Olympic Dream Still in Sight Fountainhead Is Now Open up for Business Confirmed Security Incident
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NATIVE AMERICAN JOURNALISM ASSOCIATION AND SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST AWARD WINNING PUBLICATION JUNE 1, 2020 | “KVCO HVSE” BLACKBERRY MONTH | VOL. 50, ISSUE11 OLYMPIC DREAM STILL IN SIGHT BRANDEE PRESLEY SEEKS HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN HER TRACK AND FIELD PURSUITS AT OLE MISS LANI HANSEN REPORTER OKMULGEE, Oklahoma– With cancellations of her out- door track and field season, Muscogee (Creek) citizen Brandee Presley continues to focus on an Olympic dream. Presley spoke with Mvskoke Media in August 2019 after bringing home two medals from the Pan Am U20 Cham- pionships in San Jose, Costa Rica. Since then she has broke Ole Miss’ Indoor Track and Field school record at 7.18 sec- onds which was her best time. “I had the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships, but with the MCN Casinos implement re-opening plan after being closed since March due to Covid-19. (Shutterstock) pandemic going on they can- celed that and the whole season,” Presley said. “This CASINOS ANNOUNCE REOPENING PLAN FOR JUNE 1 put a damper on my hopes of Brandee Presley (Submission) OFFICIALS RELEASE PHASE 1 OF A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY PLAN FOR REOPENING having a great outdoor season and making my run for the The 2020 Olympic Trials FOR IMMEDIATE Monday, June 1. Authority Board, the Nation’s Olympics. But its also given me were set for June 19 through RELEASE “Our first priority is, and will Health Department and the Nation’s a chance to breath a little bit June 28, but since the Coro- remain, the health and well-being Office of Public Gaming have now and nurse my ankle that I had navirus Pandemic the Olym- TULSA, Oklahoma – Muscogee of 2,200 employees and the thou- approved the first phase of our com- since last year outdoor season.” pics have been postponed until (Creek) Nation Principal Chief sands of guests that visit our prop- prehensive reopening plan.” This setback has allowed 2021. David Hill and River Spirit Casino erties. We have methodically stud- The casinos will officially open Presley to take time before Presley plans on going Resort Chief Executive Officer Pat ied the regional data and prepared a to the public at 10 am on Monday, trying out for the Olympics through the 2021 Olympic Crofts announced today phase one plan encompassing best practices in June 1. Officials suspended oper- which has been her dream trials when the time comes. of plans to reopen nine Muscogee the industry,” said Principal Chief ations on Monday, March 16 as a since last time she spoke to “The trials are right after (Creek) Nation Casinos, includ- David Hill. Mvskoke Media and probably ing River Spirit Casino Resort, on “The Gaming Operations GAMING– 2 before then. OLYMPIC– 2 FOUNTAINHEAD IS NOW OPEN UP FOR BUSINESS NEW MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES TO BE OFFERED TO SINGLE GOLFERS AND FAMILIES Morgan Taylor REPORTER EUFAULA, Oklahoma – Life has slowly began returning to normal for some businesses. The Fountainhead Creek Golf Course is one of the first to re-open as of Monday, May 18. It has been over a month since the course has shut down. The course is located in the Eufaula State Park. Director of Tourism and Rec- reation Kyle Lee said the course is taking extra precautionary measure to protect employees, Precautionary measures taken to re-open after golfing has been on hold due to COVID-19. members and customers. (Clinton Sinclair/Videographer) “In the pro-shop where people check in a piece of Plexi- amount of people who can be on Fountainhead staff were able glas has been put up in order to a golf course at one time. to maintain working during protect the staff and the people “If the course gets that busy the COVID-19 shut down other who are golfing,” Lee said. “We and it becomes an issue, we than the high-risk employees MCN Officials confirm cyber security incident under investigation. (Shutterstock) have put out extra hand sanitizer will confront it then but I don’t explained Lee. all around, we clean the carts believe in that being an issue,” “We were left with about four more thoroughly with upgraded said Lee. or five guys working that main- CONFIRMED SECURITY INCIDENT cleaners after each use.” With the exception of high- tained the grounds, which was a MCN CYBER SECURITY INCIDENT UNDER INVESTIGATION Golfers are being presented risk employees, Fountainhead job we couldn’t stop doing.” with the option to have one employees were able to continue The golf course is launching WITH AUTHORITIES, FULL REPORT EXPECTED SOON golfer per cart by not charging working. Updates and renova- membership packages and offer- Angel Ellis 24. MCN personnel received then for the second care if it is tions were made during the shut ing more beer selections to help REPORTER internal communications that two people. down. promote the opening. day stating that the tribe would “Luckily golf is outside and “We have spent time while “I’ve been making a lot OKMULGEE, Oklahoma– close operations for the remain- you can easily practice social the course was closed making of trips to Fountainhead and A discussion held in the May 7, der of the day due to I.T issues. distancing while golfing, the upgrades. We worked with the working with our supervisor Business, Justice and Finance For several days follow- only interaction is in the club- Tribal Construction making Larry Patterson to oversee the meeting has lead to confirma- ing the announcement many house where people pay and we some renovations on the club- upgrades and make sure the tion that the Muscogee (Creek) departments reported issues have been sure to keep that as house and added a 70-inch TV. course was ready to reopen. We Nations recent I.T. issues that with e-mails. safe as possible,” said Lee. We painted and rearranged the launched membership packages the tribe experienced was a “Immediately upon learn- The golf club is also offering pro-shop and made it a bit more that Fountainhead hasn’t had in cyber security incident. The ing of this incident, the Nation a limited menu for patrons. modern. We got new beer cool- a couple years. We have different tribe along with forensic engaged a leading computer “We are serving mostly pre- ers and more beer selections. We options for the family or single experts and law enforcement forensics firm that got together packaged food with the excep- are having new signs made that memberships,” said Lee. are still investigating the inci- with law enforcement both tion of a few items that don’t we will put outside. We made For those interested in vis- dent. tribal and outside law enforce- require a lot of contact.” Lee the most of our time by continu- iting or needing further infor- MCN Press Secretary Jason ment agencies to lead an inves- said. ing to work on the on grounds mation contact Fountainhead Salsman confirmed that the Currently there are no and the course looks as good as Creek Golf Course at 918-689- incident took place on April SECURITY– 2 requirements to limit the ever,” said Lee. 3209. • P.O. BOX 580 - OKMULGEE, OK 74447 • 918.732.7720 • MVSKOKEMEDIA.COM • @MVSKOKEMEDIA PAGE 2 THE MVSKOKE NEWS HOKKÔLEN Security vide updates as we obtain them published to the media depart- Continued from Page 1 and get the relevant informa- ments YouTube channel, Sals- tion out,” Salsman said. “But man said that the I.T. depart- tigation into the matter,” Sals- because this is an ongoing ment was handling the situation man said. “That incident is still matter, we are not releasing any well. under investigation.” specific details at this time.” “Again, I don’t want to jeop- “At this time we don’t have “We don’t want to compro- ardize where we are at in this any indications or reports that mise the effectiveness of this process,” Salsman said. “But tribal citizens or employees investigation.” the I.T. department has done a personal information has been Salsman said the focus of the fantastic job of getting us back used for identity theft or fraud Executive Branch is to bring the to operational to a great per- stemming from this incident.” responsible party to justice. centage, I just can’t an exact McGirt heard by the Supreme Court via teleconference during COVID-19 social distancing. He also said that for now, the “We don’t want to compro- number on it.” (Shutterstock) specific details of the investiga- mise any progress that has been Mvskoke Media will con- tion could not be discussed. made so far,” Salsman said. tinue to monitor the topic and USSC HEARS MCGIRT ARGUMENTS “Since this is an ongoing In the weekly press briefing deliver updates as they become investigation and we will pro- hosted by Mvskoke Media and available. INDIAN COUNTRY CONTINUES TO WAIT TO LEARN THE FATE OF THE MUSCOGEE (CREEK) RESERVATION Gaming Bay Café, Scoreboard Sports Bar, locations for distribution of per- Angel Ellis the outcome in this case, I want to Continued from Page 1 Five O’Clock Somewhere Bar, and sonal protective equipment (PPE); REPORTER assure both tribal and non-tribal cit- the Emerge Spa. The Visions Buffet, social distancing and public entry izens, my office will work with our precaution to guidelines issued by Paradise Cove, Resort Conven- screening protocols. OKMULGEE, Oklahoma– tribal partners to uphold our long- the National Center for Disease tion Center and the courtesy valet The regional casinos will close Tribal and state leaders and con- standing mutually beneficial rela- Control. Muscogee (Creek) Nation will remain temporarily closed to overnight indefinitely for addi- cerned citizens across Oklahoma tionship to benefit all Oklahomans.’ Casinos and River Spirit Casino guests.