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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2001)
3 Smoke Signals Tribal Families Celebrate the Season, BBB Tribal Christmas Party Photos by Mychal Leno j . - , ( 1 S 1j ;' 1 , I ..S i 9 V 1 'A 8 J Shop with the Sheriff Program Puts Smiles on Children's Faces By Justin Phillips The Shop with Sheriff program is five years old. What better way to start and end the fifth year as the best year. On Saturday, December 16, Polk County Sheriffs deputies spent the morning with 25 children from Grand Ronde Elementary School (GRES). The children had to earn the trip to Wal-Mart by collecting Coyote Bucks at school. The students earned the bucks by getting their homework done, staying on task and exhibiting good behavior in school. The cost of the trip was 5 coyote bucks for the students. , "It gives the children an incentive that they have to earn the trip rather than them just getting chose to go," said Polk County Sheriffs Sergeant JeffV anLaanen. The funds are raised year-round through the Polk County Sheriffs office, Polk County Service Integra tion Team and Polk County Juvenile Department. "This year we must have had thirty to forty officers turn out for the program," said VanLaanen. "This is the best year we have ever had for officer turnout." Each individual child had an average of $25-$30 to spend. "They can only spend the money on their family," said VanLaanen. "I've never had a child ask for any thing for themselves. They are just proud to put some thing under the tree, for mom, dad, brothers or sis ters." The Tribe traditionally volunteers and assists in the transportation for the children to and from Wal-Mart. Tribal Council members Ed Larsen, Reyn Leno and Elder's Van Driver Dick Zimbrick drove the children. Zimbrick was asked at the last minute and said he would do anything for the children. "I thank the Tribe for the use of the vans," said Larsen. "I can't thank Wal-Mart enough for giving us a dis count for the children, sometimes they provide wrap ping paper for the gifts, and they provide Santa with cookies and juice every year," said VanLaanen. There have been times when a child that the officer is assisting needs a coat or shoes and the officer uses his own money to buy for them. The students then are taken back to school where they wrap the gifts with help from the officers, teach ers and the juvenile department before they take the presents home. Also that day, Sheriff Bob Wolf and members of the Polk County Sheriffs Office distributed hundreds of donated toys and gifts to families in Polk, Yamhill and Marion Counties. Each year, donated toys and gifts are collected by the Polk County Sheriffs Office S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) Unit. The SALT. Unit then sorts, wraps and assigns the gifts to area fami lies who have been nominated by area schools. "Everything went really well this year," said VanLaanen. "Not to mention that with that many officers in the store, shoplifting in Wal-Mart that morn ing goes down." ' ft 1 " J i! 0)1 r ' -s 1 e 1 I r m I it Ik If I H4 J 5; '3 IT 4! ,.y if! k t'i-;j yf-T: Photos by Justin Phillips " 1 !" ? """"" n f ' ."-VT" , , V . .i .f-f - ...lyv- ft 1 .T. I ' i ; f. TT777 1 . : '7t$ "PI j3 VV
