8
S MOKE S IGNALS
OCTOBER 1, 2015
Corn silage spill
Tragic Labor Day accident
prompts road safety discussion
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
On Tuesday, Sept. 22, a semitrailer spilled a load of corn silage on
Southwest Hebo Road, about a mile past Grand Ronde Road heading
toward the coast. The accident temporarily closed the road and Grand
Ronde Tribal Police Offi cer Ron Wellborn helped with traffi c control.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, NRC Environmental Services Inc. cleaned the
spilled corn silage out of the South Yamhill River and off the bank to
prevent the silage from going into the river.
Accused bank robber
arrested at casino
Kenneth Alan Fox, 54, was arrested by the Grand Ronde Tribal Police
Department and offi cers from both the Polk County Sheriff’s Offi ce and
Yamhill County Sheriff’s Offi ce on one count of bank robbery on Wednes-
day, Sept. 23, at Spirit Mountain Casino.
The FBI had fi led a criminal complaint charging Fox with a bank rob-
bery that occurred on Sept. 15 at the First Tech Credit Union branch in
on Southwest Boones Ferry Road in Wilsonville.
According to Beth Anne Steele with the FBI’s Portland offi ce, investiga-
tors are working to determine whether Fox may be responsible for similar
robberies in the area.
The arrest at Spirit Mountain Casino occurred without incident, Steele
said in a press release announcing the arrest.
Blood Pressure Screening
The tragic death of a 12-year-old
Tribal youth who was hit by a ve-
hicle while crossing Grand Ronde
Road on her bicycle has prompted
community discussions about how
to improve safety on the increasing-
ly busy road.
Saige Marie Selwyn was hit by a
Ford pickup truck near the Grand
Ronde Food Bank at approximately
3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. She was
transported by West Valley Fire
District ambulance to Salem Hos-
pital and fl own to Oregon Health
& Science University’s Doernbecher
Children’s Hospital.
She suffered head trauma in the
accident and after two weeks of
fi ghting for her life, she walked on
on Monday, Sept. 21.
The accident and ensuing commu-
nity reaction sparked conversation
at the Wednesday, Sept. 16, Tribal
Council meeting about bicycle
safety, vehicles speeding on Grand
Ronde Road and possibly reducing
the speed limit on the thoroughfare
that connects two state highways.
Saige was mentioned in invoca-
tions before General Council and
Tribal Council meetings. Many
prayers were offered by friends,
family and community members
on several Facebook pages and
a candlelight vigil was held on
Wednesday, Sept. 23, near the
bike memorial on Grand Ronde
Road.
The bike memorial sprung up on
the west side of Grand Ronde Road
just north of the Grand Ronde Food
Bank and lime green ribbons – her
favorite color – decorated mailbox
posts, fences and utility poles along
the road.
On Friday, Sept. 25, Tribal Coun-
cil released a statement that read:
“Tribal Council has contacted Polk
and Yamhill counties about im-
proving pedestrian safety on Grand
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
A bike memorial was started for
Saige Selwyn on Grand Ronde Road
near the crosswalk where she was
struck by a pickup while crossing
in the crosswalk on her bicycle on
Monday, Sept. 7. After two weeks
in the hospital, she walked on on
Monday, Sept. 21.
Ronde Road. Tribal Council held a
work session on Sept. 22 to discuss
crosswalk improvements and a
request to reduce the speed limit
on Grand Ronde Road and Salmon
Way for community safety. The
Tribe has ordered fl ashing lights
for crosswalks along Grand Ronde
Road. They will be installed in the
coming weeks.
“Tribal Council and the General
Manager's Offi ce are working with
Education, Social Services and law
enforcement to provide education-
al courses and helmets for Tribal
youth. Tribal Council will continue
to keep the community updated on
progress in making the area a safer
place to live.”
The accident was investigated by
the Grand Ronde Police Depart-
ment and the department’s fi nd-
ings were reviewed by the Yamhill
County District Attorney’s Offi ce.
“At this time there is no evi-
dence to fi le any criminal charges,”
said Grand Ronde Police Chief Al
LaChance.
Best of Beans!
Free Hands-on Cooking Class
BONUS! Take home ingredients to make one of the recipes at home.
Family Health Fair at Winema Place
Join us
Screening Information
The Community Health Education Center
(CHEC) at Salem Hospital is teaming up with
the Marion-Polk Food Share to provide a free
blood pressure screening at Iskam Mekhmek
Haws in Grand Ronde. Emergency food is still
available this day during normal pantry hours.
Date: Friday, October 16 th
Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Location: Iskam Mekhmek Haws, 9675 Grand
Ronde Road, Grand Ronde
Cost: Free
For questions, please call the CHEC at (503)
814-2432.
Tuesday October 20
5:30pm
Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws
Marion-Polk Food Share is an equal opportunity provider.
Sign up TODAY! !
Oregon State University Extension Service offers educational programs, activities,