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Yakama Nation sees backlash over purchase of team
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Members of the Yakama Nation of Washington voiced their displeasure with the tribe's recent purchase of a minor league basketball team.
Upset over the $140,000 transaction, tribal members organized a recall. Nearly 700 people turned out for a council meeting on Tuesday and voted to oust all three executive board members Jerry Meninick, Virgil Lewis and Davis Washines, and council member Ray Colfax. They were removed from office immediately.
At the continuation of the meeting on Wednesday, tribal members ousted council member Lonnie Selam, who supported the basketball deal. Council members Richard George, Sam Jim and Johnny Smartlowit survived the recall.
Tribal members also put a freeze on spending on the Yakama Sun Kings, previously known as the Yakima Sun Kings. Some want the tribe to get rid of the team altogether but others say it is too late to back out.
Get the Story:
Tribe slaps spending freeze on Sun Kings (The Yakima Herald-Republic 8/11)
Yakamas oust four council members over basketball team purchase
(AP 8/10)
Relevant Links:
Yakima Sun Kings -
http://www.sunkings.com
Related Stories:
Yakama Nation buys minor league basketball
team (06/24)
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