Posted 4/13/2022 by admin

White Mountain Apache Casino

The White Mountain Apache are also related to other Apache nations: the Chiricahua, Mescalero, Jicarillo, Lipan, and Kiowa-Apache peoples. However, variations may be found in the language, history, and culture of all Apache tribes. The White Mountain Apache Reservation consists of 1.67 million acres (over 2,600 square miles) in east-central. Summertime, Wintertime, Anytime. Nestled in the White Mountains of Arizona, Sunrise Park Resort is your year round destination! Get that mountain spirit! 855.735.SNOW (7669). The White Mountain Apache Tribe owns and operates the Hon-Dah Casino, and Whiteriver, which is about 20 minutes south, is part of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe late Sunday announced its casino would temporarily suspend operations after two employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The Hon-Dah Resort Casino in Pinetop temporarily suspended gaming operations at 10 p.m. Sunday while its hotel was scheduled to close Monday after check-out time, according to a news release from the tribe.

Management planned to work with health officials to determine when to safely resume operations, the news release said.

'This suspension of business comes as a result of two employees testing positive for COVID-19 and the staffing shortage caused by other employees entering mandatory self-quarantine,' the news release said.

All casino employees would undergo COVID-19 testing, according to the news release.

No customers or guests have been identified as being positive for COVID-19, however, one of the two positive staff members was in contact with employees who serve the public, the news release said.

'We are acting swiftly to protect the health, safety and welfare of our employees and our customers,' Brent Kurth, the casino's general manager, said in the news release. 'At Hon-Dah, we put our people and our community's needs first.'

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Sunday's announcement came nearly two months after the casino began to reopen as COVID-19 cases for the White Mountain Apache Tribe began to decline. Now, the tribe is experiencing a slight uptick in its COVID-19 cases, totaling more than 2,500 and 41 known deaths as of Monday.

The increase, however, still remains below the tribe's threshold of no more than 45 new cases in three days, which, if met, would alert more weekend lockdowns and another stay-at-home order, the tribe's Chairwoman Gwendena Lee-Gatewood previously explained. The tribe's emergency operations center in a Facebook post over the weekend said it was working to amend its alert system and seek final approval from tribal Council.

On Monday, the operations center in another Facebook post told tribal members to prepare for a possible lockdown 'in the next few days,' including gathering food and water supplies, medication, baby formula and diapers and food for pets and livestock.

The center also recommended all events and gatherings to be postponed until further notice.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe is currently in phase two of its reopening plan, which began with tribal parks, the casino and indoor church services and ceremonies for funerals with no more than 50 people, according to Lee-Gatewood.

More: 'I'm so glad that I'm alive today': Robust contact tracing is saving lives of Apache tribal members

Reach the reporter at chelsea.curtis@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on Twitter @curtis_chels.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: White Mountain Apache Tribe closes casino after 2 employees test positive for COVID-19

A White Mountain Apache Tribe officer was killed in the line of duty Monday morning near the Hon-Dah Resort Casino, south of Pinetop, according to a statement from the Navajo County Sheriff's Office.

The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when the White Mountain Apache Police Department responded to reports of shots fired near the casino, the press release states.

The responding officer located a man who 'immediately engaged in a violent, physical altercation with the officer, during which the officer was shot,' said Brian Swanty, chief deputy for the Navajo County Sheriff's Office.

The officer and man were both transported to the hospital, where they both died from their injuries, Swanty added.

White Mountain Apache Councilman Jerold Altaha identified the fallen officer as David Kellywood in a post on Twitter.

'David was a fine officer and genuine man of character,' Altaha, who represents District 2 on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, said in the post. 'His loyalty and devotion to the public safety of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation will always be remembered.'

Kellywood's wife, Kamellia Kellywood, posted on Facebook on Monday morning: 'My husband died doing what he loved. My heart is so broken.'

The investigation is still ongoing and being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

White Mountain Apache Casino

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White Mountain Apache Casino Hotel

White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) has lost one of their own in the line of duty this morning. An ultimate sacrifice was made. Our hearts are broken.

Now is a time to come together as a community in support of WMAT, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and all local law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/HSWGSD1QJL

White Mountain Apache Reservation Casino

— Navajo County (@NavajoCountyAZ) February 17, 2020

Reporter Chelsea Hofmann can be reached at chelsea.hofmann@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @chofmann528.

White Mountain Apache Tribe Casino

This article originally appeared on The Republic azcentral.com: White Mountain Apache police officer fatally shot near casino south of Pinetop