Casino lights may soon brighten West Michigan skies
February 26, 2007 - 10:17PM

BRADLEY (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – It could be a just a matter of days before a local tribe gets the long awaited go-ahead for a casino.

The plan has been talked about for six years now, but the building that sits on the northeast side of U.S. 131 and M-179 still sits empty.

"I think it would be fun," said Becky Hohnke of Wayland. It is that simple for some of those who want the chance for gambling in West Michigan.

They’ve been waiting for the property to be developed for what they see as a chance to bring in jobs and boost the economy. "It's kind of frustrating, I don't see it as that big of a deal," said Hohnke.

"I believe new business is going to pop up, lot of vacant buildings, lot of opportunity," said Tom Overholt of Grand Rapids.

Opponents to the casino say they are certain there are more people who don’t want to see this kind of development go up in Allegan County. But, they are running out of ways to fight.

"They just railroaded it through," said Todd Boorsma who heads up the Mich-Go group. He says he’s frustrated a U.S. district judge rejected a lawsuit to block the land from being put into trust.

"The fact he ruled against us leaves us one option, to file a stay. The will of the people needs to be done," said Boorsma. He says the opposition members will exhaust every possible avenue.

But if they don’t get a judge to side with them in a matter of days, they may have to fold on their fight.

"It's getting to be crunch time really," said Boorsma.

Newschannel 3 spoke with the tribal chairman Monday afternoon about this latest court decision. He says barring any more court delays he expects the land to be put in trust by March 5th. That could make the casino a sure bet.