Yreka has not made a deal with Alturas Rancheria

by Liz Bowen, Pioneer Press Assistant Editor, Fort Jones, California

YREKA – It was reported recently that the Yreka City Council made a multimillion dollar “deal” with the Alturas Rancheria.

Actually the “deal” was an agreement to form a committee. This committee will create a Shasta Mountain Casino Foundation that would distribute donated funds from the casino to charitable causes.

Yreka Mayor, Rory McNeil, told the Pioneer Press that the city council did agree to appoint two individuals to the Foundation committee, when Rancheria leaders offered $200,000 annually from the casino profits. The Rancheria officials said that an initial $50,000 donation will be made to the Foundation, before the casino opens.

The Rancheria Chairman Phillip Del Rosa and Vice Chairman Darren Rose have repeatedly said in meetings this year that the Shasta Mountain Casino will be open for business in the spring of 2006.