Smoke signals., August 01, 2023, Page 7, Image 7

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AUGUST 1, 2023
Tribe has two charging stations, other
located at Grand Ronde Station
CHARGING continued
from front page
As of presstime, 10 employees
had submitted applications to use
the new station, which has two
plug-ins available. All employees
must sign a charging policy prior
to usage.
Tribal Audit Director Steve Har-
rop owns a 2019 Tesla Model 3. He
commutes from Portland to Grand
Ronde, and drove a convertible
Mini Cooper when he first began
working for the Tribe.
“It was getting tired and even at
30 miles per gallon, I didn’t like
putting the emissions from four gal-
lons of gas into the air every day,”
he said. “I’d been a fan of Tesla and
its technology since launch, and
federal and state electric vehicle
incentives brought the cost down
to the level of the new Mini I was
also considering.”
He said having a charging station
onsite means peace of mind.
“My Tesla has enough range to
make my round trip,” Harrop said.
“However, in winter the lights and
wipers use a lot of electricity so
I charge nearly full (hard on the
battery and not recommended) and
get home with 5 to 10 percent left.
Now I can get lunch in Sheridan
without worrying about getting
home, and this winter I’ll be able
to lower my charge level at home
and top up here to extend the life
of my battery.”
Webb said the charging station
can be used as a power source in
the event of an emergency.
“There are a lot of great benefits,”
Webb said. “We’re easing ourselves
into this and plan to provide more
as more people go to electric vehi-
cles in the future.”
The Tribe is applying for an
Oregon Department of Transpor-
tation grant, which would provide
five more solar charging stations
and six traditional panel plug-in
stations. Additionally, two electric
vehicles would be added to the
Tribe’s fleet.
The Tribe has one other electric
vehicle charging station, located at
Grand Ronde Station, which was
installed in November 2012.
“I know lots of people want to
have these at the Tribal campus
but it’s a new thing so we’re trying
to get up to speed, so would ask for
patience during this time,” Webb
said.
Exercise practice
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
Jeff Gilbert, Regional Emergency Coordinator for the Oregon
Department of Human Services Office of Resilience and Emergency
Management, registers Crystal Bigelow after she evacuated to
Willamina High School during a full-scale evacuation and shelter
training exercise held on Wednesday, July 12. The exercise tested the
Tribe’s evacuation, reunification, sheltering and communications
plans for emergency response and recovery efforts in a wildland fire
scenario threatening the Tribal campus and community of Grand Ronde.
Approximately 60 staff and local residents participated in the exercise.
Bigelow is the Tribal Library aide.
Tribal Library merges with
Regional Library Service
The Tribal Library has merged with the Chemeketa Cooperative
Regional Library Service, said Tribal Librarian Kathy Cole.
Tribal members can now get books from libraries in Polk, Yamhill
and Marion counties, as well as access to many free programs.
Tribal Library patrons should visit the Tribal Library and update
their information and obtain a new Regional Library Service card.
For more information, contact Cole at 503-879-1488.
7
After completing registration, Alisha Parks Shell, left, gets lunch from
Grand Ronde Department of Emergency Services Administrative
Services Lt. Mariah Prescott at Willamina High School during a full-scale
evacuation and shelter training exercise held on Wednesday, July 12.
Parks Shell is the Tribal Community/Public Health manager.
Tribal Veterans Service Office
2023 Claim Appointment Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
By scheduled
By scheduled
Walk-in claim
appointment only
appointment only
appointments
To schedule a claim appointment:
call (503) 879-1484 or email
CTGRTribalVSO@GrandRonde.Org