Spilyay Tymoo, Warm Springs, Oregon December 28, 2022 Page 5 Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort: Opening in 2023 (from page 1) The tribal member only bath house will be updated and expanded by replacing the one indoor soak- ing tub with two 4- to 6-person soaking tubs and adding two more of those tubs in a semi-private out- door area. The pool the bathhouse and locker-room facilities will remain, and the entrance area is being ex- panded to include a court yard that will feature a large shade tent, with space for 200 people, which can also host special events. Nearby is the performance stage, a permanent salmon bake area and recreational activities to include miniature golf, play area, and the basketball and pickle ball court. And nearby are the 30-room hotel, 20 teepees and 50 RV sites, arcade, and snack bar. The new Hot Springs Resort will employ the most convenient and current means of resort enjoyment. Reservations can be online; and the guests, when they arrive, have ac- cess to all of the amenities, allow- ing the property to be open and welcoming, Mr. Souers said. Throughout the resort, the Con- federated Tribes, Warm Springs Economic Development and part- ner Mt. Hood Ski Bowl are featur- ing the culture, people, history and art of the tribes. The project promises to create many new local jobs. Already, ten to 20 members of the construction crew are tribal members, often sourced from Tribal Construction. When complete, during the busy season, the resort could create up to 50 full-time and 80 part-time jobs. The Village reopening for the Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort is the first phase of an eventual and long-term 4-phase project, as re- viewed in 2021 by Tribal Council, as presented by Warm Springs Eco- nomic Development. Tribal Coun- cil last year approved funding of $4.58 million to fund Phase 1 and bring back the former Village area of Kah-Nee-Ta. Another $1.5 mil- lion is approved for the necessary funding of the lagoon system that serves the area. This approval also included forming a long-term (15- year) agreement with the Ski Bowl group to be formed for operating and developing this Phase 1 project and future resort phases when the funding is available. This is an eco- nomic development and recovery project, as allocated by the Ameri- Water: D.McMechan/Spilyay View of the hotel at the resort, reopening in 2023, on a recent snowy afternoon. WS Economic Development Architectural rendition, showing an aerial view of the Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort pool area. can Rescue Plan of 2021. Meanwhile, look for the Kah- Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort Village grand opening in the summer of 2023, depending on the weather into the new year, Mr. Souers said. solution is long-term (from page 1) While the new funding is the most welcome addition to the plan for a lasting solution, there is still some ways to go for the long-term viability of the water system. “We have a large team at both the state and national levels to help secure funding,” said Tribal Coun- cilman Jim Manion. “And this last funding round was very success- ful.” Additional resources are needed, though, to upgrade the existing plant, pending the comple- tion of the new one, Councilman Manion said. And more may be needed in order to complete the planned new system. “We’re still years away from having a new plant,” Mr. Manion said. Two years would be a minimum before the new plant comes on line, and that would be in the best case scenario. Meanwhile, “The team is still diligently working.” $70,000 for catching pikeminnows This past summer, fishing brought in nearly $70,000 for one fisherman who turned in the northern pikeminnow the person caught in the Colum- bia or Snake rivers. The top earner in the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program from May through September 2022 was rewarded with $69,230. And the person who earned the second highest amount collected $63,700. The top earner caught and turned in almost 7,000 pikeminnows, each at least 9 inches long. This is a predator control program. For informa- tion see the website: pikeminnow.org Warm Springs Higher Education reminds current and new tribal students who still need to submit a 2023-24 federal application for Student Aid or FAFSA, to get that done as soon as possible for the best chance of qualifying for financial aid. Students should also be applying for scholarship opportunities now.