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MAY 1, 2021
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Spirit Mountain Casino on
pace for ‘record-breaking’ year
Concerts to resume outdoors in July
By Dean Rhodes
Smoke Signals editor
May
• Sunday, May 2 – General Council meeting, 11 a.m., Zoom tele-
conference. 503-879-2304.
• Wednesday, May 5 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gover-
nance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304.
• Wednesday, May 19 – Tribal Council meeting, 10 a.m., Gover-
nance Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road. 503-879-2304.
• Monday, May 31 – Memorial Day observance by invitation only, 1
p.m., West Valley Veterans Memorial, 9615 Grand Ronde Road.
503-879-4555.
(Editor’s note: All events are tentative depending on the status
of the Tribe’s COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic response.)
Tribal Council member Steve Bobb
Sr. reported to the membership that
Spirit Mountain Casino is on track
for a possible record-breaking year
during the Tuesday, April 27, Leg-
islative Action Committee hearing.
Bobb also serves on the Spirit
Mountain Gaming Inc. Board of
Directors, which met Monday,
April 26.
“The casino continues to do very
well,” Bobb said. “It’s kind of sur-
prising to everybody, but certainly
welcomed. The casino is on track for
a record-breaking year this year if
everything stays the same.”
As one of the few indoor venues
that has remained open during
the COVID-19 pandemic, Spirit
Mountain Casino has seen a steady
stream of guests since it re-opened
in June 2020 after being closed for
74 days.
Tribal Council also recently ap-
proved hiring another officer for the
Grand Ronde Tribal Police Depart-
ment because the increase in casino
guests has resulted in a concurrent
increase in the number of calls from
the casino to the department.
Bobb also said that the casino is
considering returning to a 24/7 op-
eration and that about 80 percent
of the available slot machines are
working on the floor. Valet parking
and keno have returned as well.
Spirit Mountain Casino Market-
ing Director Shawna Ridgebear
said that decision is not yet final
as the casino continues to monitor
how the community and employees
feel about returning to a round-the-
clock operation.
Upon re-opening in June 2020,
the casino shortened its hours to
allow staff to thoroughly clean the
facility. It also prohibited anyone
under the age of 21 from entering
the casino or lodge and instituted a
mask requirement for guests.
Bobb also reported that the casi-
no plans to resume hosting concerts
beginning in July, but they will be
held outdoors instead of inside the
Event Center.
Ridgebear said the concerts would
be held outside in the parking lot
west of the casino. A lineup of
confirmed acts will not be released
until mid-May, she said.
Ridgebear said the new guide-
lines from the Centers for Disease
Control that state vaccinated peo-
ple do not have to wear masks
outside are encouraging.
However, she added, the casino
has since the beginning of the
pandemic in March 2020 worked
to not only meet CDC pandemic
guidelines, but to exceed them.
Police Department has non-emergency text line
The Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department has created a non-emer-
gency text line at 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.” said
Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight.
McKnight said that emergency situations still require calling 911. For
more information, contact McKnight at 503-879-1474.
OFFICIAL TRIBAL FACEBOOK PAGES
INTERESTED IN A CAREER AS A SECURITY OFFICER?
Smoke Signals:
facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde:
DPSST TRAINING COMING SOON!
facebook.com/CTGRgov
Grand Ronde Health & Wellness:
facebook.com/GRHWC
DPSST training is 14 hours (2 days)
Grand Ronde Children & Family Services:
Cost is $160
facebook.com/CTGRCFS
Grand Ronde Royalty:
(Plus cost for certification $65 for unarmed
and $41.26 for background fee)
facebook.com/CTGRRoyalty
Grand Ronde Education Programs:
Free to CTGR Tribal members and members
of other federally recognized Tribes
facebook.com/CTGREducation
Grand Ronde Youth Council:
facebook.com/CTGRYouthCouncil
Grand Ronde Station:
What are the minimum standards for Private Security certification?
facebook.com/GrandRondeStation
Private security providers must be:
Grand Ronde Social Services Department:
facebook.com/CTGRSocialservices
• At least 18 years of age
Grand Ronde Food Bank:
facebook.com/GrandRondeFoodBank
• Must have valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain
one if required by employer
Spirit Mountain Community Fund:
facebook.com/SpiritMountainCommunityFund
• Must have a high school diploma or GED or a four-year post-secondary
degree issued by an accredited college or university.
Grand Ronde Cultural Education:
facebook.com/Grand-Ronde-Cultural-Education
Grand Ronde Community Garden:
facebook.com/GrandRondeCommunityGarden
Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department:
facebook.com/Grand-Ronde-Tribal-Police-Department
• Be of good moral fitness as determined by a background check,
department investigation or other reliable sources. A lack of good moral
fitness includes, but is not limited to, mandatory and discretionary
disqualifying misconduct as described in OAR 259-060-0310
Grand Ronde Employment Services
Facebook.com/EmploymentServices
Please contact the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) at
503-879-2188 or 503-879-2127 for additional information or to register.
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