Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
May 25, 2016
Page 3
In Case of Emergency
Calling on the ham radio operators
H ow would you commu-
nicate from the reservation
in the case of a widespread
disaster?
After an earthquake, or
during a major storm, when
the internet, phones and
power are not working—How
could the emergency response
teams communicate with
each other?
The best way would be
with an Amateur, or ‘ham’ ra-
dio.
The tribes’ Emergency
Management Department,
working with the War m
Springs Telecom, acquired
one of these radios earlier
this year.
The tribes made the pur-
chase with a state grant, after
Emergency Management di-
rector Dan Martinez lobbied
on behalf of the tribes.
Law requires training and
an FCC license before a per-
son can operate a ham radio.
Josh Richesin at the Telecom
has a license, but it was im-
portant for Emergency Man-
agement to have licensed op-
erates as well, Martinez was
saying recently.
Lorena Medina and Neal
MorningOwl were the perfect
candidates, he said. And this
month they both received
their Amateur radio licenses.
Lorena is first Native Ameri-
can woman licensed to oper-
ate this type of radio.
Ham radio is the best
form of communication dur-
ing extreme emergencies be-
cause this type of radio can
communicate for distances
of hundreds, or even thou-
sands of miles. By compari-
son, a walkie-talkie can reach
in the range of around 30
miles.
The emergency response
to Hurricane Katrina, and the
9-11 attack, for instance, re-
lied on the ham radio opera-
tors.
Public safety radio
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Lorena Medina and Neal MorningOwl demonstrate the
use of the ham radio at the Warm Springs Telecom.
They took the required
course in Spokane during the
2016 Emergency Prepared-
ness Conference, and re-
ceived their licenses and call
numbers last week. They can
now operate the tribes’ Ama-
teur radio system, housed at
the Warm Springs Telecom.
Lorena and Neal are 2014
graduates of Madras High
School. Neal has been work-
ing at Emergency Manage-
ment for two years, and
Lorena for five years. She
started with the department
as a summer youth worker
while still in high school.
Warm Springs is now the
only tribe in the U.S. with cer-
tification as a ham radio hub
in case of emergency.
Over the past 10 years,
Warm Springs Public Safety
Branch and Emergency Man-
agement have been working
to build out the public safety
radio network on the reser-
vation.
This is critical for the pro-
tection of the people reser-
vation, enabling first-respond-
ers to have two-way, inter-op-
erable communications.
The emergency prepared-
ness team has built new tow-
ers, shared with the Warm
Springs Telecom, to place the
necessary equipment.
They have purchased
new repeaters, hand-helds,
and mobile equipment,
meeting the new federal
standards.
These upgrades ensure in-
ter-operable communications
between the various Warm
Springs departments, includ-
ing police and fire, and out-
side agencies.
The team secured the pur-
chase of new dispatch con-
soles and software, and cre-
ated a new inter-operable mi-
crowave link with the
Jefferson County Sheriff ’s
Department.
All of these initiatives en-
hance the protection and
safety of the people on the
reservation.
The ham radio project is a
recent example of this pub-
lic safety program. A ham
radio repeater was installed on
Eagle Butte last year.
The tribes and War m
Springs Telecom developed a
plan calling for the Telecom
to serve as the back-up com-
munication site and second-
ary command post for disas-
ter preparedness and commu-
nications.
The two new licensed ham
radio operators at Emergency
Management are the most
recent addition to the pro-
gram.
Dave McMechan
Boys & Girls Club summer program starts June 13
The Boys & Girls Club of
Warm Springs will begin the
summer program on Mon-
day, June 13.
Club hours will be 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. The club provides
a positive place where youth,
ages 5 years and older, can
participate in gym activities,
outdoor play, special projects
and more.
The summer membership
fee is $25. There is a $10
daily fee for non-member at-
tendees. The club will be open
Monday through Friday in
June, July and August.
The summer meal pro-
gram will be for youth up
to the age of 18. The lunch
will be provided on site. The
club is located at the Warm
Springs Youth Center, 1112
Wasco Street.
You can reach the club
at 541-553-2323.
Returning members this
summer will have to update
their medical information and
emergency contacts (see
Alexxis). New members will
need to complete a member-
ship form.
There are three basic rules
that youth must follow while
attending the club: Respect
each other, respect all staff,
and respect the equipment
and facility.
Forty-Seventh Pi-Ume-Sha coming up in a month
Food Gathering—Usual
and Accustomed is the theme
of this year’s Pi-Ume-Sha
Treaty Days, June 24-26.
This year the powwow is
marking the One-Hundred
and Sixty-First anniversary of
the signing of the Treaty of
1855.
This will be the Forty-Sev-
enth year for the individual
and team dance competitions,
held at the Pi-Ume-Sha field.
There will be Ol’ Style, and
other Specials. Men’s Round
Bustle and Women’s Shell
Dress. Three-person hand
drum. Owl and Rabbit
Dance; and Queen’s Special.
The Miss Warm Springs Spe-
cial. And the Traditional
Dress Parade.
You can reach Cassie
Katchia at 541-325-1573 (c);
541-553-6293 (w); and
Louise Katchia, 541-460-
0224. Here are some other
contact numbers:
Traditional Dress Pa-
rade, Ramona Greene Baez,
541-553-2406; 460-0077.
Stick Game Tour na-
COCC
commencement
on June 11
The Central Oregon Com-
munity College commence-
ment ceremony will be at 10
a.m. on Saturday, June 11, at
the Mazama Field on the
COCC Bend Campus.
Of the more than 880
graduates receiving degrees
and certificates, approxi-
mately 350 are expected to
participate in the ceremony.
Five students will be hon-
ored by the college for their
outstanding achievements. A
reception will follow in the
courtyard of the Coats Cam-
pus Center.
ment, Sam Starr, 541-553-
1131.
Endurance Horse Race,
Ricky Graybael, 541-553-
1161. Rodeo, Cheryl Tom,
541-460-1454.
Boxing, Austin Smith,
541-325-2798. Softball,
Sandra
Greene/Jerry
Sampson, 541-553-6619;
325-1866.
Recreation
Bead Swap
Warm Springs Rec-
reation is having a
Bead Swap at 5:30
p.m. this Thursday,
May 26.
The swap will be at
the community center
social hall. This is a get-
together for bead lov-
ers to swap or sell
beads, and to share
their projects and tech-
niques.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Regarding the fis-
cal year 2016 Indian
Reservation Roads
Transportation Im-
provement program
for the Warm Springs
Indian Reservation.
The 2016 Indian
Reservation
Road
Transportation Im-
provement Program
for the Confederated
Tribes of War m
Springs is available for
public review and com-
ment at the War m
Springs Planning De-
partment.
Planning is located in
the administration build-
ing, 1233 Veterans
Street, Warm Springs.
Written comments
can be mailed to the
Planning Department at
P.O. Box C, War m
Springs, OR, 97761.
The Transportation
Planner will be avail-
able, in person, at the
Planning Department
from 2 to 4 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 1. This
will be a chance to
present information,
answer questions and
take comments on the
proposed project list.
Comments should
be received before
close of business on
Friday, June 10, 2016.
For more informa-
tion, call the Planning
Office at 541-553-
3509.
Alcohol
Education
classes at Community
Counseling are every
Tuesday from 1:15-2:30
p.m. at the center. For any
questions, please call
Flint Scott or Robert Main
Jr., at 541-553-3205.