SILETZ NEWS
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians
Vol. 39, No. 2
February 2011
Siletz News
Confederated Tribes of
Siletz Indians
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380-0549
Delores Pigsley,
Tribal Chairman
Brenda Bremner,
General Manager
and Editor-in-Chief
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KNIGHT LIBRARY
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1299 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
EUGENE OR 97403-1205
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No. 178
Salem, OR
Tribe, AT&T to
construct cell
phone tower
By Diane Rodriquez
AT&T and the Siletz Tribe are pro
posing to construct a 250-foot-tall tele
communications tower on the eastern side
of Silatchee Park in Siletz.
Currently, there is no reliable cellu
lar coverage in the town of Siletz or the
immediate surrounding area.
“The Tribe has been working for a
number of years to bring a cell tower and
cellular service to the Siletz community
and we are excited and pleased to be
working with AT&T in a concerted effort
to have reliable cellular coverage in our
community,” said Brenda Bremner, gen
eral manager of the Siletz Tribe.
“Our recent community meet
ings brought positive public comments
regarding the desire of our members and
our community to further equalize our
community with those around us. Hav
ing cellular service is a must in today’s
environment,” she added. “And the fact
that the tower will provide an opportunity
for local emergency services to enhance
their communications capabilities is an
added benefit. ”
Benefits to the community from the
proposed new coverage include:
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Courtesy photo by Dean Sawyer
More than five inches of rain fell on the Central Oregon Coast on Jan. 15-16, leaving this bull standing in water on property
south of Siletz near Yasek Loop and Highway 229. The heavy rain caused landslides, sewer overflows and flooding at various
places throughout the county. Tribal properties in the county survived the deluge with no damage.
Mobility, with access to the entire
national communication grid
Reduced telephone costs, especially
long-distance calling
Ability to communicate more readily
in emergency situations and during
natural disasters
911 coverage for all cell phone users
Text and e-mail communication for
business users
Access to the Internet for entertain
ment and education
Since the proposed tower site is
on tribal trust land that will be leased
to AT&T, the Bureau of Indian Affairs
requires an environmental assessment that
it will need to approve before the lease can
be approved and the project can proceed.
A public comment period is
included in the environmental assessment.
Comments should be submitted to the
superintendent of the BI A’s Siletz Agency
(P.O. Box 569, Siletz, OR 97380);
541-444-2679) by Feb. 7.
Additionally, a community informa
tion meeting was held Jan. 19 at the Siletz
Public Library with representatives from
the Tribe and AT&T.
The environmental assessment, along
with a Finding of No Significant Impact and
a Decision Notice, is expected to be issued
See cell tower on page 6.
Photo by Diane Rodriquez
Remember to Vote
2011 Tribal Council candidates include Frank Aspria, Tina Retasket, Kurtis Barker, Loraine Butler, Robert Kentta and Melinda
Logan, all of whom appeared at the Candidates Fair at Chinook Winds Casino Resort on Jan. 8. Ballots are due by 4 p.m. on
Feb. 5. You can vote in person at the Siletz Tribal Community Center on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.