Spilyay Tymoo
Coyote News, est. 1976
December 24, 2014
Vol. 39, No. 26
December – Nch’i-An - Winter - Yiyam
Casino board presents development ideas
T he tribal gaming board and staff
gave Tribal Council a report on
three proposed development and
improvement projects.
One of the ideas is to expand
Indian Head Casino with an enter-
tainment and Bingo hall. The addi-
tion would be to the side of the
building where the security desk is
currently located.
The addition would be from
15,000 to 20,000 square feet. The
addition would be fairly easy to ac-
complish, as the utility hook-ups are
in place for expansion, said Harold
Baugus, Indian Head general man-
ager.
The addition would cost about
$4.5 million, and would be a great
improvement to the casino, Baugus
said.
Bingo would be a popular added
attraction, and the casino could host
bigger name entertainers year-
round, he said. The new room could
be used for a variety other uses as
well.
Gaming enterprises have to see
improvements to continue attract-
ing customers, Baugus said. “We’ve
Courtesy Indian Head Casino.
The entertainment-Bingo room would be to the left.
done well over the last year, but at
some point we’ll level out.” The ca-
sino, he said, “has to be continuously
enhanced.”
The gaming board and staff have
been studying this idea for several
months, and recommended ap-
proval, said board chair Jason
Smith.
The entertainment-Bingo hall
expansion would give a good return
on the investment, especially after
year five, when the loan is paid off,
according to the market research.
The gaming board also presented
a proposal to develop a truck stop/
convenience store at the tribal prop-
erty located at the Madras indus-
trial park. This 10-acre site is cur-
rently not being used for any pro-
ductive purpose.
The proposed development
would also include a restaurant.
Other tribes operate these kinds
of businesses, and have seen
success.
The market research for a
truck stop-convenience store
shows great potential for a prof-
itable enterprise, Baugus said.
There would be revenue to the
tribes, plus about 60 new jobs
for tribal members.
There are about 1,000
people who travel through the
Madras industrial park five
days a week. This customer
base would be in addition to the
thousands of vehicles that pass
by the site on Highway 26.
The idea is locate class II
gaming machines from Kah-
Nee-Ta at the truck stop.
The third proposal by the
board is to invest in renovations
at Kah-Nee-Ta, which has not
seen upgrades in 12 years.
The improvements are
needed to make the resort com-
petitive with other resorts in
Central Oregon.
Title VII report looks at district performance
The Jefferson County School
District 509-J in December released
an evaluation report of the district
Title VII Indian Education Program.
The report evaluates some of the
district goals regarding the 975 Na-
tive American students in the dis-
trict schools.
The goal of reducing the absen-
tee rate has not been met during the
2013-14 school year, according to
the report.
The overall absenteeism rate for
Native American students in grades
7-12 increased from 12.4 percent
to 14.4 percent in 2013-14. The rate
refers to the percentage of school
days missed.
Absenteeism increased most for
seniors, from 14.2 percent in 2012-
13 to 19.6 percent in 2013-14.
Grade 9 absenteeism decreased
from 16.9 percent to 12.6 percent.
Grade 11 absenteeism decreased
slightly, from 15.5 to 15.3 percent.
Other grades saw increases in ab-
senteeism.
The goal of reducing the drop-
out rate among Native American
students showed progress in 2013-
14.
The annual drop-out rate for the
Native American in 2013 for grades
9-12 was 8 percent, lower than the
prior year rate of 17 percent. How-
ever, the drop-out rate for juniors
increased from 12 to 16 percent
during this time.
The long-term trend is toward a
lower drop-out rate among the Na-
tive American students.
The report looks at how Native
American students in the school dis-
trict are doing in areas of reading
and mathematics.
There are mixed results with this
goal. For instance, “Over the past
five years, district data indicate a
declining percentage of Native
American students in grades 3 and
5 meeting reading and math profi-
ciency standards.”
On the other hand, “district data
also indicate an increasing percent-
age of Native American stu-
dents in grades 8 and 11 meet-
ing reading and math profi-
ciency stands.”
The evaluation looks at the
proficiency of students in
grades 3, 5, 8 and 11. “Profi-
ciency rates at the elementary
level showed improvement
across reading and math assess-
ments, while proficiency rates
at the middle and high school
levels all decreased.”
A draft of the report was
presented at the 590-J Impact
Aid hearing in Warm Springs
earlier this month.
Eagle Academy opening the big story of 2014
The year 2014 saw construction
of a large-scale fish restoration
project on Mill Creek, at Potter’s
Ponds. This project will restore fish
habitat that was destroyed in the
1940s, when Warm Springs Lum-
ber Co. built two large log ponds on
Mill Creek.
The reservation in 2014 again saw
an active fire season, with lightning-
caused wild fires breaking out at
roughly the same time on opposite
sides of the reservation.
The Warm Springs Canoe Fam-
ily made the journey to Bella Bella,
British Columbia. The family
partnered this year with the
Nisqually tribal canoe family.
Range and Ag continued a pro-
gram that has removed thousands
of unclaimed horses from the res-
ervation. And Warm Springs re-
ceived good news from the Federal
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Students who ride the bus arrive at school. Buses pick up kids who
live more than a mile from the academy.
Aviation Administration, approving
the reservation as a test-site for
unmanned aerial vehicles. Kah-Nee-
Ta wrapped up a $1.5 million repair
project, necessary due to a kitchen
fire last year.
The big development in 2014,
though, was the opening of the
Warm Springs k-9 Eagle Academy.
This was the culmination of a
dream that many residents have had
for the past few decades.
Tribal members in 2013 ap-
proved a referendum allowing
the Confederated Tribes to fund
half of the $20 million project,
with the school district funding
the other half.
The construction took about
a year to complete, and the acad-
emy opened in time for the start
of the 2014-15 school year.
There are about 650 students
at the Eagle Academy. Some
details are still being worked out,
especially the one-mile radius
rule, requiring students within
that area to walk to school, even
though there are no sidewalks
along the route.
But the new school is a wel-
come addition to the community.
The academy features the latest
computer technology, and dedi-
cated teachers and staff.
P.O. Box 870
Warm Springs, OR 97761
ECR WSS
Postal Patron
U.S. Postage
PRSRT STD
Warm Springs, OR 97761
50 cents
Pageant
on Dec. 30
The Miss Warm Springs Pageant
is coming up on the evening of
Tuesday, Dec. 30. The Pageant is
held at the Agency Longhouse.
The Tribal Council staff organize
the Miss Warm Springs Pageant. If
you have questions, please call
Minnie Yahtin or Emily Yazzie at
541-553-3257.
The Miss Warm Springs contes-
tants are judged on their knowledge
of the Confederated Tribes and the
reservation; and knowledge of tra-
ditional foods, ceremonies, clothing,
crafts and social activities.
The judges also look for poise,
personality and beauty, speaking
ability and appearance. Contestants
are asked to perform two tribal
dances. They are asked to type es-
says on “Why I want to be Miss
Warm Springs,” and “What will be
my civic project for the community
during my reign?”
A table will be available at the
pageant to showcase personal tal-
ents, academic and sports achieve-
ments, as well as traditional.
Simnasho
to ring
in New Year
The Simnasho New Year’s Eve
Celebration and Powwow will start
with potluck at 6 p.m. on Wednes-
day, Dec. 31.
Washat starts at 7 and traditional
powwow, social dancing and games
start at 7:30.
Specials are Mother and Baby in
Baby Board Recognition, Men’s
Round Bustle, and Musical Bench
Championship of the World. The
Clown Dance contest is at 11 p.m.
Cash prize for first, second and
third. Midnight: time to welcome
the New Year with song and lay new
footprints around the longhouse.
For more information contact
Captain, 541-553-7014.
Family New Year’s Fun
The Family New Year’s Eve Fun
night will be from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.
at the Agency Longhouse.
There will be games, food, Bingo,
dance, crafts, cookie decorating, and
fun. For more information call
Deanie at 541-460-3015; or Cassie
at 541-553-1196 ext. 4213.
Hoops tourneys
coming up
The Warm Springs Cougars 13-
and-under and 10- and-under co-ed
basketball tournament is this Friday
through Sunday, Dec. 26-28, at the
Warm Springs Community Center.
Contact Austin Greene for de-
tails: 541-553-1953 or 553-3243.
Later, Recreation will host the
Fifty-First Annual Warm Springs
Indian Holiday Basketball Tourna-
ment. This tourney is set for Dec.
31 thru Jan. 3 at the Warm Springs
Community Center.