2
JANUARY 1, 2020
General Council meeting
Smoke Signals
sNok signflz
11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5
Tribal Community Center
NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday Meetings
DATE
TIME
Wednesday, Jan. 8...............................................................................4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 22.............................................................................4 p.m.
Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed.
Letter s
Dear Smoke Signals:
Dear Tribal members and family, with my deepest apology, I am so
sorry. I made a mistake.
In regards to the article in the Dec. 1 Smoke Signals, I did not comment
at the time as I had not made a plea as the article claimed. On Dec. 19, I
made a plea of guilty.
This last summer, I was under a great deal of stress. I made some poor
decisions and my husband didn’t even know. I was an emotional roller-
coaster from the first of May through now.
I resigned from the Elders Committee the first part of August and I
opened up to my husband. When I resigned, I admitted my guilt and told
the committee I would start paying the money I had used back immediate-
ly. Two days later, my husband took my first payment of $1,100 to them.
We had to move the first of September because our two grandchildren
had been placed with us June 1 and my house was way too small. On
Sept. 28, I was cited for Theft I, which is a felony. I fell into a deep hole
and wanted to die. I contemplated suicide. Three days later, I ended up
in the hospital. If it wasn’t for my family forcing me to go to the hospital,
I might have died.
I just couldn’t figure out why two of my family members at the Elders
Center didn’t even try to reach out to me as they knew I was struggling
emotionally and why when I agreed to pay them back the money and had
already started paying it back they still pressed charges against me.
The first of October, I paid back the balance of what I thought I owed.
Then when I went to my first hearing they nailed me with a second felony.
Believe me when I say this and other things devastated my life. I lost good
friends and family. I have had a mental breakdown. So yes, this article
made me look very bad by the comments that were made.
Two weeks before my last hearing, my attorney received the restitution
letter form from the Polk County District Attorney that stated I still owed
money. The day of my last hearing, I paid the balance of what I owed. I
have never been in trouble in my 64 years of life. Believe me when I say I
was scared to death. I was facing 10 years in prison. I received two years
of probation, a fine and 120 hours of community service. When I am well,
I plan on doing this community service at the Tribe. The judge did not feel
I was capable of doing it in the condition I was in, but I told her when I
was well enough that I would try.
So now I’m just trying to put back together what life I have. My mental
health has caused me to have to give up my granddaughters that I love
with all my heart and they need us right now very badly. They were going
through enough without grandma and grandpa falling apart. I am trying
to heal mentally and physically.
I want to thank General Manager David Fullerton for clearing up the
fact that someone told the DA they wanted me banned from the Elders
Activity Center and all Tribal events. I hope I can build trust back up with
all my Tribal family! Once again, I am truly sorry!
Julie Little
Roll #1899
(Editor’s note: This letter exceeds the newspaper’s 400-word limit,
but we felt it was important to let Mrs. Little have her say unim-
peded by the word count.)
Health & Wellness Center Entrance
Reminder: The drive-through entrance at the Health &
Wellness Center is for loading and unloading only.
The entrance was built with our Elders and those with
mobility issues and their ease of access in mind.
If you are coming to the center to pick up
prescriptions, please park in
one of our regular parking spaces.
Thank you,
Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center Administration
Tribal Office Closures
Tribal offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of
Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347
1-800-422-0232, FAX: 503-879-2173
Website: www.smokesignals.org
E-mail: news@grandronde.org
Editorial.Board@grandronde.org
Twitter: CTGRSmokeSignal
www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDXdTzfGjzJ_j3NPpCrtcw
DEAN RHODES
PUBLICATIONS
COORDINATOR
503-879-1463
DANIELLE
FROST
TIMOTHY J.
GONZALEZ
STAFF WRITER
503-879-4663
PHOTOJOURNALIST
503-879-1961
dean.rhodes@grandronde.org
danielle.frost@grandronde.org
timothy.gonzalez@grandronde.org
SAMUEL F.
BRIGGS III
JUSTIN
PHILLIPS
KAMIAH
KOCH
GRAPHIC DESIGN
SPECIALIST
503-879-1416
PAGE
DESIGNER
503-879-2190
SOCIAL MEDIA/
DIGITAL JOURNALIST
503-879-1461
samuel.briggs@grandronde.org
justin.phillips@grandronde.org
kamiah.koch@grandronde.org
DEADLINE DATE
ISSUE DATE
Monday, Jan. 6 ................Jan. 15, 2020
Tuesday, Jan. 21 ................. Feb. 1, 2020
Wednesday, Feb. 5 ........... Feb. 15, 2020
Wednesday, Feb. 19 ... March 1, 2020
Friday, March 6 ......March 15, 2020
Editorial Policy
smok signflz , a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Communi-
ty 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.
smok signflz 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 smok signflz .
Members of:
Native American Journalists Association
Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association
2020
Tribal Council
tribalcouncil@grandronde.org
Cheryle A. Kennedy
Tribal Council Chairwoman
— ext. 2352
cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org
Chris Mercier
Tribal Council Vice Chair
— ext. 1444
chris.mercier@grandronde.org
Jon A. George
Tribal Council Secretary
— ext. 2355
Jack Giffen Jr.
— ext. 2300
jack.giffen@grandronde.org
Denise Harvey
— ext. 2353
denise.harvey@grandronde.org
Michael Langley
— ext. 1777
michael.langley@grandronde.org
Lisa Leno
— ext. 1770
jon.george@grandronde.org
lisaleno@grandronde.org
Kathleen George
Steve Bobb Sr.
— ext. 2305
— ext. 4555
kathleen.george@grandronde.org
steve.bobb@grandronde.org