers, environmental, business and elected leaders - to share ideas and strategies for building the new, green economy. The discussion comes as the U.S. Senate is considering legislation that would drive the development of a clean energy economy.



When: Monday, August 30, 2010, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.


Where: Walter and Mae Reuther UAW Family Education Center, 2800 Maxon Rd. Onaway MI, 49765


Details: Statistical data proves Michigan needs to embrace the New Green Economy. There has been a paradigm shift to a new economy. Michigan has been the “green state” for decades with our natural resources and affinities, but that has not translated into economic growth. We will discuss the need to innovate and be on the forefront of the New Green Economy. We will also discuss regional growth plans and collaboration based on a strong vision and strategy.


PANELISTS:

KEYNOTE: US Senator Debbie Stabenow

Ric Evans, Paradigm Energy Services; Instructor, Northwestern Michigan Community College

Andy Hayes, President, Northern Lakes Economic Alliance

Kurt H. Schindler, AICP, Regional Land Use Educator, Michigan State University Extension

Beth L. Sommers, Green Jobs Specialist, Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth


COST: There are no registration Fees – Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation


RSVP: Brenda Archambo, archambo@src-milp.com


Name:

City/State:

Email:

Phone:


Brenda Archambo, MI Outreach Consultant
National Wildlife Federation
Phone: 231-625-2776 | archambo@src-milp.com

DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL?...NO DEAL

"According to the tribal constitution, members can referendum any expenditure of $10,000. The board hid the purchase, they broke tribal law."

The words of this anonymous poster regarding the recent expenditure of $180,000 for property near a racetrack near Detroit are worth taking into consideration.

Although real estate transactions may be discussed in closed session in order to secure the best deal, there is no reason to maintain the secrecy once the transaction has been made. We should also expect that a full, chronological accounting of all of the details regarding the Greektown catastrophe, as well as the voting matrix, will be published in an upcoming issue of the Sault Tribe newspaper because the members require an explanation of the who's and why's behind the failure.

Many Sault Tribe members feel that the action of withholding such extensive information involving finances is nothing short of a conspiracy. Billions of dollars have flowed through the tribe but members are not afforded the right to know how it is spent but they always seem to come up on the short end of the deal.

The 'Don't ask, Don't tell' theory doesn't apply here. If the members had more to say about how our money is spent there would likely be a lot fewer questionable deals being made.

TOO MANY QUESTIONS...TOO MANY SECRETS!

Why did McCoy pull the plug on Greektown when there is valuable proof that it could have been saved...legally, lucratively and with all cards in full view of everyone with an interest?

What part did Bernard Bouschor play in that decision?

Why did the Michigan Gaming Commission bypass the gaming license regulations to approve the new ownership?

What is the connection between allowing Greektown to be dumped and the purchase of property near a racetrack in Detroit?

What have McCoy and Bouschor gotten us into this time with the bigger question being...with whom?

Who stands to gain from all these questionable and secretive deals?

Will the Sault Tribe citizens see any benefits or did we just reinvest our future into another one of Bouschor's doomed-to-fail schemes?

What happened to the discussion between Bart Stupak and Sault Tribe regarding Greektown and the land it sits on? What is the reasoning behind the sudden silence?

We are a long way from having these questions answered but the answers are there and they will be found.

DID YOU KNOW...?

Did you know that the Sault tribe bought a parcel of land near the race track in the Detroit area for $179,000.00?

CRAIN"S DETROIT BUSINESS

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO GREEKTOWN

It is not just tribal members and employees of Greektown who ask the question: How did the Sault Tribe's Greektown Goldmine go bust? The answer to that lies heavily not with 'how?' but 'why?'.

A surprising, inside source has revealed the chronological events that led up to the sinking of Greektown. Thousands of hours were invested in a lengthy and laborious 2 year process that could have kept Greektown in the hands of it's rightful owners,the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and those who suffered the most over the loss...Sault Tribe members. Using the words of the source, "it was a trip down the Rabbit's Hole to Alice in Wonderland."

The investors were in place with the question being "how much does the tribe need to get Greektown out of debt?" The answer received to that question had more responses than a TV game show with none of them being the same answer twice. "All over the map" were the descriptive words used to define the response from McCoy, who couldn't even be clear and precise in such dire times, with one minute the need being $55 million, and the next, the 'price' jumping to $750 million.

Chairman McCoy and a handful of directors (count them on one hand plus 1 or 2?) sat on their haunches while a team of hired professionals, who specialize in locating the 'gold' by smoozing with big capital sources, worked diligently to present a "very, very attractive offer for the tribe." According to the source, "Everything was upfront, legal, on the table...nothing under...."

Instead of moving towards a resolution to save Greektown, McCoy and his team blew through an estimated $75 million for lawyers and bankruptcy costs and lost Greektown because they could never get their brains in formation enough to formulate a plan.

They blew it! The tribe's cash cow, that began making money hand over fist once the tribal authorities were removed from access to any decision making, now belongs to someone else. Tribal members lost jobs, our elders lost much in the way of healthcare and all members lost benefits due to the incompetence of those who could have saved our cash cow from being slaughtered.

So the question remains of not 'how' but 'WHY?'. That answer may someday be answered. Greektown is lost to the Sault Tribe but somebody, or several somebodies, won. WHO...and HOW MUCH?

Paquin Notice of Sentencing

Please CLICK HERE to see Fred Paquin's Notice of Sentencing.

Director Pine / A Crafty Legislator?

Sault Ste. Marie, Mi...The information packets given out to board members at the closed session asking them to drop the 7+1 case were collected by legal and directors were not allowed to keep any of them.

Interesting...was this the follow through of a crafty plan by a crafty tribal legislator to get her mother, Jolene Graham, and her mother's first cousin, director Bouchour, off the hook, allowing them to keep the unauthorized money they took from the tribe, or was it a legal issue?

Very likely it was the first...getting them off the hook? If so, it must have taken a lot of planning and coordination. And just possibly a little help from somewhere else, the chairman, perhaps, somebody in legal, director Bouchour? Somebody else...?

At any rate, this is a worst case example of a tribal director doing what amounts to taking the law into their own hands, and trying to litigate a lawsuit in a political forum instead of in a court of law where it belongs. Fortunately, the board of directors saw through what she was doing and struck her down...voting unanimously to forbid her to participate in any more discussion on the issue, and disqualifying her from any future vote on it.

Thank you, Charles Forgrave

Director Pine / A Snob?

Sault Ste. Marie, Mi...Tribal Internet writer's excite Director Pine's supporters. She made reference to this fact some time ago. In her first unit report the director gives Internet writer's a left handed compliment...awarding them with dubious credit for getting her elected.

But this is what Director Pine is all about: sending encoded messages to her supporters which she believes only they will understand. Just as she has encoded the behaviors of the real Anishanaabe.. kind and respectful people who are capable of unconditional love...she also has encoded the behaviors of Internet writer's...as those people who don't understand the ways of the real Anishanaabe.

Her reference to Internet writer's is delivered with tongue-in-cheek. It's almost as though she believes she has the market cornered when it comes to kindness and understanding.

What is missing from the paragraph, however...is simple honesty. Despite the fact that she makes reference to truth as being a real anishnabe value, she doesn't come across herself as being an 'honest In-jun'. Quite to the contrary, whereas Native Americans were known for their personal courage and honesty, director Pine comes across as someone who's a snob...as though she's putting on airs.

Thank you, Charles Forgrave

DEB PINE LIE # 1, 2,3 ?...TO BE CONTINUED

I received a string of emails today with numerous complaints about Deb Pine's claims that along with myself, Nathan Wright, Charles Forgraves, and Tony Grondin, all supported her in the recent election.

Well folks, that was a lie. Was it the 1st, 2nd, 3rd lie she has told or is it the 100th...who knows? Her arrogance and inability to speak the truth apparently blinded her to who she is up against. She picked the wrong group to lie about since we are among the most outspoken members of this tribe and aren't too likely to let such lies slide by.

I sent an email to my list of tribal members and wrote a message on my Facebook wall as well as on the wall of several tribal members, including Aaron Payment's, Charles Forgraves' and Nathan Wright's to let them know about Deb Pine's lie in her first opportunity to communicate with tribal members and this is nothing less than what most of us expected from Pine and will continue to expect from her. The others she lied about are taking similar actions.

You lied to the entire tribe, Deb Pine, and you had it published for free in the Sault Tribe paper. You have been abusing your power since the second you became a director. Those you lied about, and to, don't have the same opportunity to publish anything free in our own paper so we will use whatever means we have to counteract your lies.

One thing we have to be thankful for...Deb Pine cannot vote on any issues regarding the 7 + 2 lawsuit in which her mother played a significant role. So much effort was made by Bouschor and his cohorts to get her a seat on the board...all for nothing. Looks like the joke is on them. It's going to be an interesting 4 years...if she makes it that long.

Council woman, Deb Pine Lies To The Membership In First Unit Report

By Nathan Wright...from the Sault Tribe Guide
Pine's comments are an abuse of power, a display of poor judgement and lack integrity.

In Council woman Deb Pine’s Unit Report on page 24 of the August issue of Win Awenen Nisitotung (Sault Tribe Newspaper) she states, "I would like to thank the following for their unconditional love and support in that good anishinabe way." She then lists several people including myself who did not support her. I would like the Sault Tribe membership to know I did not support Deb Pine. This is an outright lie and should be a testament to her character. If she is willing to lie to you about this, then what else will she lie to us about? I feel justified in calling it a lie because if it were only meant to be sarcastic, it was lost on 99.9% of membership; so what’s the point?

One of the biggest reasons I did not support Deb Pine was due to her unwavering blind support of Bernard Boushor. Recently Deb handed out a document outlining Bernard and her mother’s contributions to the Sault Tribe prepared by Bernard's attorneys to the board in a closed meeting. The Sault Tribe attorney immediately picked up these documents and the board voted unanimously to keep Deb out of participating in the Tribe’s case against Bernard’s due to her conflicts of interests. In Deb’s view she believes because Bernard and her mom brought the tribe so much money we should overlook the money he owes the tribe. I disagree. Unethical behavior, such as stealing Tribal artifacts and robbing the Tribal coffers in the dead of night, cannot be wiped away by any good deeds of the past. One could also argue that while Bernard and Deb’s mother did in fact bring money in to Sault Tribe, they were hired, and paid a hefty sum to do so. Remember this was no beneficent act on their part. It was their JOB!

The above article can be read in full at http://saulttribeguide.blogspot.com/2010/08/deb-pine-lies-to-membership-in-first.html

CHECK OUT THIS LINK

Very Interesting...

KARMA FINDS KIBBLE

Holly Kibble joined the ranks of the unemployed recently much to the surprise of those she supervised and worked with.

Recently Kibble was arrested for drunk driving and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. According to the current Sault Tribe personnel policy, her actions were cause for immediate termination. Kibble, who tried to make excuses and downplay her activities that led to the charges against her, failed to convince the judge that it was just a mistake...no big deal.

A former employee, who was terminated for a similar but lesser charge, pushed hard at the McCoy administration to force them to abide by the same standards that are applied to all other employees. This is how you make things happen...you stand up and make your voice heard.

Kibble has been throwing her weight around at the wrong people and for the wrong reasons for too long. Karma finally found her.

NO NEWS

So far there has been no validity to a report of more arrests. Wishful thinking perhaps but so far the source has been unable to substantiate the information.