Smcce
SEPTEMBER 1f 2007
QMAl
President Bush signs bill allowing development on
Chemawa Station to proceed.
By Ron Karten
Smoke Signals staff writer
President Bush's signature ap
proving Public Law 1 10-78 on Aug.
13 will enable the Grand Ronde
and Siletz Tribes to move forward
with development of a valuable
Keizer property, as well as diversify
beyond their gaming portfolios.
The two Oregon Tribes broke
ground on the 15.7-acre parcel,
called the Chemawa Station
project, in the summer of 2005,
but could not finance the project
because of a provision within the
Indian Self-Determination and
, " ' K i
1 ''SSSSSSSSiSSiiiS " PRESORTED
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
SALEM, OR
PERMIT NO. 178
OR NEWSPAPER PRO J. UO LIBRARV SYSTEM PRE
1299 UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
EUGENE OR 97403-1205
A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
mm
Education Assistance Act.
The provision permitted the
federal government to take the
property back if it were not used
for "economic development or
natural resources."
Though the plan was clearly to
use the property for Tribal eco
nomic development, the fact that
in theory the federal government
could take the property back could
cause concern among lenders who
might finance the development,
according to Grand Ronde Tribal
Attorney Rob Greene.
The federal legislation excused
Grand RondeSiletz
the Tribes from that pro
vision, and that cleared
the way for the Tribes
to obtain conventional,
commercial financing for
the estimated $20 mil
lion project. The Tribes
already have spent $2.5
million building the infra
structure for the proposed
project.
The Tribal master plan
calls for a gas station, res
taurants, retail and flex
See LAND
on page 3
Johnston Joins Tribe As
Health Executive Director
Bandon native says new job, Tribe's reputation are a good fit.
By Toby McClary
Smoke Signals staff writer
The Tribe's new
health executive di
rector said he accepted
a job in Grand Ronde
because, with his ex
perience, he fit in well
with Oregon's most
successful Tribe.
Mark Johnston, who
took over responsi
bilities of the Grand
Ronde Clinic on June
18, comes to the Tribe
with more than 12
years of experience in
health administration
for Oregon Tribes.
"This is the cream
of the crop," John
ston said. "This is an
incredible place and
I'm excited about the
opportunity."
Johnston worked six
years with the Coos,
Lower Umpqua and
Siuslaw Indians and six with the
Coquille Tribe before continuing
his career in Grand Ronde.
Johnston, 40, graduated from
Texas Wesleyan University in
Fort Worth with a bachelor's
degree in business and admin-
www.grandronde.org
y
Map created by George Valdez
The yellow area represents the land
owned by Grand Ronde and Siletz.
. --I ..mr
p; . .uA' . :! .mm.
' v ... 3
Mark Johnston took over responsibilities of the
Health and Wellness Clinic on June 1 8.
istration. In 1995, he accepted a
position in the Indian Child Wel
fare Department for the Coquille
Tribe. He then started writing
See JOHNSTON
on page 4