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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 15, 2019)
smok signflz AUGUST 15, 2019 Western Oregon will be accepting applications POWWOW continued from front page Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Firefighters from several different agencies work to extinguish a fire at the wrecking yard associated with Jim’s Trading Post off Highway 18 on Wednesday, July 31. The fires were determined to be caused by passing car exhaust systems. Highway 18 fires caused by engine exhaust By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor A spate of fires along the north side of Highway 18 between Spirit Moun- tain Casino to west of Grand Ronde Road were caused by engine exhaust, according to the Oregon State Police’s Office of State Fire Marshal. At approximately 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, multiple fires on High- way18 west of Spirit Mountain Casino near A.R. Ford Road forced the closure of the heavily traveled roadway to the Oregon Coast. Sheridan, Southwest Polk and West Valley fire districts responded and the roadside fires were rapidly controlled and extinguished. The State Fire Marshal investigation determined the fires were human caused and accidental, caused from vehicle exhaust debris from a passing vehicle. “The multiple fires serve as a reminder that vehicles with aging catalytic converters and vehicles that aren’t properly maintained can pose fire risks,” said the State Fire Marshal’s Office in a statement released on Thursday, Aug. 1. “Fire service agencies encourage anyone driving in Oregon, on- and off-road, to have their vehicles, motorcycles and ATVs serviced regularly before any travel begins.” In addition to the roadside fires, a reported commercial fire occurred simultaneously at 27775 Highway 18 adjacent to Jim’s Trading Post. Firefighters found multiple outbuildings and wrecking yard debris burning and spreading rapidly. Tribal Police and Security personnel controlled traffic at the intersection of Highway 18 and Grand Ronde Road, preventing traffic from traveling westward. The cause of the Jim’s Trading Post fire remains under investigation. A damage estimate has not been released. In addition to the aforementioned fire districts, the Polk County Sher- iff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Oregon Department of Transportation, Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department, Polk County Fire District No. 1, Oregon Department of Forestry, North Lincoln Fire and Rescue, Amity Fire District, McMinnville Fire Department and Grand Ronde Natural Resources Department responded to the fires. Highway 18 was re-opened in both directions by 6 p.m. Tribal Court Programs Booth at Contest Powwow in 2018 than for the 2017 event, which also included a rare total solar eclipse. Organizers credited several factors, such as a welcoming atmosphere, good weather and an increase in prize money to the uptick in 2018’s dance reg- istrations. This year, a big change for the dancers will be the new artificial turf, which received an overall positive response from partic- ipants at the recent Veterans Powwow, who all noted a lack of twisted ankles, which had become a common complaint in years past. Besides the turf, however, the 2019 Contest Powwow will have a format very similar to what attendees have seen before. More than $52,000 in prize money will be danced for thanks to the adult dance categories remaining in junior adult and senior adult categories, as well as junior and senior golden age. Dance prizes range from $1,000 for first place in the adult categories to $25 for taking fifth in the junior category. Specials will include the Wom- en’s All-Around sponsored by the Native Wellness Institute, Crystal Starr and the Tailfeath- er family that has prize money totaling $5,600 plus jackets for first- through third-place; Men’s Northern Traditional and Round Bustle sponsored by the Tom family with $2,000 in prize money; School is Cool for all kin- dergarten through 12th-grade dancers sponsored by the Edu- cation Committee; Best Friends sponsored by Grand Ronde Roy- alty; Round Bustle/Chicken Dance with $800 in prize money; Women’s Red Dress Special with $800 in prize money; and Junior and Teen Girls sponsored by outgoing Grand Ronde Royalty. Head staff for this year’s pow- wow include master of cere- monies Tyson Eaglevoice Shay (Shoshone-Bannock), arena director Fred Ike Jr. (Yakama), head dance judge Charles Tail- Who: Tribal Court Programs What: Recruitment for Tribal Court Volunteer Programs Where: Powwow Grounds When: Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, from noon to 4 p.m. Why: Come learn more about the various Tribal Court Programs (Tribal Member Review Board, Court Appointed Special Advocate and Peacemaker). Be ready to win a prize. Stop by and ask me how! Call Ramona Quenelle at 503-879-4623 or e-mail CourtPrograms@grandronde.org for more information. AMERICAN INDIAN TEACHER PROGRAM feathers (Cree/Blackfeet) and head drum judge Chase Sayer from Saskatchewan, Canada. Indian Hill will be the host drum and drums will compete for $20,000 in prize money, with the best drum taking home a $10,000 prize. A shuttle will be available from Spirit Mountain Casino to the powwow grounds and at- tendees are asked not to display gang affiliation or bring drugs, alcohol or weapons to the event. Returning for 2019 is the Rec- reation Department’s 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament for mid- dle and high school students, held in the parking lot next to the powwow grounds. Prizes will be awarded for the 3-point contest, and to first- and sec- ond-place teams. It will take place from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Satur- day, Aug. 17, and 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 18. A new wrinkle will be the at- tendance of Western Oregon Uni- versity representatives on Friday and Saturday. Any Tribal student who applies for admission to the Monmouth university at the powwow and ultimately enrolls will receive a $2,000 scholarship toward their first year on campus. In addition, the application fee will be waived for students who apply during the powwow. Tribal students can apply for either fall 2019 or fall 2020. Stu- dents are encouraged to bring a copy of their school transcripts and Tribal identification, if pos- sible. “We are elated that represen- tatives from WOU are joining us at our largest gathering to help individuals explore their oppor- tunities for higher education,” said Education Committee Chair Tammy Cook. “We hope this opportunity will help those who attend the event and inspires greater collaboration between Tribes and local colleges to make not only their presence felt in Tribal communities. By working together, we can erase some of the invisibility associated with indigenous peoples in higher education.” 7
