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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2011)
Smoke Signals 7 MAY 1,2011 Ffiglhiti daub wiroeir getis pDiroinrQoGeir's DoceimsG -3 First card will be a fundraiser for Willamina schools By Ron Karten Smoke Signals itaff writer Tribal member and lifelong fight er Billy Bobb has attained profes sional status as a mixed martial arts promoter. His gym, the Dog Pound in the old Sheridan bus barn by Deer Meadow, has been home to about 30 fighters in recent years, but with Bobb's state-awarded promoter's license, granted in mid-March, the Dog Pound is ready to rock and roll. "We've been involved with MMA for a number of years," said Bobb. Three years ago, when local fight ers trained at Willamina High School in off hours, the team took fighters to the Roseland Theater to fight in Portland. "Paul Hasslen had his first fight there, and it started growing," said Bobb. Willamina Middle School wres tling coach Ray Carpenter, himself a state champion wrestler from Willamina, trained Hasslen. Now, to start off his professional promoting career, Bobb has set up a match at his old stomping grounds, Willamina High School. The card will include up to 15 fights on May 14. Dubbed "Fight For Our Schools," the event is a fundraiser for cash strapped Willamina schools. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the fights start at 7. "If they all go three rounds," said Bobb, "you've got a long night.5' Support for this fight card comes from Spirit Mountain Casino and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, among others. The Dog Pound name comes from the locker room at Willamina, also called the Dog Pound, which is a takeoff on the Willamina mascot, the Bulldog. A lot of state championship wres tlers come out of Willamina, said Bobb, "and that's the perfect back ground for MMA fighting." Mixed martial arts fighters come from a range of fighting backgrounds, he said, including wrestling, jiu jitsu, kung fu, karate, boxing, kick boxing or any conglomeration of all those different styles. Photos by Michelle Alalmo Tribal member Billy Bobb, owner of the Dog Pound gym in Sheridan, has recently received his state-awarded promoter's license, which gives him professional status as a mixed martial arts promoter. If you go Fight For Our Schools When: Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 14; mixed mar tial arts fights begin at 7 p.m. Where: Willamina High School, 1100 N.E. Oaken Hills Drive Ticket Info: 971-237-5959 "It just started growing and peo ple wanted to join," said Bobb. Tribal member and Forest Patrol Officer Jake McKnight, another professional MMA fighter from the area, sometimes practices at the Dog Pound, Bobb said, though he is affiliated with the Chaos gym in Salem. "Jake McKnight started taking fights as an amateur. That got ev erything started. He's the pioneer for this area," Bobb said. Others at the Dog Pound are fol lowing in his footsteps. Bobb's promoter license comes through the Oregon State Athletic ... f!l - Billy Bobb, Tribal member and owner of Dog Pound, right, coaches Jacob Williams, one of the fighters at the gym, in between sparring matches at the Sheridan gym on Wednesday, April 20. Commission, a division of the Or egon State Police. It required the gym to pass a full background and financial check and requires that Bobb be insured with a $10,000 fee to the Boxing Commission, he said. Between licensing regulations and gym costs, including a cage, Bobb estimates he has already in- bond. He also pays a $100 annual vested $20,000 in the effort-. Dr. Ashley Nunley Chiropractor at the CTGR-Portland Office 4445 SWBarburBlvd Suite 101 Portland, Or 97239 Tuesdays only 9ajru-4pjn. -!" " 11 '. 1111 1 fc" V , Ay v v f CaH Lisa and make your appointment today I 3 503-235-4230 Tribal members with Skooum health plan f make your appointment now, start feeling better today. K-12 Parent Committee meets The monthly K-12 Parent Committee meetings are held the last Wednesday of the month from September through June. Meetings are held in the Youth Education Building from noon to 1 p.m. Lunch is provided. RSVP if you are planning to attend to toni.mercier grandronde.org or call 503-879-2101. B Ad created by George Valdez Event marks opening of Portland satellite office The Tribe will officially mark the opening of the new Portland satellite office from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, May 6, at 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., Port land. Light refreshments will be served and Tribal members can tour the facility. H
