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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1994)
Page 2 Editorial and Opinion Smoke Signals October 1994 Letters from our readers... Tribe helps Grand Ronde community, youth Strategic Planning Update General Council Meeting Sunday, October 9, 11:30 a.m. AH Tribal Members Welcome Road work planned continued from page 1 Highway 18 will be widened in the area near the Strawberry Patch and the access road to the gaming center. "Included are a deceleration lane and a jug-handle loop that will carry traffic into the gaming center. The loop will runnel traffic through an underpass. "The design greatly improves traffic safety, and it will be much safer for people entering and leaving the Strawberry Patch," he said. Thomas said that is very unusual for such a highway project to be approved in so short a time. "Normally it takes from two to three years to get such a comprehensive highway project through the state approval process," Thomas said. Paul Pink Architects of Editorial Policy Utters From Our Reader Smoke Signals Is a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon. We have recently adopted an Editorial Policy that encourages input from readers about stories printed in Smoke Signals as well as other tribal Issues. However, all letters from readers must be received at the Newsletter Office no later than the 20th of each month, with the author's signature, address, and phone number m orderto be considered for publication. Letters must be printed or typed, and cannot exceed 300 words. Smoke Signals reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain libelous statements or personal attacks. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Smoke Signals, tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Mail letters to: SMOKE SIGNALS, 9616 Grand Ronde Rd., Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 ATTN: Tracy Olson MOVING? NEW Name: Address Cut out and mail to: Smoke Signals 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 near gaming site Minneapolis, Minn, is designing the project. "He is in the final stages of adjusting construction to fit within the budget," Thomas said The gaming facility will be built by a joint venture of Kraus Anderson of Minneapolis, Minn, and Donald M. Drake Company of Portland. Kraus-Anderson built the huge Mystic Lake gaming center at Prior Lake, Minn. The Drake Company constructed the new Portland Convention Center. Thomas said that the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde will be operating the new gaming center, and Little Six will be the consultants. Little Six is a developer and operator of the Mystic Lake gaming complex. Let us know! OLD Dear Council members and staff: I'd like to take this opportunity, as a long-time Grand Ronde resident, to thank the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde for the constructive interest you have taken in our families and our community. First, in my opinion, the Youth Program the Tribe has set up is without a doubt one of the most important programs you have implemented to date. For some time now I have watched the work that Vernon Kennedy and Duane Manyhides have been doing with the Tribal youth and they have gone way above and beyond the call Council candidates Tribal members: This letter is to thank the people who supported and voted for me in the recent elections for Tribal Council. Almoughlfinishedfourth and did not make Council, with all the local support I received, I will definitely be a candidate for Tribal Council next September. I am hoping to receive enough local and outside support to be elected to Council next year. I feel I can do a good job for the people. I would like to congratulate the new Council members on the organization of their voters, they did a good job. Maybe we can all learn from their example. There is a lot of talk about per capita for our tribal members. If this was a reality, I would support that Other tribes that never suffered termination and have more revenue and land base can do this, but our tribe is too young and we would lose a lot like our trust fund dollars and a lot of other programs with un Thanks for concern Tribal members, staff, and friends: I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude and appreciationforall the cards, letters, books, videos, visits, calls, and support that I have received in these last few months. I have been touched by your love and concern. However...let's not lose sight of our main goal. And that is, all of us working together, and developing a strong, effective, productive Tribe. Thanks again, JoannMercier of duty to work with young people and their families. Vernon and Duane are great role models for our young people. I personally thank them for their assistance during the time my grandson lived with me. I aralookingforwardtothetimeyou might expand the Youth Program to include more summer jobs and more supervised recreation throughout the year. Secondly, I commend you for the financial help the Tribe has given to make our community a safer place to live. It seemed like over the last few years the Grand Ronde area was getting to be a great target forburglariesanddrug sales. Now, express thanks for met needs would suffer. I do not believe any member would turn down a monthly check and in some way support per-capita, because it is probably the only real fair way for all members to receive their "piece of the pie" so to speak. Also I dont 1 feel the government is going to allow that for us. It will be interesting to see if the newly elected Council members still support the advisory votes taken last spring. The recommended hourly wage, no wage increases for Council without being brought before the general membership first, no more local travel for Tribal Council members. It should prove to be a real interesting year. I hope this will move inapositive way for the Tribe and people will be able to work together. Thanks again for the support, I will be counting on you next year! Thanks, Reynold Leno Good feelings from pow-wow carry on Dear friends: Many thanks to the Pow-wow Committee and everyone who helped make our pow-wow so successful. It took a lot of hard work and coordination. I think the pow-wow has grown into a big yearly event We all need to let the good feelings we share during pow-wow time cany on throughout the rest of the year. Thanks again for all of your efforts. Michael J. Larsen having law enforcement in our area, I feel much safer on the streets and in my home. The interest you have taken in assisting the water and sewer utilities both financially and administratively has been invaluable and has added to making Grand Ronde a safer and better place to live. Being the parent and grandparent of tribal members I have felt the difference tribal programs can make in our families and the community. Thankyousomuchforallyoufolks have done, you havebrightened our corner of tie world! Fondly, Eleanor Kimsey support "NikaTillikum" I would like to take this time to say thank you to all of my fellow tribal members who supported me in the tribal election. I would especially like to thank my family and friends for the time and effort that they put into helping me with my campaign. Although I did not succeed at being elected, I would like all of us to stay involved and be supportive of tribal government Weare going tobeveiyactrvemupwmtagyears and we need to be aware and stay knowledgeable about all aspects of tribal activities. We do need to keep in mind that there will be elections again next year and we cantry again then. With my sincere appreciation, thanks again. Joyce Bean Kirk Tribal Members: I would like to express my thanks to friends and family who supported me in my effort to run for Tribal Council. Ireallyappreciatedallthe votes I received, and wish Tribal Council and successful year. Thanks, Bob Merrier Help appreciated during luncheons I would like to thank everyone who helped work in the kitchen to prepare the luncheons during the memorial services for the Kneeland family and the Leslie Houck family. Your assistance was much appreciated. Thanks you all again, Wilmadene Butler
