2
S moke S ignals
OCTOBER 1, 2018
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 7
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Oct. 10.............................................................................5 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 24.............................................................................5 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letters
Dear Smoke Signals:
I would like to thank all the individuals who have aided in the process to
come to my rescue to provide a valued service in placing the marker for my
beloved husband Wesley West.
I was devastated by the loss of my husband of many years and a well-
known member of the Confederated Tribes. He served as a voice for the
Tribe as a council member and retired Army veteran who tirelessly provided
advice, care and support for all things to help this wonderful community.
After his passing, I was assured that the funeral home would take care
of everything and I would be proud and not have to worry about anything.
This quickly turned out not to be the case. It seemed to be the only motiva-
tion that the funeral service company was concerned with was to see how
it could continue to accrue costs. As a veteran, his plaque was paid for and
delivered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. I kept inquiring about
this and was told by the funeral company that the VA was holding this up.
After five months, I went to Salem, talked to the counselors at the VA and
was informed that the funeral home had received the marker four months
previously. I then contacted the funeral director again and he did confirm
that they did receive it and that it would cost an additional $1,000 to install.
I had already paid (as well as the VA and the Tribe contributions) all costs
for the burial. Now to incur additional cost was just devastating.
I inquired if the Tribe would help and was informed that they would
take care of installing the marker for this honored individual and Tribal
member. With some coordination to receive the marker, this process was
quickly installed and now I can finally relax and reflect on how wonderful
Wesley and myself are to have been a part of the Tribe and that the spirit
of taking care of its members are a family that I am grateful to be a part of.
I would like to personally thank Gregg Leno, Tyson Mercier, Anthony
Henry and Brady Bruckner.
You have gone above all expectations to give me peace of mind and I am
thankful. I cannot express how much this has meant to me. I am in tears
reflecting back on this.
Dolores West
Grand Ronde
(Editor’s note: This letter has been edited to remain within the
400-word limitation.)
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Website: www.grandronde.org/news
E-mails: news@grandronde.org
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRgov
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
DEAN RHODES
CHELSEA CLARK
DANIELLE FROST
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/
PUBLICATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
STAFF WRITER
503-879-1463
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
503-879-4663
danielle.frost@grandronde.org
503-879-1418
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
TIMOTHY J.
GONZALEZ
GEORGE VALDEZ
JUSTIN PHILLIPS
PAGE DESIGNER
PHOTOJOURNALIST
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1961
503-879-1416
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
timothy.gonzalez@grandronde.org
503-879-2190
george.valdez@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Friday, Oct. 5 .............................Oct. 15
Friday, Oct. 19 ............................ Nov. 1
Monday, Nov. 5 ........................ Nov. 15
Tuesday, Nov. 20 .........................Dec. 1
Wednesday, Dec. 5 ......................Dec. 15
Friday, Dec. 21 ....................Jan. 1, 2019
Editorial Policy
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Commu-
nity of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publication may be reprinted
without permission.
Our editorial policy is intended to encourage input from Tribal members and readers
about stories printed in the Tribal newspaper. However, all letters received must be
signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or e-mail address
must be included for verification purposes. Full addresses and phone numbers will not
be published unless requested. Letters must be 400 words or less.
SMOKE SIGNALS reserves the right to edit letters and to refuse letters that are determined
to contain libelous statements or personal attacks on individuals, staff, Tribal administration
or Tribal Council. Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Letters to the
editor are the opinions and views of the writer. Published letters do not necessarily reflect
the opinions of SMOKE SIGNALS.
Members of: Native American Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
Need something notarized?
Tribal Court staff is available at no charge for notaries 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
though Friday with the exception of noon to 1 p.m. Please be sure to bring a photo
ID with you. If you have any questions, contact the court at 503-879-2303.
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 8, in observance of
Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Letters welcome
Letters should be exclusive to Smoke Signals.
Letters should be 400 words or less and must include the writer’s name,
address, phone number and Tribal roll number. You will be contacted
to confirm authorship.
All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and, on occasion,
factual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed during a three-
month period.
Letters written in response to other letter writers should address the
issue at hand and, rather than mentioning the other writer by name,
should refer to the date of the letter published. Discourse should be civil
and people should be referred to in a respectful manner. Letters deemed
in poor taste will not be printed.
Send letters via e-mail to news@grandronde.org, or submit in person
at the Tribal Governance Center in Grand Ronde, Ore., or mail to Smoke
Signals, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR, 97347.
2018-19
Tribal Council
1-800-422-0232 — tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
— ext. 2352
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Michael Langley
— ext. 1777
Jon A. George
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 2355
michael.langley@grandronde.org
jon.george@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
— ext. 2305
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
Steve Bobb Sr.
— ext. 4555
steve.bobb@grandronde.org