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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 2015)
Apartment complex grand opening — pg. 16 PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 JUNE 1, 2015 Spirit Mountain Casino float ready to bloom By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T ribal Elder Steve Bobb Sr. credits his design for this year’s Spirit Mountain Ca- sino float that will roll through Portland as part of the Saturday, June, 6, Grand Floral Parade to his wife, Connie. After receiving the parade’s theme in November, “Bloomin’ Ros- es,” Steve says he was stumped on a design that would represent the theme and the Grand Ronde Tribe, as well as remain within budget. “That’s pretty vague and pretty broad,” Steve says. That’s when Connie suggested a baby coming out of a rosebud, and See PARADE continued on page 18 If you go Spirit Mountain Casino Grand Floral Parade When: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6. Parade route: The parade starts at Memorial Coliseum and then travels down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, across the Burn- side Bridge and into downtown Portland, ending at Lincoln High School. Coliseum admission: Indoor: $30 reserved, $15 supersaver; Outdoor: $30 reserved chairs, $25 reserved bleachers. More information: www.rosef- estival.org Photo by Michelle Alaimo The Grand Ronde Honor Guard, including, from left, veterans Alton Butler, Raymond Petite, Michael Lane and Al Miller, bring in the flags during the 13th annual Memorial Day Ceremony held at the West Valley Veterans Memorial on the Tribal campus on Monday, May 25. Tribe holds annual event to honor those who served By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer M HPRULDO'D\RIÀFLDOO\VWDUWHGLQ*UDQG Ronde at 8:44 a.m. Monday, May 25, when area residents heard the gun salute emanating from the Tribal Cemetery. For most people, the holiday began on Friday when local residents got off work and started getting ready for the three-day weekend, but for local veterans and their families the day of remembrance and ceremony begins when those shots are heard. The Grand Ronde Color Guard then made its way to several West Valley cemeteries for services before return- ing to the Community Center for a noon com- munity meal. Tribal Cook Kevin Campbell, Prep Cook/Driver See MEMORIAL continued on page 12 Jeff Nepstad retires after 25 years of service By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer A fter spending the last 25 years working for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde’s Natural Resources Department, Silvicul- ture and Fire Protection Program Manager Jeff Nepstad retired on Friday, May 29. Nepstad, 52, has served the Tribe almost half of his life and he says that he is proud of the work that was accomplished during that time. After 30 years of forestry work, Nepstad decided that being with his young family is a priority. 1HSVWDGJUHZXSDVRQHRIÀYHFKLOGUHQLQD small town near La Crosse, Wisc., on the Mis- sissippi River. He played football and ran track for Melrose-Mindoro High School. ´,JUHZXSKXQWLQJDQGÀVKLQJEHIRUHDQGDIWHU school,” says Nepstad. Nepstad moved to Nevada in 1984 to work for WKH%XUHDXRI/DQG0DQDJHPHQW+HUDQWKHÀUH retardant facilities at an air tanker base for the EXUHDX·VÀUHÀJKWLQJSODQHVDQGZDVUHVSRQVLEOH IRUPL[LQJWKHÀUHUHWDUGDQWXVHGLQWKH:RUOG War II-era aircraft. “There was a lot of pressure to do it right,” he says. “I had to grow up fast. If you mix the retardant too heavy it was hard for the planes to take off.” After a year in Nevada, Nepstad moved to Sa- lem, Ore., to continue his career with the bureau. He came to work for the Grand Ronde Tribe in See NEPSTAD continued on page 11 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Jeff Nepstad, Natural Resources Department Silviculture and Fire Protection Program manager, is retiring after working for the Tribe for 25 years. His last day on the job was Friday, May 29.
