"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah County Fire Departments Receive Funding

***"Eli Pumpkin, Cherokee Casino Roland marketing manager, & Sallisaw fire chief Anthony Armstrong discuss what the donation will help the department purchase."***

Three Sequoyah County fire departments will be able to replenish their gear and equipment thanks to a $10,000 donation by Cherokee Casino Roland.

"The fire departments of Sequoyah County, like all across Oklahoma, are comprised of brave and hard-working people," said David Stewart, CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment, which operates Cherokee Casinos and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa. "Helping the community is what it’s all about. Any time we can give back to our local departments like this, it is a really great feeling. These are people right here in the Cherokee Nation helping protect its citizens."

The fire chiefs of Roland, Sallisaw and Muldrow thought they were stopping by the casino to receive a much smaller donation and have a complimentary lunch at Buck’s Grill. Their surprise was evident when casino employees rushed out to present the donation as part of "Anything Can Happen."

Fire chief Anthony Armstrong of Sallisaw said the donation will help his unit offset the cost of some of the department’s protective gear needs.

"Personal protective equipment, for everything a fireman wears – boots, gloves, the suit, all of it – costs about $2,000 per person," Armstrong said. "We can really buy some top of the line gear with this."

James Edwards, Roland fire chief, and Alan Falkner, Muldrow fire chief, accepted the donation on behalf of their units.

"I thought we were just coming to eat," Falkner said. "This really is a great surprise. We can use the money to help buy bunker equipment in Muldrow."

The $10,000 donation will be split three equal ways among the three departments, all of which handle various parts of Sequoyah County.

In addition to the $10,000 donation to the Sequoyah County fire departments, Cherokee Nation Entertainment has recently given more than $90,000 to other local nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations. Earlier this year, Cherokee Casino Roland donated protective vests to the Roland Police Department. Cherokee Casinos began giving these donations as part of the "Anything Can Happen" promotion in early June.

CNE operates seven casinos located in Tulsa, Claremore, Fort Gibson, Roland, Sallisaw, Tahlequah and West Siloam Springs.

Cherokee Casino Roland is at the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. Highway 64 in Roland. For more information, please visit Cherokee Star Rewards or call 800-256-2338.