Super teen



Enjoying the two-week break from school, Luis Gutirrez, 13, jumps a pair of skateboards while riding on his new razor-style scooter Tuesday evening at Veteran's Memorial Park in Gallup. Gutirrez is just one of numerous children who received the trendy scooter as a Christmas gift.

Photo by Jeff Jones

 

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UNM-G library is taking shape

Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Officials at the local college are now beginning to think about a problem that has been lurking in the back of their heads since the new campus library began construction last spring.

Just how do you move 45,000 books?

"We've talked about it but haven't decided yet how to do it," said Ron Petranovich, director of maintenance and construction for the University of New Mexico-Gallup.

That decision will have to come soon since the Learning Resource Center is expected to be ready for occupancy in late February or early March.

One idea that has been discussed is to have students and faculty form a human chain from the present library at Gurley Hall to the center located next door, but the whole move is complicated by the fact that the college plans to use all of the current book shelving.

So the move will probably be done more conventionally, with the use of boxes, and over a period of several days.

"We're hoping to move in during spring break," librarian Carol Frick said.

The move will see the library, now housed in 6,500 square feet of cramped space, expand to just more than twice that amount.

Much of that expansion will be devoted to creating a more student-friendly environment by providing more space for studying and doing research.

For example, more space will mean more computers, ending times when students have had to wait in line to do research or search for a book. The library will go from six computers to 20, which will allow some computers to be devoted solely for research and others for looking up books.

Frick said that because of the limited number of computers, the library had to restrict their use. For example, students were not able to use the computers to type term papers.The expansion will also allow students to use the library for study groups, which is not possible in the present location. "We will have several quiet study areas where students can get together and close the door and study together," Frick said.

There will also be a room devoted to magazines and librarians plan to use it to provide students with more access to older magazines in the stacks. The library will also be able to devote more space to its storage of the various documents it has devoted to New Mexico government activities.

Petranovich said that the new building was designed to provide even more expansion at a later date. The center's basement will initially be used for storage space but the college plans to develop the area later for offices and/or classrooms.

The center cost $3.6 million and was funded through a bond issue.

Construction is now under way on the campus' health careers building, which will be used to house the school's nursing program once it gets up and running again. The $1.7 million facility is expected to be completed in November.

The school also began construction last month of a new classroom building in Zuni which is expected to be completed by early 2001.

One section of the $3 million building will be devoted to classrooms and offices while the other section will be used for some form of vocational classes, probably devoted to either the construction trade or automotive repair.

Petranovich said college officials have not decided yet on what projects to undertake once these buildings are completed.

"At this point, this meets our current needs," he said.

There is some discussion still under way about building the campus' first student dormitory. Various campus committees are looking into the possibility but Petranovich said that it will probably boil down to a determination by the college as to whether there are enough students who would be willing to move into the dorm to justify the cost.

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Laughter to head new panel

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — She will be the only Democrat chairing a committee in the Arizona House of Representatives.

Sylvia Laughter gained that unique honor by focusing on "working with the people," no matter what party, incoming Speaker Jim Weiers and former majority whip Jeff Groscost said Thursday.

Weiers announced during a visit to Window Rock and Ganado last week that he would establish an Indian Affairs Committee and put Laughter, the Navajo sophomore legislator, in charge.

Laughter, a long-time close friend of Groscost, worked with members of both parties to help the Navajo Nation get Arizona's first big chunk of state financial support a support already long-enjoyed by the Navajo Nation in its relations with New Mexico.

The new chairwoman said her work already has gained the reservation $24 million in benefits.

Two-thirds of that money is the 10-year Diné College capital improvement bill by which up to $1.75 million a year could come to the tribal college system. Groscost had said earlier that the actual projected amount the first year was about half that, but the Arizona Legislature wanted to allow plenty of room for growth because the fund comes from the state's sales "transaction privilege tax."

Although she will sponsor about 20 bills this coming session, Laughter told last week's lunch audience that she really expects only two or three major ones to make it through the process.

She said she wants to be sure anything of benefit to the reservation that she introduces has the blessing ahead of time of the Navajo Nation Council's Inter-Government Relations Committee, which is chaired by Speaker Edward T. Begay, who attended the lunch.

Even if efforts this year don't succeed, she said she would keep trying "and hopefully we can succeed in the future. Sometimes it takes years before you get what you want, but don't give up."

Laughter said she will make some compromises, but not to her principles, to help get what the reservation needs, especially if something is important to Tucson and Phoenix interests, but isn't really important in rural areas.

One priority will be to obtain construction funds for senior citizens centers, she said.

The District 3 representative plans to introduce seven appropriations bills this year Arizona now operates with a two-year budget. They include tribal buildings for the Temporary Aid to Needy Families program whose operation the Navajo Nation is taking over, youth recreation centers, veterans housing, Veterans Memorial Park in Window Rock, a Navajo veterans office building, fire districts and Northern Arizona University's "distance learning" centers.

Also on her list are making up what charter public schools lose in state funds because they have federal impact aid, postponing the Arizona Instrument to Measure Students high school graduation test, renewing the Arizona Indian Affairs Commission, getting reservation schools more clout on the state's School Facilities Board that provides construction funds, allowing the tribe to issue its own license plates, providing transportation for charter public schools and moving kindergarten to a full day.

All of Arizona's 90 state legislators can be reached toll free by calling 1-800-352-8404.

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Cockfighter slams head of chamber

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — The Raton contractor who claims to own Zuni Mountain Game Club wants Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce incoming President Cecilia Perrow to lose her job because of an anti-cockfighting stance she has taken.

In a news release from the Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., Perrow said:

"Cockfighting is not the image we want the world to have of Cibola County. There are too many wonderful attractions in the county, and the chamber's mission is to enhance tourism here. We don't want tourists or businesses to perceive our community as a place that condones animal abuse."

Perrow is the incoming president of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Steve Hayden, originally from Oklahoma and now living in Raton, who raises fighting cocks and claims to be the owner of Zuni Mountain Game Club, wants Perrow eliminated from her presidency because of the anti-cockfighting statement.

Hayden wrote a letter to the Independent in which he states: "All are urged to respectfully call for her dismissal and/or
resignation."

The letter in its entirety will be printed in Saturday's Independent.

Hayden starts his letter off by saying, "It seems animal rights fanatic Cecilia Perrow has taken it upon herself to involve the Grants Chamber of Commerce in an issue contrary to its purpose and the interest of many of its members."

Hayden could not be reached by telephone Wednesday for further comment.

Perrow said she stands by her statement. On a personal side, Perrow said she opposes cockfighting, adding, "It's not the kind of image we want to present."

Asked about Hayden calling for her removal from the presidential post, Perrow said, "I serve at the board's pleasure."

Chamber Executive Director Carmen Morin said Perrow's statement in the APNM news release was not an off-the-cuff remark by an incoming president, but the consensus of the Grants/Cibola County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. "There was a vote by the full board of directors to support the ban on cockfighting," Morin said.

The chamber stand is one taken with careful consideration, Morin said. "What the chamber is trying to do, we're beginning to take certain stances on issues that will affect our entire county," she said. "I feel it's good that we're doing this."

Morin said her personal feelings on cockfighting are the same as presented by Perrow. "We need to present a positive image of Grants and our entire county," Morin said, adding that marketing of the community and county is done on not just a national basis, but an international basis as well.

"Obviously, this is something the board felt strongly about, they voted on it," Morin said.

Outgoing chamber President Andy Morrow said that since he is the outgoing president it would not be proper for him to make a statement on the chamber position. However, as an individual, he said, "It's a cruelty-to-animals issue and I'm against cruelty to animals," Morrow said. "I love animals and to me it's not a sport as far as I'm concerned."

Sonny Small, who built Zuni Mountain Game Club 16 years ago and on whose ranch the cockfighting operation is located, was asked about Perrow's stance.

"I don't see where she thinks the businesses in Grants are against cockfighting," he said. "I've got 500 signatures in front of the (county) commissioners for cockfighting. The majority of them are businessmen in Grants."

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Pinon girls win, boys lose to Chinle

Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

CHINLE, Ariz. — The Pinon Lady Eagles were able to jump on an early lead in the first quarter and keep it for the rest of the game, beating the Chinle Lady Wildcats, 59-51. The Chinle boys played a tight game against the Pinon boys before pulling away in the second half to win, 74-60, in Wednesday night basketball action.

Pinon girls 59, Chinle girls 51

The Lady Eagles started the game with a tough full court press, but the Lady Wildcats were able to open up with a jump shot from Matilda Montoya.

Pinon then followed with a six point run, with Shantel Muzzie on an offensive rebound for the basket, Molina Lewis went 1-for-2 at the line and Fawn Gene had a steal and ended her three point play at the line.

The Lady Eagles were led by Gene in the first quarter with nine of the 18 points and five steals in the quarter to Chinle's 9 points.

"I didn't know what to expect but I thought they were going to come out a lot stronger than they did," Lady Eagle coach Traci Merscher said about Chinle.

"I knew they would be very aggressive and ready to play us. We didn't do as well as we'd like to. We had a lot of problems in making adjustments to their press and that is because they work on their game," Lady Wildcat's coach Jimmy Skeet said.

Pinon scored points on a steal by Shannon DeVine and finished the play on an assist to Andrea Ashhie. Wildcat Shannon Yazzie cut the Eagles lead in half by going 1-for-2 at the line to make the score 20-10.

Ahead 23-12, the Lady Eagles kept their points coming with another run, this time an eight point run.

Eagle Lewis started it with a layup, Gene had a steal to end with a basket, Lewis had a steal and assisted Gene for the basket and Lewis finished with a layup to broaden the lead to 31-12.

Chinle finished the quarter with Matilda Montoya going 2-for-2 at the line and Shannon Yazzie assisting a play to Angelita John for a basket. The Wildcats went into half-time trailing 33-16.

Gene entered the third quarter with seven points back-to-back. The points came off a pair of free-throws, a steal to end in a basket and a three pointer. Gene then assisted KeVine for a basket to bring the Eagle's lead to 42-16.

Behind 48-22, the Lady Wildcats tried to catch up by ending the quarter with a nine point run.

Louann Yellowhair went 2-for-2 at the line, Montoya had an assist to John, Montoya hit 2-for-2 at the line, Jamie Begay made a basket and John made 1-for-2 at the line.

Despite scoring 15 points, the Lady Wildcats still trailed 48-31 going into the final quarter.

"The first-half we played well. The second-half we didn't do as well," coach Mescher said about her teams 12 fouls in the second-half. "I think it was pretty lopsided and it was pretty much a one-sided game in the second half."

"We played a good game but (Pinon) deserved to win, they showed a lot of heart and I am happy to play a team like them right off the break," coach Skeet concluded.

"Everyone contributed to the scoring. Everybody helped out. We did a lot better hustling wise. I feel that everyone did good," said Gene who lead her team with 28 points, five rebounds and 14 steals before fouling out.

Leading Chinle in their effort was John walking away with 13 points, six rebounds and a steal and block.

The Lady Eagles (14-4) will play their second conference game against Monument Valley in Kayenta on Tuesday and Chinle (10-9) will play their first conference game against Flagstaff on Friday at home.

Chinle boys 74, Pinon boys 60

Despite the Wildcats losing a key player, Corey Terrell, to an unknown neck injury the Wildcats still went head-to-head with the Eagles to capture a 74-60 victory.

"Corey Terrell is our intensity player. He brings the intensity to the floor and they guys feed off from that. Every time he is not playing it is difficult for us to get into that flow of game that we want to of the run and game," Clauschee comments on Terrell being out of the game. "We should have pulled away a lot quicker if we had that intensity going. He is our team leader and the guys feed off of that."

In the first quarter Pinon took a 10-6 lead.

The Wildcats then tied the game at 10 on jump shots from Radley Smiley and Brian Wagner.

Both teams went back and forth the rest of the quarter to go into the second quarter tied at 14.

Wildcat Patrick Ashley broke the tie by one going 1-for-2 at the line.Eagle player Fernando Begay put his team back up by one with a pair of free-throws to make the score 16-15.

It was Wildcat Loren Begay that put Chinle ahead by four points with a three-pointer and then with a steal and layup. Wildcat Jimmy Skeet kept the run going on a basket and an assist to Smiley to put the score at 24-16.

The two teams battled out the rest of the quarter, with Chinle pulling away to go into half-time leading 36-31.

Chinle came back in the second half to progressively pull ahead ofPinon and kept their half-time lead.

In the third quarter, Chinle scored 18 to Pinon's 13.

Leading 42-39, the Wildcats tried to quickly put the game away with Wagner scoring, followed by on offense rebound by Skeet, but Eagle Robryan Wartz made a three-point basket and Wildcat Smiley retaliated with a three-pointer as well.

At 52-44, Franco Begay finished the quarter off with a lay-up to take the Wildcats into the fourth quarter with a 10 point lead.
The Wildcats lead the final quarter 20 to 16.

Chinle's Garcia opened the quarter highlighting it with back-to-back three-point baskets.

Eagle Fernando Begay lead the quarter with 12 of his teams 16 points, but his effort was not enough, with Pinon faltering in the final minutes of play, losing the game 74-60.

"We knew that Pinon was going to be a tough ball club. I had a good feeling that they were going to go zone and I think what is what hurt us was their zone," Chinle coach Doug Clauschee said. "When we play a team that goes zone it slows us down and gets us out of tempo."

"The guys came out in the third quarter and just executed. We got some really good shots and get some easy shots because we weren't shooting well," coach Clauschee said. "The bench people stepped up. I think some people weren't scoring that usually score and I am glad I could put the bench people in and they made an impact."

"We always watch the teams we are going to play before we play them and we knew they were tough. We knew that they were quick and it was going to be tough to match-up with them," Pinon boys head coach Mark Hall said. "We came in here expecting to be very competitive and I think we were. I think we gave them more than they wanted."

"I think we got tired and our bench didn't come in and step up like I thought they would," Hall comments on his teams second-half performance. "Give Chinle a lot of credit, they capitalized on a lot of our mistakes."

Leading the Wildcats was Wagner with 15 points and 14 rebounds, Ashley walked away with 13 points and six rebounds and Smiley and Skeet finished with 12 points.

Helping the Eagles in the effort was Fernando Begay with 18 points before fouling out. Earlwin Thomas had 16 points and Randy Whitehair finished with 14 points.

Pinon (10-8 overall and 0-1 in conference) will play Tuesday against Monument Valley and Chinle (17-3) will play a conference game against Flagstaff on Friday with the possibility of Terrell coming back.

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Fired Dilcon school chief fights back

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — Dilcon Community School's terminated executive director, Gene Thomas, is preparing for a hearing in Window Rock District Court, possibly Monday, which could see him get his job back as early as Tuesday.

Thomas has been on paid administrative leave since he was fired Nov. 10 by the Dilcon school board and hand-delivered a termination letter Nov. 13. The school board had 15 school business days from its Nov. 20 board meeting, during which it accepted Thomas' appeal, to give him a hearing.

"The time for them to act on my appeal has basically expired as of three weeks ago," Thomas said.

He is seeking a stay of the school board's decision until his case goes before a hearing officer, followed by an injunction to secure his former position...

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5 held in shooting

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Five Gallup men were arrested early Wednesday after police said they fired gunshots at another man as they drove by his South Sixth Street residence.

The suspects Ernest Benally, 21; Steven Alonzo, 23; Rudolfo Rodriguez, 19; and Daniel Escamilla, 17 all were arrested on a felony charge of shooting at an occupied dwelling. Frank George, 19, was charged with drinking as a minor.

The victim, Ricky Teran, 21, told police the incident began when Benally threw a beer bottle at his girlfriend while they were at a party near KC Hall.

Prior to leaving the area with his girlfriend and two other friends, Teran said he told the suspect not to treat his girlfriend that way and not to hit a female, a police report said...

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Deaths

Carole F. Devlin

GALLUP — Services for Carole F. Devlin, 57, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 6 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Jim Walker will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Rosary will be recited at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 5.

Devlin died Dec. 30 in Gallup. She was born Sept. 11, 1943 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Survivors include her mother, Julia Borra Devlin of Gallup; brothers, Tom Devlin of Gallup, Eddie Devlin of Taos and Gene Devlin of Goodyear, Ariz.; sisters, Valerie Hren of Gallup, Mary Ellen Coakley of Apopka, Fla., Judy Devlin of Corales and Deanna Rengstorff of Ellensburg, Wash.

Devlin was preceded in death by father, C. Frank Devlin; brother, Frankie Devlin and sister, Linda Devlin.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Esperanza Grano

GALLUP — Services for Esperanza Grano, 67, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 5 at Saint Francis Catholic Church. Father Diego Mazon will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held from noon to 7 p.m. today at Rollie Mortuary.

Grano died Jan. 2 in Gallup. She was born Sept. 7, 1933 in Dawson.

Survivors include her sons, Albert Grano Jr. and Gerald Grano both of Gallup; daughters, Christine Garcia, Josie Larrabee and Yolanda White all of Gallup, brothers, Frank Diaz and Louie Diaz both of Gallup; and sisters, Helen Diaz, Julia Diaz, Frances Ramirez and Clara Vargas all of Gallup.

Grano was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Grano Sr.; parents, Luis and Cruz Diaz; brothers, Benny Diaz, Edward Diaz and Gilbert Diaz; and sister, Mary Diaz.

Pallbearers will be Adrian Garcia, Nick Garcia, Brian Grano, Gabriel Grano, Ted Grano Jr., Jim Larrabee and Rick White.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Billy Tom

PLEASANT VIEW — Services for Billy Tom , 74 will be held 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 5 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor Howard McCormick will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.

Tom died Dec. 29 in Pleasant View. He was born Dec. 28, 1926 in Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Towering House People Clan for the Red Running Into Water Clan.

Tom was employed with Sundance Coal Mine as a coal miner, the Railroad in Barstow and Needles, Calif. and a sheepherder.
Survivors include his daughter, Eleanor Tom of Rock Springs and sister, Ada T. Begay of Pleasant View.

Pallbearers will be Robert Peters, Micheal Peters, David Seger, Vince Yazzie, Tony Curtis and Jeffery Chee.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Howard Billiman Jr.

SAWMILL, Ariz. — Services for Howard Billiman Jr., 77, will be held 10 a.m., Jan. 5 at Window Rock Latter Day Saint Stake, Saint Micheals, Ariz. Burial will follow on Family Land, Buells Park, Ariz.

Billiman died Jan. 1 in Buells Park, Ariz. He was born Feb. 2, 1923 in Buells Park for the Waters Edge Clan into the Towering House Clan.

Howard attended school in Fort Wingate and Fort Defiance, Ariz. He served in the Marines, while serving he was an instructor for the Navajo Code Talkers at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He served with Second Marine Divison, his tour of duty included New Zealand, Tarawas, Saipan, Tinean and Okinawa. After serving in the military he was employed as a police officer, miner, truck driver, mechanic helper, and a surveyor for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. His hobbies included reading, carpentry and playing the harmonica.

Survivors include his wife, Mary L. Billiman of Sawmill, Ariz.; sons, Francis Billiman of Gallup and Daniel Billiman of Ramah; daughters, Genice Billiman of Blue Canyon, Ariz., Geneva Silversmith of Yah Ta Hey, Loretta May Bell of Huntingbeach, Calif., Lula Billiman of Sawmill, Ariz., Maggie Billiman of Gallup, Rosearita Damon of Saint Geroge, Utah, Julia Barney of Cousins, Betty Lou Tallman of Salt Lake City, Utah; brothers, Tom Billiman Leroy Billiman both of Buells Park, Ariz.; sisters, Mary Manuelito, Elvina Hale and Vida Kenny all of Buells Park, Ariz.; 42 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Rita Marie Johnson

GALLUP — Services for Rita Marie Johnson, 41, will be held 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 5 at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Pastor Jimmy Etsitty will officiate. Burial will follow on Private Family Land, Hosta Butte.

Johnson died Jan. 1 in Gallup. She was born Feb. 7, 1959 in Crownpoint for the Towering House People Clan into the Red Streak People Clan.

Survivors include her mother, Frances Johnson of Gallup; brother, Ben Johnson Jr. of Gallup and sister, Marlene Jameson of Gallup.

Johnson was preceded in death by father, Ben Johnson Sr. and sister, Juanita Johnson.

Pallbearers will be family members.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Kee H. Johnson

DALTON PASS — Services for Kee H. Johnson, 84, will be held 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 5 at First Navajo Baptist Church, Crownpoint. Pastor John Lewis will officiate. Burial will follow in Crownpoint Community Cemetery.

Johnson died Jan. 2 in Albuquerque. He was born May 1, 1916 in Standing Rock for the Red Bottom People Clan into the Two Who Came Together People Clan.

Survivors include his son, Harry Johnson of Dalton Pass; daughters, Louise Mike of Mexican Springs, Ruth Nelwood of Standing Rock and Evelyn Yazzie of Crownpoint; brother, J. Ellsworth; 23 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nellie Johnson, parents; brothers, Tsosie Begay, John Johnson and Johnnie Johnson; and sisters, Annie Begay and Jennie Begay.

Pallbearers will be Jason Largo, Lionel Mike, Calvin Smith, Jerome Thompson, Danny Yazzie and Dennis Yazzie.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Albert Sandoval

GALLUP — Services for Albert Sandoval, 74, will be announced at a later date.

Sandoval died Jan. 2 in Gallup. He was born April 9, 1926 in Gallup.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.