Franklin County residents, Chickamauga tribal members state opposition to proposed prison site
- Dennis McCaslin
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
The Chickamauga Nation, a tribal organization asserting deep historical ties to Franklin County has taken center stage in a growing battle to block a state prison from being built on land they claim is sacred ancestral ground.
On Mondy, dozens gathered in downtown Charleston for a press conference hosted by the tribe, where Chiefs Jimmy Kersh and Justin Flanagan passionately defended the heritage of the 815-acre site near Vesta, six miles outside town.
“This is where our ancestors walked, lived, and were laid to rest,” Kersh declared, his voice resonating with conviction. “We were here decades before the state was ever founded, and we won’t let that history be paved over.” Flanagan added, “This isn’t just dirt—it’s a story of survival and identity that deserves respect.”
The tribe’s assertion is that the land, purchased by the state last fall for $2.95 million, contains Native American graves and archaeological sites--a claim the tribe underscored in late March by posting signs declaring it a Chickamauga archaeological site.
Local resistance, led by the Franklin County and River Valley Coalition, has aligned with the tribe’s efforts, amplifying concerns about environmental impacts, infrastructure strain, and the state’s lack of transparency. Many residents and elected officials decried the purchase as a “stealth” move, claiming they were excluded from the decision-making process.
Franklin County resident Cody Sosbee, whose family owns land that shares a mile-and-a-half border with the site of the proposed prison, said the lackof transparency from the state government was a shock to the community residents.
'You would think that common sense would dictate the state contacts the state representatives, the local politicians, like the county politicians, would have been notified before they spent $3 million dollars to buy the highest price piece of land that is the worst possible place to build a prison. It's nothing but solid bedrock out there, not to mention the historical significance of the property."
Archaeologist Dr. David Journey, who graduated from the University of Arkansas and earned a PHD from Southern Methodist University, sharply criticized the state for their reckless nature of the land acquisition and the uncertainty of the research done.
"The Archeological Protection Act and cultural research laws dictate before the state can start excavations and disturb the ground that certain archeological research and surveys must be conducted, " said Dr. Journey. 'We have seen no credible proof the state has done anything administratively to meet these requirements."
The proposed 3,000-bed prison, championed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders as a solution to Arkansas’s prison overcrowding crisis, has ignited fierce opposition since the state’s quiet acquisition of the land was revealed.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections (ADC) has dismissed the tribe’s assertions, with Communications Director Rand Champion citing preliminary assessments by the University of Arkansas Archeological Survey that found no evidence of burial sites.
Governor Sanders’ spokesperson, Sam Dubke, called the claims “absurd” and an attempt to derail the project, pointing out that the Chickamauga Nation lacks state or federal recognition. Kersh countered that Supreme Court rulings affirm their jurisdictional status, regardless of their standing with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
"We don't care what the Governor says and we don't care what her spokesperson said," Kersh Medal Chiel Kersh told the assembled crowd. 'We can document through ancestry and testimony that arrowheads, pottery shards, and box graves linked to our people are all o
Senator Bryan King (R-Green Forest), whose district includes part of Franklin County, has been a vocal critic, calling the project “fiscally irresponsible” and noting, “No one from the state has reached out in months,” as reported in a recent Oxford American story quoting the Franklin County judge.
The prison project, estimated at $825 million by the ADC and Vanir Construction Management, hit another roadblock today when the Arkansas Senate voted down funding for the fourth time this session. The latest bill, seeking $750 million, fell short of the eight additional votes needed just hours ago, with the legislative session set to recess on April 16.
King has pushed for alternatives, like expanding county jails, arguing that Arkansas—already a national leader in incarceration with 912 prisoners per 100,000 people (per the Prison Policy Project)—should address overcrowding without disrupting rural communities. Residents also worry about unresolved water and wastewater issues, given the area’s limited infrastructure.
Supporters, including Governor Sanders and the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association, argue the prison is essential to end the “catch and release” cycle driven by a shortage of over 3,000 prison beds. The state spends nearly $30 million annually housing inmates in overcrowded county jails, a burden sheriffs say undermines misdemeanor justice.
“It’s past time we invest in the prison system and deliver a stronger, safer Arkansas,” Sanders said at a recent sheriffs’ conference.
For now, the Chickamauga Nation and its allies are celebrating the Senate’s latest rejection as a victory in their fight to preserve what they see as a sacred legacy.
As the legislative clock ticks down, the dispute has become a flashpoint for debates over incarceration, transparency, and cultural preservation, leaving the future of the ancestral land--and the prison--uncertain.
