4
S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 1, 2014
Blessing the bank
2009 – The Tribe purchased a new
building in Portland in which to house
its satellite office. The two-story CIDA
building is at 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd.
Purchase of the 20,000-square-foot
building was completed in early No-
vember.
2004 – Spirit Mountain Casino
Tribal employees were introduced to
File photo
new Interim General Manager Mike
Larsen. The meeting was held to give
appreciation and show recognition to all Tribal member employees
at the casino, Larsen said.
1999 – Spirit Mountain Casino served as the primary management
consultant to the Kalispel Tribe in developing its Northern Quest
Casino north of Spokane. “Spirit Mountain has helped turn things
around for the Grand Ronde people,” said Tribal Council Chairwoman
Kathryn Harrison. “We are happy to be helping another Tribe work
toward self-sufficiency.”
1994 – An announcement that the Siletz Tribe signed a compact
with Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts to build a $20 million casino and
convention center in Lincoln City did not upset the Grand Ronde
Tribe. “Economic studies show that the market for our gaming center
will draw mainly from the Willamette Valley,” an editorial in Smoke
Signals said.
1989 – Smoke Signals and Tribal archives do not have a copy of
the December 1989 edition.
1984 – Health Director Cheryle A. Kennedy announced that a
health survey was being conducted by outreach workers to help the
Tribe determine its needs and what services will be offered in the
area of Multnomah, Washington, Polk, Yamhill, Marion and Tilla-
mook counties.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
Tribe sponsoring ‘Shop
With a Hero’ on Dec. 13
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Willamina School District and
West Valley Fire Department will sponsor the first annual “Shop With a
Hero” event on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Dallas Wal-Mart store.
Modeled after the “Shop With the Sheriff” program, which was moved
from Willamina to the Falls City School District this year, “Shop With a
Hero” will have Willamina School District counselors identify 25 children
to shop for Christmas gifts with Tribal police officers, West Valley fire-
fighters and emergency medical technicians, and other volunteers, such
as teachers and military personnel and veterans.
The Tribe’s Social Services Department will drive the children to Wal-
Mart and Tribal Council has donated funds for each child to have a $50
shopping limit and a meal gift card for their family. After the shopping
spree, the children will be brought back to the Tribal Community Center,
where they will wrap their Christmas gifts to take home. They also will
receive a goody bag.
“Since our department is so small, we need all the volunteers we can
get,” Police Records and Evidence Technician Mindy Lane said. “We are
calling our event ‘Shop With a Hero’ and we are inviting West Valley Fire
to participate, and will be soliciting volunteers from other backgrounds
as well to participate.”
The three Tribal vans will be driven by Grand Ronde Police Chief Al
LaChance, Social Services Department Manager David Fullerton and
Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno.
The event is for children selected by the school district.
“The children are specifically selected by the school counselors based on
a variety of factors,” Lane said. n
Christmas tree lighting set for Dec. 12
The Culture Committee and Youth Education and Youth Prevention
departments will be holding a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 5:30
p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at the Community Center. There will be gifts for
children in attendance and the event is designed for the community to
come together and celebrate the season. For more information, contact
Culture Committee member Linda Brandon at 971-267-0918. n
Submitted photo by Jake McKnight
On Monday, Nov. 24, the new Grand Ronde Food Bank was blessed and
Tribal Council members and numerous Tribal staff members performed
a walk-through of the new building, which is supposed to open on
Monday, Dec. 1, and hold its first food distribution on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Spirit Mountain holding
annual hospital toy drive
By Angela Sears
Advertising supervisor
Spirit Mountain Casino is holding its seventh annual Holiday Toy Drive
to benefit Oregon Health & Science University’s Doernbecher Children’s
Hospital through Monday, Dec. 15.
Casino guests can help spread the holiday cheer by bringing in new,
unwrapped toys to the Coyote Club desk in exchange for $10 in free slot
play. There is a limit of one free play offer per day with a maximum of
$50 in free play throughout the promotional period, which started on
Tuesday, Nov. 25.
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital is in need of appropriate toys for infants
and toddlers, school-age children, and teenage boys and girls. For a full
wish list, visit www.spiritmountain.com.
“This is our seventh year of helping make the holidays a little brighter
at Doernbecher,” said Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Stan
Dillon. “Each year, our guests generously and selflessly donate toys to
help bring a smile to a child’s face during a difficult time in their life. It is
these efforts that allow us to provide sufficient toys to meet the hospital’s
needs throughout the year.”
The toy donations are not only used during the holiday season, but are
used for birthdays, special occasions, educational tools, playroom toys and
treatment pals through the entire year.
“We are grateful for the continued opportunity to work with the incred-
ible staff at Doernbecher. On behalf of the employees of Spirit Mountain
Casino and the members of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, we
extend our prayers and blessings for the holiday season and the year to
come,” Dillon said. n
Certified Application
Assister sets Portland dates
Certified Application Assister Loretta Meneley will be at the Tribe’s
Portland office, 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon-
day, Dec. 8 and 22, to provide information and answer questions about
applying for an exemption from the shared responsibility payment, as
well as to sign up members for health insurance.
For more information, contact Meneley at 503-879-1359 or by e-mail
at loretta.meneley@grandronde.org. n
Chemawa Indian School
holding craft show
SALEM — Chemawa Indian School, 3700 Chemawa Road N.E., will be
holding a craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6.
Admission will be a canned food donation. Hand-crafted items and Na-
tive-style gifts will be for sale and there will be door prizes. The craft show
is sponsored by the Chemawa Powwow Club. Vendors should contact Karen
Serna at 503-399-5721, ext. 225, or via e-mail at karen.serna@bie.edu. n