Yesteryears - Feb. 1, 2016

2011 – Spirit Mountain Casino took over as the official sponsor of the iconic Portland Rose Festival’s Grand Floral Parade after KeyBank ended its sponsorship of the event. The casino signed on for three years as the sponsor.

2006 – The 72-unit low income/market rate housing project was nearing completion. Construction started in June 2005. Fifty-four of the units will be for low-income renters and 18 will accommodate families at market rates.

2001 – The Tribe donated $100,000 to Lane Community College’s longhouse project through the Tribe’s philanthropic arm, Spirit Mountain Community Fund.

1996 – Tribal Council adopted a Liquor Ordinance that defined the use of alcohol and the regulations regarding the sale and consumption of alcohol on Reservation lands in response to the building of a steakhouse restaurant that will serve alcoholic beverages.

1991 – Tribal offices were relocated from the Old Manor building to the new modular offices on Grand Ronde Road. General Manager Jim Willis said a three-month delay in moving into the new offices was caused by inclement weather and water and electrical hook-up problems. “The old facility wasn’t equipped to handle our current rate of growth,” Willis said.

1986 – Tribal Council member Cheryle A. Kennedy resigned to devote more time to the Tribe’s Health Program. “She has served the Tribe well on council, but it is difficult to be staff and council at the same time,” said Tribal Chairman Mark Mercier. Frank Harrison succeeded Kennedy in the Tribal Council position.

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