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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 1996)
September 1, 1996 SMOKE SIGNALS 3 Returning home, getting involved Local guys bring home trophy UAs chairman of both the Gaming Commission and the Housing Authority, Bob Watson is seeing his fair share of policy and procedure. Bob Watson sits at the head of the long conference table, his fellow Gaming Com mission members surrounding him. He's talking to the Commission about their many policies and regulations something he's very comfortable discussing. This isn't the first committee he's sat on in his career. Born and raised in Oregon, Bob and his wife only recently moved back to the Willamette Valley after living in Dela ware for many years and working as head of corrections for the state. "I lived in Smyrna, Delaware," said Bob. "It's a really small town, and I knew just about everyone." Still, he says it's good to be home. Bob's work in corrections spans more than four decades, beginning in Oregon. "I was head of corrections for years un der governors Straub and Atiyah," he said. After that, he went into private consult ing for the Sheriffs Department before moving east. By now, most of us are aware of the Gam ing Commission's role. The Casino has been open for nearly a year, and the Com mission has gotten very comfortable in their duties of approving licenses for prospective employees and preserving the overall integ rity and reputation of the Casino. The Com mission meets once per month in a formally announced business session. The Gaming Ordinance requires five days of posted pub lic notice before they meet. "The public meetings include business that has to do with licencing of vendors and the general conduct of gaming ventures in the community," he said. "Executive ses sion is closed, and we discuss personnel issues." Bob said that more than 1,200 applica tions have come across the Commission's docket prospective employees as well as companies wishing to do business in the Casino. They each need a license. "Com panies require an investigation as well as applicants," Bob said. "We want firms to have a good, reputable history of business. We look up their credit to see if they'd paid their debtors on time, and if they are suc cessful at what they do." It's a responsibil ity shared by the state police. As far as employees are concerned, Bob says, "We don't see applications until the person has been recommended for hire. Most of the time, the only people who would be denied a license are those who weren't truthful on their application, or didn't show i VV 1 up for work in the interim. I think Human Resources has done a good job of explain ing the hiring procedures to applicants. They have taken fairly aggressive action to get as many qualified tribal members as possible to work at the Casino. The num ber of terminations of tribal members is re ally very small." Bob said that tribal members and employ ees of the Casino should be proud because they have all held a part in setting a high standard for Indian gaming in Oregon. Bob has his own opinion about the hot issue of traffic on the highways. "Traffic on Highway 22 has no doubt been increased by the Casino, but the Casino didn't create the problem. The problem already existed, and needed to be addressed." There is also a controversy about taxa tion, and how the Tribe doesn't give a cut of its Casino revenue to the state. "The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) dictates to Tribal Council what Casino dollars will be used for housing, health, education, and the long-term suc cess and self-sufficiency of the Tribe. That is w hy IGRA was created. If you look at it that way, the Casino is taxed one hundred percent." Bob adds that since the Tribe is a sover eign government, other governments shouldn't be able to tax it anyway. "Just look around. There are numerous examples of the Tribe's generosity to the community," he said. "Sometimes these voluntary contributions can be overlooked." One of Bob's long-term goals is to set up a program for gambling addictions in the community. He said that many tribes across the nation which have been very successful in gaming have seen gambling addictions turn up as a problem within the tribe. He said the state of Oregon is already looking into it, but there are very few pro grams which deal solely with the problem of gambling. "I have heard about situations in other tribes where people have really lost con trol. It would be sad if the Grand Ronde Tribe created something that generated mil lions of dollars, but ended up devastating the lives of some members." Continued on page 10 Rival Softball teams duked it out again this year at the Silctz pow-wow, held August 9-11. Bruer's Contract Cutting, coached by Mike Larsen and sporting a core of Grand Ronde hitters, prevailed 17-1 5 in a slugfest over Pepsi, aka Silctz. Albert Belle might as well have been in the line-up, as the Larsen-led team blud geoned its way to the championship to cap off an undefeated weekend. For primer they knocked off Sunset 14-2, and Mary's River Lumber 13-2. The next day, after some more of the same, they took care of Just Some Guys 20-4 and then went on to claim the trophy. Fortunately, Mike Larsen seemed to revel much more in the chivalry of gamesman ship than in the limelight of winning. "Our game with Silctz was really competitive, and was played with great sportsmanship and respect. We look forward to next year." Greg Lcno garnered the batting trophy ("he played the best ball I've ever seen him play"), and both he and Doug Colton were awarded all-star honors. Other tribal mem bers were Chris Leno, Jim Holmes, Mike Colton, Jim Bruckner, Jeff Larsen, and Joe Larsen. Mike Larsen gives special thanks to Karen Larsen, the scorckecpcr and, "our most devoted supporter." He also wants to thank Mike Brucr for sponsoring the team again this year. 4 " l'Will r v-v' ft. nT I, FRONT ROW: Joe Larsen, Chris Leno, Mike Bruer, Nathan Arneson, Jim Holmes, Greg Leno, Jim Bruckner. STANDING: Mike Colton, Jeff Larsen, Travis Hunt, Doug Colton, Lee Yates, Terry Ameson, Mike Larsen, and Mike Edwards. sun Family services provided Learning techniques and self awareness Everyone Welcome Open to all community members We encourage all parents, guardians, grandparents, and community members to participate and assist children, All Grand Ronde students will be attending. Parents or guardians must be present for immunizations, please bring immunization cards. Immunizations Ramblin' Rod Life Flight Fire Truck and Medic Unit School bus safety Dental screening Smoky Hacky Cough Play Seat Belt Safety DARE McSruff Water safety Safe streets Safe Wdn Fingerprint IDs for kids Hearing tests and displays Disability challenges with hands-on use of wheelchairs and canes Teenage pregnancy prevention WIC eligibility Blood pressure checks Insurance information Prizes for kids and adults Items from Spirit Mountain Casino will a. rctnieu uj auuiis umi sign up. T f Sponsored by Grand RondeWillamina School District Integrated Services from PolV and Yamhill Counties, Grand Ronde Tribes, Spirit Mountain Casino, Polk and Yamhill Counties and Sheriffs Departments, Life Flight Willamina Fire District N.W. Medic Team, Oregon Commission for the Blind. Oregon Public Libraries, West Valley L'-ns Club, Valley Community Hospital, and many others.
