OR. COLL.
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe August 1, 2000 1 W R o
Q.
C
4
a.
( n -,
V
r
4
.. J A ' t
7 ' t
4.
Spirit Mountain Stampede
By Justin Phillips
When the dust cleared and the 2000-pound bull made its way to
the gate, one man rose to his feet to the crowd's applause. With
dirt in the air, bulls snorting and horses talking, it must be that time
of year again. l!(
The Spirit Mountain Stampede was held July 15-16 at the Pow
wow grounds. The two-day event included bull riding, bareback bronco
riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronco riding, women's bar
rel racing and team roping. There was also a miniature bull riding
competition, with participants ranging from 9 to 12 years of age.
The Cavalry" Pro Pennant Rodeo team, a co-ed team from the North
west, took part in the National Anthem. Grand Ronde Royalty pre
sented The Lord's Prayer in sign language.
Rodeo Board members are President Sharon Herron, Vice Presi
dent Michaelle Kimsey, Secretary and Treasurer Marline Groshong,
Butch LaBonte, Dale Langley, Cheri Hodgson, Marvin Kimsey, Billie
LaBonte, Gene LaBonte and Norris Merrill.
They would like to say Thank You" to all of the volunteers that
helped make this year's Stampede a success.
A
J i 1 1 ' '
f
,' 01.
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
Serials DePt. - K KSJIJIinftegi
1299 UNIVERSITY
EUGENE OR 974Q3-
Smoke signals
Grand Ronde's Polk County
Sheriff's Force grows
to six full-time Deputies
Sgt. Jeff VanLaanen and Deputy Allister Bunch
are the latest additions to the community.
. L. h - s
1
Sgt. Jeff VanLaanen (left) and Deputy Allister Bunch are the latest addi
tions to the area's Polk County Sheriffs force. VanLaanen worked in Grand
Ronde three years ago and now return's as the area supervisor.
By Brent Merrill
Once Grand Ronde's newest
deputy, former LAPD of
ficer Allister Bunch, gets it
through his head that he won't be
calling for air support much here in
rural Polk County, everything will
be just fine.
Bunch, 25, who regularly called
for air support in Los Angeles, is a
world away from Southern Califor
nia now.
After being born and raised in
Glendale, California, Bunch and his
wife Jennifer decided they had seen
enough and they moved their fam
ily (five children) to Oregon.
"We basically moved up here to get
our kids out of Southern California,"
said Bunch. "My wife and I didn't
like the way things were turning
out. We didn't like the way commu
nities were going. She went to high
school up here. We would come up
here every summer and it was just
beautiful. So, when we got the
chance to bring the kids up here we
did it."
Bunch explained that his initial
intent was to become a firefighter.
He said his wife encouraged him to
consider the police force as well.
One day when leaving his fire sci
ences class he spotted a flyer adver
tising a Los Angeles Police Depart
ment (LAPD) training. After dis
cussing it with his wife, he tested for
the LAPD. He was accepted and
spent three years on the streets of
the big city.
After being involved in the inves
tigation into the death of motorcycle
officer and having to experience tell
ing the officer's wife of the death,
Bunch was moved and forever
changed.
Bunch said having the support of
his wife makes it easier to be a law
enforcement officer.
"She has been the most support
ive, understanding person in the
whole world. She makes this work,"
said Bunch. "She talks to me. She
understands me. She copes with all
the screwed up hours. Working on
birthdays, holidays, anniversaries.
Because of her, this all works."
The officer's death changed his
point-of-view and made him appre
ciate things like his family and ca
reer even more.
"It was just a big reality check.
Now, I just got to work and I have
fun," said Bunch. "I try not to let
things get to me. What has stayed
in my mind the most, and what I
think has helped me the most, is the
realization that you don't know what
is going to happen. And, if you get
caught up in the job, like a lot of
people do, you are just going to lose
sight and become this Robo cop. My
wife keeps me balanced. I'm a fa
ther. I'm a husband and I'm an of
ficer. The three can work if you are
a team."
Bunch said he has enjoyed his first
few weeks on the job in Grand
Ronde. He said he likes being able
to see a case through to its conclu
sion and he likes the family atmo
sphere here.
"The better thing about being here
is I like the fact that we actually do
continued on page 3