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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2009)
Photo by Kelley Ellis TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS Completed WEX Placement Pays Off The 477 Self-Sufficiency Program would like to congratulate Ronda Mortenson and Zebuli Payne for their successful completion of their WEX positions. Both have been hired by Goodwill Industries. Zebuli currently is working for Goodwill in its retail boutique located in downtown Portland on SW 10th and Taylor. Ronda currently is working at the new Goodwill that recently opened in the Woodstock neighborhood in Portland. Be sure to stop in and say hi to both Zebuli and Ronda. Walt’s Words of Wit and Wisdom by Walt Klamath Golly, how time does fly. It’s only eight months till general elk season, time to get prepared. Of course, as time has progressed get ting ready is not like it used to be. Getting all the grub, coffee and other good things; getting the stories in line - that will be different but the same story, dressed up, maybe a little more exciting. There is one thing, though, I have not seen very much of, if anything. What about “nature calls?” Ever thought about that? Don’t know why this came to mind. I am thinking about Eastern Oregon, elk hunting in the high mountains where it does get a little cool sometimes, well below zero. This is when we put on every piece of clothing we have - long handles, heavy outerwear then on top of that maybe a rain coat or a good Filson jacket. Now one drives up an icy snow- covered road, slicker than you-know-what on a doorknob, that proves quite exciting in itself. Now on a one-lane road, possibly someone is behind you or maybe coming down, but not very likely that early in the morning. It’s real early to get to the favor ite stump or some other landmark. Suddenly that urgent nature call comes. It may be a 911 call looking for a tree or something; have to get the vehicle off the road in a hurry. The snow is about 10-12 inches deep. Just by chance there is a flat spot, a few trees covered with snow but time is getting urgent. Now comes the time of reckoning. All the clothing that you have on in the freez ing weather, snow knee high to a tall In dian but there is no choice, remember? One time a few years ago (now I am not talking in first person), a member of the hunting party I was associated with did have that happen to him. Well, he did get pretty well set up. The snow was dropping from the tree and about that time a herd of elk was coming his way. Now that poor guy with his pants down could see the elk legs, but not the head or body. He was crawling in the snow, his pants around his ankles, trying to see the elk’s head. This would have been a marvelous picture. At the time he was not cold, but af terward when the excitement wore off he almost froze to death, according to him anyway. By the way, he was riding in an open military-type of jeep. Anyone who has any experience with them knows what the heating system is like. The next day he did get his reward though - a four-point in an open field, still deep snow. It was hung up between two trees that someone had put a log across for the purpose off skinning. Actually, he was part of the hunting party that was in my camper. Poor guy, I don’t think he ever forgot that experi ence. Guess I saw to that as the fellow worked with me at Dwyer Lumber Co. in Portland. Maybe his Spirit is still in those mountains in Ukia. Tribal Council member Tina Retasket at the North Lincoln Hospital Foundation's Donor Appreciation Dinner. Award, con’t from page 1 (STCCF), which has awarded $3.9 million STCCF has distributed a total of of its funds to groups and organizations $4.9 million since its inception in 2001. in Lincoln County. Overall, it has contributed to 1,022 orga The fund has distributed $550,000 of nizations, with 728 (72 percent) located that to health programs, which include in Lincoln County. health services, mental health programs, Total Tribal charitable giving now dental care, equipment, food share pro stands at more than $7 million through grams, prescription assistance, training STCCF and other Tribal resources. and education, and construction and The Robert and Dorothy Terrill remodeling. Award is presented annually to an in In presenting the Terrill Award, Foun dividual, couple, group or organization dation President Estle Harlan said, “The that has provided outstanding support to award recognizes folks who in a larger the hospital, the foundation or the North capacity have had an impact on the com Lincoln Health District. munity. We look beyond just what is given It is named for two community to us, we look at how that has spread to the leaders whose efforts culminated in the community and how the foundation’s work has affected the whole community. successful completion of the first unit of “The generosity of the Tribe, the North Lincoln Hospital in 1968. They $99,000-plus that has been given to the also helped organize the Samaritan North hospital foundation — you have passed Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary to spearhead the test of the award and we realized we the local effort for a Lincoln City medi needed to say thank you.” cal facility. Water, con’t from page 1 Retasket, a former Siletz City Council The Tribe plans to provide water lines to see if they can secure some of their member, explained that during the winter, and sewers to two area properties known capital improvement money to make up the Siletz River is so full of silt and debris as the Dundas property and the Grooms the additional cost needed to complete that the turbidity rate is more than the city’s property on the southeast side of the City the second tank. filtration system can handle. The rate of of Siletz. Plans for the Dundas property Retasket said the Tribe is working with turbidity is a term of measurement for the call for an industrial park and the Grooms the City of Siletz to make sure all citizens amount of debris in the river water. property will be developed into additional benefit from the installation of the new government services buildings or addi “There have been times each year modem water lines and storage facilities. tional Tribal housing. that the city has to stop treating water The purpose of the water storage The key to making the project work and rely only on what is in storage until tanks is to provide a reliable water supply for everyone in the community is the the turbidity rate drops to a level that they and the need for the project comes with Tribe upgrading the city ’ s water storage can safely treat without damaging equip projected housing increases and the pro capacity with at least one new water tank jected development of Tribal land. ment,” said Retasket about the need for and possibly two new tanks. The project will be constructed in increased capacity and modem upgrades According to Retasket, the Tribe also three phases. Phase one calls for the to the city’s water system. has received a $580,000 Indian Health construction of a new 500,000 gallon Retasket explained that the city Services grant that was freed up through water storage tank. New water and sewer sought a 1 million gallon capacity stor President Barack Obama’s federal stimu lines for the Dundas property will be age tank, but the USDA came back with lus package and that funding could be the second phase and the third phase of a recommendation of a 500,000 gallon used to help the city secure and build an the project will be the facilities for the capacity tank. Once that recommendation additional new raw water storage tank. Grooms property. had been made by the USDA, the Tribe Retasket said the estimated total cost The overall cost of the project is proceeded with seeking the grant for the of that project could be as much as $1 $1,351,650 with the Tribe covering the 500,000 gallon tank. million, so she is working with the city additional $351,650 to complete it. April 2009 • Siletz News • 7
