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WiMJ '.offers Hods a clhamice to shiinie
By Tracy Dugan, Editor
There aren't many rewarding
jobs around where the main
skill needed is simply being
able to read. But that's all that is
required to be a SMART volunteer.
That and a little dedication.
SMART (Start Making A Reader
Today) began in four Yamhill
County Elementary schools this
year, including Grand Ronde and
Wlllamina grade schools.
Aimed at kindergarten, first, and
second grade students, SMART is in
the business of helping kids learn to
read and develop self-esteem and
positive feelings about themselves at
the same time.
Barbara Smith, SMART Coordina
tor for the Grand Ronde program
says that sometimes kids in unique
situations need a little extra atten
tion. "All that is required of our volun
teers is one hour per week," said
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A SMART volunteer reads with one of her students at Grand Ronde
Elementary School.
Smith. "That is enough
time for them to develop
a special relationship
with their kids and help
these children succeed in
school."
With a little help from
the Spirit Mountain Com
munity Fund, the Grand
Ronde Elementary has
been able to work with
25 of the children ages
5-7 with their reading skills. An
other major financial supporter in
Yamhill County is Hampton Indus
tries. Because of their contributions,
not only are these children gaining
confidence and self-esteem, they are
learning to love and appreciate the
value of reading. Each child receives
two books per month to take home
and keep permanently.
Tribal member Shelley Hanson, a
SMART volunteer and Casino em
ployee, was instrumental in coordi
nating volunteers for the Grand
Ronde SMART program.
"We sent out notices in the em
ployee newsletter, Coyote Tracks"
said Hanson. "I tried to recruit em
ployees to volunteer, and SMART
had a booth at the Casino's Commu
nications Celebration."
Hanson spends one hour per week
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Barbara Smith
with two different children at the
grade school, and has a special rela
tionship with them.
"They are both great kids," she
said. "It's been wonderful to see
them grow in their reading level, and
we have a lot of fun."
Founded by former Oregon gov
ernor Neil Goldschmidt, SMART cur
rently exists in 144 Oregon elemen
tary schools and serves 7,400 kids.
They are always seeking volunteers.
If you love reading and want to help
a child learn to love books, please call
Barbara Smith at Grand Ronde El
ementary, (503) 879-5210.
"Kids need positive role models,
and I know our volunteers really
enjoy the time they spend with them.
It's really not work at all," said Smith.
Lost in cyberspace:
Teaching children about Internet dangers
The Internet has opened up a world of information for anyone with a computer.
But just as you wouldn't let your children near a busy street without some safety rules,
you shouldn't let them roam the information superhighway without rules of the road.
The numbers frighten many
adults. Nationwide, the U.S. De
partment of Justice reports that ev
ery year 354,000 children are ab
ducted by family members. 450,000
children run away from home, and
another 127,000 are "thrown away"
by parents who don't want them.
Many of these children become prey
for abductors. Yamhill County Sher
iff Norm Hand, a member of the Or
egon Missing Children Clearing
house Advisory Board says there are
as many as 114,000 attempted ab
ductions by non-family members
each year.
But Sheriff Hand has recently
been made aware of new problems
involving the safety of children.
"The potential for child exploitation
has come into our homes via the
Internet," he said. "It is critically im
portant that parents monitor what
their children view on-line, and cau
tion them that some dangerous
people with an interest in young
persons may be on the other end of
an innocent on-line chat."
A recent case in Benton County
where a 35 year-old man conducted
a relationship with a 13 year-old girl
he met on-line underscores the need
to stress "cyber-safety."
Here's what you do:
Explain to your child that although a person may be alone in a
room using a computer, once logged on to the Internet, he or she is
really no longer alone. People skilled in using the Internet can find
out who you are and where you are. . .
Set aside time to explore the Internet together. Let your child take
the lead. Visit areas of the World Wide Web that are for children.
Control access. Place the computer in a public area in your home
where you can monitor the content. Many on-line services offer pa
rental settings control features for screening e-mail and website con
tent, and filtering out illegal or inappropriate material.
D Talk to your children. Educated kids are safe kids. Let them know
they should talk to you if they find something scary or threatening on
the Internet. Never allow them to give out personal information.
Make sure your child's access to the Internet in school is monitored
by adults.
H If your child receives offensive e-mails or pornographic material,
save the offending material and contact that user's Internet service
provider and your focal law enforcement agency.
D Tell your child never to respond to e-mail messages that have bad
words, seem scary, or just plain weird.
D Tell your child never to enter into an area on the Internet that
charges for services without asking you first.
A tip for winter
drivers: slow down
By Jan Michael Reibach
Tribal Safety Committee
Getting to and from work during
the winter months can be a real chal
lenge. Every year, a number of road
and highway accidents are con
nected to winter weather conditions.
Snow, ice, wet roads, inadequate vis
ibility, and poor judgement can con
tribute to these accidents.
TIRES, BRAKES, AND CHAINS:
Good tire tread depth, and proper
tread for winter driving could mean
the difference between a safe trip
and an accident. Proper fitting tire
chains should be available as the
road conditions dictate.
STOPPING DISTANCES: Stop
ping distances are longer on wet and
icy roads. Drivers should slow down
appropriately and allow a safe dis
tance between cars. ,
VISIBILITY: Visibility is signifi
cantly reduced during the winter,
with many more hours of darkness,
fog, rain, snow, and water spray
from other vehicles. Reduced speed
is the key where visibility is limited.
BLACK ICE: Black ice creates one
of the most difficult winter driving
conditions. Drivers should be aware
of weather conditions that lead to
black ice on the roads. A reduced
speed, and light use of brakes can
help keep a vehicle safely on its
course. Finally, allow yourself extra
time when traveling this season.