Winter still kicking



Snow and slush spray into the air Tuesday morning as a snowplow, above, clear the left lane of I-40 heading into Gallup. Below, as the snow piles up outside Tuesday, Ernie Yazzie spends the morning portion of his shift at Big-O Tires putting snow chains on U.S. Post Office delivery trucks so that the mail can get through.

Photos by Jeff Jones

 

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Woman, Ceremonial clash over lost rugs

S. J. Ludescher
Staff Writer

GALLUP — There seem to be more questions surrounding the ailing Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Association these days than patrons attending the Inter-Tribal Queen's coronation.

Already fraught with controversy, in-fighting and financial woes, another unsolved mystery has reared its head and screams for answers.

The new questions are being asked by Nancy Baird Curtis and they concern the whereabouts of 15 large Navajo rugs referred to as the C.H. Baird Collection donated to Ceremonial nearly 25 years ago.

According to Curtis, her grandfather, C.H. Baird, moved to Gallup in June 1926 as part of the Charles Ilfeld company from Albuquerque. The company bought Gallup Mercantile in 1924 from Hans Neuman. Baird managed the store from about 1928 through the late 1930s. During that time, according to Curtis's documentation, various traders gave him Navajo rugs.

The rugs later were passed down to Baird's daughter Ruth Antrainer. In 1977, due to the poor health of husband, Emil, the Antrainers decided to sell their home and dispose of the rug collection.

Since they considered the rugs to be a significant collection from an important period in Navajo weaving, it was suggested by J. W. Kennedy, then of the Gallup Indian Trading Company, that the collection should be offered to the Ceremonial Association.
In an August 1977 letter, Kennedy wrote: "It might make a fitting memorial for Baird," since the records indicated he had been a director of the association during the early days.

Ceremonial's Program Director W.L. Ganong III replied within a few days indicating an interest on the part of Ceremonial to pursue the acquisition of the rug collection.

By December 1977, a note from the Inter-Tribal Ceremonial stated: "Once the collection is properly appraised by authorized personnel, the Ceremonial Association will be most happy to accept this important contribution."

Everything seemed to be moving along fine with the agreement regarding the rugs.

But then things got sticky.

In April 1978, The Antrainers wrote to Ceremonial with a stipulation. "We are most happy to present the ceremonial association with this historic and valuable gift but before we relinquish all rights as owners, we would like to be assured that the rugs will be exhibited as a lasting memorial for my father, C.H.Baird.

"Please advise us when the rugs will be displayed and we will visit your museum."

The next letter to the Ceremonial Association, about 16 months later, is a different story of disappointment and frustration and what the family called "gross negligence," written after attending the 1979 barbecue and preview night.

"It was our understanding these rugs would be displayed to the public, instead we learn that half of this valuable collection has disappeared and the rest in a concealed vault, supposedly," the letter reads. "The appraisal value of this collection ranged from $10,800 to $23,000. ... I'm at a loss to see how such a theft could have occurred and you didn't even notify us.

"If word of this reaches the public, your future donations will dwindle alarmingly. It was gross negligence on the part of Ceremonial management to allow half of this generous donation to be misplaced."

The letter does not indicate who had told the Antrainers initially that some of the rugs were missing.

Answers sought

Curtis said her grandparents had spoken to Ceremonial through the years trying to find out what had happened to the missing rugs and also to find out if the others had ever been displayed with a plaque as they thought had been agreed upon.

Documentation proving this was not disclosed.

It wasn't until her mother's recent death when she going through her papers that Curtis became aware of the problem with the rugs. What had become of them and why weren't they displayed? she asked. Curtis reasoned that if they weren't displayed according to the agreement, then the rugs, worth much more now than the original valuation, could not be considered the property of Ceremonial.

She set out to find out the answers or to obtain possession of the rugs. Curtis drove into Gallup from her home in California expecting to return with them in her possession.

Instead, she's gotten a lot more questions.

So, where are the rugs?

Curtis believes that four of her grandfather's rugs are locked in the vault used by Ceremonial at Red Rock State Park. She further claims that they appear on a 1999 inventory list compiled by the city. The fate of the remaining 11 is not yet known.

City Manager David Ruiz insists that the City of Gallup is not involved or responsible. He claims that the city's only involvement with the museum relics is to insure them, since they are on display in a city-owned building. Ruiz said the city does not own any of the displayed items. Tags throughout the exhibit indicate all items are loaned to the museum, not donated.

"This is an issue for the Ceremonial Association," he said.

Lloyd Colson, executive director of Inter-Tribal Ceremonial from December 1996 until late 2000, said the matter is further complicated by the Ceremonial's "divorce" from the state in 1996.

"When we separated from the state, (then) Attorney General Tom Udall said Ceremonial could not own anything, in order to maintain its non-profit status," Colson said. "Technically, everything was given to the city. Nothing was owned by Ceremonial until after its independence."

The issue came up at Tuesday night's Gallup City Council meeting and Ruiz said, "I can find nothing indicating the state has ever deeded us anything."

Current Inter-Tribal Ceremonial President and City Councilor Louie Bonaguidi explained that with the 1996 split of Ceremonial from the state, Ceremonial became a nonentity.

"It wasn't until last year that we were a recognized nonprofit," he said. "And nothing was deeded back."

Colson said, "The only thing that we have (in the vault) is when art comes in ( for Ceremonial). There is nothing in the vault except for about a month at the beginning and the end of Ceremonial."

Colson added, "If something was going to disappear, though, the best time would've been at the time of the divorce (from the state).

Little help

Thus far, Curtis believes she has received little in the way of help or answers from Ceremonial. Everyone, she claims, has given her the runaround, insisting that it was a long time ago or it is not their responsibility or the people who might know about it are dead.

And people currently associated with the Ceremonial, when contacted by the Independent, refused to answer questions or comment about the rugs until the City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Curtis attended the council meeting to air her grievances and make them a matter of public record. "If my items are missing, who else's stuff is gone?" she asked. "If everyone knew what's going on, they wouldn't like it either. I think the good people of Gallup have been taken advantage of.

Bonaguidi, who also is a member of the city council, countered, "We're trying to work with you because we want to know that we've fulfilled our end of the bargain."

Minutes before the city council meeting, Bonaguidi talked about his concern over the missing rugs and the four allegedly remaining in the vault. "I don't know who they belong to. They were never deeded over to Inter-Tribal," Bonaguidi said. "I don't
feel comfortable just turning them over to anyone who says they're entitled without absolute proof.

"It'll take a better judge than me to make the decision," he said.

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Navajo EPA: Drink only tested water

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — U.S. EPA sampling of ground water over the past six years at abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation has revealed mostly good news.

Just 41 of 240 springs, wells, and windmill water sources, or 17 percent, show possible contamination caused by arsenic, lead and uranium. These are unregulated sources used in some areas for human consumption. Regulated sources, or wells and other sources monitored regularly for safe drinking standards, showed no evidence of contamination.

The 240 sources are located in and around 33 chapters spread across the reservation.

"I guess the good news is we didn't find overwhelming problems out there," said Andrew Bain, U.S. EPA Region 9
abandoned uranium mines project manager from San Francisco. He emphasized that the "screening" results are preliminary, with a lot more evaluation left to be done.

For the time being, Navajo EPA and U.S. EPA are advising all Diné people living on the reservation not to drink from livestock wells, windmills and spring sources intended for livestock use only. Recommended at present are close to 30 watering points deemed safe for hauling water used for human consumption (listed at end of story).

In the meantime, Navajo EPA and US EPA are developing actions plans for the 41 sites with unsafe water standards.

"We will be communicating soon with the individual chapters to explain the results of the water data information," Bain said.
The most common contaminants found were arsenic, lead and uranium.

"We're still in the beginning stages of assessing where some of the problem areas are," he added.

Also major concerns are water contamination from human trash and livestock waste.

A Navajo EPA-U.S. EPA advisory group meeting Tuesday in a Navajo Nation Museum and Visitor Center conference room made the announcement of what unregulated water sources to avoid, and developed the list of safe water sources for hauling for human consumption.

Joining Bain at the meeting were U.S. EPA representatives including officer Jeff Inglis of Region 9, and representing Navajo EPA, George Padilla, Freida White, Navajo Superfund Program officer Eugene Esplain and other officers.

Working with the two EPA agencies to monitor drinking water sites are Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, the Diné College-Shiprock campus Uranium Education Program and Northern Arizona University's Institute of Technical and Environmental Professionals.

Recommended watering points are: Crownpoint Chapter House, Tsayatoh Chapter House, Naschitti Chapter House, Lupton Chapter House, Twin Lakes Chapter House, Manuelito Chapter House, Becenti Chapter House, Whiterock Chapter House, Whitehorse Chapter House, Inscription House, Cameron (near chapter house), Bodaway/Gap, Tonalea/Red Lake, Kaibeto (near chapter house), Tuba City NTUA regional office, Kayenta NTUA regional office, Dennehotso (near chapter house), Tolani Lake (near chapter house), Teestoh (near chapter house), Dilkon (near chapter house), Indian Wells (near chapter house), New Lands-NaHata Dziil Chapter (at ONHIR office), city of Gallup east of Bubany Lumber, Huerfano, Sweetwater Chapter, Beclabito Chapter, Chilchinbito Chapter, Gouldings, Utah across from 7th Day Adventist Hospital.

NTUA contacts for water sources and watering points:

Chinle (520) 674-5470

Crownpoint (505) 786-5566

Dilkon (520) 657-3258

Fort Defiance (520) 729-5727

Kayenta (520) 697-3574

Shiprock (505) 368-4634

Red Mesa (520) 656-3212

Nageezi (505) 632-3615

Tuba City (520) 283-5421

Indian Health Service contacts for water sources/watering points:

Crownpoint Field Office (505) 786-6403

Farmington Field Office (505) 325-4446

Fort Defiance Field Office (520) 729-3501

Gallup Field Office (505) 726-2500

Kayenta Field Office (520) 679-4062

Many Farms Field Office (520) 781-6243

Shiprock Field Office (505) 368-7460

Tuba City Field Office (520) 283-2843

Winslow Field Office (520) 289-6177

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Cibola to sue private prison firm

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Cibola County intends to sue Corrections Corporation of America concerning a breach of contract agreement over CCA's newest venture in New Mexico: the transition of the detention center in Milan into a federal detention center.

The county commission on Monday approved a motion to seek litigation against the Cibola County Corrections Center in Milan. Cibola County will seek damages from the corrections facility, but how much was not revealed after the commissioners came out of a closed session Monday and informed the public that litigation would be pursued.

As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the suit had not been filed in district court.

The center is owned by CCA and has been the site of the county jail since the county owned the facility a few years ago and then sold it to CCA on April 15, 1998.

After selling the center to CCA, Cibola County contracted with the national private prison corporation to take in the county's inmates, but skyrocketing costs forced the county to take some of its inmates to McKinley County.

County Manager Bob Ortiz told commissioners that the county's inmate care fund would be about $400,000 in the red at the end of the fiscal year.

Cibola County officials have been trying to renegotiate the contract with CCA, but so far the huge prison corporation has refused to talk to the county not only about the existing contract, but also about any future contract. The current contract ends in April.

County officials said CCA simply implemented the plan to make the large detention center into a federal facility for illegal aliens without first notifying the county about the proposed move.

According to the current agreement between the county and CCA:

"For any new Agreements or for the renewal, extension or amendment of the existing Agreements, CCA shall first secure authorization and approval of the County to any such new Agreement or to any such renewal, extension or amendment of an existing Agreement and the County's authorization and approval to the terms and conditions thereof. In addition to the County's approval, such new Agreement or the renewal, extension or amendment of the existing Agreements shall require the review and approval as set forth in paragraph H.16 hereof."

In short, CCA failed to notify the county of its intention to turn the facility into a federal holding pen, nor did CCA get the county's permission to do it.

Ortiz said Tuesday he could not discuss the matter with the press.

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Panthers hold off Lynx

Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

GALLUP — A strong fourth quarter propelled the Gallup Catholic Panthers to a 52-45 win over the Rehoboth Lynx in the teams' district opener Tuesday night.

In the girls action, the Lady Lynx blew out the Panthers 64-24.

Boys Gallup Catholic 52, Rehoboth 45

The Gallup Catholic boys played a close game against Rehoboth but closed out the victory in the fourth quarter.

"We were just sluggish and it's been like that. We didn't have a good Christmas break and it's still carrying on but eventually we'll get out of it," said Gallup Catholic coach Vince Lonetree. "It was exciting. The fans got their money's worth."

"I thought we played really good defense. We basically shut down (Mike) Estrada and (Bryan) Sparks, and that was our main goal," said Rehoboth coach Mark Charles. "I felt it was a good effort. Gallup Catholic played really well. They proved that they do have a tough team because we shut down their two main players and they still came out with a win."

The Panthers broke open a close game with a seven-point run at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Marshall Lemoine opened the scoring on a pair of free-throw, D.J. Biava and Sparks both assisted on plays to Morris and Morris went one for two at the line, putting Gallup Catholic's lead at 47-36.

Rehoboth answered right back with a six-point run of their own. Gill made a jump shot, Yazzie drove to the basket and Fredericksen had a putback of an offensive rebound, making the score 47-42.

Gallup Catholic sealed the win on a putback from Biava, 1-of-2 free throws from Marquez and a layup from Estrada.

Rehoboth ended the scoring on a three-pointer from Van Haitsma for the final margin.

The Panthers had jumped out to a 5-0 lead at the start of the first quarter.

Panther Bryan Sparks went 1-for-2 at the line then scored on an offensive rebound and D.J. Biava added a lay-up.

Rehoboth closed the margin to 5-4, but lay-ups by Biava, Michael Estrada and Marshall LeMoine off a steal put the Panthers up by 10 at the end of the first quarter.

Rehoboth made a comeback in the second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 18 to 7.

Lynx Jeff Van Haitsma opened up with a three-point basket and teammate Chris Gill came right back with a steal and basket.

Still trailing 18-12, Rehoboth went on a eight point run to jump head by two. Rehoboth's Josh Fredericksen went 1-for-2 at the line followed by an assist by Andy Yazzie to Fredericksen. Van Haitsma scored off a rebound shot and Gill sank a three-point basket which put the Lynx up 20-18.

Rehoboth took the half-time lead on a steal and layup from Toby Crooks.

Behind Morris' eight points, Gallup Catholic regained the lead in the third quarter, 40-36.

Morris led the Panthers with 14 points and three steals. Biava contributed 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Leading the Lynx in their losing effort was Van Haitsma with 13 points and four steals. Yazzie finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. Crooks and Fredericksen also grabbed 10 rebounds each.

"Rehoboth is always a good team. It's a rivalry and it's always going to be a good game. Rehoboth did play a good game against us," Lonetree said.

Gallup Catholic (11-1) will play the Gallup J.V. on Tuesday and Rehoboth (4-5) will take on St. Michaels at home on Thursday.

Girls Rehoboth 64, Gallup Catholic 24

Once the Lady Lynx took a lead on the Lady Panthers they never looked back.

"They (Panthers) gave up. They kept looking at the score clock and didn't play the game that they can play," Gallup Catholic coach Belle Baretinicich felt. "They become very frustrated with them not being able to execute any plays. They start fouling and lose all control."

The Lady Panthers committed 26 fouls with three players fouling out in the loss.

"I thought they did well for the type of competition we were up against. A lot of times when you play a weaker team your fundamentals and concentration level are not as high or as in tune as it needs to be," Rehoboth coach Elmer Yazzie said.
"You've got to be pleased. I think the girls had a good time and everybody got to play."

The Lady Lynx started the blow out with a three-pointer by ReeDee Begaye and a jump shot from Karen Louis, putting Rehoboth up 4-0.

Panther Kathleen Mason came back for Gallup Catholic with a rebound and drive to the basket.

Rehoboth then went on a seven-point run with an assist from Erika Romero to ReeDee Begay, Tara MeeKhof going 1-for-2 at the line, an offensive rebound from MeeKhof and Begay assisting on a play to Louis.

Panther Stevie Chavez ended the quarter on a lay-up for a 12-4 score going into the second quarter 12-4.

Crystal Begaye hit a three-pointer and a pair of free-throws to begin Rehoboth's second quarter scoring.

The Panthers came back with an assist from Erin McCarthy to Chrissy Rogel and Shelain Allison going 2-for-2 at the line, making the score 17-11.

Rehoboth then went on a nine-point run and the rout was on. Crystal Begaye made another pair of free-throws, Louis added 1-of-2, Crystal Begay scored on a jump shot and drive to the basket and Lisle Pino added a jump shot.

Chavez made 1-of-2 free throws to stop the Lynx run.

Lady Panther Megan Malloy finished the half on an assist to Pino, but Rehoboth led 28-9 at half-time.

The Lady Lynx outscored Gallup Catholic 16 to 6 in the third and 20 to 9 in the final quarter.

Leading the Lady Lynx was ReeDee Begaye with 19 points and five rebounds before fouling out. Crystal Begaye scored 15 points and grabbed three steals, Jeanene Jones finished with 12 points and Louis ended up with 11 points and two steals.

Chavez and Allison finished with seven points each to lead Gallup Catholic.

The Lady Panthers will play Sun Valley on Saturday and the Lady Lynx (5-7) will play away on Thursday against Tohajiilee.

Hopi girls overtake St. Johns; boys lose

Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent

POLACCA. Ariz. — The Hopi girls overcame an 18 point half-time deficit to beat St. Johns 51-49 in a 2A North Conference battle at Hopi High Tuesday night.

In the boys game, four players scored in double figures as St. Johns jumped out to a quick lead and never looked back in walloping Hopi 81-52.

Girls Hopi 51, St. Johns 49

Marie Koopee sank a lay-up and Chassity Gould sank a free-throw to complete a comeback as Hopi overcame an 18 half-time deficit to defeat St. Johns.

Jacquelyn Trickey fired in 11 points and Tenney six in the opening period as St. Johns grabbed a 23-7 bulge. Trickey and Mineer scored four apiece in the second as St. Johns led at intermission 37-19.

Trickey tossed in a lay-up to start the second half and give St. Johns a 20 point bulge, but after teams traded baskets Hopi closed the quarter with a 14-6 tear. Mallory Shattuck scored 10 during the comeback run, using a mixture of jump shots and lay-ups. Trickey scored a half dozen points during the period, but the Lady Bruins trailed by only a dozen, 47-35, going into the final quarter.

Kellie Lynch tossed in a lay-up to give St. Johns a 49-35 edge with 6:50 left in the game, but the visitors would not score again. The Hopi defense caused nine turnovers and caused St. Johns to miss the rest of their shots as the Lady Bruins finished the game with 16 straight points.

Shattuck started the winning surge with three foul shots, Trish Tenakhongva hit a rebound shot, Zondra Mahle connected on two free throws, Marie Koopee hit a trey with 3:30 to go, Hannah Honani followed with a three pointer with 3:11 left. Koopee
sank the go ahead lay up with 2:32 left and Gould finished it off with a foul shot with 48 seconds to go.

Both teams used stall tactics, but Hopi proved more adept at the strategy.

Hopi High coach Rick Baker said the come from behind win was awesome for his girls.

"They stepped up the defense and their shots started falling in the second half," he said. "The difference was that we fronted their guards and made them throw over and it helped us with a lot of steals. In the first half our shots weren't falling, but we knew they'd have to fall sometime."

St. Johns coach Ken Pulsipher said his team played well but did not take good care of the ball in the second half.

"That was partly caused by pressure, but the girls got flustered too," he said. "They were in too big of a hurry and that's what loses the ball."

Hopi improved to 10-8 overall and 3-0 in the 2A North. St. Johns dropped to 5-11 and 1-2 in the 2A North.

Mallory Shattuck led the Lady Bruins with 15 points. Zondra Mahle netted eight and Marie Koopee, Kim Zahne and Keesha Talayumptewa scored seven each. Jacquelyn Trickey topped St. Johns with 21 points while teammates Jodi Mineer and Elyse Tenney scored 10 apiece.

Boys St. Johns 81, Hopi 52

Hopi's Davin Leslie opened up the scoring with a running jumper, but St. Johns would score the next 19 points. Devin Waite netted nine on three treys and Trevor White scored eight during the surge. St. Johns led 21-4 after the first period.

Navakuku tossed in eight points in the second stanza as Hopi outscored the visitors by a point during the period, but the Bruins trailed 38-22 at half-time.

Any thoughts of a comeback ended early in the third quarter. After Hopi pulled within 40-26 on a lay-up by Logan Koopee, St.
Johns scored six straight. Kyle Wahi hit a jumper, Begay hit two foul shots and a lay-up as St. Johns led 46-26 and the Bruins would never get closer than 16. Begay scored eight points during the third quarter a St. Johns led 56-36 going in to the final period and St. Johns coasted to victory.

St. Johns coach Brian Hollenbeak was pretty pleased with his ball club's performance.

"We came out and played good defense in the first quarter. It would be nice to start very game that way," he said. "We're starting to come around and play real well."

St. Johns improved to 11-6 overall and 3-0 in the 2A North. Hopi fell to 4-11 and 2-1 in the 2A North.

Devin Waite topped with 15 points. Cousin Trevor White tossed in 14, Kevin Begay and Kevin Stradling netted a dozen each. Emmet Navakuku paced the Bruins with 14 points and Cisco Mata added 13.

Hopi High coach Jeff Lambert was not happy with his team's performance.

"We have problems with commitment. The kids don't understand what commitment means and we'll probably take a few more beatings like this before they do," he said.

Lambert said several players missed at least two practices during the holiday break.

"We played well in the Tuba City game right before the break and we hoped to pick up where we left off, or gain a step, but we took a step back," he said.

St. Johns scored 22 points off lay-ups or chip shots in the first half.

"No matter how small you are you can't allow the opposition to do that," he said.

Hopi High was without starting guard Garrick Jones and shooter Tom Silas, but Coach Lambert declined to say why they could not play.

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Scout boys rally to beat Winslow

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

FT. DEFIANCE, Ariz. — The Winslow Bulldogs couldn't protect a late lead as the Window Rock Scouts came back to pull off a 61-59 win.

Ahead by 10 points with under four minutes left, the Bulldogs had only to control the ball and keep from fouling the Scouts, but the Bulldogs did neither.

In the girls game, the Lady Scouts only scored six points in the fourth quarter as Winslow pulled away for a 55-42 win.

Boys Window Rock 61, Winslow 59

As the final quarter reached the midway point, Winslow led by 10, the largest lead of the game...

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Cibola drops manslaughter charge

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — The Cibola County District Attorney's Office has filed a motion to drop the charge of involuntary manslaughter against Joanie Sanchez, 18, of Acomita, because it was discovered she was a juvenile at the time of the accident last June.

However, Sanchez could be charged later.

Sanchez was indicted by the grand jury on Dec. 20 for one count of involuntary manslaughter in the vehicular death of her cousin, LaJeana Cheromiah, on June 6, 2000.

Jim Jackson, an attorney with the DA's office, said the charges were dropped because Sanchez was a juvenile at the time of the accident...

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Deaths

Max Johnny Padilla

GALLUP — Services for Max Johnny Padilla, 53, will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Father Ulric Pax will officiate. Burial will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.

Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. tonight at Rollie Mortuary.

Padilla died Jan. 6 in Gallup. He was born March 28, 1947, in Albuquerque.

Survivors include his sons, Christopher Moreno of Albuquerque and Johnny; sister, Elvira Herrera of Gallup; brother, Billy Romero; and one grandchildren.

Padilla was preceded in death by mother, Rumaldita Padilla.

Pallbearers will be Art Fava, Tommy Gabaldon, Gary Madrid, Christopher Moreno, Johnny Moreno and Trinidad Padilla.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at 100 W. Jefferson.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Shirley Lee Desiderio

THOREAU — Services for Shirley Lee Desiderio, 43, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Thoreau Church of God Fellowship Hall. Ray Baker and Florence Baker will officiate. Burial will follow at Thoreau Community Cemetery.

Desiderio died Jan. 8 in Gallup. She was born Nov. 27, 1957, in Rehoboth into the Towering House Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.

Survivors include her sons, Shawn Desiderio, Carlos Desiderio and Troy Desidero; mother, Nellie N. Charley; brothers, Ernest Rangel, Leroy Blackbull and Lee Charley Jr.; and sister, Leann Sorrell.

Desiderio was preceded in death by father, Danny Lee Garcia, and grandparents, Jim B. and Lorraine B. Nez.

Pallbearers will be Lee Charley Jr., Art Desiderio, Alarick Yazzie, Leroy Blackbull, Paul Charley Sr. and Lalo Yazzie.

Nia Cris Holloman

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Services for Nia Cris Holloman, infant, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, at Gospel Light House Assembly of God Church. Burial will follow at Naschitti Community Cemetery.

The infant died Jan. 7 in Kansas City, Mo. She was born Nov. 20, 2000, in Lawrence, Kan.

Survivors include her parents, Ervin and Erika Dale Holloman; maternal grandparents, Arthur and Christine Dale of
Crownpoint and paternal grandmother, Bernice Bush of Manhattan, Kan.

Eloyce Paige

CYPRESS, Calif. — Services for Eloyce Louise Calderon Paige, 68, were scheduled for 8:30 a.m. today, Jan. 10, at St.
Irenaeus, Cypress, Calif.

Paige died Jan. 6 in Cypress, Calif. She was born in Dawson.

Survivors include her son, Rocky Gulick; daughters, Debra Hills of Gallup, Charlene Lewis of California, Rita Ibarra of Cypress, Calif., and Lisa Loraine Gulick of Spring Valley, Calif.; sisters, Rae Bloomenrader of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Sally Villa of Gallup; five grandchildren and one great-grandchildren.

Paige was preceded in death by her brothers, Narciso "Chicho" Calderon, Aniceto "Cheto" Calderon and Rafael Calderon Jr. and sisters, Connie Cordova, Mary Petranovich and Margret Calderon.

Rebecca "Bumpers" Begay

CRYSTAL — Services for Rebecca Jean "Bumpers" Begay were held at 10 a.m. today, Jan. 10, at the Crystal Church of Latter Day Saints. President Edward McCoombs officiated. Burial followed at the community cemetery in Naschitti.

Begay was born Feb. 15, 1973 in Fort Defiance into the Near the Water People Clan for the Edge of the Water People Clan.

Survivors include her father Ross Begay Sr.; sisters, Theresa Kedelty of Crystal, Betty Roanhorse, Regina Begay, Patricia
Begay, Sharon Holyan and Rose M. Begay; brothers, Toledo Ross Begay, Franklin Begay, Christopher Begay, Ross Begay,
Richard Begay, Robert M. Begay, Michael Begay and Daryl R. Begay, all of Crystal.

Begay was preceded in death by her mother Rachel Begay Wilson and her sister Ruth Begay.

Pallbearers will be Robert Begay, Richard Begay, Frank Begay, Ross Begay Jr., Robert Wilson and Austin Begay.

The family received relatives and friends after the services at Theresa Kedelty's residence in Crystal.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Alfred G. Randolph

THOREAU — Services for Alfred G. Randolph, will be announced at a later date.

Randolph died Jan. 9 in Gallup. He was born Nov. 14, 1931, in St. Louis, Mo.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.