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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 1, 2016)
PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 2016 Contest Powwow — pgs. 17-24 SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 Tribal Election Day is Sept. 10 Nine vying for three open seats By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor T ime is running out on Tribal members to vote in the 2016 Tribal Council election. Election Day is Saturday, Sept. 10, and ballots will be counted at the Community Center that day and results will be posted that evening on the Community Center’s front doors. Nine Tribal members, including two incumbents, are seeking three- year terms on Tribal Council. Incumbents are Tribal Council Vice Chair Jack Giffen Jr., seeking his fifth term, and Tribal Council member Denise Harvey, seeking her second term. Incumbent Ed Pearsall is not seeking re-election. Challengers are Monty Herron, Mi- chael Langley, Penny DeLoe, Kathleen George, Jason Darcy-Chantel, Lisa Leno and Jackie Many Hides. They are all seeking a irst term on Tribal Council. Tribal voters can vote for up to three candidates on their ballot. Last year, 1,151 ballots were cast out of 3,972 Tribal members who were eligible to vote for a 29 percent turnout. According to the Tribe’s Member Services Department, 4,030 Tribal members will be 18 or older and eligible to vote on Election Day. Mean- while, the Election Board reported that 2,614 Tribal members were registered to vote as of mid-August. Eligible voters – those who will be 18 or older as of Sept. 10 – must be reg- istered to vote with the Tribe. Tribal members can register up to and includ- ing on Election Day. Late registrants can bring their registration into the Community Center on Election Day. The Tilixam Wawa with candidate statements was mailed irst class to Tribal members in July and ballots were mailed to voters with veriied signatures on July 27. n Photo by Michelle Alaimo Grand Ronde Station Manager Lisa Nelson, right, rings up a fuel customer with the help of store employee Marianne Blanchard at the store next to Spirit Mountain Casino on Friday, Aug. 26. Must-stop shop Nelson turning Grand Ronde Station into a major convenience By Brent Merrill Smoke Signals staff writer I t has been a great year for Grand Ronde Station Manag- er Lisa Nelson and there are still four months remaining. Nelson got the job that she coveted at the Tribal convenience store in February, said “Yes” when her iancé asked her on the spur of the moment to marry him during an April trip to Reno, Nev., and became a grandmother in early August. Grand Ronde Station is located at 26820 Salmon River Highway on the Spirit Mountain Casino grounds. “I am having so much fun,” says Nelson. “I love working here. This is the best job I’ve ever, ever had. See STORE continued on page 10 Employees honored for 861 years of service By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor S ixty-eight employees were honored on Thursday, Aug. 25, for a combined 861 years of service to the Grand Ronde Tribe during a morning ceremony held in the Tribal gym. A record 10 employees were honored for serv- ing 20 or more years, led by Lead Groundskeeper Gregg Leno, who hit the 28-year mark. Other employees surpassing two decades of Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal service included Housing Department Maintenance Coordinator Lonnie Leno, 26 years; Adult Education Coordinator Tracy Biery and General Manager’s Ofice Administrative Assistant Barbara Branson, 25 years; Member Services Beneits Administrator Liz Leno, 24 years; Dental Director Eric Webster, 21 years; and Human Resources Specialist Cindy Mitchell, See SERVICE continued on page 9 Tribal Fish and Wildlife Program Manager Kelly Dirksen, right, shakes hands with Tribal Council member Jon A. George as he’s recognized for his 20 years of service with the Tribe during a Years of Service ceremony held in the Tribal gym on Thursday, Aug. 25.