General Council briefed on Spirit Mountain Casino

By Danielle Harrison

Smoke Signals staff writer

Spirit Mountain Casino General Manager Bruce Thomas gave the first presentation of the 2021-22 General Council meeting cycle on Sunday, Sept. 12, via the Zoom teleconferencing program.

Thomas gave a 35-minute presentation in executive session and fielded three questions from Tribal members in attendance.

Since the presentation was held in executive session, Smoke Signals cannot publish specific details.

September’s meeting marked the second year that General Council has been held virtually. Meetings have not been held in person since March 2020. There was hope that the meeting would be held in person in the Community Center, but the statewide surge in COVID-19 Delta variant cases forced the Tribe to revert to the Zoom option.

In other action, Election Board Vice Chair Michael Mercier delivered the Tribal Council election results from Saturday, Sept. 11, that saw two incumbents – Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy and Secretary Jon A. George – re-elected to three-year terms. Newcomer Michael Cherry secured the third seat during her first run for Tribal Council.

The General Council meeting opened with an invocation by Steve Bobb Sr.

Kennedy announced that the next General Council meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, on Zoom.

Jade Unger, Herbert “Bill” Stephens and Rita Pursley won the $100 door prizes and Jessie Norton, Nina Shields, Rebecca Haller, Shawn Haggerty and Stephanie Craig won the $50 prizes. Since the Tribal campus remains closed to visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, checks will be sent in the mail.

The non-executive session portion of the meeting can be viewed by visiting the Tribal government’s website at www.grandronde.org and clicking on the Government tab and then Videos.

Tribal members wanting to see the executive session portion should contact Tribal Council Chief of Staff Stacia Hernandez at stacia.martin@grandronde.org or call 503-879-2304.