Expect US 20, OR 229 Congestion Wednesday

Bridge inspection on Oregon 229 (Siletz Highway) Wednesday, November 30 could cause delays and congestion both on 229 and on U.S. 20 at Toledo, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation. Crews will inspect bridges along a four-mile stretch of Hwy 229, between the 20/229 intersection and milepost 27. The work, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. that day, could back traffic up onto Highway 20 from time to time. Motorists are urged to use caution. Flaggers will control traffic.

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Siletz Tribe and ODOT Restore Culturally Significant Plant

A Siletz Tribal member weaves from dogbane fibers (Photo:ODOT)

Since 2008, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) have been planting and nurturing a population of culturally significant dogbane. Dogbane is a perennial plant found throughout North America in a variety of habitats and is used in waving. The Siletz Tribes have been harvesting dogbane for thousands of years, but before this planting project, herbicide use and highway runoff had caused a population decline. ODOT and CTSI volunteers relocated 150 dogbane plants from a site along Oregon Highway 99W to a protected wildlife refuge. After nearly three years of growth, the dogbane plants are healthy and thriving in the new location, and the project has recently received national attention. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recognized the project with two environmental awards: an Exemplary Human Environmental Initiatives award and an Exemplary Ecosystem Initiatives award.

The Siletz Tribes place a high value on dogbane because of its significance in tribal culture. Traditionally, the Siletz Tribes harvested dogbane to produce mats, roofing for houses, fishing nets, snares, ropes, strings, and baskets. Today, the Tribes continue to harvest and process dogbane fibers for a variety of purposes, including fish-netting, elk snares, basketry, and other cordage products. The OR 99W site holds one of only a few large dogbane populations in western Oregon. Other dogbane populations in western Oregon are inaccessible or reducing in size due to agricultural practices and private property restrictions, making the location along OR 99W even more significant. Based on the success of the transplantation project, ODOT and the Siletz Tribes may broaden the effort by conducting additional dogbane transplants at other conservation sites to further improve the health of and access to dogbane. (Information for this article courtesy Federal Highway Administration.)

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Tribe Says Yes to Toledo Police Plan

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (CTSI) Tribal Council has agreed with a Toledo plan for police services through 2012. In an email to City Manager Michelle Amberg, Brenda Bremner, General Manager for CTIS said “we’re good” on a contract for 80 hours of police service at a cost of $252 thousand. Toledo currently provides 120 hours of service. Toledo Police Chief Dave Enyeart had expressed concern that a CTSI-proposed $200 thousand contract would have made it difficult to dedicate two full-time officers to the Siletz contract. Two officers is the minimum he believed would provide safe coverage and backup. The City Council decided in October to stay the course with a fully-staffed Police Department, and try to avoid layoffs, pending the outcome of talks with CTSI.

Amberg said she will prepare a contract for City Council Review December 7. It is unclear whether the reduction in revenue for public safety will force a layoff in the Toledo Police Department. “Whether someone will be laid off depends on what Council wants to do,” Amberg said. “They will decide based on a revenue report in January. (By then) we will have a clearer view on what our revenues are, and whether there’s a need for a layoff,” Amberg said. Amberg had told Council members it appears that general fund revenue is coming in better than anticipated. Council members have the option of dedicating additional general fund revenue to make up any Police budget differential from the smaller CTSI contract.

CTSI informed Toledo this summer it wanted to cut its annual police contract budget to $200 thousand. Several months of negotiations among city and tribal officials arrived at the settlement announced today (November 21).

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Finals Set For Student Talent Contest

20 acts will take the stage December 3 for the second auditions of the “Lincoln County’s Got Talent!” 44 acts totaling 50 students faced. The 29 students chosen for the next round were: Vocalists Saoirse Crone, 13 and Michaela Lee, 13; and dancer Kaden Parker, 7 (Crestview Heights); DISPARITY, comprised of Gage Pursifull, 15, Leland Loomis, 16, Fulton Miller, 16, and Corie McBride, 17 (Eddyville); Vocalist Sydnie Oleman, 14; Duet: Victoria Kidman, 14 and Joycie Reid, 15; ROOM TEMPERATURE comprised of Casey Rilatos, 17, Savanna Rilatos, 14 and Tirzah Rilatos, 14, (Toledo JR/SR) and Raydar Taylor, 12 (Siletz Charter School);

Vocalists Kyle Bertness, 14, and Marlene Williams, 15, Pianist Cherry Shen, 17 and FLANNELWOLF, comprised of Ethan Bear, 18, Grayson Bear, 15, Connor Price, 14 (Newport HS); dancer Tryston Wolfe, 10 (Newport Middle School); Vocalist Laura McCrum, 13 (Isaac Newton MS); Vocalists Samantha Raines, 15, Tristan Smith, 14, and Faith Wood, 13 (Taft HS); vocalist Lillian Salsbery, 10 (Taft Elementary); musician Jason Mickel 18, (OCCC); Vocalist Ethan Church, 17 (Lincoln City)

The “Lincoln County’s Got Talent!” Finale is Saturday, February 4, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center. The top five performers receive prizes. Proceeds from Finale ticket sales and contributions collected from Top Ten Concerts and other local youth performances are used to provide housing assistance for homeless youth and their families, through the Homeless Youth Alliance of Lincoln County. The Alliance’s mission is to help families move into permanent, sustainable housing. For information, or to become a sponsor or volunteer, call 541-765-4558 or send an email. You can also find the group on Facebook.

Judges were Fred Schmale, Mary VanderMeiden, Howard Lackey, JJ Hendricks, Vickie Steen and Mary Ann Gerke.

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Tribal Fund Gives Siletz Schools Major Boost

Siletz Valley Schools received a $198 thousand donation from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund for operating expenses November 4, as it distributed more than $352 thousand to 40 organizations. The awards put the total amount distributed by the fund at more than $9.3 million since 1995.

Siletz Valley Fire, Toledo Fire and Depoe Bay CERT received public safety grants. Depoe Bay was awarded $5 thousand for NOAA alert radios and batteries, Siletz Valley Fire was given $4,800 for radio equipment and programming and Toledo Volunteer Firefighter Association was granted $2,300 to pay for medical first responder training that begins in January. Four other Oregon grantees were given $17 thousand for public safety efforts.

Other local organizations receiving grants included the Oregon Coast Children’s Theatre ($6,000), Writers on the Edge of Newport ($675), The Siletz Elders Council ($5,000), Community Services Consortium Newport ($4,567), Newport HS Robotics Team ($2,000), Oregon Coast Community College ($4,482), Newport Altrusa International ($4,000), East County Community Partnership ($1,000), North End Senior Solutions of Otis, ($3,980), Pacifica Communities Health District Foundation of Newport ($5,000), Siletz Runners ($2,200), South Lincoln Resources of Waldport, ($2,597) and Yachats Lions, ($12,000).

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