GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SCHEDULED
Saturday, October 8, 2005 9:00 am
Omak Longhouse
Colville Business Council has
three new members
REPEAT AFTER ME—As he has done in the past, BIA Director
Stanley Speaks traveled from his Northwest Regional Office in
Portland, OR., to Nespelem, WA., to administer on Thursday,
July 14, the “Oath of Office” to the seven Tribal Members who
won a seat on the Colville Business Council. Being sworn in
before they assumed their duties as a Council Person are: (L
to R) Lee Adolph, Deb Louie, Andy Joseph Jr., Margie Condon
Hutchinson, Cherie Moomaw, Virgil Seymour, and behind Cherie
is Terry Finley.
NESPELEM, WA., JULY 14—The first thing on the agenda this
morning as the 2004-2005 Colville Business Council met for the
last time was a report by Incident Commander Rex Reed and
Bruce Holloway of the Washington Incident Management Team 2 on
the West Omak Lake Fire.
The fire started at about 1:07 on Tuesday, July 12, about 10
miles SE of East Omak...and an Incident Status Summary said
that as 2:00 p.m. today the fire covered 11,330 acres, was 85
percent contained, cost to date was $873,000 and the total
personnel fighting the fire was 636.
After the fire report, the old Council held roll call and the
only person missing was Omak District Councilman Mel Tonasket,
who lost his seat on the Council during the General Election
held June 18. Andy Joseph Jr. gave the Opening Prayer. The old
Council passed three Resolutions and adjourned for the last
time.
Gifts were then presented to the two outgoing Councilmen: Joe
Pakootas from the Inchelium District and John Stensgar from
the Keller District. Among the people saying farewell to Joe
and John was Nespelem District Councilman Deb Louie who said:
“Wish you and John well...Good luck to both of you guys!”
About a fifteen minute break was held, and the seven Tribal
Members who won a seat during the General Election were sworn
in. The Tribal Executive Director Martin Bohl then assumed the
position of Acting Chairman as the 14 members of the Council
voted on who they wanted to be Chairman, Vice-Chairman,
Secretary...and who would be the Chairperson for each of the
nine (9) different committees
By a vote of 8 to 6, Harvey Moses Jr. edged out Mike Marchand
to became the new Chairman of the Business Council. Margie
Condon Hutchinson defeated Jeanne Jerred, 10-4, to become the
Vice Chairper-son...and Shirley Charley had 8 votes to Gayle
DeLaCruz’s 6 votes to become the Secretary.
But for the second year in a row, Gayle held her position as
the Chairperson of the Management & Budget Committee by a 8-6
vote over Mike Marchand.
It was by Acclamation that Mike Marchand became the Chairman
of the Tribal Government Committee...D.R. Michel—Natural
Resources...and Terry Finley became the Chairman of both the
Law & Justice and the Veterans Committee.
Andy Joseph Jr. became the head of the Human Services
Committee by edging out Shirley Charley, 9-5...Lee Adolph had
9 votes to Jeanne Jerred’s 5 votes for Education and
Employment...it was Cheri Moomaw over Virgil Seymour for
Community Development, 8-6, and Deb Louie became the Chairman
of the Culture Committee over Jeanne Jerred, 8-6.
This marks the first time five women will be serving on the
Colville Business Council: Cheri Jury, Margie Condon
Hutchinson, and Shirley Charley from the Omak
District...Jeanne Jerred from the Keller District...and Gayle
DeLaCruz from the Inchelium District!
VIET NAM VETERANS AND THEIR WIVES
On June 13 thru 19&, fifteen Colville Tribal Viet Nam Veterans
and their spouses traveled to Branson, Missouri to attend the
Operation Homecoming USA, America’s Tribute to Vietnam
Veterans. The theme was “The Homecoming You Never Received.”
The seven day celebration included: The 24 Hour Dignity
Memorial Vietnam Wall Experience, a daily memorial ceremony at
the Traveling Wall, daily command presentations at the Grand
Palace hosted by Janet Lennon of the Lennon Sisters, UH-l
Helicopter Rides, Golf and Fishing tournaments, a Homecoming
Parade, Air Show/Sky Soldiers, Branson shows and entertainment
and the Grand Finale included an outdoor afternoon and evening
event at Saddlebooke’s scenic mountain top location with
entertainment by: The Four Tops, Mary Wells of the Supremes,
Franki Valli, the Beach Boys, Tony Orlando, Ann Margaret, The
Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and others.
This was a very positive experience for the veterans and the
Branson community did an excellent job in welcoming them home.
New friendships were made and old ones were rekindled. One
veteran noted that this was one step closer to the healing
process.
The group would like to thank the Colville Tribal Business
Council and the Veteran’s Program for providing this once in a
lifetime experience.
Some of the Viet Nam Veterans and their spouses who went to
Branson, Missouri, to participate in “Operation Homecoming
USA”, America’s Tribute to Vietnam Veterans were: (Front)
William Pichette...(Middle Row/L to R) Doris Matt, Joyce Watt,
Richard Jarred, Arnie & Carmen Holt, Richard and LaVada
Fry...(Back Row/L to R) Eugene Agapith, Alton Weipah, Ben
Marchand, Lucky Boyd, and LaDonna Jerred. Veterans and their
spouses who were also at Branson, but were not in the above
picture were: Randy and Sue Finley, Terry Finley, Loretta
Pakootas, Frank Andrews, Duane Simpson, Ted Bessette, Tinker
Watt and Thomas Pichette. (Photo submitted by Arnie Holt)
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WELLS DAM PAYMENT
Douglas County PUD NO. 1 Commissioners Jim Davis, Mike Doneen,
Lynn Sheminger and PUD Manger Bill Dobbins met with members of
the Colville Business Council in Nespelem, WA., on Wednesday,
July 6, to present them a check for $13, 500,000. The check is
part of the Settlement Agreement signed by the Tribe and PUD.
The Tribe will receive 4.5 percent of the output of the Wells
Hydroelectric Project until 2018, and around 460 acres of
land.
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FIRST FIRE IN OMAK
DISTRICT—The Second HUD Fire started at approximately 1:30
p.m., Monday, July 4, above the Moccasin Flat HUD Homes and
originally threaten about 50 homes. The above picture of the
fire was taken from the Omak Mall about 3 hours after the fire
started. A Cost Breakout Report dated Sunday, July 10, said
the total costs for: camp support, aircraft, supplies,
Personnel (over 400 people), equipment, and crews came to
$1,918,000. The fire was contained by Monday morning, July 11,
and had burned approximately 4,300 acres.
2ND FIRE IN OMAK DISTRICT—The “West Omak Lake” fire started at
approximately 1:07 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12. The above photo
was taken on the North End of Omak Lake about six hours after
the fire started. The fire started about 9.5 miles from East
Omak (St. Joseph’ Catholic Church) and eventually went
south...West of the Omak Lake-Columbia River Road...past Goose
Lake and the Cold Springs Road and ended in the area of Muter
Spring. A Fire Update Report dated July 15 said: the cause of
the fire was under investigation...it burned approximately
11,333 acres and was 85% contained...and assigned resources
consisted of 15 crews, 3 helicopters, 34 engines, 8 dozers,
and 25 tenders...and 636 personnel. The next day, July 16, it
was reported that the fire was contained, and that the cost of
fighting the fire was around $2-million!
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