S MOKE S IGNALS JANUARY 1, 2019 11 ‘Thank you for your commitment and service to the Tribe’ SERVICE continued from front page 34 years of service. Mercier was one of the fi rst employees hired by the Tribe when she was 19 years old. “Thank you for your commitment and service to the Tribe,” General Manager David Fullerton said. Two more Merciers – Tribal Li- brarian Marion and Public Works Coordinator John – were honored for reaching their 28th year of ser- vice to the Tribe. All Tribal Council members were present. Secretary Jon A. George gave the invocation and Chairwom- an Cheryle A. Kennedy thanked employees who attended the lunch. “It is such a good feeling to see our staff come together,” Kennedy said. “It is not often we are able to do this. It really gives me a good glimpse of just how many employ- ees we have. … I know a lot of folks here have been burning the midnight oil, and I appreciate all of that work.” Achieving the 23-year mark in service were Social Services De- partment Manager Dana Ainam, Acting Human Resources Depart- ment Manager Daphney Colton, Asset Inventory Specialist Jerry George, Employee Benefi ts Admin- istrator Tammy Gould, Records Clerk Hollie Mercier and Compen- sation/HRIS Administrator Candy Scranton. Ceded Lands Manager Michael Karnosh reached 22 years of ser- vice. Rounding out employees reaching or exceeding two decades of employment by reaching the 21- year mark was Dental Assistant Donnette Spaulding. Other employees recognized for their service of fi ve years or more during the ceremony included: 19 years: Chinuk Language Spe- cialist Crystal Szcepanski. 18 years: Planning & Grants Development Manager Kim Rogers and Acting Procurement Depart- ment Manager Nathan Rolston. 17 years: Home Improvement Coordinator Donald Coon. 16 years: Grand Ronde Tribal Po- lice Chief Jake McKnight and Help Desk Administrator Willie Mercier. 15 years: High School Adult Education Chinuk Wawa Teacher Kathy Cole. 14 years: Early Head Start Home-Based Visitor Shawn Bobb and Early Childhood Education Cook Rebecca Goeserich. 13 years: Early Head Start Teacher Jessica Cruickshank, Home Improvement Coordinator Loyal Hamilton and Gaming Com- mission Compliance Manager Rose Smith. 12 years: Technology Techni- cian Joe Loomis and Purchased/ Referred Care Specialist Tauni McCammon. 11 years: Senior Staff Attorney Jennifer Biesack, Cultural Edu- cation Specialist Brian Krehbiel, Housing Administrative Program Manager Joan Dugger and Well- ness Driver Arnoldo Moralez. 10 years: Billings/Auditing Spe- cialist Desiree Allen, Cultural Edu- cation Specialist Flicka Lucero and Youth Education Administrative Assistant Isaiah Sherwood. Name changes in court Tribal Court provides both minor and adult name changes to enrolled members for a fi ling fee of only $30. If you have any questions or would like to request a packet, contact Tribal Court at 503-879-2303. n 9 years: X-ray Technician Niki Mosley. 8 years: Tribal Employees Rights Offi ce Secretary Keri Kimsey and Chinuk Wawa Teacher Jeff Mercier. 7 years: Security Offi cer Daniel Hyatt, Engineering and Public Works Manager Jesse White and Pharmacy Technician Stephanie Wolfe. 6 years: Secretary/Medical As- sistant Jamie Adams, Pharmacy Technician Cindy Brickell, Fire Prevention/Silviculture Technician Logan Kneeland, Maintenance Technician Brent Buckner and Maintenance Technician Nicholas Kimsey. 5 years: Swing Shift Housekeep- er Sean Sell, HVAC Technician Daron Pond Jr. and Payroll Admin- istrator Michelle Peterson. Tribal Council Chief of Staff Sta- cia Hernandez handed out certifi - cates of appreciation while Tribal Council members shook employees’ hands. Tribal employees were treated to a catered lunch, which included prime rib, salmon, turkey, sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, fresh vegetables, green salad, pasta salad, fruit salad, rolls and several dessert options. Raffl es were con- ducted throughout the event that included gift cards from Costco, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Target, Dutch Bros, Amazon, Lowe’s and Best Buy, along with framed and signed Portland Trail Blazers’ jerseys, Beats headphones, a Mic- rosoft Surface Pro and Nike gear. The event also included an ugly sweater contest, face painting and caricaturists. Winners in the ugly sweater contest were Nutrition Program Manager Kristy Criss-Lawson, fi rst place with a $100 gift card; Em- ployee Relations Specialist Steve O’Harra, second place with a $75 gift card; and Employment and Training Specialist Khani Schultz, third place with a $50 gift card. All employees received a holiday bonus check of $200 on Dec. 13. Employees recognized during the service awards received an addi- tional bonus check and those reach- ing the 10-year mark also received their choice of a Tribal Pendleton blanket or additional $100. n Police Department has non-emergency text line The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department has created a non-emergency text line. “We learned in our last school meeting that kids would like a dif- ferent way to communicate with the police if they have a non-emer- gency situation,” Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight said. “We all know kids love to text so my offi cers and I decided this would be a great tool to utilize.” The new text number is 541-921-2927. “Even though this is mostly designed for children, I don’t want adults thinking that they can’t use it as well. If you have a non-emer- gency situation or question, feel free to contact my offi cer via text through this line. When one of my offi cers receives the text, they will call you back when they have time.” McKnight said that emergency situations still require people to call 911. For more information, contact McKnight at 503-879-1474. n TRIBAL COURT FACILITATION SERVICES W EDNESDAY J AN . 2, 2019 AT THE T RIBAL G YM C LINIC 9 A . M . 3 ON TO 3 T OURNAMENT N OON AT 1 P . M . Tribal Court offers Court Facilitation Services. Court staff will offer help to people who do not have an attorney and who would like assis- tance with court-related paperwork. Court staff are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice or assistance. This service is open to the community and is offered by appointment only from 9 a.m. to noon ev- ery Friday. If you would like to schedule an appointment, contact the Tribal Court at 503-879-2303 or by e-mail at court@grandronde.org. LUNCH PROVIDED Clinic Information:  3 on 3 Mini Tournament: Camp check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.  fundamentals & development  For Boys & Girls grades 6th—12th   Camp will be focused on Co-Ed MS & HS Divisions 2 loss elimination tournament  Players can be placed Register for camp with Youth  Court Staff May… Provide basic information applicable to all parties about court procedures, rules and practices. Interpret the meaning of ordinances, statutes or rules in an attempt to explain how those rules may apply to particular situations. Refer people to specific statutes or court rules that govern routine court practice or procedures. Recommend one procedure or form over another. Provide instructions and forms developed by the Tribal Court. Substitute their own words for a customer’s words on a form or draft a legal document of their own. Indicate where to provide information on a form. Fill in blanks under the direction of a customer on forms selected by the customer. Take sides, recommend the services of a specific attorney and offer opinions about possible outcomes of court matters. Provide court schedules and information on how to get matters scheduled or refer to Oregon State Bar or local legal aid offices for legal assistance. Must attend camp to enter   Court Staff May Not… Apply rules and laws to the facts of a specific case. on a team Education Permission Slip For more information contact: CTGR Youth Education 503-879-2101.