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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1995)
Special Photo Spread: Casino Construction Pages 4, 5 Education news, pages 6, 7 Grand Rondo Royalty Court information, page 2 IB! in THE CONFEDERATED TRIBES OF THE GRAND RONDE COMMUNITY OF OREGON "1 I I ' v 1 " I'll $ J dual u.J ty iki Lm February 17, 1995 p :-' H O D H O I J c I H to f?' U s O (n r H U ( Y'1 v. - 'WWW V BUILDING ACTIVITY: Construction workers at the gaming site smooth out cement. See pages 4 and 5 for a special photo spread on the construction progress. Fire district offers responder course The Willamina Fire District will be conducting a First Responder Course. (The date to be an nounced.) As a First Responder you would be able to become a part of the Grand Ronde QRT (Quick Response Team), andor become involved with the Willamina Ambulance. If you or someone you know might be interested, or if you have questions, please feel free to call Gary Brooks, Training Officer, (503) 876-3911 or (503) 876-2004. Foundation footing work nearly finished Good weather smiles on casino construction By Frank King More that 600 yards of concrete has been poured into footings and the floor for the Grand Ronde gaming center now. Hiring of key personnel for the center continues, and a huge bronze sculpture of a Grand Ronde native grandmother and her granddaughter has been commissioned to Rip Caswell, an internationally-known sculptor who lives in Troutdale. "The piece will be twice life-size and will be placed in the center of the casino's entry area," Thomas said. The piece will portray the grandmother teaching her granddaughter how to weave a basket. "We are almost finished with the foundation work," Bruce Thomas, director of the Spirit Mountain Development Corporation, said. "The nice weather has really helped." A column of concrete ready-mix trucks drive to and from the site on Highway 18. Jeff Dalton, the project manger for DrakeKraus-Anderson Construc tion Company, said that from 20 to 25 workers work on the project daily, depending upon the skills needed at the time. Four Grand Ronde tribal members have been hired by the contractor: Carol Scott, receptionist; Tom Lejachinsky, carpenter; Chris Dizick and Ron Smith, laborers. Tribal members who would like to apply for jobs with the contractor should contact Dalton at the construction site. Much interest has been shown in the casino marketing manager job that has been advertised. "I am impressed with the quality of people who are applying for the (Continued on page 8) General Council meeting features reports from Small Business, Education divisions By Tracy Olson Three different program presen tations were given at the Feb. 5 General Council meeting. Polk County Sheriff Ray Steele gave an update regarding service calls in Grand Ronde for Oct., Nov., and Dec. He said there were 434 total calls during those three months and Deputy Tom O'Brian handled 235 of those. Mitch Conley, Division Manager of Small Business Development, gave an overview of the division for the past year, and said that 1994 was a "solid year" for growth and participation in their programs. He said he would like to encourage the youth to take some of their com puter classes and utilize their re sources. Patrick Borunda, of Or egon Native American and Entre preneurial Network also spoke about Native American businesses and the services ONABEN pro vides to tribal members. Dean Azule, Education Division Manager, reported on the status of tribal members enrolled in higher education and how much funding is available. "In 1994, 31 students were as sisted, and the Tribe was able to supply $66,000 of their education costs," he said. He also said there are a number of tribal and community members utilizing the Tribe's ABDGED class. Family Math and Science classes are continuing for students in kin dergarten through eighth grade, and youth are encouraged to attend. Dean mentioned the Student Ad visory Council, set up to work with the division and the Education Committee on various educational issues throughout the year. Finally, Tammy Cook of Spirit Mountain Development Corpora tion said that the gaming center construction is going well. The tun nel being constructed on Highway 1 8 is scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day.
