may 15, 2014
2009 – A potential case of H1N1 in-
fluenza prompted closure of the Tribal
campus for two days, as well as post-
ponement of other Tribal events, includ-
ing a General Council meeting. “This is
strictly a precautionary measure,” said
Tribal Executive Officer Chris Leno in
an e-mail to Tribal staff. During the
closure, Tribal Facilities staff members
wiped down high contact areas, such as
door knobs, with disinfectant to ensure
the flu did not spread.
File photo
2004 – Two Grand Ronde Tribal stu-
dents – Alicia Selwyn and Tony Perkins – were elected out of 218
students to the representative board of the Oregon Indian Education
Association. Perkins was elected president and Selwyn was elected
secretary of the four-person board. OIEA is open to students in
eighth through 12 grades who maintain a C average or better.
1999 – Spirit Mountain Casino was named the No. 1 tourist at-
traction in Oregon by the state Tourism Commission. The casino
received more than 2.5 million visitors in 1998 to catapult it to the
top of the list. In addition, the first General Council meeting held
in the new Governance Center occurred.
1994 – Bonnie Tom-Martin was selected by the National Asso-
ciation of Community Health Representatives as the Outstanding
CHR in the Portland area. She was nominated for the award by
Human Services Division Manager Cheryle A. Kennedy. She is
also expected to receive her 10-year pin for her service to Indian
people as a community health representative.
1989 – Gov. Neil Goldschmidt proclaimed May 14-20 as Oregon
American Indian Week in honor of the American Indian peoples of
the state. In other news, Willamina Elementary School students
Nick Bailey, Ronaele Loomis, Mickey Jones and Manning Mercier
completed 10 weeks of Chinook Jargon classes.
1984 – Tribal Council signed two Bureau of Indian Affairs con-
tracts totaling $100,000 to carry out the Management and Reser-
vation Plan and is reviewing an Indian Health Service contract
to provide staff at the Tribal offices to provide services in the six
county service area.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year
increments through the pages of Smoke Signals.
S moke S ignals
201 Community
Input Meeting
The Tribe’s annual Community Input meeting will be held in the
gym on Wednesday, June 11, starting at approximately 6:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.: Community Input Meeting Dinner
6:45 p.m.: Brief Overview PowerPoint
7 p.m.: Open house format with several topic tables in the gym
including:
- GRTHA CMI North Apartments Construction Project
- Food Bank Construction Project
- Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center Project
- Tribal Police Department programs and plans
- Emergency Management
- Tribal Career Development
- TVR/477 program
- Education
- Cover Oregon, ACA & Save Our Skookum
- Domestic & Sexual Violence Prevention
- Children & Family Services
- Other topics table
There also will be a drawing for door prizes (a Pendleton blanket
and smaller gifts).
The annual Grand Ronde Community Input meeting is offered as
an opportunity for members to provide comments and suggestions
that will be used in helping guide Tribal programs and in preparing
grant applications, such as the Administration for Native Americans,
the HUD Indian Community Development Block Grant and others.
Those unable to attend can submit written comments and sugges-
tions to Kim Rogers, Planning & Grants Manager, Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR
97347. For additional information, please contact Rogers at 503-
879-2250. n
OR 130 bridge work started April 1
PACIFIC CITY – Work started April 1 on painting three heavily rusted
bridges over the Nestucca River on OR 130 (Little Nestucca Highway),
between state Highway 22 and U.S. 101. Painting is expected to take ap-
proximately two months per bridge.
The $1.5 million project requires complete closure of the bridges, one
at a time, beginning with the western-most span at milepost 5.11. Local
travelers and residents may access their properties along OR 130, up to
either side of the affected bridge.
Signs will be placed to indicate which bridge is closed and advance noti-
fication and detour signs will be provided to help motorists plan for added
travel time and alternative routes.
The protective paint on the bridges, which were built in the early 1950s,
is oxidizing and cracking, and portions of the steel trusses lack paint al-
together. The repainting will keep the structures from deteriorating. The
bridges have not been painted since the 1970s.
To get an update on road conditions throughout Oregon, visit www.
tripcheck.com on the Internet. n
Ad created by George Valdez