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contained,” Assistant Fire Chief Dan Mulick said. “There is still smoke and flames that continue to pop up but that, again, is happening because we are doing a constant risk assessment and we are not going to put our firefighters at risk for something of no value.” Even without entering, he said, firefighters attacking the fire from the bluff above the plant suffered burns and equipment was damaged by the heat of the fire. Webb said the Tribe is working to demolish the buildings as quickly as possible …

Gaming Justice opinion scuttles gaming plans in Grants Pass 02.14.2022 Dean Rhodes Spirit Mountain Casino , Gaming , State government By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor SALEM – The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the other Oregon Tribes that operate casinos received good news on Friday, Feb. 11, when the Oregon Department of Justice said that plans by the Oregon Racing Commission to possibly allow 225 slot machine-like historic racing machines at the Flying Lark in Grants Pass would …

to resolve these issues” the release stated. “We now have additional information on the depth and magnitude of those issues. … We are not sharing this to scare you. We are sharing this information because the Tribe cannot ignore the current state of enrollment or continue down this same path. Doing so only compounds the existing problems and makes the situation worse.” A 2012 enrollment audit conducted by New Mexico-based accounting firm Anuskewicz & McCabe that became the foundation …

principles of nutrition, diet portion control and overall good health. “My original goal was to lose 25 pounds,” said Younger. “I reached it so fast. The first week I lost seven pounds. The second week I lost five pounds and the third week I lost three pounds. I’m off my medicines. I don’t need them anymore. I’m pre-diabetic; well I was pre-diabetic. I haven’t felt this good since 1984.” Younger’s sister Mary Leith said the change in her brother has been stark and inspiring. “Before the weight …

water is safe to drink again. On the Tribal campus, the boil water order prompted the Tribal Executive Office to purchase bottled water for employee consumption. Bottled water was distributed in the Governance Center, Health & Wellness Clinic, Education Building, Tribal Housing Authority, Social Services and Natural Resources. In addition, said Public Works Director John Mercier, the Tribe contacted Sierra Springs and on Thursday, Jan. 26, 12 water dispensers were located in all Tribal buildings …

Tribal Government & News Hop to it: Early Easter means an early egg hunt 03.14.2016 Brent Merrill Tribal Council , Events , Housing Easter comes early this year with the holiday being in March rather than April. And this year’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 26, at the covered area in Tribal family housing. Housing Services Coordinator Deborah Kroeker said this is one Tribal event not to be late for. “It’s an incredible event,” said Kroeker. “It’s the one event …

By Danielle Frost

Smoke Signals staff writer

After 29 years with the Tribe, Librarian Marion Mercier is trading in her library card for retirement adventures.

“It’s time,” she says. “I’m looking forward to visiting libraries, museums and small towns across the state, and doing some rock hounding.”

A lifelong Oregonian, Mercier, 64, grew up in Grand Ronde and began working for the Tribe’s Social Services Department in 1990 as a caseworker. Her tenure puts her among some of the Tribe’s longest-serving employees.

“I was going to retire at 62, but our library patrons are wonderful and I feel like I have the best job at the Tribe,” she says. “But it’s time for new things.”

After three years with Social Services, Mercier transferred to the Education Department, where she served in several roles before becoming the librarian. She helped plan the library building’s construction while serving as the Tribe’s Education manager.

“It was a big change when the library moved here (in 2002),” she says. “Prior to having a location, the library collection was very limited and mainly used by employees and Education Department students.”

During those past 16 years, the library has been expanded and remodeled, and its collection has grown from 800 to 18,000 items.

After five years as Education manager, Mercier started working as the librarian in 2006 when the Tribe began funding the library.

“I enjoy the people that come into the library the most and I also enjoy the collection we have here,” she says. “This is a great work environment and has been an awesome experience. We get a lot of support from our Tribal Council.”

Although Mercier has enjoyed her time working for the Tribe, especially as a librarian, she wants time to pursue other passions while she is still young and healthy enough to do so.

“I feel like I have been working since I was 9 years old,” she says. “I’m tired of being on a schedule and am ready to do some other things I have put off doing. It will also be nice to visit family more. Even though I live in the local area, we don’t get together the way we used to. Just dropping in on people is a thing of the past. When I was growing up in Grand Ronde, we did that a lot.”

Mercier is the daughter of Rose (Reznicsek) and Marion Mercier. Her grandparents were Agnes (Leno) and Arthur Mercier, and Myrtle (Robson) and Adam Reznicsek.

She has two children, Candi Buswell, who works for the Tribe’s Adult Foster Care lodges, and Anthony Henry. She also has two grandchildren, Ava Buswell and Josh Henry.

Although Mercier acknowledges it will take some getting used to, she is excited about the prospect of sleeping in on the weekdays if she feels like it, and having the time at home to do projects such as organizing and painting.

Her favorite memories of being a librarian are having all of the youth groups come into the library and listening to the volunteer readers tell stories to groups of children.

“They each bring their own personality, and it is fun to listen to different people read about different things,” Mercier said.

She has several favorite books, which range from classics to children’s stories. Some of these are “The Giving Tree” and “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein, “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell, “Treasure Mountain” by Evelyn Sibley Lampman, “The Last Yoncalla” by Dean Baker, “Reservation Blues” by Sherman Alexie, “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, “Words Under the Words” by Naomi Shihab Nye, “Wild About Books” by Judy Sierra, “Duck on a Bike” by David Shannon and “Someday” by Eileen Spinelli.

“If it’s a fun topic and somewhat inspirational, I love that book for kids,” Mercier says. “Young kids need something fun and meaningful. I also like the classics, poetry and good stories in general that keep my attention and have enough details.”

When Mercier retires Jan. 31, Recreation Specialist Harris Reibach will serve an interim librarian. He has been training with Mercier to learn the ins and outs of library work.

“I truly believe this is the best job at the Tribe,” she says. “I believe that because when people come in here, they want to be here. That makes a real difference.”

She advises her successor to remember that people come first in the job.

“When you are working at the library, you are there to provide a service,” Mercier says. “You want people to feel welcome so they can accomplish what they need. We are there to serve and I hope the library always remembers that is a priority.”

Mercier is also grateful for the Tribe’s Restoration in 1983, which has allowed her to work in Grand Ronde.

“It’s been nice to stay in our community and have a job that allowed me to be here and raise my family, and not have to move away,” she says. “Being a part of the Tribe is such a blessing and our library patrons are wonderful.”  

, trusts and non-profits throughout the state. Grand Ronde Tribal Council members in attendance included Toby McClary, Kathleen George and Secretary Jon A. George. “I’m so grateful that today, we are once again stewards of these lands,” Jon A. George said. “I’m so grateful for our people here today. In partnership with each and every one of you, these lands continue to thrive.” Lindsay McClary shared that the Noble Oaks site was formerly a wildlife sanctuary but most of the animals were not native …

, is setting up a confidential database including basic client demographics for future donors/grant funders and is planning to start community outreach. "I think it will be very challenging and slow moving at the beginning," Falla said. "Then it will all start taking off." Falla seems to have been born for the job. She was raised by "a strong female, a German mom who pushed my brother and I to be the best we could was empowering," she said. "She made it clear we would have to do our best because we …

is good for you all should be good for us.” “I think it will be,” said Smith. “We have got to work together.” “This has to be an ongoing partnership,” said George. “Once the building is down there will be collective shouts of joy from all over the village,” said Smith. “You all should take your time and do what’s going to be best for your Tribe and that will be best for us. “I can’t even imagine all the hard work and the pain that you have all gone through with the obstacles that have been thrown …