Smoke Signals
Young community member stands apart from the crowd
6
By Brent Merrill
Grand Ronde Community mem
ber Mickey Hoopingarner is a
breath of fresh air.
His ready smile and polite manner
help to keep his constant enthusiasm
in check. Like most young people,
he is ready to go. Unlike many
young people his age, 14, being re
spectful and kind comes naturally to
him. And, if you think being respect
ful, makes him weak think again.
Hoopingarner competes in the 100
yard and 200-yard dashes, the relay
events and whatever else his track
coach asks him to do. He does it will
ingly and with results.
He also finds time to play percus
sion in the school band and took the
role of a soldier in Willamina High
School's production of Romanoff and
Juliette.
Despite all his extra-curricular ac
tivities, Hoopingarner keeps his
grades up. He has impressed every
body he comes in contact with his
old principal at Grand Ronde El
ementary to his new principal at Wil
lamina High School.
"He is one of my favorites," said
Grand Ronde Elementary Principal
Kathy Sumners. "I think he is re
ally interesting to talk to. He gets
really involved in what he is doing.
He is really committed to what he is
doing and I think that is just such
an important thing."
Sumners said she appreciates
Hoopingarner's sense of accountabil
ity past and present.
"Mickey has always felt like he
needed to take responsibility for
things," said Sumners. "He takes a
lot of responsibility on himself."
Willamina High School Principal
Gary Anderson agreed with Sumners
about Hoopingarner's work ethic and
personal reliability.
"He is a real hard worker," said
Anderson. "He's heavily involved in
band (he is Willamina's first fresh
man lead percussionist). He was ac
tive and involved in the drama pro
duction that was done here this
spring. At the same time he was in-
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Grand Ronde resident and Willamina High School student Mickey Hoopingarner
has grown up in Grand Ronde and become a vital part of the community.
volved in track. He actually had
three things going at the same time.
He kept his head above water.
"Mickey had to work really hard to
do it," said Anderson of Hoopin
garner's schedule. "There was a lot
of demands on him. He is real ener
getic. He is a real responsible young
man. He is really anxious, I think,
to get through school and get out and
make his mark in the world.
"He likes to work with people," said
Anderson. "He has the ability to or
ganize and direct people, my guess
he is going to go into some aspect of
business and probably some man
agement function in business. I
think he would do well in that - par
ticularly, a people-oriented business.
He is a very positive, real personable
individual. Mickey is always look
ing at the bright side."
Hoopingarner's adopted grand
mother, Tribal member Patti Hoopin
garner, said she is so proud of Mickey
it hurts. She grins with pride when
his name is mentioned. She said the
whole family is proud of him.
"Great grandma (Tribal Elder
Frances Ring) was up here for the
play he did," said Patti. "She is very
proud of him too."
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"Mickey considers everyone else's
feelings first," said Patti. "He tells
me not to worry. He wants us to be
proud of him."
Hoopingarner's late uncle, Monte
Ring, was his traditional and spiri
tual teacher. Mickey wants Monte
to be proud of him too, said Patti.
"Everything he does, he does it in
honor of his uncle," said Patti of
Mickey's devotion to the memory of
his uncle.
Like Monte before him, Hoopin
garner touches everyone he meets in
some way. His family describes him
as quiet, shy and loving.
"Everyday when I am at work
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Photos by Brent Merrill
ABOVE: Mickey at age four.
Ten years later, his enthusiasm
has not worn off.
LEFT: Mickey's late uncle, Grand
Ronde Tribal member Monte Ring,
was his first spiritual and traditional
teacher. Ring, who was a vital
force in the Grand Ronde community,
set an example that Mickey hopes
to follow.
right on my desk I have a statue,
made out of St. Helen's ash, of a girl
holding a kitten. Mickey gave that
to me when he left Grand Ronde El
ementary and every time I look at
the statue I remember him," said
Sumners. "Every time I look at it I
think of Mickey."
Sumners said she would honor
Mickey by placing the statue on her
desk at her new job in Salem. She
said Hoopingarner is one of those stu
dents that she will never forget.
"In fact, I told him I would come
back for his high school graduation,"
said Sumners. "There is no way I
will ever forget him."
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Grand Ronde Elementary's DARE program took 32 students to Salem to Pictured here are students from Grand Ronde Elementary's 5th grade
attend a DARE rally. Crystal Glazebrook and Tryna Carroll of Grand Ronde class who graduated from DARE on June 6 Polk County Sheriff Deputies
were selected by Healthy Choices, a program designed to help make bet- Curtis Pitt (back row, left) and Kevin Hayes take time to pose for the
ter decisions against drugs, as winners for the posters that they made. camera with the students. Pitt and Hayes are also DARE officers.