Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon
April 11, 2018
Page 3
Town hall with Senator Merkley
D.McMechan/Spilyay
After the Council meeting, Chairman Austin Greene
meets with Congressman Greg Walden.
Wide ranging talk with
Council, Congressman
Dave McMechan/Spilyay
Senator Merkley presents the Warm Springs Community Action Team with a flag that had flown over the United
States Capitol. On hand from the Community Action Team were board member Pinky Beymer, IDA program
coordinator and Tax Aide program manager Nettie Dickson, office manager Lori Switzler, AmeriCorps Community
Development specialist Gabby Robinson, financial counselor Demus Martinez, IDA program administrator Leah
Guliasi, board member Jonathan Smith, board president Ted Brunoe, and WSCAT executive director Chris Watson
(from left). Not pictured here are Small Business coach Dustin Seyler, board vice president Julie Quaid, board
secretary Yvonne Iverson, and board member Shayleen Macy EagleSpeaker.
U nited
States Senator
Jeff Merkley opened his
Warm Springs Town Hall by
honoring the work being
done at the Community Ac-
tion Team.
The team assists tribal
members who are working to
purchase a home, a vehicle,
begin a small business, or just
save money.
The Individual Develop-
ment Account, or IDA, pro-
gram has seen great success
among many residents, said
Community Action Team ex-
ecutive director Chris
Watson.
Dozens of residents have
graduated from financial
planning education, and tens
of thousands of dollars have
gone toward improvement
of the homes, and the com-
munity. Many have used the
tax assistance program,
among other programs at
WSCAT.
An important project
coming up is the small busi-
ness incubator program, Mr.
Watson said.
The Warm Springs gath-
ering at the Academy was
Merkley’s Town Hall for
Jefferson County, so many
were in attendance.
Topics ranged from health
care, the Middle East and
Far East, gun control, the en-
vironment, tribal water
rights, and veterans services.
The Senator also gave a
special thank-you to the
Warm Springs Ladies Auxil-
iary.
Senator Merkley honors members of the Ladies Auxiliary
of Warm Springs, Viola Govenor, Gladys Grant, Diana
Burger and president Susan Guerin.
Register to vote
Courtesy Diane Fuller
The Confederated Tribes Housekeeping
staff from the Clinic, ECE-Head Start
and Utilities completed a three-day
training. This included both Basic and
Advanced custodial skills in all areas
of health and commercial building
cleaning. At the end of the training all
of the staff successfully completed a
lengthy written exam and earned
Certified Custodial Technician status.
Congratulation to Woodrow Smith,
facilities manager and training host
Orlando Stevens, Marion Ivey,
Certified Trainer from CMI, Tanner
Yallup, Rodney Katchia and Dani
Katchia (back row standing); Gifford
Anderson, Tim Wainanawit, Lyda
Rhoan and Cheryl Starr (middle row
standing); Lois Knight, Lisa
Wallulatum and Chariss Haskins
(front row seated).
Several positions in
Jefferson County are com-
ing up for election on May
15. The Jefferson County
Sheriff, the county clerk, and
two county commission po-
sitions will be determined in
this election. This will be a
primary election.
If you aren’t registered to
vote, you still have time to
register. The deadline to reg-
ister is April 24, and ballots
are scheduled to be in the
mail on April 25.
You can register online if
you have an Oregon driver’s
license or state ID. Go to:
SOS.Oregon.gov
Or stop by the Jefferson
County Clerk’s Office, 66
SE D St., Madras. Or call
541-475-4451.
During their meeting this
month in Warm Springs,
Congressman Greg Walden
and Tribal Council held a
wide ranging discussion—
covering topics from the
drug abuse crisis, to reform
of forest management and
fire fighting, to the tribal in-
frastructure dilemma.
The first talking point was
illegal opioid use in Indian
Country. The initial points
were: The rate of drug over-
dose deaths among Indians
is twice that of the general
population. And deaths by
prescription opioid over-
doses among Indians in-
creased four-fold between
1999 and 2013.
Tribal Council Chairman
Austin Greene pointed out
that the tribes currently con-
tend with problems associ-
ated with alcohol abuse, and
methamphetamine. “Meth
use on the reservation is af-
fecting our housing efforts,
and has moved into our pub-
lic tribal buildings,” Chair-
man Greene said.
Walden acknowledged the
point: “I do realize that in
this region the meth prob-
lem can be bigger, compared
to some other areas,” Rep.
Walden said. For this reason,
he said, we need flexibility
in the spending of federal
drug prevention and treat-
ment funding.
Council and the Con-
gressman also talked about
a variety of other subjects.
Councilman Ron Suppah
said the Warm Springs Na-
tional Fish Hatchery is on the
verge of failing, and the is-
sue—as with many other
things—is funding.
Councilman Suppah said
the tribal water treatment
plant also is 25 years old, and
needs significant improve-
ment. Funding for this, such
as through IHS or the BIA,
is a growing priority, Mr.
Suppah said.
Council Vice Chairman
Jody Calica brought up the
need for downtown under-
ground infrastructure, an-
other area where BIA coop-
eration will be essential.
Secretary
Treasurer
Michele Stacona said the
Warm Springs Telecom has
a pending application—
pending for two years now—
to become the incumbent
local exchange carrier.
With the ILEC status, the
Telecom could make im-
provements to better serve
the reservation. Rep. Walden
said he would contact the
FCC and try to determine
the reason for the delay.
Some recent good news,
the Congressman said, was
the passage of legislation that
will improve wildland fire
fighting. Among the provi-
sions: The previous system
required the use of forest
management and fire pre-
vention accounts for wild
fire response. The new leg-
islation provides funds that
will be used specifically for
fire fighting.
Prevention summit
Health and Human
Services general manager
again addressed the crisis of
drug abuse on the
reservation.
Tribal communities face
unique challenges in meeting
the challenge, Mrs. Cruz said.
The Confederated Tribes
will host the opioid and other
drug abuse prevention
summit June 5-6 at Kah-
Nee-Ta. This will be with the
nine Oregon tribes, and
groups working with urban
populations of Native
Americans, working with the
Oregon Health Authority.
Vote ~ Kim Schmith ~
The Warm Springs
Baptist Church will
host the Revival 2018
this Sunday through
Wednesday, April 15-
18. The Evangelist will
be Gerry Locklear of
the Lumbee Tribe of
North Carolina.
The Revival begins
Sunday morning, and
continues each night,
starting at 6:30,
through Wednesday.
Bring family and
friends. There will be
great preaching, sing-
ing, and a great time
for fellowship with the
presence and the
Spirit of God.
For information call
253-651-6849. The
church is at 2230
Elliot Heights, Warm
Springs.
Jefferson County Commissioner
My priorities
A vibrant economy:
I will listen to our
communities, help es-
tablish priorities, and
work to develop bal-
anced economic solu-
tions to help us attract
outside investment and
spur economic develop-
ment.
Education:
I wholeheartedly sup-
port the Warm Springs
K-8 Academy and stand
with Madras High
School
providing
classes in the trades.
Vocational courses pro-
vide a whole new world
of opportunities for our
youth—opportunities
that pay well, may help
keep them in
our commu-
nity, and also
strengthens
our
local
workforce.
Affordable
housing:
Whether
renting
or
looking
to
buy, people in
our communities should
be able to find housing
that fits their needs, is in
reasonable condition and
doesn’t cost so much
they can’t afford other
basic needs.
Rural livability:
To protect our way of
life, preserving our rural
lifestyle, communities
and val-
ues, we
must mod-
ernize our
infrastruc-
ture; start-
ing with
improving
Internet
services,
and keep-
ing roads
and buildings in good
repair.
I bring a common-sense
approach to problem
solving, believe government
is strongest when inclusive
of all its residents, and am
not afraid of hard choices
or hard work.
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