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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 1999)
1353 : river A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe MAY 15, 1999 IffH HEVZO BQIEFS: Constitutional Election update On May 3, 1999, voters regis tration packets and registration forms were mailed to all mem bers of voting age regarding the Grand Ronde Constitutional Election, Registration forms must be received by the Siletz BIA Agency on or before June 3, 1999. If you do not register especially for this election, you will not be eligible to vote. The address and instructions for sending your registration to the Siletz BIA Agency are in cluded in your registration packet. Please, do not waste any time. Fill out your registration so you can vote on this impor tant election. If you have any questions, contact Val Sheker at 1-800-422-0232, extension 2221. Important dates and more information on page 5. This election is separate from the Tribal Council elections. Casino named number one Oregon hot spot According to a recent survey by the Oregon Tourism Commis sion, Spirit Mountain Casino is the number one tourist attrac tion in Oregon. Other casinos in Oregon are listed in the top dozen, but Spirit Mountain re ceived the most visitors last year more than 2.5 million. The success of Spirit Mountain is a result of a combination of sev eral factors which include fam ily entertainment areas like Superplay and the video arcade area; superior dining; close prox imity to other tourism destina tions such as the Oregon coast; and now, the recent opening of Spirit Mountain Lodge with its interactive historical walkway, "The Hall of Legends." Seventeen nominated for Tribal Council The first General meeting conducted at the new Governance Center accommodates over 136 members for Council nominations. It X I V ... (7 itiiji,jr' .N v ft mversity of Oregon Library Received on: 05-14-99 Smoke signals Members gather to hear the names of those nominated for Council at the last meeting until September. By Kim Mueller The last General Council meeting before summer hiatus took place on Sunday, May 2. With over 136 in attendance, this was the first meet ing held in the new Governance Cen ter. It was a meeting with an im portant agenda: Tribal Council nominations for 3 positions, each to be filled for 3-year terms. Harold Dean Mercier, Sr. nomi nated Mark Mercier, accepted; Clarence Langley nominated Eu gene R. LaBonte, accepted; Rob ert Mercier nominated Leon "Chips" Tom, accepted; Robert Haller nominated Jan D. Reibach, accepted; Mark Mercier nominated Harold Dean Mercier, Sr., ac cepted; Lonnie Leno nominated Reynold Leno, accepted; Ronald Reibach nominated Joann Mer cier, accepted; Shelley Hanson nominated Kathleen Aicher (Tom), accepted; Ila Dowd nomi- 3ptS Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde PRESORTED (pM Community of Oregon FIRST-CLASS MAIL 9615 Grand Ronde Road u.S. POSTAGE PAID (MM) Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 SALEM, OR Wli Address Service Requested PERMIT NO. 178 Srialsc pi t . - KniSht Libr&rv I 99 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON EUGENE" OR 97403-IZ0S nated Alan Ham, accepted; Lydia Logan nominated Shawn Hostler, accepted; Leslie McKnight nomi nated Lottie Child, accepted; Dor othy Green nominated Tom LaChance, ineligible as he was not present; Annabelle "Peachie" Hamm nominated J. Kenneth Gregg, ac cepted; Cherie Butler nominated Margaret Provost, accepted; Eu gene J. LaBonte nominated Earl Floyd "Butch" LaBonte, accepted; Lousie Coulson nominated Orrin "Buddy" White, Jr., accepted; Carmen "Candy" Robertson nomi nated Nellie June Sherer, ac cepted; and Nancy Coleman nomi nated Cheryle Kennedy, accepted. Candidate statements and photos will be published in the July 1, 1999 issue of Smoke Signals. Tribal Coun cil elections will be held on Satur day, September 11 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Governance Center. Ab sentee ballots will be sent out to reg istered members as a mail-in option. Other agenda items included a gaming report; Ad Hoc Veterans' Me morial announcement; community meetings update; Memorial Day Gathering information; and raffles. Adam Henny, Public Relations Specialist for Spirit Mountain Casino said that the hotel is operating at 80 occupancy during the week and 100 on weekends. The member ship asked questions about a possible hotel expansion and parking struc ture. Henny stated that the devel opment team is discussing both is sues, but no planning has started. Reyn Leno, Tribal Council Vice Chair, presented a brief summary of the four tribal community meetings conducted in Oregon last month. The meetings were held to inform members of the BIA special election on enrollment. More information will be published in the next issues of Smoke Signals. Also, a hotline may be established to answer ques tions. Every enrolled Grand Ronde member of voting age will be re quired to register with BIA to vote in this election. A bingo fund-raiser will be held at the Casino on Wednesday, May 19 to raise money for the Veterans Me morial. Tickets may be purchased from Reyn Leno at 879-2399 or Tom Leno at 876-5196. Donations may be made directly to the Veterans Me morial Fund at Bank of America, 322 E. Main St., Willamina, OR 97396. A Memorial Day Gathering and Potluck will take place on Saturday, May 29 at the Community Center, starting at noon. Finally, the Grand Ronde Royalty hosted a Bake Sale and 5050 raffle. Bonnie Tom won the $54 raffle and donated it back to Royalty. Door prizes were awarded to Annabelle "Peachie" Hamm, $50; Gloria Sundahl, $50; Albert Peters, $50; and Mychal Leno, $100.
