KWSO News 8/7/19

Work to the Catholic Church Water Distribution Pressure Valve station was completed yesterday as was the work started Monday that affected Tommie Street and the Industrial Park.   Water will be turned off again today so construction work can be done on the George Street station.   Water outages today will impact: Upper Dry Creek, Forestry/Industrial Park, Miller Heights, residents on Mecca Flat Road (above Casino), homes along Highway 26 west of the Casino. This may also impact the campus area. Portable toilets have been placed at tribal buildings on the campus area where total water outages may occur.

Public Utilities staff has made progress to ensure that there is water in the South East reservoir which will ensure that residences, tribal buildings and businesses served by this reservoir have adequate fire protection and water available for basic water needs tomorrow. It is critical that all Warm Springs residents and businesses continue water conservation efforts. Please refrain from washing vehicles, watering lawns, and take steps to ensure outdoor faucets are turned off.

The boil water notice remains in effect until further notice for the entirety of the Warm Springs Agency area including Kah-nee-ta, Wolfe Point, Sunnyside, Upper Dry Creek, Miller Heights, Campus area, West Hills, Tenino Valley, Tenino Apartments, Elliott Heights, Senior Housing, Trailer Courts, and Greeley Heights.

Water Distribution continues today 7:30am to 6pm at the Old Elementary School Library.

The Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum continues to grow as more Democratic candidates reach out to Native voters early in the 2020 election cycle.  Elizabeth Warren, the U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, and Amy Klobuchar, the U.S. Senator from Minnesota, are the latest to join the event. They will address issues of importance to the first Americans alongside the previously announced participants: Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator from Vermont, author Marianne Williamson; Steve Bullock, the governor of Montana, Julián Castro, a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and John Delaney, a former U.S. Congressman from Maryland.  Additionally, independent candidate Mark Charles, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, will be attending the forum, named in honor of the late Frank LaMere, a prominent activist who passed away in June after dedicating his life to advancing Native causes.   The forum is the first of the 2020 presidential cycle to focus on Indian issues.  The Forum is August 19th and 20th in Iowa.   Mark Trahant, a citizen of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes who serves as the editor of Indian Country Today, is scheduled to moderate the forum at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City.

The new Crook County Jail opened on Monday evening when all inmates were moved from the old jail across the street. The new facility contains better technology to assist Corrections Staff with safety and security of the premises, staff and inmates, replacing a jail that had been used since 1968.  Crook County inmates currently housed at the Jefferson County Jail will be moved to the new facility soon.