8
S moke S ignals
september 15, 2014
Fish & Wildlife Committee
has new e-mail address
In an effort to be of better service to the membership, the Tribe’s
Fish & Wildlife Committee has created an e-mail address for those
who hunt, fish and gather on the Reservation.
The e-mail address is designed so that Tribal members can make
the committee aware of any concerns or questions and to make posi-
tive comments. The committee will do its best to provide answers and
feedback to the membership so that everyone who wishes to utilize
the Reservation lands may do so legally.
Submit your comments, questions and concerns to FW.Committee@
grandronde.org. n
Drug Take-Back Day set for Sept. 27
The Tribal Health & Wellness Clinic will host a National Pharmaceuti-
cal Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the
clinic’s entrance. People will be able to turn in unused or expired medica-
tion for safe disposal. Controlled and non-controlled (prescription) drugs
will be accepted, as well as over-the-counter medications.
All collections will be anonymous and every effort will be made to protect
the anonymity of individuals disposing of medications. No questions or
requests for identification will be made.
Intravenous solutions, injectables, syringes, chemotherapy medications
or medical waste will not be accepted due to the potential hazard posed
by blood-borne pathogens.
At the conclusion of the event, disposal boxes will be sealed for a set
period and then turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
For more information, visit www.dea.gov. n
3,606 votes cast this year
ELECTION continued
from front page
Tom will end her third consecutive
term on Tribal Council.
“I think this year’s message was
that people want this Constitu-
tion supported,” Leno said about
the election results during the
Sept. 7 General Council meeting.
“They want strong leadership. They
want people to be accountable. …
I think there is really a message
that membership’s expectation for
this council is to be strong. The
Tribe can only be as strong as the
council.”
Other Tribal Council candidates
were Brenda Tuomi, 351 votes; Ann
Lewis, 328 votes; Kevin Simmons,
227 votes; and Cory Meneley, 115
votes.
There were 3,606 votes cast in the
election, the most since 2008. Each
Tribal voter could vote for up to
three candidates on their ballot.
In his candidate statement sent
to Tribal voters in July, Leno said
that he believes health care is a top
priority, as well as investment of
Tribal funds.
“We must continue to look for
solid investments,” Leno said. “The
law with respect to gaming is al-
ways being challenged and we need
to continue to work to diversify and
plan for a worst case scenario.”
Mercier called for a Tribal consti-
tutional convention, a shift of power
from Tribal Council to the general
membership and true freedom of
information in his candidate state-
ment.
“After 30 years the time is right,
and ripe, for us to consider real re-
form in this Tribe, from the rights
of Tribal members to how our di-
verse nation should be governed,”
Mercier wrote.
Gleason-Shepek, who has served
on the Tribe’s Social Services Com-
mittee, said in her candidate state-
ment that the Tribe could do better
in the areas of health services, bud-
geting and per capita, enrollment
and communication.
“As your Tribal Council represen-
tative, your Tribal interests and
business affairs will be my No. 1
priority and will receive my full at-
tention,” she said in her candidate
statement.
Gleason-Shepek becomes the
44th Tribal member to serve on
Tribal Council since 1983’s Resto-
ration.
Leno, Mercier and Gleason-She-
pek will serve through September
2017. They were sworn in to office
on Wednesday, Sept. 10. During the
swearing-in ceremony, Sherer and
Tom were honored for their years
of service on Tribal Council with
Tribal Pendleton blankets.
Of the 3,919 Tribal members eli-
gible to vote – 18 or older – in 2014,
1,296 cast ballots for a 33.1 percent
turnout, which is an increase of 2.4
percent over voter participation in
2013. n
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Newly elected Tribal Council member Chris Mercier, left, talks with Tribal
Council Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr. during the General Council meeting held at
the Tribal Community Center on Sunday, Sept. 7. Mercier previously served
three terms on Tribal Council between 200 and 2013 and took a year off to
attend law school at Michigan State.
Flu clinics scheduled
The Tribe’s Health and Wellness Department has scheduled
Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Clinics in the coming weeks.
An Elder Flu Vaccine Clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the Elders’ Activity Center on the Tribal
campus in Grand Ronde.
A Flu Shot Clinic will be held at the Portland Area Office, 4445
S.W. Barbur Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14.
A Tribal Employee Flu Vaccine Clinic will be held during the All-
Staff Meeting set for Thursday, Oct. 2, and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 23, at the clinic in Grand Ronde.
People also can visit the clinic any time during normal business
hours, which are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and
Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday. The clinic is closed for
lunch from noon to 1 p.m. daily.
The vaccine is covered by insurance and there is not a co-pay.
All children will receive free immunizations through Oregon’s
Vaccines for Children program. n
OR 130 bridge work continuing
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 ex-
pected to take approximately two months per bridge.
To get an update on road conditions throughout Oregon, visit www.
tripcheck.com on the Internet. n
Graphic created by George Valdez