News Stories Thu., Feb. 1, 2018

Miss Warm Springs 2018 was crowned last night. She is Thyreicia Simtustus. During the pageant, sewing was her traditional talent. She displayed her National History Day projects as a part of her modern talent. Thyreceia has won Oregon History Day competitions and moved on to the National competition for her work. She is a 2017 Madras High School graduate. Thyreicia will serve as a cultural ambassador for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs this year, attending local and other events.

Tribal Management issued a notice to the community yesterday that the Agency Longhouse will be closed due to positive test results for methamphetamine. The release states that test results for methamphetamine contamination taken on January 25^th returned positive, indicating contamination in both the men’s and women’s restrooms. This resulted in immediate closure of the facility for further investigation and remediation. The Warm Springs Housing Authority will be conducting additional testing in the facility. Two community gatherings are being held today to answer questions and provide information on what’s going to happen next. The first meeting is at noon today at the Greeley Heights community building and a second in the evening at 6:00 at the Community Center social hall.

The Warm Springs Tribal Council on Wednesday voted down a resolution that would have funded the Cannabis Project start up sooner rather than later. The tribe is currently waiting on a payment from carbon sequestration and learned recently that the expected February payment has been delayed until possibly May. The proposal to Tribal Council was to utilize money from the remaining Ramah Settlement and some from the gas tax fund that can be used for economic development to begin the construction as soon as possible. The money would be returned to those two funds as soon as the carbon sequestration payment was received.  Members Carina Miller, Brigette McConville and Chief Delvis Heath voted in favor of the motion. Chief Joe Moses, Jody Calica, Lee Tom, Valerie Switzler and Raymond Tsumpti voted no, while Ronnie Suppah and Chief JR Smith abstained, and the chairman not voting. Lori Danzuka said in her report to Council that once funding is secured; they are looking at 4 month timeline to be up and running.