LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
My name is Jesse Kirk and I am an en
rolled Siletz Tribal member. I also work at
Chinook Winds Casino as a cage cashier.
1 would like to respond to the recent
issues regarding the Cage Department and
answer the question of why there are no
ticeably longer lines at the cage.
First of all, we are not a little tribal
casino anymore. The reality is that there
is a transition currently under way in
which our status as a complete world
class. fully inclusive casino resort will be
the final result. With the acquisition of
the hotel, golf course, and development
of the RV park, there as been a marked
increase in net casino revenues and a
sharp increase in occupancy levels since
taking ownership of the hotel.
For example, in the first four months
of 2005, there was a 21 percent increase
in net casino revenues compared to the
same period the year before, and this does
not include hotel revenue.
Meanwhile, in the second half of
2004, after we acquired the hotel, there
was a 24 percent increase in the hotel
occupancy rate compared to the same
period the year before.
This means more guests. They are
gaming more at our casino and staying
longer at our hotel. When at one time a
guest would stay for a few hours, guests
will now stay for a few days.
To the editor:
On behalf of the Siletz Valley Friends
of the Library, I want to say a hearty
"thank you” for the recent donations for
a new Siletz Library from the Tribal
Charitable Contribution Fund.
We applied for and received two
grants on May 13. One was a donation of
$20,()()() for our building fund. The other
donation was for $8,700 for furniture for
the 600-square-foot community room.
Our building fund is now over 90
percent complete, our architect is draw
ing up final plans and bid documents, and
we hope to break ground this fall. We
envision being open to patrons by sum
mer 2006.
This is excellent news for our tribe,
but our casino is experiencing some grow
ing pains. All departments in our casino
have seen increases in workloads and in
some cases, increased responsibilities.
Specifically, longer lines have become
more common at the cage lately and this
you can credit to our unprecedented growth.
Our Cage Department has been quick
to respond, however. Many more cash
iers have been hired recently, myself
included. Significant changes have also
been made in scheduling respects and
occasionally a supervisor will work a
window in the busiest of times. Six-day
workweeks have become more common.
All recent changes have been made with
customer service and teamwork in mind.
But there is also a downside to all
of this. Our Cage manager, Linda
Blochlinger, has initiated these changes
and there are a small number of cashiers
who resent heron a personal level because
of this. I can say for a fact that I have never
been asked what I do on my own time,
nor have I been asked why I want PTO.
In closing, I would like to add that
my experience working in the cage has
been very positive. Everyone in the Cage
and Security departments has been ex
tremely supportive to me during my own
transition as I continue to gain valuable
casino industry experience and knowledge.
Jesse Kirk
We are so grateful for the generosity
of CTS1 in helping us to soon reach our
goal of $745,000 for a turnkey library that
the whole community can be proud of.
We will, of course, give credit to CTSI
for its donations and spirit of leadership.
For example, our Building Committee is
now beginning to plan for colors, finishes
and furniture that are sensitive to this
community’s Native heritage.
Keep watching the lot next to the
Siletz Post Office - the new library will
soon take shape!
Sincerely yours,
Alice McCain
SVFOL Member
Ché Butler, Kera Logan. and Eddie Avila
To the editor:
On behalf of the Native students of
Taft High School, we would like to thank
you for sponsoring our trip to the 2005
Oregon Indian Education Association
(OIEA) Youth Conference in Portland.
Through your support, we were able
to take 38 tribal youth and six chaperones
from the Lincoln County Title VII Pro
gram to the conference.
Thank you again to Siletz Youth
Prevention Program, Siletz JOM, LCSD
Indian Education Program. Grand Ronde
Youth Prevention, and the Siletz Tribal
Tobacco Prevention Program.
We are honored to share the news
with you that three Siletz Tribal youth
were voted onto the 2005-2006 OIEA
Youth Board. Please join us in welcom
ing Taft HS junior Kera Logan as presi
dent, Taft HS sophomore Che Butler as
vice-president, and Taft HS junior Eddie
Avila as secretary/treasurer.
Please contact us if there are any
events concerning tribal youth that you
want or need
our help with
at
nati ve_tafthigh @ hotmai 1 .com
Thank you very much,
Kera Logan
Eddie Avila
Che Butler
2005-06 OIEAY representatives
To the editor:
Toledo High School baseball and
contributions from the committee. The
softball programs would like to thank the
softball program has equipment for the
Contribution Committee for supporting
girls to play ball and be protected, includ
the local high school athletic programs.
ing catcher's gear and batting helmets.
The baseball batting cage is up and
Thank you,
running with a nice cement floor with the
From the Toledo Boomers
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P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Please note: The general manager
of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief
of Siletz News.
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Siletz News
•
July 2005
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh
541-444-8291 or
1-800-922-1399, ext. 1291
Fax: 541-444-2307
E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
Deadline for the August issue is
July 11. Submission of articles and
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