Smoke Signals 7
MAY 1,2011
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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.
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fc" V ,
Ay
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f CaH Lisa and make your appointment today I
3 503-235-4230
Tribal members with Skooum health plan
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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