8
S moke S ignals
JANUARY 1, 2018
Bypass a win for all involved
BYPASS continued
from front page
Commission, a group that has been
advocating for the bypass since the
1980s. He was one of the featured
speakers at the ribbon-cutting
event, which also included Gov.
Kate Brown and Oregon Depart-
ment of Transportation Director
Matt Garrett.
“It felt really cool to put my pick-
up on this road today,” Mercier
said to chuckles from the audience.
“This is pretty personal for me,
and not just because I attend night
classes in Portland twice a week. I
got involved with the bypass com-
mittee when I was 29 years old and
six months into my council career,
and knew very little about local
governments or transportation
issues. I’m now 42. Being a part of
this whole project and process has
been a learning experience for me.”
Mercier is well-versed with the
gridlock commuters face going
through Newberg and Dundee
while driving to the coast, Spirit
Mountain Casino and Portland.
“I have gotten the sense that
people really appreciate
the Tribe’s involvement
in this project, and that
in turn meant a lot to the
Tribe. … The Tribe was
restored to improve the
lives of its members, but
that’s not the only reason.
Tribes are also meant to
help the communities in
which we reside. We had
a lot of support from the
non-Tribal, local commu-
nity during Restoration
efforts. Without their sup-
port, the process of being
restored would have been
much harder.”
Mercier called the bypass a win
for local and state government, as
well as Indian Country.
“I’m hoping it will be held as an
example (to others),” he said. “Tribes
should be working more with their
local and state governments. Gaming
is meant to benefit the community.”
Also in attendance were Tribal
Council member and current Park-
way Committee representative
Denise Harvey, and Tribal Council
Secretary Jon A. George.
Grand Ronde Canoe
Family members, from left,
Tribal Cultural Education
Specialist Brian Krehbiel,
Tribal youth Red Sky
Clawson, behind drum,
Tribal Cultural Education
Coordinator Jordan
Mercier, Tribal Cultural
Resources Department
Manager David Harrelson,
Tribal Interpretive
Coordinator Travis Stewart,
Tribal Council Secretary
Jon A. George and Tribal
Council Vice Chair Chris
Mercier open the ribbon-
cutting ceremony for Phase
1 of the Newberg-Dundee
Bypass on Monday, Dec. 18.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Tribal Council member Denise Harvey and Tribal Council Secretary Jon A.
George prepare necklaces to gift during the ribbon-cutting ceremony held
for Phase 1 of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass on Monday, Dec. 18. Helping is
Harvey’s granddaughter Hallie Brewer.
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier speaks during the ribbon-cutting
ceremony held for Phase 1 of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass on Monday, Dec. 18.
Tribal Economic Development
Administrative Assistant Meghan
Zimbrick and Public Affairs Admin-
istrative Assistant Chelsea Clark
provided treats, beverages and
small prizes to attendees.
The ceremony opened with a
drum song by the Grand Ronde Ca-
noe Family drummers and singers,
which included George, Mercier,
Tribal Cultural Resources Depart-
ment Manager David Harrelson,
Tribal Cultural Education Coor-
dinator Jordan Mercier, Tribal
Interpretive Coordinator Travis
Stewart, Tribal Cultural Education
Specialist Brian Krehbiel, Tribal
youth Red Sky Clawson and Clark.
Tribal Attorney Rob Greene also
attended the event.
“I want to thank all of the folks
here for the patience they have
shown,” Garrett said in his open-
ing comments. “It is not lost on the
Oregon Department of Transpor-
tation. … We deeply appreciate it
and applaud your perseverance.
Every step required sacrifice, com-
mitment and passion. … Now, we
have four miles of new roadway and
10 new bridges, done on time and
under budget, and it will signifi-
cantly reduce congestion on local
roads and enhance the region’s
transportation system.”
Brown said she likes to describe
the bypass project as the “commu-
nities that could.”
“Today’s grand opening is truly a
community celebration,” she said.
“Now, we are ready to set our sights
on phase two. This Newberg-Dundee
Bypass is expected to reduce overall
local traffic by 30 to 40 percent, and
heavy truck traffic ODOT estimates
will be reduced between 50 to 70
percent. … A well-managed trans-
portation system is the backbone of
the economy.”
Other speakers at the event
included Newberg Mayor Bob An-
drews, Dundee Mayor David Russ,
McMinnville Mayor Scott Hill,
state and federal representatives,
and Yamhill County Parkway Com-
mittee Chair Dave Haugeberg, who
has been a driving force behind the
project since the late 1980s.
“The credit here really does go
to the people of Newberg, Dundee,
McMinnville and the Confederated
Tribes of Grand Ronde,” Haugeberg
said. “To give to this project, they
had to give up other things, like lo-
cal road improvements. They paid a
price, and it was an incredible com-
mitment. This is very unique, and
the people of this region never gave
up. … As I listened to that drum
song today, I thought of those who
were here first. They were the fore-
fathers of the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde. If they were to look
at our parkway today, I think they
would be impressed with how it has
come about.” n