Yesteryears -- May 1, 2015

2010 – The new Tribally funded fire station at the corner of McPherson and Grand Ronde roads was preparing to open. The new $1 million facility will be operated by West Valley Fire District and provide fire and emergency medical services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and eliminate the wait for emergency medical services to arrive from Willamina.

2005 – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde joined the Port of Portland and the Farmers Irrigation District in Hood River as winners of Stewardship and Conservation Awards from the Oregon Water Resources Division. The Tribe’s award was for its numerous habitat restoration and fish passage improvements on the South Yamhill Basin, including being one of the first Oregon Tribes to secure approval of an endangered species management plan.

2000 – Tualatin Riverkeepers honored the Tribe at its second annual Green Heron Award in the community group category for providing the blessing and offerings for Ki-A-Kuts Falls. The naming ceremony for the falls occurred on June 21, 1999, and the falls were named after the 19^th century Kalapuyan chief.

1995 – Eric Webster joined the Tribe as the new dentist. He grew up and went to dental school in the Kansas City area. He relocated to the Portland area in June 1992 for a one-year residency, which resulted in his eventual permanent move to Oregon.

1990 – Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier presented Betty Commerford, Grand Ronde postmaster, a Pendleton blanket on behalf of the Tribe as she prepared to retire.

1985 – A total of 208 ballots were counted in the Tribal Council election for all nine seats. Those elected were Kathryn Harrison, Henry Petite, Darrell Mercier, Eula Petite, Merle Leno, Mark Mercier, Candy Robertson and Cheryle A. Kennedy. There was a tie for the last seat between Russell Leno and Frank Harrison, and Leno won a tie-breaker.

Yesteryears is a look back at Tribal history in five-year increments through the pages of Smoke Signals.