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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... Standing guard ... City gears up for hearings on future growth ... Medford School District on the hunt for teachers ... MEDFORD Public weighs in on proposed Medford casino Most speak against building gambling center in city, others stress importance of jobs Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 3, 2015 at 8:51 PM Updated Feb 3, 2015 at 10:34 PM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 3, 2015 at 8:51 PM Updated Feb 3, 2015 at 10:34 PM --> What do you think?Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this story? Send a letter to the editor at www.mailtribune.com/sendletter . » Social News Local residents and members of several tribes offered dueling visions of what a proposed casino in Medford would do to Southern Oregon. Many came sporting bright yellow T-shirts proclaiming their opposition to a Medford casino, while others wore green shirts saying "Yes to Jobs!" during a Tuesday public hearing held by the Bureau of Indian Affairs at North Medford High School. Most spoke out against a proposal by the Coquille Tribe to build a casino at the Roxy Ann Lanes bowling alley and the former Kim's restaurant on South Pacific Highway in south Medford near Harry & David operations. The Coquille tribe already runs The Mill Casino in North Bend on the southwest Oregon coast. Many said the Coquille tribe has no ancestral claim to land in the Rogue Valley and allowing members a second casino would break Oregon's practice of allowing one casino per tribe. Barbara Barnes, a retired mental health caseworker for Jackson County, said she has seen firsthand the ravages of problem gambling, including bankruptcy, divorce, suicide and criminal activity. She said a casino would tempt hard-working people to blow their paychecks in the vain hope of winning. Medford resident Bill Mansfield said a casino's purpose is to separate people from their money. "Let us not allow this sleazy business to come into the city of Medford with their toxic product," he said. Jackson County Commissioner Doug Breidenthal, Medford City Attorney John Huttl, and retired Jackson County Sheriff, commissioner and Talent Police Chief C.W. Smith said elected representatives in the Rogue Valley, Oregon and Congress have concerns about the proposed casino. Breidenthal said county officials are concerned about increases in addictive behavior and additional strain on police and fire departments, the Jackson County Jail, the District Attorney's Office, the transportation system and more. Members of the Shasta tribe said they have ancestral ties to the Rogue Valley, while members of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe said a Medford casino would decimate their Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville between Grants Pass and Roseburg. About 50 percent of visitors to Seven Feathers come from the Rogue Valley, they said. The Medford casino would result in few net new jobs in Southern Oregon because employees would be laid off at Seven Feathers, Cow Creek tribal members said. The resort announced 93 layoffs Monday, putting part of the blame on talk of a Medford casino. Cow Creek Human Resources Director Andrea Davis said Seven Feathers revenue helps fund a food bank, child care, shoes and coats, energy bill assistance programs and other services for tribal children, elders and others. She said a decision to allow a Medford casino would hurt generations of Cow Creek tribal members. "The Coquille should not benefit from our loss," Davis said. Some residents said a Medford casino would siphon money from the Rogue Valley to Coquille tribal members in the North Bend-Coos Bay area. Coquille Tribe Chairperson Brenda Meade countered that a Medford casino would help her tribe fund health care, education and housing programs, while also providing jobs. "They will be good-paying jobs with excellent benefits," she said. The Coquille tribe estimates it would make an initial investment of $11 million for construction, would make $6.1 million in local purchases during the first year of operations and would create 233 full-time jobs — with 90 percent of those jobs filled by non-tribal community members. The proposed Medford casino would only allow certain kinds of video gambling. It would have a different classification from casinos such as Seven Feathers, which allow traditional house games such as blackjack and roulette. Written comments on the casino proposal are due by Feb. 17 and can be mailed to Stanley Speaks, Northwest Regional Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Northwest Region, 911 N.E. 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97232-4165. For more information, call 503-231-6749. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous . By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 3, 2015 at 8:51 PM Updated Feb 3, 2015 at 10:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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