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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
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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.