Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Spilyay tymoo. (Warm Springs, Or.) 1976-current | View Entire Issue (May 4, 2011)
Pdge 8 M^y 4, 2011 Spilydy Tyrnoo, Wdrrn Springs, Oregon Crime costs Weaselhead 15 years B y Duran Bobb Spilyay Tymoo In one video game, the boss escapes from jail and it’s the player’s job to get him to the safe house. If he fails, the player can always hit the reset button to start over. In one song, the artist sings about giving his eyes to Stevie Wonder from behind bars. In the real world outside of video gam es and rap songs, things are different. There is no reset button, and life in pumpkin-orange jumpsuits no longer seems so glamorous. “I don’t wish jail or death on anybody,” W aylon M cK ie Weaselhead said. “I know that I’m going to miss out on a lot, being in here. I’m in a rough spot and I know it’s going to be rougher. I just want to say, If you don’t think that you can handle the consequences, don’t d oit.” Weaselhead was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a shootout and car chase back in May of 2010. After a Ma dras officer stopped Weaselhead and Aldo Antunez, the two sped away in a white Ford Explorer, firing shots at officers. The chase eventually led to Charley Canyon, where the two escaped. “If there was a time machine, I wouldn’t jump into it. If I wasn’t caught, I’d still be out there doing the same thing that I was doing. Now this is some- Waylon Weaselhead thin g that I have to w alk through. I can’t take it back. It’s here. It was a pretty violent crim e. I could have taken someone’s life.” For days, the fugitives fol lowed the Warm Springs River. But both of them knew, he said, that they couldn’t run forever. “I knew that I was going to get caught somewhere, some time. We had no money, we were tired, and we had it set in our hearts that we were just waiting. You can’t run.” During Paiyumsha weekend, Weaselhead was caught. “What’s worse is being locked up all the way around. It does get pretty depressing in here sometimes. You do something, knowing that it’s going to be the same thing every day. That’s rough. But now, this is my new life I’ve chosen. This is where my choices have taken me. I’ve been in here for [almost a year] now, and I’m going to be here for at least 15 more years. I just need to learn to accept it.” Weaselhead grew up in Warm Sprin gs, P ortland and The Dalles. There was never a con- stant father figure in his life, he said. He remembers seeing a lot of alcohol and drugs in his youth. When he was 17, he tried meth for the first time. “To be honest, I didn’t like it. I had a bad experience with it. I’d rather be doing other things. But sooner or later, it just came back into my life. I tried it and I got hooked.” While searching for someone to look up to, Weaselhead be came involved with gangs. “Ev erybody likes to think they’re cool. I know I thought I was cool. They say God has a plan for everybody. I’m kind of dis appointed in this plan he had for me, so I guess the devil took me under his wing.” Occasionally, he did grow tired o f liv in g the life that seemed to take control of him. “I’d tell people I needed to go home for a while. My mom was always glad to see me. She’d plan road trips just to get me out of Springs for a while. We’d have a good day then.” He tried repeatedly to find work on the reservation and eventually landed a job at Kah- Nee-Ta. “It felt good to get a paycheck, but you aren’t going Shooting investigation continues As of earlier this week, the FBI continued its investiga tion into the fatal shooting that happened the night of M arch 20 at the W arm Springs Forest Products In dustries mill. D uring the inciden t, a Warm Springs Police officer shot and killed Vernon Buddy Middleton Jr., 20, of Madras. This happened at 10:40 p.m. following a police chase. At the time, Mr. Middleton apparently had a warrant out for his arrest. Two officers were put on administrative leave, pending the investigation. One of the officers has returned to duty, while the officer who fired the fatal shot, officer Levi Dowty, re mained on leave, as of ear lier this week. Dowty has been with the Warm Springs Police Depart ment for three years. to make a living washing dishes. I wanted to straighten up for my kids. I thought there was still a chance for me.” In his cell, he spends a lot of time missing his family. “Some times I feel like I can’t make it. I’ve got nobody, it’s just me. I think of my kids and I want to say to them, Keep on going to school, you’re young, follow your dreams. They’re going to be men and women when I get out.” Weaselhead has heard about certain programs that will be availab le to him in prison. “They say there are courses that will teach you the trade. You could finish your education. I could have a fighting chance to at least have something with me when I finally get out. I don’t plan to walk out with nothing.” Weaselhead will be tested at the intake center at Coffee Creek. Facilitators there will decide where he will serve his sentence. Commissary okayed for W.S. jail inmates Tribal Council approved the setting up of a commis sary for the inmates of the Warm Springs Jail. The commissary will allow inmates to purchase personal hygiene and other items that are otherwise not provided to them. Council took the action following a recommendation by W arm Springs P ublic Safety B ranch M anager Stanley Suenaga. Along with the commis sary, Tribal Council approved the setting up of a separate bank account for inm ate funds. Such funds in the past have been kept in a secure safe at the Corrections build ing. A specific and separate bank account will allow for better oversight of the funds, said Suenaga. Alcoholics nonymous Wann Springs Community Counseling Wednesday - 12-Noon & 7:00 p.m. Saturday-10 a jn. Jefferson County Republicans' Night Out Saturday, May 7 , 6:00 p.m. The Inn at Cross Keys Station 66 NE Cedar Street Madras, Oregon 97741 Allen Alley Keynote Speaker Chairman, Oregon Republican Party Oregon Business Leader John Huffman Oregon State Representative, District 59 Master of Ceremony Invited Guests Include: Congressman GREG WALDEN and State Senator TED FERRIOLI Dinner choices: Prime Rib or Salmon Gov. appoints Liebe regional ERT coordinator Annette Liebe has been ap pointed as the coordinator for Central Oregon’s Regional So lu tio n s C enter by Gov. Kitzhaber. The governor’s Economic Revitalization Teams (ERTs) are made up of agencies working together in community solutions teams. The teams identify priorities in so lvin g problem s w hich hinder economic development. During his first term, Gov. Kitzhaber brought state agencies together into teams to encour age integrated state service at the local and regional level. As part of her duties, Liebe will find ways to solve problems that hinder economic develop ment throughout Central Or egon. This includes attempting to establish a business relationship with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Liebe earned her law degree from the University of Oregon and has work experience from the DEQ. “Her experience and prob lem-solving skills will serve the Governor well in helping get Oregonians back to work,” Greg Wolf, Intergovernm ental and Regional Solutions Director said. Regional Solutions Centers are located in universities and community colleges throughout the state to provide a neutral forum, access to research and data, and opportunities to con nect students with “real world” experience on projects. According to the Deschutes Economic A lliance, the first phase of a 1,000 day economic recovery plan will be launched on Sunday in an attem pt to change Central Oregon from “poverty with a view” to “pos sibilities with a view”. One of those initiatives in cludes developing mutually ben eficial business opportunities with Warm Springs. Catered by the famous Madras Black Bear TICKETS $30 PER PERSON, Limited Seating Questions, please contact: Phyllis Langsev at phvllisl(5>bendbroadband.com: Bonnie Buckles at buckleshome@iuno.com: Maurice Langsev at maurice(S>bendbroadband.com Evening Includes, 541-546-9008 541-546-9259 503 806-4830 LIVE AUCTION and Raffle for a Ruger 10/22 Sporter Raffle Tickets: Contact Tom Townsend at steelhorsies@vahoo.com or 510-468-0863 Raffle Tickets: $2 each/ 6 for $10 (Retail value $366.) Cliff’s Repair & Auto Sales 330 S.W. Culver Hwy. Madras Judge approves farmers settlement (AP) - A federal judge has approved a $680 million settle ment between the Agriculture Department and American In dian farmers who say they were denied loans because o f dis crimination. The two sides agreed on the deal last year subject to court approval. U.S. D istrict Judge Emmet Sullivan approved the terms last week. Individuals who can prove discrimination could receive up to $250,000 from the govern ment. The agreement also includes $80 million in farm debt forgive ness for the Indian plaintiffs and a series of initiatives to try and alleviate racism against Ameri can Indians and other minori ties in rural farm loan offices. The law suit, nam ed after George and Marilyn Keepseagle of Fort Yates, N.D., was filed in 1999 and contends Indian farm ers and ranchers lost hundreds of millions of dollars over sev eral decades because they were denied USDA loans that instead went to their white neighbors. Approved Auto Repair w* employ TECHNICIANS Mu*show you w * CfPoeotwi li, . Il, - -I— I»-«. Free Battery Check ÏN fttR S mm m T ÏË Î & Installation BATiTERIES with purchase
