Working on the railroad



BNSF conductor Jim Magana of Winslow, Ariz., above, prepares to transfer trains in West Gallup Saturday. Magana's train carried armored personnel carriers and other transportation equipment for the U. S. Army on its way to training at Fort Irwin, Calif. Below, BNSF conductors Jim Magana, left, and Dave Landers, right, of Flagstaff, Ariz., swap trains in West Gallup.

Photos by Craig Robinson

 

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Painting helps Vietnam veteran reclaim his life

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — He once was a rising star in the Indian art world. Now Larry Ashkie would like to become well enough known to maintain an independent lifestyle, and if his star rises as it did in the 1980s and 1990s, all the better.

From 1984 to 1996, the Pinon-area native was that rising star, using acrylics as his medium of expression.

Then diabetes, arthritis and post-traumatic stress syndrome from his days with the First Marine Division in Vietnam knocked him out of an active life for about four years. He ended up in the Denver Veterans Administration hospital. In addition to physical therapy and learning how to eat correctly, he also used his artistic talent as part of his rehabilitation.

Each year the VA sponsors several art shows, and in the last one in the fall he captured a bronze medal, complete with a red-white-and-blue sash, for acrylics, which he prefers to watercolor and oil.

"With watercolor, once you make the stroke, that's it. And oils take too long to dry," he said.

His work, one of 129 finalists among 1,150 entries, depicted a pot of a Southwest pueblo design in the background with various Indian-style jewelry standing in the foreground a theme he often used in his successful days.

The painting is in the freeflow style he likes best, almost an abstract style, he said.

Earning a bachelor of science degree in 1974 from Grand Canyon College (now university) in Phoenix, he said he was a "very hard worker until my problems hit me."

Ashkie's hard work earned him the 1984 Tony Begay Memorial award and he went on to win every major Native American art award in South Dakota, he said. In 1991, he claimed the Rich Decker Award after winning the Buck Sanders Memorial Award in Scottsdale in the 1980s. In 1994 it was the White Buffalo Award, and in '94 and '95 the Nicolaus Rostkowski Award.

Then in 1996, suddenly, "I suffered a sudden loss of energy. I not only lost interest in life-long pursuits, I turned into an emotional wreck," he said.

And he suffered numbness in his hands. Now, "I watch what I eat and they tell you to be physically active." To stay active he walks at least a mile each day, and it noticeably improves his energy level by keeping his blood glucose more even.

Another part of his comeback is a network of supporters, such as Louise Mitchell in Window Rock, who helps him contact people. He said she also helps several other struggling artists.

The rehabilitation would be much easier, he said, if the Veterans Administration would open a hospital, or at least a full out-patient clinic, on the reservation. (Tribal officials estimate there are at least 10,000 Navajo U.S. veterans living on the reservation, with the nearest VA hospitals usually hours away by car or pickup truck.)

In his case, Ashkie ended up in Denver because his doctor is in Gallup, so he was referred to the Albuquerque VA center. But the treatment wasn't available there. Denver was the closest help available. And he said the size of the staff at Colorado rehab center had been cut by three-fourths, barely remaining open.

"Through therapy I hope to be able to resume being an artist, but I don't want to work as often as before," he also admits. Still, "In stabilizing my life, it's going to be a real challenge if I'm going to complete at the level I did in the late 1980s and early 1990s."

Ashkie focuses on painting, explaining, "Art gives me a motivation, as I still have something to offer."

He said he like to get going again by finding a gallery that would display his work on a regular basis, but acknowledged the dilemma of a business committing itself to "an individual with emotional and physical limitations."

Ashkie said he draws his inspiration from what he sees when he travels, the artworks of others, and what he reads in magazines and books. He also likes the bright hues and tones of the sunset, but often uses a lot of white.

Because he has to live on Social Security disability payments, it is a struggle for him financially, he said, and it still will be a struggle, even if he succeeds in his battle with the VA to obtain benefits. Thus he would welcome almost any commission.

But those commissions won't come from money for individual or family portraits as he finds it too frustrating to satisfy the people who want him to duplicate a photograph; this type work also doesn't allow him to go after the free-flowing views he likes.

"Freestyle allows me to play with the paint and let my imagination run wild. Art is always innovative," he said.

Ashkie is of the Manygoats Clan born for the Mescalero Apache band.

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Tribe cheers purchase of Tuba land

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

TUBA CITY, Ariz. — The praise flowed lavishly and freely Friday at the celebration of the Navajo Nation's acquisition of one of the largest parcels of privately-owned land remaining within the reservation.

About 150 people gathered under a big tent on the lawn of the Quality Inn motel and Hogan Restaurant for the celebration.

With the closing of the $4.9 million sale Nov. 30, the Navajo Nation Hospitality Enterprises more than doubled its properties, adding the motel, restaurant, recreational vehicle park and historic two-story Tuba Trading Post to the Navajo Nation Inn in Window Rock, the Haskeneini Restaurant in the Kayenta area and a small travel center on Interstate 40 at Exit 325. Monument
Hospitality (Stan and Cindy Sapp) will manage the property for NNHE.

The tribal enterprise bought the developed portion of the Babbitt Brothers Trading Company's holding. Financing of one point below the prime rate by Northern Trust Financial of Phoenix was guaranteed by the Navajo Nation Council using up to $6 million from the tribal Undesignated Reserve Fund.

At one time there were about 160 acres at Main Street and Moenave in upper Tuba City. The Flagstaff-based company began acquiring the property in 1905 and was issued a land patent in 1918. The motel and restaurant were opened within the past two decades.

Enterprise Board Chairman Lorenzo Max said NNHE negotiated the price down from an initial offering of $8.6 million several years ago adding, "We got a real good deal."

Allen Naille, former BBTC executive and NNHE board member, said that the now-diverse Babbitt family agreed as part of its long-range strategy several years ago to dispose of the Tuba City property, along with most of its other once vast holdings in northern Arizona.

Many companies wanted it, but he saw a golden opportunity to promote Navajoland tourism by selling it to the tribe, he said.

"Having worked with the National Park Service, I know how governments work and how long it takes to do something," Naille said, adding, "I kept stressing to the Babbitt family, 'be patient.'"

Also speaking were Navajo Nation Council Delegates James Bilagody, Raymond Maxx and Harry Williams Sr., new chapter President Leo Begay, Apache County Supervisor Joe Shirley, Council Speaker Edward T. Begay, Council Budget and Finance Committee Vice Chairman Bennie Cohoe and Lewis Tutt of the staff of President Kelsey Begaye, since the president wasn't able to attend.

Tutt noted, "Opportunities like this are far and few between. I'm glad we were able to participate and resolve some of the issues that were presented, and we moved forward in securing an agreement that is beneficial to all the parties involved."

Tutt also pointed to the recent signing into law of the Navajo Nation Trust Land Leasing Act of 2000 which will eliminate the Bureau of Indian Affairs from the leasing process for residential and business sites, "enhancing the process that entrepreneurs use to establish businesses on the Navajo Nation."

He said the Executive Branch's Economic Development Division, directed by Tony Skrelunas, also was pleased to play a part in the successful process, as did several of the council's standing committees. Three key ones were Budget and Finance, Economic Development and Resources.

Several speakers praised former NNHE Manager Don Hubbard for his work on the project. Praise also was lavished on the NNHE board which now consists of Maxx, Naille, Council Delegates Orlanda Hodge and Lawrence Platero and Keith Roessler.

Second-largest

Tuba City has about 8,500 residents, not counting the adjacent Hopi Village of Moenkopi, and is considered the second-largest single community on the reservation.

The community is the seat of the Western Agency and its name recently was changed to To' Nanees Dizi, which is Navajo for "tangled waters." Tuba City was originally named after a Hopi leader, Tuve.

In addition to being the western reservation's main commercial center, the major employers are Bureau of Indian Affairs-funded community and state public schools, the Indian Health Service, and the tribe itself. The community also sees heavy summer tourist traffic. The labor force is put at more than 3,000 people.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints settled in the area in the late 1870s, but in 1903 it was discovered their homesteads and the community were on land recently annexed to the reservation, so the U.S. government bought out the improvements.

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Pressure on Grants for back pay
County in court over inmates

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Since May the city has refused to pay monthly inmate costs to Cibola County, so the county filed a complaint in the Thirteenth Judicial District Court seeking $34,992 in back payments.

In May 2000, Cibola County began sending Grants bills for inmate housing costs which County Manager Bob Ortiz said is for prisoners detained by Grants Police Department officers before the inmates are arraigned.

"Technically, the pre-arraignment inmates are still city inmates and the costs for housing them until the arraignment belongs to the city," Ortiz said in an interview several weeks ago. When asked about the filing Wednesday in district court, Ortiz said, "It's in litigation now so I'd better not make any comment about it other than to say we're always open to negotiation."

Grants apparently disagrees and has steadfastly refused to pay the inmate costs. City Manager Bob Horacek was unavailable for comment Friday on the matter.

What is happening is the county lacks a facility to house inmates and pays Cibola County Corrections Center, owned by Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), to house its inmates. Ortiz many times in the last several months complained to the county commission about spiraling inmate costs, saying the rising costs are forcing the county to operate in the red.
Meanwhile, the county is in the process of trying to find a turn-key contractor and operator to finance, build and run a new county jail on a lease basis for the next 20 years.

The complaint filed against the city states:

The city has made a practice of turning those it has arrested or detained, prior to arraignment or first appearance before a magistrate, to the CCA for holding.

The arrestees and detainees so held are in the custody of the city and its peace officers.

The city refuses to reimburse the county for the costs of holding its pre-arraigned arrestees and detainees.

The county has billed the city monthly for these costs from May 2000 through November 30, 2000, for a total amount to that date of $34,992.

According to the suit, the county seeks the $34,992 plus statutory interests plus a judgment that will end, once and for all, whose responsibility it is when the city, or any other entity, puts an arrestee or detainee in CCA.

In an interview several weeks ago Ortiz said most of the problem stems from those individuals arrested on Fridays and are unable to be arraigned until Monday. He said the county is billed three days for those inmates by CCA and with the present financial situation the county is in with the inmate crisis, Cibola County can no longer afford to pick up the slack from the city of Grants.

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Crownpoint outruns Zuni 91-83

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

CROWNPOINT — The Crownpoint Eagles and Zuni Thunderbirds found out Saturday night how quickly leads can be built up and then diminished with both teams going on several scoring runs.

Finally, a big fourth quarter resulted in a 91-83 Crownpoint victory.

Crownpoint, tied with four minutes left in the first half, built up a 16-point lead in the final minute of the half, but then minutes into the third quarter were up by only one.

The two teams got into a running match, and several streaks by both teams kept Zuni in the game, but Crownpoint was able to get several fast breaks late to hold on for the win.

Crownpoint (4-7) jumped out to a 23-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, fueled by eight points from Michael Norton.

In the second quarter Zuni (3-6) put together an 11-4 run to tie the game at 27. Faron Sanchez hit a jumper to start the rally, followed by a jumper by Jamie Hooee. Hooee then hit 1-of-2 from the free-throw line and Michael Calavaza hit a pair. Kalani Eli hit a jumper to pull the game to 27-25 and then stole the ball and made a lay-up to tie the game.

With four minutes left in the half, Crownpoint took a time-out to try and stop the Zuni run. The time-out shifted the momentum back to the Eagles, as Crownpoint came out of it with a 16-0 run to put them back up 43-37.

The Eagle run started with a shot by Collin Henio. Crownpoint put on a tough full court press and Otis Peshlakai stole the ball and got an easy lay-up. Michael Norton stole the ball and found Kyle Devore open for a three-pointer and a nine-point lead.
Norton got the ball again off a bad Zuni pass and hit a three pointer himself. Norton finished the Crownpoint run with a pair of freethrows with 24 seconds left in the half.

Calavaza was able to break the Eagle streak by hitting the second of two free throws with eight seconds left. The Thunderbirds got the ball back on a turnover and Calavaza hit a jumper as the clock ran out to cut the Crownpoint lead to 43-30 at the half.

Zuni came out of the half time break with another big run to get back in the game. The Thunderbirds outscored the Eagles 14-2 in the first four minutes of the second half to make it a 45-44 Eagle lead.

Shawn Simplicio scored six of his 14 points and Melvin Bowekaty scored all four of his points and contributed three steals and two rebounds during the run.

Up by only one, the Eagles took a time-out and, coming out of the short break, scored 14 points in the final four minutes of the quarter to get their lead back up to six.

Henio came out and scored eight points in the final four minutes for Crownpoint.

Zuni outscored Crownpoint 10-4 to start off the fourth quarter to pull back to within four. Calavaza hit four straight free throws and Hooee added a pair on a 6-0 run.

Crownpoint continued the trend with a 8-0 run to pull back ahead 76-66, helped with five straight Zuni turnovers. Henio scored 12 points for Crownpoint in the fourth quarter to help hold off a Zuni comeback. The two teams combined for a total of 62 points in the fourth quarter, Crownpoint winning the battle 32-30.

In the final minute, 14 points were scored by the two teams combined, eight by Crownpoint. Hooee scored four points for Zuni and Otis Peshlakai scored four for Zuni in the final minute of the game.

"We have been a two-pronged attack lately, but today we had pretty even scoring," said Crownpoint head coach Rick Pawela. "I was impressed with how hard the team played tonight. They refused to lose."

Pawela added that the Eagles wanted to control the tempo of the game, but got into a running game with Zuni.

"Zuni is a very persistent team. We got into a track meet with them and we were able to run with them. We try to stress defense, and tonight we gave up a lot of points," he said.

Pawela said the points came because his team did not box out and could not keep the Thunderbirds from getting offensive rebounds.

"I thought we played all right," said Zuni head coach Bob Kercher. "I think the two week layoff with no games hurt us a little bit."

Kercher said that his team had too many breakdowns late in the game and had too many mistakes.

"Late in the third and fourth quarters we had too many turnovers and mistakes, but those things are correctable. We need to get ourselves back in good shape, and I think we should be able to."

Crownpoint had four players in double figures, three scoring over 20 points. Collin Henio led the way with 24 points, half coming in the fourth quarter. Michael Norton and Otis Peshlakai each scored 21 and Kyle Devore added 11.

Zuni also had four players in double figures, Michael Calavaza leading the way with 21. Jamie Hooee added 19, Shawn Simplicio scored 14 and Aaron Zunie added 13. All of Zunie's points came in the second half.

Crownpoint will play Thursday at Hope. Zuni plays at Wingate on Tuesday.

Grants freezes in finals

Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor

GALLUP — Santa Fe Capital made the most of its first invitation ever to the Gallup Bengal Boys basketball tournament by dominating a former district rival in the championship finals Saturday night.

"I hope they invite us again, that would be nice,"Santa Fe Capital coach Avelardo Armendariz said following a lopsided 71-37 victory over Grants.

The win was in contrast to Friday's one-point semifinal victory over quad A Deming, last year's titlist, as Grants suffered through a cold shooting night which kept the AAA Pirates from challenging the AAAA team.

"When you're playing a team that's that much better than you, you gotta make those shots early on to keep your confidence and we didn't do it,"Grants head coach Gerald Horacek said.

There was no lack of offense in the third place game as Deming outscored Window Rock 92-83. Los Lunas ignited for 24 points in the fourth quarter to score a 65-62 come-from-behind victory over Belen in the fifth place game. And Gallup prevented being shut out in their own tournament beating Moriarty 64-51 for seventh place.

Santa Fe Capital 71, Grants 37

A cold field goal shooting performance was enough to keep a smaller Pirate team from challenging the Jaguars in a lopsided tournament final.

"They're just a lot bigger than we are, 6'3, we're 5'8", 5'9". You just can't compete with height when you don't make your baskets,"Horacek said."We're just happy to be playing for the championship game that says a lot about our kids."

Grants made just one field goal in the first quarter which forbode a 28 percent (14-of-50) shooting performance from the floor which included 0-of-12 from three point range. Additionally, the Pirates made only half their free throws in the first period as
they managed only five points.

Capital, not only a taller squad, but a quicker one as well, exploded for a 19-5 lead after the first quarter, fueled by its transition game off turnovers and defensive rebounding.

The Pirates did lead briefly at the beginning of the game when Joe Ross was fouled on his way to the basket. He made the first of his two-shot free throw opportunity to put Grants up 3-2, but Manny Hernandez matched it to retie the score before Capital scored three baskets, the last two off the break to go up 9-3.

Grants managed just two more free throws bookended around another 6-0 spurt by Capital to find themselves trailing 15-5 with 2:13 still left in the period. Over that time, Santa Fe added baskets by Paul Romero and Adrian Almeraz to pull away.

The Pirates managed to hit double figure scoring in each of the final three quarters, but got no closer than 12 points after a second chance shot by all-tourney player Wayne Smith following an offensive rebound by Karl Chavez in the second quarter.

Following a timeout, Capital responded with back-to-back three-pointers from Terence Mirabal and Hernandez as well as a layup off the break by Hernandez while Grants was only able to counter with 3-of-4 free throws as the Jaguars opened up a 31-14 margin. They closed out the half with a 6-1 run to take a 37-15 halftime lead.

Capital had four players score in double figures led by all-tourney Terence Mirabal. He finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists. James C. Romero scored 14 points, pulled down four rebounds and blocked a shot; Manny Hernandez, another all-tourney player for the Jaguars, netted 12 points, had three assists and a steal; while tournament MVP Marcus Martinez contributed 10 points, three rebounds and an assist.

The Jaguars held all Grants' players to single digit scoring.

"I think we played some real good defense. I don't know what the turnovers were, but I think we had the advantage and were able to convert and move the ball down quickly, I think that's another advantage that we had," Armedariz felt.

Grants only turned the ball over ten times, but Capital converted 6 of them into 12 points.

Capital outrebounded Grants 23 to 16, but Grants did get most of the rebounds that went out of bounds.

"Being in the two tournaments has made us a better ballclub so we're looking forward to districts, that's what its all about," summed up Horacek.

Grants, now 6-5 overall, will host Tohatchi tomorrow.

Third place Deming 92, Window Rock 83

Following a timeout during which Deming coach Isidro Montoya complained to the officials that a smaller Window Rock team was cutting under the Wildcats as they fought for rebounding position, Deming went on a 17 to 4 run which started with a free throw after the Scouts were called for a foul while engaged in a rebounding battle under the boards.

The Wildcats went on to take control inside to fuel its run which was capped by a three-pointer by Miguel Garcia to turn a 23-16 deficit into a 33-27 advantage. They led 39-31 at half-time.

"I thought we did a good job of pushing the ball inside for easy scores," Montoya said. "I tell you what, (Window Rock's) kids can shoot the ball and hustle."

The Scouts, which made a season-high 10 three-pointers, starting nailing from long range after falling behind by 11 points in the third quarter.

Dewayne Morgan triggered the rally with his first of back-to-back treys then found Lawrence Hickson in the left corner for the Scouts third straight three. After that, all-tourney player Elcaro Lee took over, scoring the next seven Scout points, including a three-point play from the free throw line to keep Window Rock close 61-58.

Deming regained a 64-58 lead going into the final period.

Two baskets by Deming's all-tourney representative Miguel Garcia, and another by Andrew Holguin pushed the Wildcats ahead 71-59 in the fourth quarter's first two minutes. Window Rock countered with a three-pointer by Hickson and another basket by Augustine Anderson, but that was as close as the Scouts got the rest of the game.

Hickson finished the game with five three-pointers and 17 points. Morgan nailed four treys and scored 16 points. Derrick Begay made the other three. Also in double figures for Window Rock was Brian Yazzie with 10 points. But Elcaro Lee, ranked as the top area player in all-tournament voting, capped off his weekend with a 26-point performance.

"That number 34 (Lee) was tough to stop inside," Montoya complimented.

"We're a team that can shoot the three, but we made a conscious effort to push the ball," Window Rock coach Tim Arviso said.
Arviso added that he thought the fast-paced tempo is what fueled the Scouts' early lead which he felt created the opportunity for the Scouts' perimeter shooting.

Window Rock mixed up their offense well to jump out to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter. A pair of threes by Hickson allowed Lee to weave his way through the middle later in the period for the score which gave Window Rock its biggest margin. The Scouts still led 19-14 at the end of the first quarter, then pushed it back up to 23-16 in the second on Hickson's third three-pointer.

"I think we proved that we could run with them. It was a really good test for us because the teams in our conference like to push it," Arviso added.

Window Rock, 10-9 overall, 1-0 in the 3A North Enchantment, will resume conference action tomorrow night when they host Winslow.

6'2"senior Jose Valdez led Deming with 23 points, 6'6"junior Carlos Corral contributed 17, while Holguin and Garcia each scored 16.

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NTUA gets loan for solar power

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Navajo use of solar power as a viable energy source in remote regions of the reservation has taken another major step forward.

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, based in Fort Defiance, has qualified for a $4.8 million loan to fund a solar energy project. Funding was made available through the Rural Utilities Service, administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"This project is proof that the Clinton-Gore administration has worked to provide a better lifestyle for those living in rural America," said New Mexico Rural Development Director Stephanie Gonzales. "This particular project is significant because this is a good example how direct intervention from the federal government will upgrade basic utility services to a rural
community that is in need..."

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Amtrak train kills area man

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A Church Rock man died Saturday evening after police said he held onto the tracks until he was hit by an Amtrak train near the Miyamura overpass.

Police said they found the victim, Vincent Peterson, 34, lying face down with a severed right arm and broken and twisted legs following the crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene about 8:30 p.m. by a medical investigator.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe conductors told police the train had been traveling westbound at a speed of about 50 mph when they noticed two males on the track directly in front of the train.

They told police the victim was on his hands and knees facing the train and holding onto the north rail while another unidentified male was trying to pull him away from the tracks...

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Deaths

Joe Allen Begay

SHEEP SPRINGS —Services for Joe Allen Begay, 68, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at the Sheep Springs Full Gospel. Rev. Paul Hommond will officiate. Burial will follow at Sheep Springs Cemetery.

Begay died Jan. 4 in Sheep Springs. He was born in Sheep Springs into the Red clay Running into water for the Zuni Clan.
Begay was an artist, he worked on sandpaintings and sculptures.

Survivors include his wife, Patsy Begay of Mesa, Ariz; son, Norman Allen Begay of Sheep Springs; daughters, Esther Begay, Yolanda Begay, Neva Sweet Begay all of Mesa, Ariz. and Isabella Sneddy of Buffalo Spring and five grandchildren.

Begay was preceded in death by sister, Lucinda Lueppe and Louise Etsitty; grandmother, Mary A. Begay and his nephew.

Pallbearer will be Gilbert Todea, Kimo Larzelere, Johnthan Owelicio, Reuben Martin, Shawn Begay and Edward Jim Jr.

Robert Lee Bennett Sr.

Lupton, Ariz.Services for Robert Bennett, 65, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Tse Bonito Mortuary. Father Cormac will officiate. Burial will follow on Family Land, Lupton, Ariz.

Bennett died Jan. 5 in Ganado, Ariz. He was born Dec. 13, 1934 in Lupton, Ariz. inot the Blacksheep People for the the Edgewater people.

Bennett attended Phoenix Indian School and Phoenix Community College both in Phoenix. He was employed with Bureau of Indian Affairs as a Facility Management. He was a member of the Native American Church. His hobbies included riding his horses.

Survivors include his wife Rena Bennett; sons, Gilbert Bennett, Robert Bennett Jr., Marvin Toddy, Calvin Toddy, Jonathan Wilson and Wayne Wilson; daughters, Velma Toddy, Clara Lee Pratte and Bridgett Wilson; brother, Irving Bennett of Phoenix; sisters, Sandra Becenti of Gallup, Betty Yazzie of Twin Lakes and Lillian Beach of Lupton, Ariz. and three
grandchildren.

Bennett was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred Bennett and Julia Dayea; brother, Norman Bennett; sister, Alice Jim and grandmothers, Louise Bennett and Yah-Den-Bah Begay.

Pallbearers will be Gilbert Bennett, Robert Bennett Jr., Calvin Toddy, George Richards, Alfred Yazzie and Wilbert Tom Sr.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Albert B. Bryant Sr.

SAWMILL, Ariz. — Services for Albert Bryant, 64, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Latter Day Saints, Saint Micheals, Ariz. Burial will follow on Family Land, Sawmill, Ariz.

Visitation will be at held one hour before services.

Bryant died Jan. 3 in Navajo. He was born Aug. 4, 1936 in Fort Defiance, Ariz.

Survivors includ sons, Albert D. Bryant, Alvin D. Bryant and Albern D. Bryant; daughters, Jennifer Bryant and Melissa Bryant; brothers, Anthony Bryant and Dean Bryant; sister, Genevieve Bryant; grandparents, Peter Lee and Lydie Tosie; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Bryant was preceded in death by Laura Byrant, Alfred Byrant, Leonard Bryant, Mark Bryant, Ruth Wood, Linda Goodell,
Stella Jannsen, Jerry Bryant, and James Bryant.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Sawmill Chapter House.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Tyrone Herman Peterson

LOWER GREASEWOOD, Ariz. — Services for Tyrone Peterson, 56, will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Latter Day Saints, Saint Michaels, Ariz. President Peter Yazzie will officiate. Burial will follow at the Community Cemetery, Lower Greasewood, Ariz.

Peterson died Jan. 4 in Saint George, Utah. He was born May 20, 1944 in Ganado, Ariz. into the Bitterwater for the Mexican People Clan.


Peterson attended University of New Mexico, where he received his Bachelors Degree.
Survivors include his wife, Ruby Peterson; sons, Tyrone Peterson Jr., Myrone Peterson, Tracy Peterson, Tyler Bia, Paul Peterson, Sonny Peterson, Chris Peterson and Vernon Peterson; daughters, Mechelle Peterson and Terri Gonzalez; mother, Darlene Peterson; brothers, Henry Peterson Jr. and Robert Kokooksavie; sisters, Arlene McGee and Darlene Benally and 11
grandchildren.

Peterson was preceded in death by his father, Henry Peterson Sr.

Pallbearer will be Tracy Peterson, Tyrone Peterson Jr., Myrone Peterson, Tyler Bia, Paul Peterson, Sonny Peterson, George John Jr., Kenny John and Vernon Peterson.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Lower Greasewood Chapter House.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Myrtie Mary "May" White

CODY, Wyo. — Services for Myrtie White, 99, will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Rollie Mortuary. Burial will follow at Ramah Cemetery.

White died Jan. 4 in Cody, Wyo. He was born May 13, 1901 in Colonia Dubian, Wyo.

White moved from Mexico to Ramah in 1919. She and her husband started the White Elephant Storage and Transfer business and the owner of the Post Office and store in Fort Wingate before buying a ranch in Ramah. Her hobbies included keeping photo albums, stories, sewing, knitting, and quilting.

Survivors include her sons, John J. White, Ray White and Richard K. White; daughter, Minnie Cozzens; brother, Paul Merrill of Ramah; sister Dollie Lambson of Thoreau and 15 grandchildren.

White was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Kennedy White, parents, Thomas Allen Merrill and Mary Elisa James; daughters, Sarah Jane Lewis, Elizabeth May Betty Lewis, Barbara Helen White and Mary Eliza White and sisters, Ella Adair and Eulla Eliza.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Vera Shelley Castillo

GALLUP — Services for Vera Shelley, 82, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Laura Washburn will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.

Castillo died Jan. 4 in Albuquerque. She was born Jan. 15, 1918 in Lupton, Ariz. into the Water Flows Together for the Black Streak of Forest People.

Survivors include her sons, John Castillo Jr. of Phoenix, Jimmie Castillo of Page, Ariz, Raymond Castillo of Tse Bonito and Jackson Castillo of Sanders; daughters, Alice Castillo, Bessie Brown, Rita Roan and Annie Castillo all of Lupton, Ariz and Clara Price of Phoenix and 75 grandchildren.

Castillo was preceded in death by her husband, John Castillo Sr. and son, Ello Castillo.

Pallbearers will be Raymond Castillo, Leonard Castillo, Darrell Duboise, Jimmie Castillo, Ernest Castillo and Jackson Castillo.

Emma C. Permenter

MILAN — Services for Emma Permenter, 94, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Grants Mortuary Chapel. Eddie Roberts will officiate. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Park, 700 Yale, S.E., Albuquerque.

Visitation will be at 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Grants Mortuary Chapel.

Survivors include her daughters, Erma Worthen of Grants, Marie Allen of Milan, LaVoyda Williams of El Reno, Okla. and Lois Moody of Paradise, Texas; 17 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.

Permenter was preceded in death by husband, Lesley L. Permenter; son, Lloyd Levi Permenter; daughter, Lola Morrow and
brother, Roy Coggins.

Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons.

Shirley Ann Salcido-Torres

ALBUQUERQUE — Services for Shirley Ann Salcido-Torres, 50, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Saint Teresa De Avila Catholic Church, Grants. Father Godfrey Blank will officiate. Burial will follow at Grants Memorial Park.

Visitation will be at held from 3-6 p.m. today at Grants Mortuary Chapel.

Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. tonight at Saint Teresa de Avial Catholic Church.

Salcido-Torres died Jan. 4. She was born Nov. 23, 1950 in Albuquerque.

Salcido-Torres worked as a Hairstylist, cosmetologist and homemaker.

Survivors include her husband, Andrew Torres of Albuquerque; mother, Melba Sarracino Sanchez of Grants; daughter,
Melissa Halsey of Albuquerque; brothers, Rudy Garcia of Anton Chico, Victor of Los Lunas, Jerry Sanchez, Patrick Sanchez,
Randy Sanchez and Leroy Sanchez all of Grants, and Joseph Sanchez of Denver, Colo.; sisters, Rhonda Gutierrez and Sandra
Marez of Albuquerque, Darlene Garduno of Denver, Colo. and three grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Bradley James Halsey, Rudy Garcia, Jerry Sanchez, Patrick Sanchez, Joseph Sanchez and Victor Sanchez.

Garland Earl Pack Sr.

HELDIN, Texas — Services for Garland Pack Sr., 59, will be announced at a later date.

Pack died Jan. 4 in Milan. He was born June 30, 1941 in Robstown, Texas.