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AUGUST 1, 2019
Smoke Signals
Food Bank provides
boxes, seeks help
The Grand Ronde Food Bank – iskam mfkhmfk haws – is op-
erated by Marion-Polk Food Share, which has been leading the
fight to end hunger since 1987 because no one should be hungry.
Recipients of SNAP, TANF, SSI or LIHEAP assistance automat-
ically qualify for assistance at the Grand Ronde Food Bank, 9675
Grand Ronde Road. No one will be turned away in need of a food box.
“We believe that everyone deserves to have enough to eat,” Food
Bank Coordinator Francene Ambrose says. “You are welcome to get
a food box at each of our regular weekly distributions. No one will
be turned away in need of a food box.”
Upcoming food box distribution dates will be:
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3;
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9;
• 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14;
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23;
• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30.
The Food Bank will be closed Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of
Labor Day.
People must check in 15 minutes before closing to receive a food
box. If you need immediate assistance, call 211 or visit 211info.org.
Those who are unable to pick up a food box can fill out an autho-
rized representative form and that person can pick up a food box on
your behalf. The authorization is good for one year.
In addition, the Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center’s Commu-
nity Health Team will be setting up the mobile clinic at the pantry
on the first Friday of every month.
The Food Bank also will hold a Preservation Class on tomatoes
from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.
The Food Bank continues to seek volunteers to help with repacking
food, putting food on the shelves, handing out food boxes, end-of-
month inventory and picking up food donations at area stores.
Call to ensure someone is available to assist. People also can sign
up for a monthly e-mail for the Food Bank calendar and events, as
well as follow the Food Bank on Facebook.
Call Ambrose at 503-879-3663 or contact her at fambrose@mari-
onpolkfoodshare.org for more information or to volunteer.
Committee & Special Event
Board meeting days and times
Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for
Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards:
• Ceremonial Hunting Board meets as needed. Chair: Marline Groshong.
• Culture Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month
at the Grand Ronde Food Bank/iskam mfkhmfk haws, 9675 Grand Ronde
Road. Chair: Francene Ambrose.
• Editorial Board meets monthly at the Chachalu Museum & Cultural Center
conference room, 8720 Grand Ronde Road. Next meeting is scheduled for
10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16. The public is welcome to attend. Chair: Siobhan
Taylor. Contact: Editorial.Board@grandronde.org.
• Education Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the
month in the Adult Education building. Chair: Tammy Cook.
• Elders Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month
in the Elders Activity Center. Chair: Penny DeLoe.
• Enrollment Board meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance
Center. Chair: Debi Anderson.
• Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of
the month at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Chair: Tyson
Mercier.
• Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month
in the Molalla Room of the Health & Wellness Center. Chair: Bernadine
Shriver.
• Housing Board meets at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of the month in the
Housing Department conference room. Chair: Kristy Criss-Lawson.
• Powwow Special Event Board meets monthly at noon at the Community
Center. Dates vary. Contact Dana Ainam at 503-879-2037. Chair: Dana
Ainam.
• TERO Commission meets at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, in the Employment
Services building. Chair: Russell Wilkinson.
• Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month
at the Natural Resources building off Hebo Road. Interim Chair: Jon R.
George.
• Veterans Special Event Board meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of
the month in the old Elders Craft House. Chair: Raymond Petite.
To update information on this list, contact Publications Coordinator Dean
Rhodes at 503-879-1463 or dean.rhodes@grandronde.org.
2014 – The Tribe received a
$250,000 grant from the Mey-
er Memorial Trust for its new
Chachalu Museum & Culture
Center. Tribal Lands and Culture
Department Manager Jan Looking
Wolf Reibach said the funds would
be applied to the second phase
of the museum expansion. “This
grant is a great honor,” Reibach
said.
2009 – Grand Ronde sewage
scored in the upper levels in the
first-ever drug test of sewage
plants in Oregon. There were 96
2014
File photo
municipalities representing 65
percent of Oregon’s population that agreed to submit single-day
samples of their sewage for testing. Kevin Dobie, Grand Ronde
Sanitary District superintendent, said he was not surprised that
Grand Ronde’s sample ranked in the upper levels on all three tests.
“I’ve been here 16 years,” he said. “I know what goes on out there.”
2004 – Candidates for Tribal Council included three incumbents,
Tribal Elders Val Grout, Bob Haller and Ed Larsen, and 10 others
including Tribal member Mark Mercier, who previously served as
Tribal Council chair. Tribal Elders Betty Bly, Diana George, Linda
Olson and Wesley (Buddy) West, and Tribal members Angie Black-
well, Charlene Hoover, Elaine LaBonte, Chris Mercier and Daniel
Provost also were running for three open council positions.
1999 – The Tribe renewed its agreement with the Polk County
Sheriff’s Office to provide deputies who patrol the Grand Ronde
area exclusively. In addition to the two who currently worked from
the Grand Ronde substation, two more were set to be on board by
the end of the summer. All four Grand Ronde deputies were going
to be involved in the Service Integration Team, which mentored
local youth. The Grand Ronde substation also received funding for
a second patrol vehicle.
1994 – A donation of $45,000 by Tribal Elder Harold Blair was
used to purchase a mini-bus for Senior Services’ transports and ex-
cursions. The van was hand-painted by Tribal member Steve Bobb
Sr. It had three doors, a wheelchair lift and held 23 people. Tribal
Council Chairman Mark Mercier thanked Blair for his contribution
and presented him with a Pendleton blanket. He also was gifted
with a clock from the Elders Committee.
1989 – Tribal youth and Elders worked together at craft and dance
classes offered at the Tribal office in Grand Ronde. Classes were
held for anyone who wanted to learn how to dance or just wanted to
observe. Toby McClary, 11, enjoyed learning to make a drumstick.
“Right now I am in the process of finishing a drumstick that I’m
making in craft class,” he said. “Jessie Standing Bear is teaching me
how to drum at the dance classes and it’s really exciting.”
1984 – Summer youth employees were acknowledged for their work
in clearing the cemetery and Depot grounds. The youth were hired
through a grant from the Mid-Valley Jobs Council. Youth employees
were Debby Childers, Angie Childers, Lydia Hostler, Doug Colton,
Gregg Leno, Chris Current, Marty George, Scott Denhem, Jimmy
White, Kenny Adams and Teddy White.
Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year in-
crements through the pages of Smoke Signals.
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 ques-
tions, contact the court at 503-879-2303.
WIC visits Community Center monthly
Pregnant? Breastfeeding? Does your family include a child under the
age of 5?
If so, you may qualify for the Women, Infants and Children program.
With WIC, people can receive answers to nutritional questions and access
fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, milk, cheese, juice, cereal and
more. A WIC representative visits the Tribal Community Center on the
third Tuesday of the month, which will be Aug. 20.
Walk-ins are welcome between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 503-879-2034.
