KWSO News 1/25/19

An all-district Tribal Council Candidates Forum has been set for February 6^th at the Agency Longhouse. This forum is being hosted and coordinated by the Meth and Opiate Work Group and will focus on the meth and opiate crisis. All candidates have been invited to take part and KWSO will broadcast the forum. Tribal Council Elections are taking place April 4^th.

Tribal Council has approved regulations regarding smelt harvest in the Cowlitz River with Resolution 12,529.  The resolution for the Sandy River is on hold pending negotiations with the State of Oregon.  Harvest may take place in the Cowlitz 7 days per week from 6 am to 6 pm.  This is a subsistence fishery and there is a tribal limit of 1,800 pounds but no individual limit.  Sales are not allowed. Gear is limited to dipnets and the nets must be attended continuously.  The Branch of Natural Resources will have creel technicians to check your harvest, if you are not checked you are required to report your catch to the BNR office within 24 hrs, the phone number is 541-553-2042.  Tribal members must have their enrollment cards on their person while fishing.  If asked you must allow your catch to be inspected by federal, state or tribal officers.

The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin processing state tax returns on January 28, the same day the IRS will begin processing federal returns. Taxpayers can submit their returns earlier, but processing won’t start until the tax season officially begins. Once processing begins, returns will be processed in the order received. However, the Oregon Department of Revenue won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after February 15. This refund hold is part of the state’s tax fraud prevention activities and will allow confirmation that the amounts claimed on returns matches what employers report on forms W-2 and 1099. The IRS is also holding federal tax refunds until after February 15, but only for those taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit.

Approximately 100 local families have been affected by the Federal Government Shut Down – mostly Bureau of Indian Affairs staff who are currently furloughed and Indian Health Service employees who are working without a paycheck until the shutdown ends.  To assist those families Warm Springs Health & Human Services, the Community Action Team and Emergency Preparedness have collected household items and food.  Distribution is open 7:30-5:30 weekdays and on Saturdays 10-2 at the old Warm Springs Elementary School Library.  Donations continue to be sought.

The Madras High School Athletic Hall of Fame will have its third class inducted tonight in ceremonies before, during and after the boys’ basketball game versus Molalla. The 2019 inductees are Joe Piedmont from the class of 1961, who had a successful basketball career with the Buffs. Keller Christensen, class of 2000, who had the most decorated football career of any MHS athlete – he also played basketball. Tosha Wilson Mendenhall from the class of 2003 was a star point guard for the Lady Buffs basketball team and is regarded as one of the best soccer players in school history. Charles Nathan, class of 1954, was a standout player for White Buff basketball and football. Spud Smith, class of 1986 was among the best all-around athletes in the school’s history – football, wrestling and baseball. Bob Nelson started and coached the boys cross country program at Madras. And, the final inductee will be the 1960-61 boys basketball team, which won the school’s first state basketball championship. There is a dinner at 5:00 where they are selling hamburger plates, inductees will be introduced during half time and the formal induction ceremony will take place in the MHS commons after the game.