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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.