WC FAQ's

Over the past year Chief Jerry Summers, Vice Chief John Watson, Council Persons Jeff Cover, Ron Quick and Barbara Emmons have been working to get back what belongs to the Western Cherokee. The story is simple but those who broke into our offices and took everything including your records, desks, computer, etc. have worked very hard at confusing people.

Today Chief Jerry Summers, Vice Chief John Watson and the Western Cherokee Non-Profit has a court order telling them to turn all property over to the above mentioned. They have refused to abide by all three court orders.

The simple side of this story is James Ellis and Gail McElfresh were placed on recall, instead of waiting to see if the charges had any merit, they made more allegations on everyone who disagreed with them than you could imagine. They used every issue they could and have tried to turn it into something that makes them sound like they are in the right.

They gathered those who had disenfranchised themselves over the years and took over our meeting.

A week later they broke into our office and took physical control of everything and have been holding it force. These pages are a hope to clear up the confusion.

A year later James Ellis et al have NOT produced one piece of evidence to support their allegations against five officials, now seven.

February Meeting: Gail McElfresh excepts position of Treasurer and Secretary and resigns later that same month.

Treasurer Gail McElfresh Resignation Letter. (pdf) to take effect June 30, 2006 but she told the court it was rescinded in July which is after the date given. She told the court she never even talked to Chief Summers or Vice Chief Watson about this. She told the court she told James Ellis and Lisa Thompson, now defendants and Mr. Ellis was on suspension. If she did rescind her resignation and tell Ms. Lisa Thompson which was Council Secretary, Ms, Thompson never mentioned this to anyone either.

After reading her resignation one should note, all issues on how enrollment is being done outside of changes brought to Council should have been taken up with the Dir. of Enrollment Shawna Ellis (James Ellis's wife) or Geneva Merritt which had Ms. Ellis's Power of Attorney.

Ms. McElfresh brings up issues which would have been implemented by Janet Smith, Laurie Spencer and/or Shawna Ellis when they were in Enrollment which are all associates of the defendants. These problems, if even true should have been mentioned before at office meetings or to Council.

June 2006 Meeting: James Ellis and Geneva Merritt resign from their positions on the Election Board in the case they decided to run for office.

July 13, 2006 on or about: Vice Chief Watson and James Ellis have an argument about James Ellis demanding files from Election which he had resigned from.

Council discovers James Ellis and Gail McElfresh has not been honest with them and did tell an employee how she was to do her job and that she needed to resign and the employee files a complaint. Allegations start about wrong doing of Vice Chief.

July 23, 2006: Council/Board passes Resolution to protect Tribal Property due to James Ellis refusing to abide by a Council/Board directive and there were allegations of missing files.

July 24, 2006: Chief Summers asks for an investigation on all allegations being made by James Ellis and Gail McElfresh. See report investigation here

August 19, 2006 Meeting: A small group of people take over our meeting. James Ellis ignores every motion made by Council, every attempt to get things under control and threats of riot, shoving a spear in Chief Summers face, break arrows and throw them, and more disrespect is shown than one could imagine. See video of the day James Ellis admits the day was about his concerns and was not a hearing but he was placed on the agenda for his charges to be heard at the beginning of the meeting.

August 25, 2006: Tim Spencer sent out email suggesting the use of more force. Claims it is about taking the tribe back but today it looks more like taking the tribe. Also is quoted as saying "I am truly too tired to care who wins, because when this is all over, I'm going to try to go away for good - also, that is why I really don't care who I happen to piss-off or whose feelings I hurt by telling the truth."

James Ellis and Geneva Merritt claim to hold a meeting and place Lancer Blair and Shawn Hayes as proxies for two council members without their knowledge. This meeting is done without the knowledge of the Executive Office or three Council members.

August 27, 2006: Defendants and associates a small group breaks into our offices and takes physical control of everything. See video of how we see they broke into our offices. Later we discover some of them are proud to be part of the small group that took over.

September 1, 2006: Defendants and associates have a WC member arrested when he goes to pick up his personal property. James Ellis publicly claims a retired man, going to pick up his wife's personal property, that he made an appointment to be there, assaulted Geneva Merritt and had him arrested for assault. They make allegations that one of the five they are trying to remove sent him there. Charges are later dropped and there is no evidence of the case.

September 11, 2006: Vice Chief Watson files a Statement of Correction as to who the Official are.

September 19, 2006: Chief Summers, Vice Chief Watson and the Western Cherokee Non-Profit Corp. file suit against James Ellis, Geneva Merritt, Gail McElfresh, Lancer Blair, Lisa Thompson, and Lancer Blair.
Case filed with the 42nd Circuit Court of Missouri, Dent County.

Missouri CaseNet, up to date court dates and judgments

And search Case Number: 06DE-CC00032

October 12, 2006: Salem News Suit claims Western Cherokee being run illegally

October: The group that took over claim there are now Elders with them today CLAIMING Laurie Spencer, James "Jim" Gowan, and Susie Bailey as being Elders, this is NOT TRUE.

January 30, 2007: Judge Orders election.

February 9,2007: Defendants file Motion to set aside election and proceed with Hearing claming Plaintiffs created an unfair environment for them to have a fair chance to run for office.

March 23, 2007: Judge signs Order of Preliminary Injunction in favor of Chief Summers, Vice Chief Watson and the Western Cherokee. Defendants refuse to turn over property.

March 27, 2007: Defendants file Suggestions In Support of the Motion to Reconsider and to Set Aside. Judge give Defendants a chance to make their case. Posting when available.

April 14, 2007: Plaintiffs attempted to hold meeting, James Ellis objects before the meeting ever starts. Meeting lasts less than 15 minutes

* View Meeting Only by clicking here, 14 min. 21 sec.
* View Meeting from getting out of the car to returning to the car by clicking here, Foul language is included, not for children. 23 min. 42 sec.

* See Minutes by Clicking here.

April 30, 2007: Defendants file Brief Issues Regarding Temporary Relief Sought By All Parties. Posting when available.

May 9. 2007: Plaintiffs file Reply Brief

May 18, 2007: Judge signs Amended Preliminary Injunction in favor of Chief Summers, Vice Chief Watson and the Western Cherokee. Defendants refuse to turn over property.

May 23, 2007: Vice Chief Watson assaulted at Complex while in possession of a Court Order by James Gowan and Larnce Bailey. NEW -> See part of Video the day Vice Chief was assaulted and is told he is trespassing by Tim Spencer . Laurie Spencer would not let Vice Chief into the building. 5 min. 11 sec.

June 1. 2007: Tim Spencer an associate of the Defendants and husband to Laurie Spencer writes letter to Letter to Judge Schuller. It is seen as a threat to anyone they deem as an enemy.

June 15, 2007: Defendants and Associates James Ellis, James (Jim) Gowan, Gail McElfresh, Geneva Merritt, Larnce (Larry) Bailey, Wanda Campbell, Francis (Fran) Rutherford, Lisa Thompson and others files with he court an Unincorporated Association putting the people and their personal property and assets at risk.

Plaintiffs Jerry Summers, John Watson support the Western Cherokee as an Organized Non-Profit other supports of the Western Cherokee as an Organized group are Roberta Miller, Ronald Quick, Jeff Cover, Barbara Emmons, and Cynthia (RedEarth Crow) Cooper.

Names in blue are running for Offices with the Western Cherokee as an Organized Group.

June 18, 2007: Court Rules in favor of the Plaintiffs Jerry Summers, John Watson, Western Cherokee and orders an election.

July 2, 2007: Defendants file Objections to Add Ons and Changes arguing the peoples right to vote resulting in registered voters being removed and not able to vote.

July 16, 2007: James Ellis tell the City Mayor and Aldermen the Western Cherokee property is not supposed to be in the name of the Western Cherokee Non-Profit, that is should be in the name of the Western Cherokee which is an Unincorporated Association.

Defendants are quoted as saying "Over the past few months our people have come back home so to say, our Tribal center is alive with our families, our children, and our guest." See how much truth is in the words of the defendants and their associates by CLICKING HERE TO See the pictures by .

There have been many claims of wrongdoing by the Defendants but a year later they have not shown anyone any evidence of their claims.

Many of you have received ballots, you choose if you wish to support those who wish the Western Cherokee to be an Organized Group by supporting:

Those who are part of refusing to abide by a court, and/or emptied our offices, etc, etc. want your support:

James Ellis, Pres.
James (Jim) Gowan, V/Pres
Gail McElfresh, Tres.
For The Board
Geneva Merritt,
Larnce (Larry) Bailey,
Wanda Campbell,
Francis (Fran) Rutherford,
Lisa Thompson

Those who the court has supported with an Amended Preliminary Injunction and/or supports the Western Cherokee to be an Organized Group: