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About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1979)
Fire and safety program stepped up with new boss Equipped with a three-page job description and ten years of experience in firefighting, Ray Rivero is ready to help the Tribes in their efforts to develop a comprehensive community-based fire and safety program. Rivero, 29, a firefighter/ paramedic from Santa Clara, California, has enthusiastically taken over the the Tribal job vacated when Elmer Quinn died last May. But he is sobered by the circumstances of his predecessor’s death, feeling that Quinn’s heart attack underscored the need for expanded emergency medical capabilities on the reservation. Rivero envisions a four pronged program extending from the home and work site to the professional clinic staff and including the fire and police departments and a special emergency unit. It will be Rivero’s job to coordinate the necessary training, for which he says there is a lot of federal and private money available. Of equal concern to the new fire and safety officer is the need for rural fire protection. One of his first tasks will be to visit homes in outlying areas and talk to people about what they need in the way of protection. On open door Fire and safety programs cannot be successful without the participation and involvement of people in the community, believes Rivero. “I want to keep my office as open as possible,” he said from his work area in the fire hall. He welcomes an exchange of ideas and concerns with community residents. The previously vague job description for the fire and safety officer was fleshed out by the Tribal fire and safety committee, an ad hoc group of concerned people who felt the reservation needed a more comprehensive program of protection. Rivero will be responsible for coordinating the activities of the municipal fire department, directing training, reviewing protection and control policies, inspecting buildings, licensing, and enforcing ordinances as well as a multitude of very specific maintenance responsibilities. But it is still not completely clear where a Tribal fire and safety officer fits into a structure dominated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs operated volunteer fire department and the police department-administered am bulance program. But it is a transitional time for emergency services, with the Tribes playing an ever greater role in Ray Rivero planning and providing, and Fire and Safety Officer the challenge of building a program from ground level is will not be effective if it is not assurance of Tribal Council what excites Rivero. enforced, an authority Rivero that the positions will be tribally funded next year. hopes to exercise. Code long overdue When funding becomes Initially, the efforts of Rivero will also be involved certain, said municipal Rivero and others will center in\ the recruitment of paid manager Rudy Clements, the on the formulation of a tire ana firefighters for a full-time, positions will be filled for the safety code for the reservation. trained response team. Six balance of this year with CETA Rivero feels a code is long positions, including a fire funds. overdue, especially considering captain, four firefighters and a Volunteers will still figure in the amount of construction the Simnasho-based fireperson heavily, predicts Rivero but it reservation has seen in recent have been advertised, but might be expedient to organize years. But even the finest code selection is pending the them into rotated divisions, selectively alerted by a paging system according to the nature of the call. Involving the community Rivero is committed to involving tribal members in the provision of services, pointing to the investment they have in -the mill, new homes and public buildings. Every citizen has an opportunity to be involved, he believes, by being knowledge able and willing to exercise self help. Rivero plans to step up community education efforts, not only for school children but also for adults. While the need for more equipment and better-trained personnel is clear, people— especially in the outlying areas—must realize what they can do for themselves in the meantime, says Rivero. The proper use of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors is a good beginning, and the training of residents in the use of standby equipment could mean immediate protection in the first critical minutes of a fire. Rivero has already identified some very specific needs such as the standardization of mill and agency equipment, a grid system for locating and responding to emergencies, increased familiarity with building design and more input into the location of hydrants. His ideas are many and his enthusiasm runs deep, but Rivero is determined not to be “alienated” from the community and its peculiar needs. “We can’t go wrong if everyone participates,” Rivero says hopefully. KRCO to carry NFL Boye helps kids with difficult task of growing up A friendly smile and a “good morning” greeting at any hour of the day marks the easy-going approach of James L. Boye, Jr., Juvenile Probation Officer for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Boye, 29, came to Warm Springs from Browning, Montana as a Tribal Group Home relief worker in August of 1978. He assumed his present position a month later. He brings over two years experience working with developmentally disabled persons for the State of Montana and with the Browning public schools as a teacher’s aide. An enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, Boye has fOOnd the Warm Springs people, community and organization enjoyable. He said that even when he first arrived, he didn’t feel like a stranger. Having been on the job for nearly a year now, Boye’s average caseload is 30 to 40 juveniles between the ages of 8 and 17. He councils youngsters who have experienced problems with alcohol, runaways, and those who have had minor scrapes with the law. He said that he is seeing less and less paint and glue sniffing among the kids, but more problems with minors drinking, driving under the influence and driving without a license. He noted that the age group having the most problems appears to be the 15 to 17 year-olds. Boye works closely with the Tribal Court, Juvenile Officer Fabian Sutterlee, school z........ ...... James Boye Radio station KRCO of Prineville will carry the complete NFL schedule broadcast by mutual radio sports. The schedule will start Sunday, September 2, with the game between the Oakland and the Los Angeles counselors and principals, and Raiders at Los Angeles. with Caroline Cruz and Bob Rams Each Sunday afternoon Parker of the tribal alcohol program. He also conducts home visits with parents and Kah-Nee-Ta water participates in the parenting first minute, he said, with the program during the winter. Boye said he usually talks next 10 minutes for buffer. with the child first before Thirty minutes is much more visiting the home. He tries to than necessary, feels Puri, but find out from the child’s point attempts must be made to of view what the problems are comply. Barnes and Illingworth’s or what he thinks is wrong at home. He feels that often the contention that some water is kids are lonely-and searching not being chlorinated at all is for something to grab hold of. challenged by Century West. “Growing up is tough,” Boye Such discrepancies in admits. But he maintains that a observation color the recent person can do a lot for himself episode in Kah-Nee-Ta’s by learning from mistakes and history of water problems. learning how to cope with Pauli hopes that the Century problems. He stresses learning West study will settle the how to grow, education and matter once and for all. respect for parents, public and Daggett of Century West said reservation. He tries to help that recommendations would kids gain a sense of be made once any problems are accomplishment, responsibi located and analyzed. On paper “the system looks good,” he lity, honesty, and loyalty. noted, “but a water system is a very flexible thing,” changing “It’s not a popularity job. from day to day. And yet if Things do get a little tough,”he there were any “real obvious remarked. “But my interest is problems” with the system, always in working with they would have been readily children, helping any way 1 apparent in the first days of the can.” Boye.urges kids to come study, he said. in to see him at his 2nd floor office in the Old Girl’s dorm. Maintaining an image With the state Health He is there Monday through Friday and may be reached at Division now out of the 553-1161, extension 235 or 236. picture, it is up to Kah-Nee-Ta through December 16, KRCO will broadcast NFL games starting at 12:45 p.m. Handling the live play-by- play action and color for mutual radio sports and KRCO will be the nationally- known team of football announcers, Tony Roberts and Pat Sheridan. Continued from page 8 and EPA to come to terms. However, EPA does not provide nice visible certificates of compliance and Kah-Nee-Ta naturally worries about its image. The Health Division's license withdrawal ’’surprised” Pauli. “We’ve always welcomed the visits of the state Health Division if for no other reason than professional pride.” While the Division’s letter acknowledged the Tribes’ “past cooperation” and the hope that a working relationship can be continued, Kah-Nee-Ta must now bear the burden of proof for the quality of its water. Fortunately, none of Kah- Nee-Ta’s guests have registered complaints, but memories of the resort’s undrinkable water after the winter flooding of 1977 linger on. Pauli is optimistic, however, that the current attention focused on the water system will serve to allay any remaining concerns— at least until Kah-Nee-Ta is hooked into the new Deschutes water system approved by voters in July and due to be in operation by 1981.
