SHELTON PLAYER WINS $100,000 IN FIRST NORTHWEST POKER TOURNAMENT

(SHELTON, Washington) – They came from as far as Florida, Alaska and California, but in the end it was the local hometown favorite besting a field of 200, taking home the first-place prize of $100,000 in the first Northwest Poker Tournament last weekend at Little Creek Casino Resort.

Bill Wilson of Shelton, WA, complete with a cheering section, defeated Tim Weekley of Spokane, WA, heads up to finish the nine-hour tournament. Weekley was rewarded the second-place prize of $45,000 for his day’s work. The $100,000 to first place was the largest ever awarded in Northwest poker history.

With a prize fund totaling $445,500 (also the largest prize pool for a single poker event for the Northwest), all 200 entrants were guaranteed at least a $500 payout. Remaining final table finishers and their winnings were: 3. Richard Edwards, Olympia, WA, $25,000; 4. Mary Camille Emerson, Anaheim, CA, $18,000; 5. Jacob Hunt, Longview, WA, $12,000; 6. Fitzgerald McClellan, Tacoma, WA, $10,000; 7. Andrea Laggart, Bremerton, WA, $8,000; 8. Martin Crabtree, Aberdeen, WA, $6,000; 9. Darrin Dietrich, Lake Chelan, WA, $5,000, and 10. KZOK Seattle’s own Downtown Joe Bryant, Bellevue, WA, $4,000. Eleventh through 25th place earned $2,500, 26th-50th $2,000, 51st-75th $1,500, 76th-100th $1,000, 101st-149th $750 and 150th-200th $500.

Bryant was joined by poker Professional Poker Players Phil “The Unabomber” Laak and Antonio “The Magician” Esfandiari plus Major League Baseball player Jay Buhner who all provided “comentary” and entertainment until the final hand. Laak, Esfandiari and Buhner were eliminated earlier in the tournament, but gave Bryant “advice” until the end.

All final table players except Wilson qualified for the tournament through a second chance drawing offered by the Washington Lottery’s popular game Tournament Poker Scratch. Non-winning tickets were entered into a second chance drawing awarding 170 seats to this event. Wilson earned his seat through a free-roll tournament at Little Creek Casino for its top live game players who had a minimum of 200 hours.

Fourth-place finisher and Californian Emerson had never played live poker prior to the tournament. She was notified by the lottery that she had won the drawing after buying a Scratch ticket when visiting Washington last summer. She read books and started learning the game by playing on her computer. The result – an $18,000 payday!

Wilson plays at Little Creek “almost every day” and learned the game when he was about 16 playing in neighborhood quarter games. He honed his skills in the service and loves the game. When asked if he had any plans for his winnings, he said, “I’m getting Momma a new car.” “Momma” is Wilson’s wife, Vicky, who was part of the vocal group of locals who cheered him to victory. He enjoys watching poker on TV and said he felt like he already knew the celebrities, Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari.

The Northwest Poker Tournament was played Saturday, Nov. 14th at Little Creek Casino Resort, 91 W State Route 108, Shelton, WA (800) 667-7711.

Voted Best Casino in the South Sound, Little Creek Casino Resort is best known for its wide array of games including a vast mix of state of the art slot machines, and all of your favorite table games. During your stay enjoy luxury resort accommodations, first class entertainment, delicious dining and all around customer service excellence. Little Creek Casino Resort is located in the great Pacific Northwest at the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula in Shelton, Washington just minutes north of Olympia on Highway 101.

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For Immediate Release:
November, 2009

LOCAL FOOD BANKS RECEIVE GENEROUS DONATION

(SHELTON, Washington) – Just in time for the holidays, many struggling families will find assistance at the food banks in our community. This fall Little Creek Casino Resort brought back the Fall into Fun hotel package and offered guests a luxury stay at a discounted price. All it took was a single donation of a

non-perishable food item. This year’s program collected over two tons of food for families in need.

Local recipients include Salvation Army, Bread and Roses, Squaxin Island Tribe, and United Methodist Church. Jeannie McConnell, Business administrator for Salvation Army indicated that the kitchen was running low on many items. “Items like canned vegetables and protein are always in need, this year the demand is even greater” Said McConnell. Many collection sites are gathering Thanksgiving baskets to distribute this week. The United Methodist Church shared that they have seen an increase in people over the last few months, many new faces looking for assistance. “For me it opened my eyes to the need that was there, I didn’t realize the need was so huge.” Said Kim Burrow, Hotel Director. “It feels good to think that there will be one less hungry mouth on Thanksgiving.”

To help its own family, Little Creek Casino Resort will also be giving each one of its 750 employees a free Thanksgiving turkey early next week. Many generous employees will donate their turkeys to the food bank, last year over one hundred Turkeys were donated.
 

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For Immediate Release:
September, 2009

A civilian search was organized by the Laura Recovery Center for ten year old Lindsey Baum who disappeared from her hometown of McCleary, WA on June 26th, 2009. Little Creek Casino Resort received this letter of gratitude from the LRC for support offered to the search organizers. If you have any information that would help in returning Lindsey home, please contact 800-281-6944.

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For Immediate Release:

August 2009

Aug. 12--KAMILCHE, Wash. -- Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Larry EchoHawk made his first visit to the Pacific Northwest as the head of the BIA to meet with leaders of the 24 treaty Indian tribes in the area. The day-long meeting July 31 at the Squaxin Island Tribe's event center focused on natural resources management and the federal government's trust responsibility to tribes.

"I'm familiar with the issues that concern Pacific Northwest tribes," EchoHawk said. "I just have some catching up to do. I'm glad to have this opportunity to listen and learn from you."

EchoHawk was recently confirmed by the Senate as assistant secretary for Indian Affairs. A member of the Pawnee Nation, EchoHawk was elected attorney general of Idaho in 1990, the first American Indian in U.S. history elected as a state attorney general. He also served as a county prosecutor in 1986 and served two consecutive terms in the Idaho legislature.

Prior to his appointment, he was a law professor for 14 years at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School.

"We're grateful that Larry accepted our invitation," said Billy Frank Jr., chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and member of the Nisqually Tribe. "Larry's from the Northwest but has been away from Indian country for awhile, teaching law. He asked us to help get him up to speed."

Tribal leaders shared their concerns that the federal government has failed in the past to uphold their treaty rights.

"The key words in all of the treaties are: 'The right to take fish,'" said Rebecca Miles, chair of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and member of the Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee. "Every single word has been litigated in federal court to interpret what is the tribes' right to take fish. Every battle we have won."

"We are gatherers and we are harvesters, all of us," Frank said. "This is our homeland. This is where we live. We don't leave. We have to take care of our country. We manage fish from Alaska all the way to Mexico. We are managers, the tribes, every one."

Credit: Indian Country Today, Oneida, N.Y.

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For Immediate Release:

August, 2009

SHELTON, Washington - Little Creek Casino Resort will host the largest paying poker tournament prize fund of $445,500 offering a top prize payout of $100,000. The event will take place on Saturday November 14th 2009 in the Skookum Creek Event Center, a 22,500 square foot state of the art facility designed to accommodate concerts, conventions and everything in-between.

The Washington State Lottery acquired seats to the Northwest Poker Tournament and awarded them as a part of their prize pool in its popular game Tournament Poker “scratch”. Non-winning tickets may be entered into a second chance drawing awarding 170 seats to this event.

Celebrities such as Major League baseball player Jay Buhner, Poker player Phil Laak, Antonio Esfandiari, and downtown Joe Bryant will participate. Visit http://www.walottery.com/popup/poker/pers.html  to view their full bios.

Little Creek will hold an employee satellite tournament to award one of its very own a spot competing for the grand prize!

Here is the tentative timeline, all subject to change.

        9-10 am Tournament Registration/Continental breakfast
        10-11 am Meet and Greet/Book Signing/Autographs
         - Jay Buhner
         - Phil Laak
         - Antonio Esfandiari
         - Joe Bryant

        11:30am Explanation of poker tournament rules and procedures Prize pool definition, tax 
          ramifications, etc. Question and answer session.

        12 noon: Tournament Begins: Commentary provided by on site personalities
         Video coverage Hospitality suite co-hosted by State of Washington and Little Creek Casino
         Resort


* All times and locations are subject to change. All details will be posted on premise day of the tournament

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For Immediate Release:

December, 2008

Little Creek Casino Resort collects thousands of toys and hundreds of winter coats for families in need.

Shelton, WA December 23, 2008- In demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the community and charitable support services, Little Creek Casino Resort in Shelton WA launched its Winter Wonderland Fundraiser. Mason, Thurston County, and other surrounding residents rallied to collect toys and warm winter coats for needy families. Cameron Goodwin, General Manager of Little Creek Casino Resort stated “ It was so amazing to see how many different kinds of toys came through, and how many jackets were brought. I’m happy to see that we are able to help families that are in need of these items”.

With overwhelming community support Little Creek Casino Resort was able to provide thousands of toys and hundreds of winter coats to families in the surrounding Counties. Little Creek packed company vehicles full of toys and winter coats, when Mason County Fire District # 4 came to pick up these appreciated gifts, their ambulance was stuffed full too. Little Creek was able to share the generosity with other organizations such as Mason County Homeless Shelter, Mason General Hospital, Anchor Bank Foster Care, Squaxin Island Tribe Foster Care and the United States Marines Toys for Tots.

Kim Burrow, Director of Hotel Operations expressed “In these tough economic times, I am overwhelmed by the sheer generosity and would like to thank the many community members, employees and hotel guests who participated in the fundraiser this holiday season”. The Winter Wonderland fundraiser hotel package includes a one-night stay, dinner for two and a free espresso. This package is available Sunday thru Thursday until January 15, 2009. In order to receive this great offer you must bring in a new, unwrapped toy or coat to benefit a child in need. Call 1-800-667-7711 to reserve your getaway package!

 Picture Identification from Left to Right:
Director of Non-Gaming Michael Peters, Director of Hotel Operations Kim Burrow, Mason County Fire District #4 Assistant Fire Chief Greg Seals, General Manager Cameron Goodwin, and Director of Gaming Operations Mark West

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For Immediate Release:

July, 2008

Local Man wins biggest jackpot in Washington State history with a Progressive Jackpot

of over $750,000 at Little Creek Casino Resort .

Shelton, WA July 8th, 2008- Donald Bishop, a 66 year old retired man from Olympia, Washington got the surprise of his life while playing the Cadillac Cash progressive games at Little Creek Casino Resort. Mr. Bishop was down to his last $10 when the jackpot of $760,877.02 hit. It was an exciting time for Mr. Bishop and the casino staff alike. Once the bars lined up to reveal his win, bells, whistles and music sounded. The luminescent flat screen TV above the banks of machines displayed “Progressive Jackpot Win!”

Mr. Bishop enjoys playing at Little Creek Casino Resort and is known by the staff, who describe him as a “Friendly, appreciative and humble man.” When asked the question of what he was planning to do with the money he responded with “I am going to take my wife on a trip, and use the rest to help me enjoy my retirement!”

Little Creek Casino Resort would like to congratulate to Mr. Bishop on his win of over $750,000. This is the biggest jackpot win ever in Washington State history. Bon Voyage!

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For Immediate Release:

September, 2007

Chef John Peralta crowned 2007 Oysterfest Iron Chef Champion

Try these signature dishes from our very own 2007 Oysterfest Iron Chef Champion John Peralta.

Squaxin Island Seafood Trio Appetizer $12.00
Poached Prawns in a Citrus Vinaigrette, Fresh Tomato Relish with Smoked Salmon and Tropical Fruit Salsa with Dungeness Crab.

Hawaiian Surf Rider $29.00
Beef Tenderloin Filet atop Crisp Onion Straws finished in Bernaise sauce. Served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Seasonal Vegetables and choice of Soup or Salad.

Squaxin Island Seafood Delight $32.00
Four ounce Lobster Tail set atop fresh seasonal vegetables, Crisp Calamari Rings

and Lobster Tortellini, with Tomato Basil Prawns, drizzled with a creamy seafood sauce.

Signature Dishes served 4-10pm Daily.

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For Immediate Release:

November, 2007

Little Creek Casino Resort Launches Food Donation Program

Shelton, WA, November 21st, 2007 - In demonstrating an ongoing commitment to community and charitable support services, Little Creek Casino Resort, in Shelton WA , launched a local food donation program as a part of its "Fall into Fun" hotel package. The Local recipient of the program was the Saint's Pantry Food Bank located at 214 South 2nd street in downtown Shelton.

Little Creek Casino Resort collected over 1,000.00 pounds of nonperishable food and delivered it to the Saint's Pantry. Kim Burrow, Director of Hotel Operations at Little Creek Casino Resort said, "She was overwhelmed by the response from their extremely gracious patrons!" Because of this wonderful response, Kim Burrow initiated yet another hotel stay package so appropriately named the "Winter Wonderland" which has already brought in well over 20 new children's coats and more than 100 new unwrapped toys.

Located in Shelton WA, and host to thousands of businesses groups. Little Creek Casino Resort features 190 luxury hotel rooms and approximately 30,000 square feet of meeting space: the Skookum Creek Events Center, 5 unique places to dine and a distinct property wide ambiance.