Apartment complex
grand opening —
pg. 16
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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
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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.
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small town near La Crosse, Wisc., on the Mis-
sissippi River. He played football and ran track
for Melrose-Mindoro High School.
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school,” says Nepstad.
Nepstad moved to Nevada in 1984 to work for
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retardant facilities at an air tanker base for the
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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.