S moke S ignals
OCTOBER 15, 2017
7
Employees honored for 852 years of service
By Danielle Frost
Smoke Signals staff writer
Sixty-eight employees were hon-
ored for a combined 852 years of
service to the Grand Ronde Tribe
during a third-quarter Years of
Service ceremony held on Thursday,
Oct. 12, in the Tribal gym.
Leading those honored in longev-
ity was Natural Resources’ Timber
and Roads Program Manager Jeff
Kuust, who reached the 28-year
mark in working for the Tribe.
Joining him in the quarter-century
or more club were Natural Resourc-
es Manager Michael Wilson and Fi-
nance Officer Chris Leno, who both
reached 25 years of service. Higher
Education Manager Bryan Langley
notched 26 years and Health Bene-
fits Specialist Barbara Steere, Staff
Accountant Melanie Hubbard and
Procurement Assistant Kelly Leno
attained 27 years apiece.
Tribal Attorney Rob Greene
notched his 23rd year of employ-
ment, Assistant Tribal Attorney
Kim D’Aquila reached the 21-year
mark of service and Cultural Advis-
er Bobby Mercier reached 20 years.
Third-quarter recipients were
hired between July and September.
Employees received certificates
and bonus checks in appreciation
for their increasing tenure with the
Tribe. In addition, those reaching
the 10-year mark received a Tribal
Pendleton blanket or an extra $100
in their bonus check.
The ceremony began with an invo-
cation from Tribal Council member
Kathleen George.
Tribal Historic Preservation Office
Manager David Harrelson gave a
brief historical presentation on trade
between Pacific Northwest Indian
Nations, and then employees were
treated to a breakfast of scrambled
eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits,
bananas, yogurt, and juices and
coffee to drink.
Breakfast was served by Tribal
Council Chief of Staff Stacia Her-
nandez, Public Affairs Adminis-
trative Assistant Chelsea Clark,
Food Sustainability Administrative
Assistant Patricia LeClaire, Tribal
Council Administrative Assistant
Shannon Simi and Economic Devel-
opment Administrative Assistant
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Timber and Roads Program Manager Jeff Kuust shakes hands with
Tribal Council member Michael Langley during the third-quarter Years
of Service event held in the Tribal gym on Thursday, Oct. 12. Kuust was
recognized for his 28 years of working for the Tribe. Also there congratulating
employees were Tribal Council members Jack Giffen Jr., left, Denise Harvey,
second from left, Lisa Leno, fourth from left, Kathleen George, fifth from left,
and Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, right.
Meghan Zimbrick.
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris
Mercier said that council tends to
get a lot of credit, but staff does most
of the work.
“I can’t imagine how much more
difficult out lives would be without
you,” Mercier said. “I know some of
you have made your careers here
and that is great. Thank you for all
that you do.”
Mercier also acknowledged other
Tribal Council members in atten-
dance, which included Kathleen
George, Jack Griffen Jr., Denise
Harvey, Michael Langley, Lisa Leno
and Brenda Tuomi.
Other employees honored during
the third-quarter event included:
19 years: Head Start Teacher
Toni Lockwood, Family Services
Assistant Elaine Lane Raven and
Dental Hygienist Sheila Blacketer.
18 years: Procurement Supervisor
Kevin Mueller.
17 years: Elementary Lead Mat-
thew Bucknell, Senior Network
Administrator Jack Dobiash, Trib-
al Court Judicial Assistant Julie
Boekhoff and Grand Ronde Police
Department Records/Evidence Clerk
Egypt Leno.
16 years: Security Officer Roel
Hernandez and Education Senior
Administrative Assistant Deborah
Bachman.
15 years: Part-time College Pro-
gram Coordinator John Harp, Audit
Director Trudi Yoshikawa, Natural
Resources Machine Equipment Op-
erator Mark Mercier and Treasury
Manager Rick Andersen.
14 years: Benefits Specialist Peg-
gy Carpenter, Nutrition Program
Manager Kristy DeLoe and Ceded
Lands Coordinator Brandy Hum-
phreys.
13 years: Enrollment Specialist
Jolanda Catabay, Health Informa-
tion Technician Stephanie Sim-
mons, Tribal Council Administrative
Assistant Shannon Simi, Finance
Executive Assistant Ken Trevino
and Employment Specialist Brandy
Hembree.
12 years: Housing Services Co-
ordinator Deborah Kroeker and
Purchased/Referred Care Specialist
Erica Mercier.
11 years: Graphic Designer
Come and Learn About
Food Preservation and Storage
Groups form Helping Hands
The Clothes Closet, iskam mfkhmfk haws, Empowerment Outreach
Ministries, Lighthouse Church and A Cause For Paws have joined forces
in an effort to support local families.
The group, named Grand Ronde Helping Hands, seeks to bring together
those who are supporting families in Grand Ronde to share services and
resources, and create a resource guide.
Helping Hands’ next meeting will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at
iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde Road. If you provide any type
of services to families in the community, consider attending. The group
is looking for meal site calendars, food box sites, clothes closets, showers
and laundry services.
There also will be a collection day at iskam mfkhmfk haws from 10 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14. Donations are being sought of personal care
items, feminine products, men’s clothing, pet items and newer toys for
Christmas presents, as well as tents, tarps, sleeping bags, pillows, warm
blankets, rain gear and heavy jackets to restock the shelves.
Helping Hands continues to seek a volunteer with graphic arts skills to
create a logo that represents all of the organizations. The logo would be
used on business cards, a banner and possibly a website, and the artist
possibly would receive a small honorarium.
For more information, contact Food Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose
at 503-879-3663 or by e-mail at fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org.
George Valdez.
10 years: Central Phones Opera-
tor Scarlett Holtz, Senior Help Desk
Technician Alec Palanuk-Mercier,
GIS Coordinator Volker Mell, Pub-
lications Coordinator Dean Rhodes
and TERO Workforce Development
Specialist Misty Carl.
9 years: Controller Linda Hanna
and Lead Pharmacy Technician
Kandee Little.
8 years: Patient Account Repre-
sentative Kayla Leno.
7 years: Maintenance Technician
Jason Bailey, Health Information
Technician Amanda McMahon,
TERO Compliance Officer Marvin
“Duke” Kimsey Jr., TERO Admin-
istrative Assistant Lori Sterling,
Cultural Collections Coordinator
Veronica Montano, Education De-
partment Manager Angie Blackwell,
Housing Maintenance Technician
Michael Lane, Adult and Family
Services Supervisor Amber Amouak
and Cultural Resources Department
Manager David Harrelson.
6 years: Early Head Start Home
Visitor Amber Mercier, Youth Ed-
ucation Administrative Assistant
Amber Yates, Cultural Resources
Project Development Manager Julie
Brown, Laboratory Manager Sharon
Laddusaw, Medical Technologist
Staci Robbins, Legal Secretary
Susan June and Economic Devel-
opment Administrative Assistant
Meghan Zimbrick.
5 years: Child and Family Ser-
vices Caseworker Tara Verner,
Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia
Hernandez, 477 Employment and
Training Specialist Angey Rideout,
Registered Nurse Tashina Blair,
Spirit Mountain Community Fund
Grants Coordinator Julia Willis,
Senior Telecommunications Techni-
cian Mark Scheelar, Mailroom Clerk
Anna White, Parks and Recreation
Specialist Jerry Bailey and Forest
Technician Andrew Puerini.
Human Resources staff members
and General Manager David Ful-
lerton also raffled off prizes that
included Amazon Kindle Fires, a
Fitbit, Polaroid Cube, crockpot, fire
pit, HP Notebook Touch and extra
administrative time.
The Oregon State University Extension Service continues to offer a variety of food preservation classes this summer
and into the fall. The classes are staffed by trained Master Food Preserver volunteers who provide instruction and
hands-on opportunities for participants to practice safe food preservation techniques and build self-confidence and
including the “Laws of Salsa”.
skills. The schedule of food preservation classes for includes:
Preserving Meat — Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Hunting season is just around the corner. Learn to preserve your meat safely in our pressure canning class
specifically focused on canning meats.
Pre-registration is required a minimum of 3 days before the scheduled class. Childcare is limited and you must pre-
register. Class size is limited. Classes are free and include an instructional packet, recipes, and sample products to
take home. The classes will be held at Iskam MǝkʰMǝk-Haws, located at 9675 Grand Ronde Road in Grand Ronde.
For more information regarding these classes contact Coordinator, Francene Ambrose at 503-879-3663, or
fambrose@marionpolkfoodshare.org.
including
the “Laws
Salsa”.
Civil rights statement: Oregon State University Extension Service and Marion
Polk Food
Share of
offers
educational
programs,
activities,
and
materials
without
discrimination
based
on
age,
color,
disability,
gender
identity
or
expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran’s
status. Oregon State University Extension Service is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Iskam
MǝkʰMǝk-Haws is an equal opportunity provider.
ǝ ʰ ǝ