PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID PORTLAND, OR PERMIT NO. 700 Riding In selected as 2021-22 Hatfield Fellow — pg. 9 october 1, 2021 Demolition time Casino implements myriad efforts to recruit employees By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor K Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez Tribal Council members, members of the media and others watch as demolition of the former Blue Heron Paper Mill site began during an event hosted by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Event marks the beginning of the end for Blue Heron buildings By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer O REGON CITY – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde celebrated the beginning of onsite work at the former Blue Heron Paper Mill property. A private demolition event, held on Tuesday, Sept. 21, marked the start of a new era at the site. “I just want to say about 10 years ago, if you told me we would hold this property here, I’m not sure I would have believed you,” Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier told a group of approximately 25 peo- ple who attended. “One thing I really like about this site is its history. Our roots run deep here.” Mercier also said that the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde ceded homelands stretch from the Willamette Valley all the way south to the Califor- nia border. Tuesday’s demolition began with a prayer and See DEMOLITION continued on page 7 now someone in need of a job? Refer them to Spirit Mountain Casino and you might receive $500. The referral award is just one of many efforts being made by Spirit Mountain Casino to recruit employ- ees and solve its staffing shortage. General Manager Bruce Thomas said during the Thursday, Sept. 9, Facebook Live event that the casino was short-staffed before the pandemic hit, remained that way during the pandemic and is cur- rently in the same situation as the Delta variant surge sweeps through Oregon. Currently, the casino has more than 900 employees and has open positions for 91 people – 78 full- time and 13 part-time. Assistant General Manager Ca- mille Mercier said that if Grand Ronde Tribal members refer friends or family members to apply for employment at the casino and that person is hired and successfully completes their 90-day probation- ary period, the person making the referral will receive $250 per applicant. If the employee stays 180 days, the person making the referral will receive the other $250. The offer also is good for nonprofit organizations that refer people to the casino for employment. The organization would receive a $500 donation for each employee they refer who successfully completes See CASINO continued on page 5 Tribal member seeks to become Mrs. Oregon America By Danielle Harrison Smoke Signals staff writer T ribal member Brittny Freder- ick says she never imagined being in the running for the Mrs. Oregon America title. However, her social media post about not letting trauma get in the way of letting your future unfold caught the eyes of the then-reign- ing Mrs. Oregon America, Salena Griffith, who contacted Frederick and asked if she’d ever considered doing pageants. “I was like, ‘No way, I’m a mom, I’m married and is that even a thing for us?’ ” With a husband, three children ages 11, 3 and 1, as well as a full- time job, Frederick wasn’t sure if she could also juggle pageant obligations. However, the 32-year-old Beaver- ton resident agreed to attend the Mrs. Oregon America statewide pageant earlier this summer and see what was involved. There, Frederick learned about Victoria’s Voice, an organization dedicated to keeping teenagers from drug abuse. It was founded See PAGEANT continued on page 8 Tribal member Brittny Linton Frederick was recently named Mrs. Washington County and will be competing in the Mrs. Oregon America pageant in the summer of 2022. Photo by Timothy J. Gonzalez