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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 1995)
I hit t.VWAl at a mm INSIDE: USDA questions answered, page 2 Celebrate New Year's Eve at Casino, page 3 Gaming Commission's role defined, page 3 Additional deputy patrolling Grand Ronde area r . j!" TT-,' '" ' Deputy Jeff VanLaanen By Tracy Dugan Jeff VanLaanen is the new sheriffs deputy assigned by Polk County to patrol the Grand Ronde area. He will be working with Deputy Tom O'Brien who's been patrolling Grand Ronde for the past year. Originally from California, Deputy VanLaanen moved to the Willamette Valley with his family about three years ago, and began working in the police re serves shortly thereafter. He has been a full-time deputy for the past eight months. He and Deputy O'Brien recently set up a work sched ule of alternating day and night shifts. "I have been working nights recently," he said, "but it is easier to get to know people in the community on the day shift." Deputy VanLaanen said he has acquainted himself with many of the business owners and school employees. The two deputies are responsible for all of the calls coming from the Grand Ronde area. Their patrols will include monitoring for traffic violations on Highway 18 and drunk drivers. In the event of a police emergency, Grand Ronde resi dents can dial 91 1 for immediate assistance. However, they also have a non-emergency number at their Grand Ronde substation. The number is 879-2420. Deputy VanLaanen said that non-emergencies in clude general concerns, opinions, or guidelines people may want to address. "For non-emergencies, it is just not necessary to go through Polk County dispatch," he said. "If you call the substation and get a recording, please leave a mes sage. We follow up on all calls we receive." Deputy VanLaanen said he looks forward to meet ing more tribal members and others in the community. Deputies O'Brien and VanLaanen are able to patrol Grand Ronde as the result of an agreement the Tribe reached with the Polk County Sheriffs Department last year. The Tribe is funding part of the deputies' salary and owns the property on which the Grand Ronde sub station is located. Human Services, Gaming Commission update members at General meeting By Tracy Dugan The General Council meeting, held December 3, included program reports from the Health and Hu man Services Division and Gaming Commission. Cheryle Kennedy, Human Services Division Man ager, spoke on some of the projects currently in the works and described the functions of the different staff teams. She said the division has several spe cial project teams including a Resource Team, an Information Team, and a Facility Design Team. Teri Holsclaw, Support Services Coordinator, and tribal physician Dr. Glen Gerritz, spoke about some alternatives to emergency room visits. They gave examples of the urgent care clinics (printed in the last edition of Smoke Signals), and telltale physical signs of a true emergency. The dental staff then presented a slide show and updated members on the changes in the dental clinic. The tribal dentist, Dr. Webster, said that they are planning to start scheduling some evening appoint ments for their clients. Linda Mann, the dental hygienist, said that pre vention is a big part of her job and that many tribal children were experiencing tooth decay. She de scribed some of the youth activities the clinic has sponsored, and some of the services available for expectant mothers. Other Human Services speak ers included Ron Hudson and Carmen Mercier, who spoke about the tribal Foster Care Program; Bryan Langley, of the Mental Health Component; and Tim Holmes, who spoke about the new Vocational Re habilitation Program. Bonnie Tom of the Wellness Component led the After School Club in an anti smoking puppet show. The next report was given by Joe Smith and Bob Watson of the Gaming Commission. They ex plained the procedures involved in determining the suitability of job applicants at the casino, and the importance of maintaining the security of the ca sino. (For related story, please see page 3.) The raffle drawing was won by Margo Mercier. The next General Council meeting will be held on January 7, at the Community Center. New CEO hired: Francis Somday v The new Chief Execu tive Officer of the Tribe is Francis Somday, a Colville Indian, and former president of the Colville Tribal Enterprise Corporation. His vast experience working with the Colville Tribe spans more than twenty years in different executive and managerial positions, including Ex ecutive Director of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Indian Reservation, and Vice President of Business Development. Francis was instrumental in the development and funding of the Mill Bay Casino on Lake Chelan, owned by the Colville Tribe, and he has managed a wood treatment plant, also owned by the Colville Tribe. Francis attended Kinman Business University in Spokane, Wenatchee Valley College, and Eastern Washington University. Francis Somday was hired to ff I former CEO Jim Willis' posi tion, who worked for the Tribe for more than ten years.
