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Western Cherokee
News and Information
Where has the money gone?
Since the court case were James Ellis was a defendant and
was able to taken over the WC, over $22,000 and no accounting for it! If the Winnebago is
sold at valued price it will be at least $34,000 to $44,000 without
accounting.
March 20, 2008 or about it was accounted that they are
selling 1988 Winnebago 35' Motor home (Bid Item)
The average selling price for a 1988 Winnebago is $10,000 and the donation
receipt given to the family which donated it was $10,000.
It was stated the last years powwow was a great success, in the past that
would be between $3,000 to $5,000 profit.
The monthly dinners do not seem to be happening anymore. In 2006 it was
just starting to make a profit with the help of several volunteers that
put allot into it.
If sold for the donated price, this should be about $40,000 plus other
incomes that we know of that has gone into the WC.
To the best of my memory for the following:
Average monthly income w/donations without events was $200 to $300 or a
little more.
Monthly expenses before 2006
$175 rent
electric for office and complex
heating oil for office
phone
internet
Expenses that are no longer:
$175 rent for office
Electric and Heating oil for office.
Work that can be seen, some painting on the inside of the Complex, known
by a few pictures on their web-site.
Nothing outside can be seen other than what was said to be a restroom
which was started a year ago and is not finished.
Since 2006 there has been no more painting on the cafeteria building or
gymnasium.
Roof on gym is still in great need of repair.
Some work and improvements 2006 and before James Ellis.
Council Chambers, PA system, Pews, Council Table, Executive Table,
Curtains (nothing fancy) Mostly donated items (work done by volunteers)
Repair showers & toilets at Complex (volunteers)
New doors on front of gym (volunteers and doors donated)
Cleaning the bird droppings from all 3 floors from years of buildup
(volunteers)
New Windows at Complex, (Approx $1,600 or more)
Built Kitchen & Dinning Room, ($3000 or more and many donation items)
Commercial Stove, 3 door ref, commercial sink, tables & chairs, deep
fryer, 3 kitchen stoves, wiring, building of shelves, wall and to many
items to remember. (work done by volunteers)
Altec Lancing Professional PA System (Approx. $500 plus additions and
repairs (cost new approx $6,000))
Painting of cafeteria (was not finished) (work done by volunteer)
Repair of water lines (approx. $400 plus for materials and rental of
backhoe, work done by volunteers)
Repair of water lines for rental house (work done by volunteers)
Replacing furnace in rental house (work done by volunteers)
Repairing sewer line at rental house (work done by volunteers)
Building arbor for Powwows (work done by volunteers)
Building MC stand for Powwow (work done by volunteers)
Making Lights for Powwow (work done by volunteers)
Building ramp with front loader (dozer type) for handicap for Powwow
(work done by volunteer)
The above is what can be remembered at the time of writing this, there is
much more.
When everything was turned over to James Ellis et al there was around
$1,500 in the checking accounts.
Without have minutes posted and people being refused
information there is no way of knowing if this money is being used to
benefit the Western Cherokee. Are funds able to be accounted for? Is the
money being spent properly?
Enrollment (posted 12/30/07)
Over the months since the so called election John Watson has received
several phone calls from people saying they still have not received their
enrollment cards. What can they do to help get things right since they are
not members? They can let you know and you say something, how enrollment
was being handled was a big part of what started the court proceedings and
maybe you the people can see what former Chief Summers and former Vice
Chief Watson were saying.
Workday (posted 12/30/07)
Several emails were forwarded, dated Friday December 28, 2007,
which informed people of a workday on
Saturday December 29, 2007.
For those who thought about helping or even went to the
trouble to show up to help for the workday that was reported by a
council person
on that Friday, Sorry but if you went to help, no one was
there, if you thought about helping and didn't you saved yourself time and
gas money.
Dec 29, 2007 after receiving a phone call about
11:00 AM that someone went to help but no one was there. Later reported by someone driving past
the complex at 12:00 PM, no one there, pictures taken at 2:00 PM, 12/29/07
(see below) shows no
one there. What is seen is mattresses laying outside the garage door and
folding tables or boards leaning against the RV, toys everywhere and just
a mess.
Pictures at 4:00 PM 12/29/07 (see below) still no one
around.
Pictures taken 11:30AM 12/30/07 (see below) and nothing
changed.
2 pictures 2:00 PM, 12/29/07
Pictures at 4:00 PM 12/29/07 (see below) still no one
around.
Pictures taken 11:30AM 12/30/07 (see below) and nothing
changed.
Remember this happened before and they cleaned it up,
maybe they will again to help the name of the Western Cherokee.
Follow up to pictures above
January 7, 2008. eight days after the
so called cleanup day pictures were taken to see if anything had been done
to clean up the Western Cherokee Complex.
Tarp still hanging from MC stand and the last event was in May of 2007
Boards or tables and tires still next to RV and picture does not show all
the toys just laying around.
Mattresses still sitting next to garage doors.
Illegal Removal of Elder
Western Cherokee governing body act without following
Constitution and By-laws by removing an Elder without notifying him of
having a hearing which are recallable actions.
See letter here.
By the signatures within the non-legal document (it's a copy also), it
would appear Carlo "Halkwalker" Carlino, Diane Dee, Jim "Little Chief"
Gowan, Laurie "RedElk" Spencer, Susie Bailey and Estelle "Bea" Foster were
all part of this illegal action.
Western
Cherokee Constitution requires Council to remove elected and appointed
officials but when was the last time they followed the
Constitution and By-laws.
This copy of the letter was dated June 9, 2007 but was not
mailed until October 10, 2007 by registered mail. The so called action
they removed this Elder for was about a small piece of paper (2" X 4")
James Ellis gave Elder Horton at a meeting, saying that he felt the
actions of Council needed reviewing but Council was already looking at the
action and dealing with it.
Rumors are not something that should be taken to heart and
this is rumor. Several people felt the court allowed them to control our
election and take over because the City of Salem wants the Complex (Old
Middle School) back. Someone this week of 11/19/2007 told me that the
person that donated the 13 acres to us was looking for the attorney that
was working with the city to take back the Old Middle School (Complex)
because he wanted his 13 acres back. We can only wait to see the results
of this rumor.
Chief Summers and Vice Chief Watson had people ready to
start tuck pointing and remodeling when we got the grants but Mr. Ellis
called some of them liars and will not work with them. Also we had one of
the best grant writers in Missouri to help with grants but that is not
going to happen now due to Mr. Ellis lying to her.
Former Vice Chief Watson Returns property w/James Ellis and
Wanda Campbell signing for it. Also present is Shawna Ellis and Larry Bailey.
Signed document here
Final
Judgement
Diane Dee, Eric Smith, Janet Smith, and Ron Clark are no longer
associated with the Western Cherokee according to their web-sites. This
puts Council down to 5 members but they claimed there are
no vacancies after the last
election they claimed to have, so people must be leaving,
no Secretary or Treasure,
and 5 Elders. Why have you not been told these things. Also someone from
the board has left.
The
Constitution and By-laws require the same
people holding Executive and Council to be board members but they have not
been abiding by that part either, using the court as an excuse.
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