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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2025)
2 SMOKE SIGNALS DECEMBER 1, 2025 General Council meeting 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7 Tribal Council Chambers Tribal members can participate remotely via Zoom and in-person attendance. Call 800-422-0232 for more information. sNok signflz PUBLICATIONS OFFICE 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 NOTICE — Monthly Tribal Council Wednesday meetings DATE TIME Wednesday, Dec. 3...............................................................................4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17.............................................................................4 p.m. Please note that these times and dates are subject to change if needed. Attendance in Tribal Council Chambers and via Zoom. 503-879-2304. Drug take-back kiosk located at Tribal Police Department There is a new drug take-back kiosk in the front lobby of the Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department, 9655 Grand Ronde Road. It is open during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The following items are accepted: • Unused or expired prescription medications, including pet medications • Unused or expired over-the-counter medications The following items are not accepted: • Thermometers or any item containing mercury • Needles • Pre-loaded needles • Empty bottles • Personal care products (vitamins, herbal remedies, supplements, cos- metics) • Batteries • Illegal drugs • Aerosol cans n Tribal Office Closures Tribal offi ces will be closing at noon Wednesday, Dec. 24, and remain closed on Thursday-Friday, Dec. 25-26, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Offi ces also will be closing at noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, and all day on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in observance of New Year’s Day. 1-800-422-0232 • FAX: 503-879-2173 Website: www.smokesignals.org Email: news@grandronde.org Email: Editorial.Board@grandronde.org www.facebook.com/SmokeSignalsCTGR/ www.youtube.com/c/SmokeSignalsChannel DANIELLE HARRISON MICHELLE ALAIMO PUBLICATIONS MANAGER / EDITOR 503-879-4663 danielle.harrison@grandronde.org PHOTOJOURNALIST / ASSISTANT EDITOR 503-879-1961 michelle.alaimo@grandronde.org JUSTIN PHILLIPS SAMUEL F. BRIGGS III PRODUCTION SPECIALIST 503-879-2190 justin.phillips@grandronde.org GRAPHIC DESIGN SPECIALIST 503-879-1416 samuel.briggs@grandronde.org KAMIAH KOCH NICOLE MONTESANO SOCIAL MEDIA / DIGITAL JOURNALIST 503-879-1461 kamiah.koch@grandronde.org STAFF WRITER 503-879-1463 nicole.montesano@grandronde.org KATHERINE WARREN SECRETARY / ADVERTISING 503-879-1466 • katherine.warren-steffensmier@grandronde.org DEADLINE DATE ISSUE DATE MEMBERS OF: Thursday, Dec. 4 ............................ Dec. 15 Indigenous Journalists Association Monday, Dec. 22 .............................. Jan. 1 Oregon Newspaper Publishers Assoc. Thursday, Jan. 8 .............................. Jan. 15 2022 IJA General Excellence Friday, Jan. 23 ................................... Feb. 1 2023 IJA General Excellence EDITORIAL POLICY Letters welcome smok signflz, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, is published twice a month. No portion of this publica- tion 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 and current events happening within the Tribe. However, all letters received must be signed by the author, an address must be given and a phone number or email address must be included for verifi cation 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 any individ- ual, as well as individual Tribal staff members, individual Tribal administration members or individual Tribal Council members. 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 refl ect the opinions of smok signflz. Smoke Signals, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community 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 email 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. Smoke Signals 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 Smoke Signals. 2 02 5 Trib a l Co uncil tribalcouncil@grandronde.org Tribal Council Chairwoman Kathleen George — ext. 2305 — ext. 2352 kathleen.george@grandronde.org Cheryle A. Kennedy Reminder cheryle.kennedy@grandronde.org TRIBAL T R I B AL MEMBERS MEMBERS ON ON THE THE TRIBAL TRIBAL SUPPLEMENTAL SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY SECURITY INCOME/DISABILITY INCOME / DISABILI T Y & MEDICARE PART MEDICARE PART “B” “ B ” PROGRAMS PROGRAMS Chris Mercier TY AWARD AWARD LETTER! LETTER ! IT IT’S ’ S TIME TIME TO TO SEND SEND US A COPY OF YOUR ‘2026’ SOCIAL SECURITY If you y o u haven’t ha v en ’t received r ecei v ed your y o ur ‘2026’ ‘2026’ Social Sec ur i ty Award A w a r d letter le tt e r yet, y e t, please p lea s e ge o u ch w i t h If Social Security get t in in t touch with t he Social Social Security Sec ur i ty Administration Admini str a t ion at a t 1-800-772-1213 1-800-772-1213 or o r online online at a t www.ssa.gov www.ss a . go v the Yo ur current c urr en t SSA SSA award a w a r d letter le tt e r must m ust reach r each our o ur office office by b y Friday, F r ida y, January Jan u a ry 16th, 16t h , 2026, 2026, by b y 5:00 5:00 PM PM Your t o a avoid to v oid an any y f future utur e delays dela ys in in your y o ur benefi benefits. ts. Tribal Council Vice Chair 2026 SSA SSA letter le tt r t to: o : Plea Please s e s send end a a co copy py of of y your o ur 2026 CTGR Services CTGR Member Membe r Se rv ice s A Attn. tt n . Shayla Sha y la Murphy M urp h y 9615 9615 Grand G r and Ronde Ronde Road Road Grand OR 97347 G r and Ronde, Ronde , OR 97347 Jon A. George asi! H ayu m Fax: 503-879-2480 - Email: shayla.murphy@grandronde.org Phone: 503-879-1364 or 1-800-422-0232 Ext. 1364 NOTE: It is the responsibility of the Tribal member to notify the Tribe of any changes in your benefits from the Social al Security Administration SSI/SSD program. Failure to submit your yearly SSA award letter and/or notify the Tribe of any changes Administ nges may result in an obligation to repay ineligible benefits received and/or interrupt or delay your Tribal Supplemental Security y Income & Disability payments and Medicare Part “B” reimbursements. — ext. 1444 chris.mercier@grandronde.org Tribal Council Secretary — ext. 2355 jon.george@grandronde.org Pete Wakeland — ext. 2300 pete.wakeland@grandronde.org Matthew haller — ext. 1777 matthew.haller@grandronde.org Lisa Leno — ext. 1770 lisaleno@grandronde.org Tonya Gleason-Shepek — ext. 4555 Toby McClary — ext. 2353 tonya.gleason-shepek@grandronde.org tobymcclary@grandronde.org
