Yesteryears -- Sept. 1, 2017

2012 – The Oregon Citizens’ Initiative Review Commission voted against a proposal that sought to allow Oregon’s first non-Tribal casino to be built in the east Portland suburb of Wood Village. The commission is charged with reviewing measures that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. The vote was 17 against and seven in support of the measure.

2007 – President George Bush signed Public Law 110-78 into law. It will enable the Grand Ronde and Siletz Tribes to move forward with development of a valuable 15.7-acre Keizer property, as well as diversify beyond their gaming portfolios.

2002 – Tribal member Kevin Simmons received the 2002-03 Mark O. Hatfield Fellowship given out each year by Spirit Mountain Community Fund. He was scheduled to work in the office of Oregon Rep. David Wu in Washington, D.C.

1997 – Construction started on the 57,000-square-foot expansion at Spirit Mountain Casino. The expansion included additions to the main casino, bingo hall and Coyote’s Buffet. Tentative completion date was spring 1998.

1992 – Beth Oliver was hired as the new general manager of Spirit Mountain Development Corp. She had just returned to the United States after spending seven years in Africa, working with countries, Tribes and groups to enhance their economic development opportunities.

1987 – Tribal members could vote for nine candidates during the upcoming election with the three candidates receiving the most votes serving three-year terms, the next three candidates serving two-year terms and the seventh- through ninth-place candidates serving one-year terms. The election established the current structure of three Tribal Council seats being contested annually. Thirteen Tribal members were running for office.

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