Special Photo Spread:
Casino Construction
Pages 4, 5
Education news,
pages 6, 7
Grand Rondo Royalty Court
information, page 2
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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.