What: Joshua Tree Community Association Meeting
When: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15
Where: Joshua Tree Community Center, Sunburst Avenue north of Twentynine Palms Highway

JOSHUA TREE - Representatives of the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians will answer questions about their plans for a casino at a meeting next month.
The group had planned to build a casino and hotel in Twentynine Palms, but recently turned its sights toward Joshua Tree as a possible site.
The tribe's chief financial officer, Steve Gralla, has been invited to talk about their plans and address residents' concerns and questions at a Joshua Tree Community Association meeting 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 15 at the Joshua Tree Community Center.
The public is invited to take part, Association President Victoria Fuller said.
"Hopefully we will be able to respond to the community's questions at that time," Gralla said.
Members of the tribe asked association members to make a list of starter questions so representatives can be prepared when they arrive.
These include:
• Why are you not building the casino in Twentynine Palms and looking to build in Joshua Tree?
• Are you looking to create sovereign land in Joshua Tree?
• How will you assure that night skies are protected?
• What are your short-, medium- and long-term building plans?
• Who will pay for infrastructure improvements?
• How will this benefit the people of Joshua Tree?
• Have you thought about using the land that used to house Blue Skies Country Club in Yucca Valley?

The community association is a nonprofit group formed in 1969 to give people a place to discuss issues affecting Joshua Tree residents.
Once they have answers from the tribe, she said, association members will start working on questions they can pose to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.