Shovels turn for a new Travel Plaza and Casino Too in Antlers on March 6. This is the first Choctaw Nation Travel Plaza in Pushmataha County.
Choctaw Nation Breaks New Ground
By Brandon Frye & Ronni Pierce
Choctaw Nation
The awakening of spring marked the breaking of ground for three new Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) ventures.
In February a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new community center and pre-school in the Bethel/Battiest area. The site of the new community center and pre-school is more centrally located between Bethel and Battiest, approximately 1 3/4 miles east of Battiest on Main County Road. The 7,956-square-foot location will give citizens from both areas better access to community gatherings. Construction on both is expected to be completed September 2015.
The pre-school will accommodate up to 25 students in a school-readiness program for 3-to 4-year-olds. It will have an indoor safe room, the classroom will be equipped with newer technology such as a smart board, and it will have a larger dining area that can be utilized for parent/staff meetings.
“These people need this, it is something that has been needed for a long time,” said Tony Messenger, District 2 Tribal Council member.
Speaking of the community center, Messenger added, “I hope everyone uses it and recognizes it for what it is, it’s for the gathering of our Choctaw people and for our communities.”
And in March, CNO representatives and city officials met in Antlers to break ground on the new 10,254-square-foot Travel Plaza and Casino Too. The new 24-hour facility is the first CNO travel plaza to feature a Choctaw Country Welcome Center dedicated to showcasing tourism information, Choctaw culture, and Choctaw-made items for sale.
“It’s about complementing this community and bringing the people services that help them,” noted Chief Gary Batton. The business will employ approximately 40 people from the area. And according to Antlers Mayor Mike Burrage, “We are thankful for the Choctaw Nation and the economic impact the Nation is bringing.”
The facility is expected to be completed in early Summer 2015.