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
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Siletz News
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