2
S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 15, 2018
General Council meeting
11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019
Tribal Community Center
Smoke Signals
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Dec. 26.............................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Website: www.grandronde.org/news
E-mails: news@grandronde.org
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRgov
Bear sightings near Tribal
cemetery reported
By Danielle Frost
www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDXdTzfGjzJ_j3NPpCrtcw
DEAN RHODES
CHELSEA BARANKSI
DANIELLE FROST
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLICATIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
STAFF WRITER
503-879-1418
danielle.frost@grandronde.org
503-879-1463
503-879-4663
chelsea.clark@grandronde.org
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
Smoke Signals staff writer
After a report of a large black bear seen multiple times wandering at
Grand Ronde Road near the Tribal cemetery, the Natural Resources De-
partment is asking any future sightings be reported immediately.
“The bears are about to go into hibernation so they are probably des-
perate for food and foraging for anything they can find,” Fish & Wildlife
Program Manager Kelly Dirksen said. “They are trying to put on weight
before taking the long nap.”
He added that the more sightings that are reported, the more likely the
state Department of Fish & Wildlife will be to remove the bear.
“There isn’t a ton we can do,” Dirksen said. “If the bear is a threat to
human safety, law enforcement can take it out. If it’s a threat to wildlife
or pets, then the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife is responsible.
… If we can document habitual sightings, then we can compel the state
to trap it.”
Dirksen said that although the threat to human safety is typically very
low, anyone who sees a bear should take precautions.
“If you see a bear, leave the area,” Dirksen said. “Get kids and pets out
of the way and safe. To keep bears away, secure your garbage or anything
else that would tempt them to hang around. They’re trying to top off
their fuel reserves, so they’re scrounging around for anything. But we’re
expecting them to go into hibernation soon.”
If you see a bear locally, call the Tribe’s Natural Resources Department
at 503-879-2424.
Appointments available in Optometry
at the Health & Wellness Center
• Comprehensive eye exams
• Diabetic eye exams
• Red eye treatment
• Excellent selection of frames
Call 503-879-2097 for an appointment.
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 24-25, in
observance of Christmas. Offices also will be closed on Monday and
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2018, to Jan. 1, 2019, in observance of New Year's
Day and closed on Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, in observance of Martin
Luther King Jr. 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.
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
george.valdez@grandronde.org
503-879-2190
JENNIFER CLARK
DEADLINE DATE
SOCIAL MEDIA/
DIGITAL JOURNALIST
Friday, Dec. 21 ....................Jan. 1, 2019
503-879-1461
Friday, Jan 4 ................................Jan. 15
jennifer.clark@grandronde.org
ISSUE DATE
Friday, Jan. 18 .............................. Feb. 1
Tuesday, Feb. 5 ........................... Feb. 15
Wednesday, Feb. 20 ................... March 1
Thursday, March 5 ................... March 15
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
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