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Government, casino representatives meeting discusses measured response to possible pandemic
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
In May, when a Tribal toddler was suspected
of possibly having the H1N1 strain of influ
enza, the Tribal campus in Grand Ronde
closed for two days and Tribal facilities staff
deep-cleaned every building.
In addition, staff at the Tribal Health & Well
ness Center created a separate entrance for
people experiencing flu-like symptoms.
And the General Council meeting scheduled
for that month was postponed so as to not in-
See FLU continued
on page 5
Ways to stay healthy during flu season
Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise and relaxation.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based (60
percent or more) hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes. Germs spread this way.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow.
Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards,
doorknobs, etc.
Do not use a co-worker's phone, desk, office or other work tools and equipment.
Don't spread the flu. If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home.
Get vaccinated against seasonal flu.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
4i'v?v, v m , .
Tribal Council member Valoria Sheker, left, it sworn in by Tribal Chief Judge Suzanne OjibwayTownsend, as
Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy, middle, waits for her turn and Tribal Council member Toby
McClary just finished his during the swearing-in ceremony In Tribal Council chambers on Wednesday, Sept. 1 6.
frDlbaD GoxuduoO eDectts offikecrs
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signal editor
Tribal Chairwoman Cheryle
A. Kennedy was re-elected
6-3 by Tribal Council to
the Tribal chair position for the
eighth time during the Sept. 16
Tribal Council meeting.
Kennedy first served as Tribal
chairwoman starting in Septem
ber 2001 and has continued in
that role continuously except
for a one-year break between
September 2006 and September
2007 when Tribal Council mem
ber Chris Mercier was elected to
Newly elected Tribal
Council member Toby
McClary, left, receives a
hug from Tribal member
Pearl Rife after the newly
elected Council member
was sworn in.
Photo by Mkhellc Alaimo
the office.
Kennedy is the second-longest
serving Tribal chair in Grand
Ronde history. Tribal Elder Mark
Mercier served as Tribal chair for
11 years, from October 1985 to
September 1996. Tribal Elder
See OFFICERS
continued on page 3
Effort seeks to
stop smoking
in Oregon's
Tribal casinos
Tribal representatives cite
mostly non-smoking areas
already in Spirit Mountain
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
A smoldering effort by the
American Lung Association
to expand Oregon's smok
ing ban in restaurants and bars
to Native American casinos would
affect less than 40 percent of Spirit
Mountain Casino, Grand Ronde
Tribal representatives say.
"We're trending that way any
way," Tribal member and Tribal
lobbyist Justin Martin said. "Other
than the gaming floor and a little
bit of hotel space, Spirit Mountain
is practically smoke-free."
Spirit Mountain Casino Chief
Executive Officer Rodney Fergu
son said 61 percent of the 532,000
square feet in the casino and Spirit
Mountain Lodge is already desig
nated non-smoking.
Eighty percent of the Lodge's
254 guest rooms are non-smoking,
Ferguson added.
"What we're trying to do is ac
commodate guests, both smokers
and non-smokers," Martin said.
"We've increased our non-smoking
areas over the years and prob
ably will continue to do so as our
patrons want to move that way in
the future."
See SMOKING
continued on page 6