THESE STORIES ARE ALWAYS INFORMATIVE AND USUALLY HAVE A BIT OF TONGUE AND CHEEK HUMOR.
IT IS ALWAYS FUN TO SHARE WITH OTHERS, DIFFERENT WAYS OF HARVESTING, THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT WE HAVE FACED OUT THERE WHILE WE WERE HARVESTING.

REGGIE

A HARVEST STORY BY A GUEST AUTHOR

CHUKCHANSI GOLD

By JAMES ERIC FREEDNER

Hey, Honorary Cousin,

The Chukchansi $3 arrived yesterday in good order. Thanks much!

Here's my Chipping Story about that one:

First went to Chukchansi about 6 or 7 years ago, and I must have looked on the ChipGuide first because somehow I knew that the $3 chip existed. Perhaps it was used in an early Texas Hold'Em game there, or the tribe offered $3 poker games? I found the Poker Room, located off to one side of the slot machine gaming area, and, filled with anticipation, went in and asked the cashier for one. No luck. As I recall, it wasn't a 100% turn-down, she said I had to speak with the Poker Manager about it, and he wasn't around just then. Oh, well.

Returned maybe a year later (the casino isn't exactly a hop, skip and a jump away) and this time I was told, no sales, $3 is a drop chip only, none can leave the room. Sigh.

Next time I visited - the Poker Room was gone. This caused me great consternation. I walked around, bumping into Utility Rooms, Storage Rooms, and the like. Finally asked a Security Guard, where did you guys hide the Poker Room? "Closed down some months ago," came the reply. I asked at the Main Cage only to be told they had no Threes around.

Next came the Great Tribal War in which a faction of the Mi-Wuks took over the casino and threw the guests out. The casino was closed for about a year, during which time I understand the food in the buffet got really, really, rank. (Nobody bothered to remove it. There are Wars, and then there are Indian Wars. They throw the guests out but not the food?)

After many Sheriff's arrests and investigations, attempted theft of the Casino books, a Madera Court trial or two, and dozens of Lawyers on the scene - the Chukchansi Hotel & Casino re-opened. I drove up there a couple of days after that grand event (bringing my own snacks - hah!) and again asked at the Cage if any $3 chips remained. "We never had a $3 chip," said the smiling lady.

And that's how history is re-written. Glad I could finally get my paws on a $3, and Reggie, I have no idea how you got one out of there!

J. Eric Freedner
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