Yesteryears -- Aug. 1, 2017

2012 – Two measures that would have amended the Oregon Constitution to allow private casinos in the state and another that would specifically approve one going into the former Multnomah Greyhound Park in Wood Village qualified to appear on the November ballot, the Secretary of State’s Office announced.

2007 – Tribal Elders Gene LaBonte and Marcella Selwyn were honored as King and Queen of Elder Honor Day held in the Tribal gym.

2002 – Tribal member Allison Empey was one of 16 valedictorians at McMinnville High School. She and fellow valedictorian Justin Tillery were chosen by their peers to speak for the group during graduation exercises.

1997 – Members of the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development met with Tribal Council during a dinner held at Spirit Mountain Casino. The council was appointed by President Bill Clinton.

1992 – The Tribe was working with the Community Action Agency of Yamhill County to start a Head Start program in Grand Ronde beginning in September. Head Start is a free program for families and their children who have special educational needs.

1987 – More than 200 people listened to testimony by supporters and opponents of a Grand Ronde Reservation at a field hearing chaired by Congressman Les AuCoin held at Grand Ronde Elementary School. AuCoin and Sen. Mark Hatfield submitted two proposed Reservation bills that called for the establishment of either a 15,665-acre or 5,116-acre Reservation for the restored Tribe.

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