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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 1999)
OR. COLL. E 78 .06 :hasta MPQUA S66 TMIA April 15, DLALLA 1999 LAPUYA' RIVER A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe APRIL 15, 1999 (Sim Russellville Commons open for business By Oscar Johnson fwM 287-unit Portland housing project is nearing completion and already open for business. The Russellville Commons is a resort-style apartment complex sprawled within the Rose City's southeast streets of 102nd, 105th, Burnside and Stark. The Grand Ronde Tribe is one in vestor of the $32 million project. The project is one of several efforts to in crease assets and diversify income needed to sustain future tribal pro grams and services. "It's a huge project that's kind of cutting edge," says Chuck Galford, Spirit Mountain Casino marketing director. "It's very well designed. It's a transit oriented development built in a neighborhood that it should happen in one with low density." In addition to putting up funds for the project, tribal officials are also involved with the project manage ment oversight. Local agencies such as the Hous ing Authority of Portland, Metro and Tri-met are also involved with the project, Galford said. Thirty-six of the Russellville apart ments have been completed and are currently occupied while most of the units are still under construction. The project is expected to be com pleted by summer and will sport a 24-hour fitness center, swimming pool, jacuzzi, computer room, confer ence room and a park corridor span ning the length of the compound. Residents will have free access to - ..... r- n - I hvai" "University or ureuun C"1 Received on: 04-16-99 ZSnoke signals Some of the already occupied buildings of the new Russellville Com mons resort-style apartment complex. The Tribe's 287-unit property investment project is slated for completion this August. a dry-cleaning pickup service and a fax machine. Russellville is also just a few short steps away from the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) light rail service. Apartment styles vary, with 17 dif ferent floor plans ranging from sev continued on page 2 April General Council meeting: credit union, casino, clinic By Tracy Dugan Tribal member Roger Harrison, who created the Tribe's logo after Res toration, was awarded with the first Pendleton Blanket created with the Tribe's logo on it at the April 11th General Council meeting. Tribal Council had 500 logo blankets made up that will be available for sale to tribal members interested in owning one. When Council determines a price and who will be handling or ders, it will be announced in Smoke Signals. Bruce Thomas gave the Casino update which included information about upcoming events and Spirit Mountain Development Corporation business ventures. Thomas said that the Tribe is hosting the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI) conference in May, and that attend ees will stay at Spirit Mountain Lodge. Also, Spirit Mountain Stam pede and Rodeo will be held in June. The lodge is currently operating at a 70 occupancy rate, with a 32 increase in daily reservation count. Camille Mercier, of the Casino's Human Resources department, said that there are currently 154 tribal member employees, and 13 tribal member applications pending. Vicki Bates, who is a manager at MaPS Credit Union, welcomed the Tribe to the "MaPS family." The Tribe has entered into a partnership with MaPS, and tribal members, im mediate family, and tribal employ ees are now eligible to join. They will host an open house at their West Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Address Service Requested PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID SALEM, OR PERMIT NO. 178 Sskxals tor. - Knight Libkarv 1299 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON EUGENE OR 97403-1205 IUMi.l.llllH..!!..ullul.lll...,,,,l,lu,.,li( Left: Roger Harrison is honored with a customized Pendleton. Below: Dr. Tom Austin speaks about Clinic services. Salem branch on April 20 for tribal members. Call 1-800-688-0181 for more information. Dr. Tom Austin, who is interim di rector of the Health and Wellness Center, spoke about upcoming changes to the health facility, which include addition of a triage nurse who will see walk-in patients need ing urgentemergency care. Dr. Austin has worked in Indian Health Service and with other Native American-owned health care facili ties in the Pacific Northwest. He invites tribal members to call him with questions regarding the Grand Ronde Health and Wellness Center at 879-2001, or 1-800-775-0095. Tribal Council nominations will be held on Sunday, May 2 at the last General Council meeting before summer. The meeting starts at 11:30 at the Community Center. Elections will be held in September. Enrollment issue to be discussed Tribal Council has asked the Bu reau of Indian Affairs to conduct a vote of the tribal membership to amend the Tribe's Constitution with regard to tribal enrollment re quirements. A series of tribal com munity meetings are scheduled to discuss the proposed amendment. The process necessary to amend the Constitution will also be dis cussed, including the requirements for registering tribal members for this special BIA election. Meeting schedule: GRAND RONDE Monday, April 19 at 5:30 p.m. Tribal Community Center SPRINGFIELD Thursday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m. Doubletree Motel 3280 Gateway Road TUALATIN Monday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m. Sweetbrier Inn 7125 SW Nyberg Rd. BEND Thursday, April 29 at 5:30 p.m. River House Resort 3075 N. Hwy 97
