2
January 16, 1997
SMOKE SIGNALS
January General meeting features
reports from Small Business,
Housing, Casino, and house fire
D SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (SBD)
A look back at 1996 is very rewarding with at total of 62
tribal member owned businesses (including artists). The
Small Business Program serviced 148 new business clients
with counseling, ONABEN classes, and the use of the B1C
computer lab and library.
Projects of 1996 included the SongBasket Marketplace,
Strawberry Patch, and Christmas Bazaar. A lot of feed
back and positive ideas were received to help with the plan
ning in 1997 of these projects.
Your input is needed for the 1997 activities. SBD will
service tribal member business needs as usual in the fol
lowing areas:
Business Consulting: Their goal is to increase your
ability to be successful. They plan to increase one-on-one
training in accounting and marketing on existing businesses.
Also, feel free to share your business ideas with the staff,
they will help you with a business plan.
ONABEN Training: Currently offered are 3 different
classes which you may acquire college credits.
You and Your Business starts February 4.
Getting your Business Started runs 10 sessions (once a
week for 2-12 hours), beginning February 18.
Management classes are for people already in business and
meets once a month.
BIC (Business Information Center):. This year SBD
would like to focus on preparing tribal members with knowl
edge of computers and softwares. They offer computer
classes and encourage you to take advantage of this train
ing. If you can not attend the scheduled classes please call
for individual training. It is important to pre-register for
these classes, and to call if you need to cancel.
The computer lab is open for use daily from 8 to 8:45
a.m. and 1 to 5 p.m. (unless a class is scheduled, again please
call ahead of time).
State License focused classes: This could possibly in
clude licensing for insurance, real estate, constructioncon
tractors, tax preparers, and day care certification. Before
these can be offered your input is needed. What are you
interested in? What time and location is most convenient?
Please call Small Business Development with our sug
gestions, comments, or for more detailed information:
Barbara Lake, Administrative Assistant at 879-2476
Doug Hampton, Computer Specialist at 879-2484
Roland Mctzer, Business Consultant at 879-2477
Elaine Moore, Division Manager at 879-2478 or toll
free at 1-800-422-0232.
Small Business Development is located at 28840 Salmon
River Highway, 12 miles west of Grand Ronde Road on
Highway 18.
Basket winner to be announced
The Culture and Heritage Board will be selling raffle
tickets to help with the costs of the Elders' Social planned
for January, as well as the Tribal Quilt Project. The draw
ing for the winner will be at the February General Coun
cil meeting, and the prize is an elk leg basket made by
tribal employee Vivian DeMary. You need not be present
at the meeting to win. To purchase tickets, contact Pam
Warren at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2028, Claudette
Parazoo, ext. 2382, or June Olson at ext. 2249.
D HOUSING IMPROVEMENT
Presented by Lonnie Leno, Housing Improvement Spe
cialist, the Housing Improvement Program basically con
sists of three areas:
Emergency Assistance which can supply qualified tribal
members with a grant up to $2,500.
Major Assistance Rehab grant up to $20,000.
Down Payment grant up to $10,000 to help a tribal
member buy a home.
Currently, the Housing Authority is working with the 37
lot "Grand Meadows" manufactured home park located on
Grand Ronde Road. An area of 12 lots has been reserved
just for Elders and 17 lots have been assigned to Elders and
other families. There are about 40 more applications to
review. Financing and the wet weather has delayed comple
tion to be as early as March, or as late as June.
A survey has recently been mailed to all Elders. This
survey will be very important in determining the housing
needs of our elders. A $50 cash prize drawing will be held
for all applications returned by January 27.
The three to five year housing plan includes the possibil
ity of building HUD homes and single family homes to rent
or buy in Grand Ronde.
B SPIRIT MOUNTAIN CASINO
Bruce Thomas, President of SMDC, stated that 90 per
cent of all comments about Spirit Mountain Casino are posi
tive. The Casino offers quality food and entertainment, with
high standards in cleanliness. On the average, 7,000 people
visit Spirit Mountain each day.
The 100-room, 6 floor hotel is in the final stages of plan
ning (see story on front page), and soon will be submitted
to Council for approval. Plans for an RV park are on hold
because there is currently not enough water to accommo
date both a hotel and RV park.
BOTHER BUSINESS
Bob Mercier, representative of the Timber Committee,
presented Mark Mercier with a jacket for all of his support
throughout the years.
The home of Harold and Velma Mercier, and Dean and
Christine Mercier burned down. They lost everything and
have no insurance protection. The door prize drawings and
Elders' raffle money was donated to the family. This is a
very sad time for them. Our thoughts and prayers are with
them. HAROLD G. shirt size: XL; pant size: 42 x 30; shoe
size: 10; VELMA blouse size: XL; pant size: 16 or L; shoe
size: 10; DEAN shirt size: XL; pant size: 40 x 28; shoe
size: 9 wide; CHRISTINE blouse size: XL; leggings size:
L; shoe size: 7-12. FOR DONATIONS OF ANY KIND,
PLEASE CONTACT JACKIE WHISLER AT TRIBAL
GOVERNMENT, 879-2301 OR 1-800-422-0232.
US.D.A. DISTRIBUTION
- SALEM -
February 3: 3 to 7:30 p.m.
February 4: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
February 5: Noon to 8 p.m.
- SILETZ -
January 21, 22, and 23: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 18, 19, and 20: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Mmhrv annai (ffikaai
Benefit Fund notice
If you plan to make a withdrawal from your Member
Benefit Fund in the near future, please note that all applica
tions must be received by the last day (the 30th) of each
month in order to be processed by the 10th day of the fol
lowing month. All checks will be mailed on the 10th.
Submit all applications or questions to: The Confeder
ated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Attention: Chris Leno, 9615
Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347. Chris'
direct phone line is (503) 879-2340.
Sheriffs Report
By Deputy VanLaanen
Both Deputy O'Brien and I hope that everyone had a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Grand Ronde
Sheriffs Office has been busy the past two months.
Again we find it necessary to remind the community to
drive safely this winter season. Although the new
"Safety Corridor" has produced positive results along the
Highway 18 area, we are still experiencing problems on
our county roadways. Once again, we have lost a member
of the Grand Ronde community to another motor vehicle
accident-fatality.
On a more positive note, Deputy O'Brien and I have
been very active in the Grand Ronde Service Integra
tion Team. The Team, consisting of members from many
community and local government agencies, has really de
veloped into a strong, effective community advocate. We
meet twice a month to discuss and solve local problems
and address the needs of people and families in the Grand
Ronde area.
The Team helped make Christmas a little better for some
of our less advantaged children. "Shop with a Sheriff' pro
vided nearly 40 children with money and an opportunity to
spend it on their family and friends for Christmas. Sheriffs
Office personnel and other volunteers joined the children
at the Dallas Wal-Mart to help them do their shopping. We
finished off the day with a meal at McDonalds and a gift
wrapping party back at the school.
the event was a total success. Both the children and the
volunteers had a wonderful time and all were reminded of
the true meaning of Christmas. Our only regret would be
that we could not help every child in need. Our goal for
next year will be to expand the project to include more chil
dren and possibly other communities. Much credit and
thanks to the Tribe, the Sheriffs Office, Wal-Mart,
McDonalds, and the Service Integration Team for their time,
effort, and unselfish giving.
Looking back on the past year I see Grand Ronde as a
growing, evolving community. We have made great
strides in improving our way of life here. Tom and I have
been busy, with over 1,200 cases generated here in Grand
Ronde alone. Our goal, as local law enforcement, is to con
tinue to serve our community and help make Grand Ronde
a safe place to live and work.
In future issues we will address crime prevention tech
niques, community involvement, watch groups, and other
crime solutions that we hope will reduce the crime rate fur
ther in our area. With your help and cooperation we can
make 1997 a great year to be part of the Grand Ronde com
munity. With all the best wishes for a healthy, peaceful,
prosperous new year from Sheriff R. E. Steele and the
entire office.