Marchers honor King

 

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Navajo panel fights 'double-dipping'

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Education Committee will again try to convince the Navajo Nation Council to prohibit delegates from "double-dipping" by serving on tribal school boards.

By a 6-0-1 vote, the committee agreed to take the matter to the council as part of a school board reform package.

The reform resolution will ask for changes in government, education and election codes.

The proposed education code reforms would also require board members to report monthly to their chapters and would forbid them from using tribal or federal money to sue the tribe. It also would allow a board to remove a member who misses three consecutive regular meetings.

Another big change, aimed at encouraging younger voters to run for office, would lower the minimum age to 18 years. To fight nepotism, the changes would forbid the board member or spouse from being an employee at the same school.

The five-year limitation for felony convictions, however, would be deleted. A long list of misdemeanor convictions would be added as well as ethics convictions.

Another provision, also aimed at keeping delegates from double-dipping, would forbid council members from serving on more than one school board at a time.

Delegate James Bilagody, backed by Calvin Kirk and Wallace Charley compromised on some of the issues so the rest of the package passed.

Delegates Emerson Jackson and Christine Apache, however, scolded the trio for not standing up for what the people want as expressed in public hearings that council members should not be double-dipping as school board members.

Bilagody said he would rather have three-fourths of the cake than none at all and that "We shouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater."

Education Division Director Genevieve Jackson was asked for comments by the council. Delegates wanted to be on school boards, she said, when their council salary was $25,000 a year including meeting stipends and mileage. With the salary increase to $35,000 a year, she said,that appears to have changed,.

"That makes a big difference and the council will be more prone to look at it this way," Jackson said.

Another method for satisfying the public, she said, would be to require school board members to be parents. "That would eliminate more than half the council delegates."

The committee did accept an amendment to grant an exemption to the conflict of interest law. In previous attempts, so many delegates were involved in conflict, no quorum could be formed to act on the measure.

In the forthcoming session, there are 14 fewer delegates, 22, who also hold elected positions on tribal school boards.

The reform would allow delegates to hold county-elected offices, however. Three delegates presently hold offices as commissioners: Charley (San Juan County), Mark Maryboy (San Juan County, Utah) and Bennie Shelly (McKinley County).
But the change would also forbid a delegate from serving as an elected official of a political subdivision of a state. For example, Descheny serves on the Gallup-McKinley County School Board.

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Begaye: Prejudice still exists
Navajos note King's battle for civil rights

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo President Kelsey Begaye, speaking to a small but attentive crowd on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, made a convincing argument that one man's misunderstanding is another man's racial discrimination.

On Saturday, Begaye and wife Marie decided on a soup and salad sit-down at Dominic's Downtown Cafe on West Coal in Gallup. Parking was tight, so Begaye dropped Marie off at a nearby store to retrieve shoes she had ordered repaired. They were to meet in the restaurant.

Begaye said he was surprised when his spouse met him outside the cafe. She said the manager asked her to leave the establishment.

"I said, 'What?'" Begaye recalled. "I didn't believe her."

Marie Begaye, minus her jacket and apparently holding an open box with her shoes inside, was a Native American who appeared to be attempting to sell her ware at Dominic's. Such actions are not permitted by many establishments in Gallup.

"Before she could explain, she was actually told to leave the restaurant," said Begaye, who added that even in this day, open discrimination against minorities exists.

Dominic's manager, who would identify himself only as "Nick," confirmed Saturday's events. He described what occurred as a "misunderstanding."

"It was an oversight on my part," Nick said.

Earlier that day, Nick said he had asked "10 to 15 drunks" to leave Dominic's, as well as a half-dozen or so Native Americans selling jewelry. Nick said he had no idea who Marie Begaye was when he approached her.

"She (Marie) says, 'I'm not selling; I'm just waiting,'" Nick said. "So I said, 'Well, can you just wait outside?'

"It wasn't in a mean way."

Restaurant managers become conditioned over a day's time to sending out the riffraff, Nick said.

"Everybody says the same thing: 'I'm not selling,'" Nick said. "But sooner or later, they are."

Even in border towns with tolerant reputations, such as Gallup, Navajos and other Native Americans should not assume they will receive the type of civil rights that King died for, Begaye said. This would include the right to equal protection under the law in a public place.

"If it can happen to the first lady of the Navajo Nation, it can happen to everybody," Begaye said.

Begaye said he and his wife made a point to go back into Dominic's and dine.

Asked if his mistaken assumption of peddling resulted in a complimentary or reduced-price meal for the Begayes, Nick responded it certainly did not.

"If he (Begaye) wants to crucify somebody for making a mistake, that's fine," Nick said.

Perhaps more attuned to the spirit of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was Ni'Asia McIntosh, 2, propelled in a stroller by her mom as the tot carried a sign, "Civil Rights Movement Helped All Minorities."

Ni'Asia and her mom, Elisa Tsosie of Fort Defiance, were part of a group that walked from the Window Rock Fairgrounds to Veterans Memorial Park with a police escort.

"It (the holiday) means a lot to me because my daughter is half black and half Navajo," Tsosie said, adding that if King were alive, he would be helping biracial children establish their identities.

The Window Rock organizer for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was Sonlatsa Jim-James, creator of the grass-roots Indigenous Freedom and Social Justice movement. She is also of mixed heritage, being half Navajo and half Modoc.

Navajos discriminating against other Navajos on the Navajo Nation is a problem, but never an excuse for even worse behavior, she said.

"If you allow violence into your own home, your own language, you are not living the dream (of King)," Jim-James said.

Navajo Nation lead prosecutor Donovan Brown, who is half Caucasian and half Caddo, was one of four people honored by Jim-James with a "Freedom Award" from the Indigenous Freedom and Social Justice Movement. He received his for organizing a conference that brought tribal awareness to the escalating problem of domestic violence.

Brown said his dad died when he was a year old, which resulted in his mom, who is Caucasian, surviving abusive relationships to raise him in eastern Oklahoma.

"So on behalf of her, I accept this award," Brown said.

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Grants OKs $8 million pact with OMI

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — The Grants City Council has voted to spend $8 million over the next eight years on a new contract with OMI, the private company that has been managing the city's water, waste water, landscape and landscape maintenance services.

All of the discussion was held in executive session. Voters who attended the session Friday knew no more about the contract that was agreed upon when they left two hours later than when they had arrived.

Rueben Aranda, who works for OMI, was not present.

When the council convened at 3:30 p.m., Mayor Bill Snodgrass read item one of the agenda stating they would go into closed session pursuant to Section 10-15-1(H)(6), NMSA. This clause in the Open Meetings Act allows government bodies to go into closed session to discuss purchases exceeding $2,500 that can be made only from one source and to discuss the contents of competitive sealed proposals that have been solicited and are being discussed during the contract negotiation process.

According to the meeting's agenda the city had made a Request for Proposals for two contracts and OMI had submitted proposals. The closed session was to negotiate the terms of the agreements for the two contracts.

It is not unusual for the city to have only one bidder on sales and contracts and that was apparently the case with the two RFPs the city advertised for these contracts.

The contracts were for "Water and Wastewater Operation, Maintenance, and Management Services" and "Landscape and Maintenance Services."

Three OMI representatives met with the council in closed session. The council reconvened at 5:25 p.m. and the mayor reread item number one to emphasize the reason for the closed session.

Next, the mayor called for a motion on the first contract, the one for water and wastewater operations. Robert Ulibarri moved to approve the motion. In his motion he stated the cost for the contract would be $713,714 and he referred to it as"cost option two." The motion was seconded, and passed unanimously. Shirley Taylor explained she voted yes because several of the concerns that had been expressed by her constituents were clarified.

The mayor called for a motion on item No. 2, the contract for landscape services. Bob Ortiz motioned to approve option No. 4 for $298,479. Ortiz and Ulibarri voted yes, Taylor voted nay.

Taylor said she was concerned that there was a conflict of interest between a councilman and the company and she was concerned about the length of the eight-year contract. This was the first and only mention of the length of the contract. The mayor voted yes and broke the tie.

The meeting was adjourned and the council left the chambers.

The only time the mayor, Ortiz, and Ulibarri spoke was when they read from prepared statements. Even the normally verbal Taylor kept her remarks to a few short sentences.

During a telephone interview Monday, Taylor clarified some of the details. Both of the contracts are eight-year contracts. The city will pay OMI a total of just over $1 million each year.

Taylor said both contracts include other, non-monetary benefits that are significant. She said the city will pay all costs for the waste water operating plant except for the chemicals that are used.

Taylor said, "We (taxpayers) pay for OMI's vehicles." According to Taylor the city also furnishes office space and pays the maintenance on OMI vehicles.

Taylor added, "We did not negotiate anything. We simply listened to a presentation by OMI and asked questions. And, as usual, I was the only one who had questions this thing was cut and dried before we went in there."

No one, including Taylor, seemed to know why the meeting was called for 3:30 p.m. Friday. Agendas for the special meeting were not available until after 4 p.m. the day before.

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Athletes of the week

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

The Athletes of the Week for the week of Jan. 8-14 are Zuni Thunderbird Shawn Simplicio and Monument Valley Lady Mustang Lorena Sullivan.

Simplicio, a senior at Zuni High School, helped his team to a 7-5 record and helped them win the Lordsburg Invitational this weekend in Lordsburg.

In the first round Simplicio scored 22 points as Zuni defeated Academia Juarez, 87-74. In the second round he scored 12 to help the Thunderbirds past Animas, 69-59. In the championship game Simplicio scored 22 again as Zuni beat Pine Hill 81-62.
Simplicio was selected to the All Tourney team.

"I am surprised," said Simplicio of being selected as the Athlete of the Week. "There are so many good athletes around here and on my team, I didn't think I would be picked."

"He has played really well," said Zuni head coach Bob Kercher. "He's a team player. He is the team's quarterback."

Kercher said Simplicio is a team leader on and off the court. "I can't say enough about him. He's a very good kid and just has fun playing the game."

Simplicio said he thinks he has done pretty good so far this season. "I have to give a lot of credit to the rest of my team and my coaches. They have helped me and taught me not to be afraid to take charge and do what I have to do to help the team."

Simplicio said he and the Thunderbirds struggled at the beginning of the season, but he thinks they are prepared for district. "In district we have no size, but we have a lot of speed. If we keep on doing what we have been doing lately, and keep winning on the road I think we will do pretty good. There are a lot of competitive teams in our district."

When he graduates, Simplicio said he plans to go to college and plans to study to become a physical therapist, a coach or a physical education teacher.

As well as basketball, he also competes in track and was a member of the Zuni football team this year.

Sullivan, a senior at Monument Valley High School in Keyenta, was selected as Athlete of the week for the second time this season. Sullivan was the Athlete of the Week on Nov. 28.

"It feels great again," she said of being selected for the second time. "It feels good to be on the cover of the sports again."

Sullivan said that since the last time she was selected, she has had some problems on the court, but thinks that she has worked things out. "I kind of had some problems the past two games, but came over that and just relaxed, and now I am playing better."

Sullivan scored 26 points this weekend when the Lady Mustangs defeated Window Rock 67-51 to improve to 13-3, 2-3 in conference. Fifteen of the 26 points came in the first quarter for her.

"The last few games have been pretty tough," she said. "But hopefully we will do better during regionals in the next two to three weeks. I will definitely play tougher with my team and hope we can do well."

Monument Valley coach Robert Nash said Sullivan is a consistent player and has been for the past three years.

"She is a good shooter, that is her main strength, and she is one of our three captains."

Nash added that Sullivan averages 16-18 points a game, but could have more, but she gets taken out if the team has a big lead.

"She does not have a strong quarter, she is pretty consistent the entire game. That is the strength of our ball club, they all are pretty consistent," he said.

Ramah girls 7th at Cliff; Grants loses

Prep basketball
Staff report

The Ramah girls captured seventh place at the Cliff Invitational with a 70-62 win over Reserve.

Ramah outscored Reserve 27-10 in the third period to key the win.

Marlenna Ghahate tallied 18 points with Dana Pino with 15 for the Lady Mustangs.

Reserve's leading scorers were Vivica Dusablon with 21, Priscilla Lucero 12 and K. Laney 10.

Espanola 39, Grants 30

Injuries and foul trouble plagued Grants as the Lady Pirates fell to visiting Espanola 39-30.

Berna Frigerio had a slight concussion at the start of the fourth period and left the game. Tiffany Hobbs had a hip pointer and Jenna Lucero fouled out.

"We had a chance to win but we lost several players," Grants coach Al Torske said.

Jenna Lucero and Juana Torivio each tallied 10 points for Grants.

Grants downed Cobre 40-25 Friday night at home in its district opener.

Torivio and Antonia Dominguez each tallied 10 points for Grants.

"We didn't play very good but we shot the ball well," Torske said.

Grants, 3-13 overall, 1-0 in district, will play at Crownpoint Tuesday before traveling to Socorro Friday for a district game.

Boys Crownpint 80, Navajo Pine 67

The Crownpoint Eagles pulled away in the second quarter to beat visiting Navajo Pine 80-67.

"I am pleased overall. They had a slow started but they came back at the end," said Crownpoint coach Rick Pawela.

The Eagles scored 31 points in the second quarter, helped them put the game away.

Leading the Eagles in scoring was Collin Henio with 23 points and 16 rebounds. Michael Norton finished with 20 points and Marques Johnson walked away with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Leading Navajo Pine was Carilus Stevens with 22 points.

Crownpoint finished 9-for-19 at the line with 55 rebounds and Navajo Pine was 15-for-15 at the line.

Crownpoint will play Shiprock at home on Saturday.

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Greenhouse in Grants purchased

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — The leasehold interest with the City of Grants, buildings and equipment belonging to the ailing Colorado Greenhouse Company were sold at a foreclosure sale Wednesday at the Cibola County Courthouse.

Colorado Greenhouse had entered into a lease with the city of Grants for $1 a year as part of an agreement for the company to bring its business to town and provide much needed employment. The terms of the lease included use of the water rights for the production of hydroponically grown tomatoes.

The company built several very large greenhouses on the property located adjacent to the golf course before going bankrupt last January. It was this lease and the buildings that were sold last Wednesday.

The purchaser was Production Credit Association, attorney Bruce Boynton said...

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New lawmakers to grapple with old issues

Walter Howerton Jr.
Managing Editor

SANTA FE — Voters in the Gallup area sent two fresh faces to the New Mexico Legislature this year. But when Patty Lundstrom and Lidio Rainaldi take their seats today, they will be facing some of the same old issues.

Because New Mexico has the same old governor, Gary Johnson, and he has the same old agenda. And less than two years to get anything done about it.

Lundstrom took the seat formerly held by Dave Pederson in the House. Pederson surrendered the seat to run for the state Senate seat of the retiring Sen. Gloria Howes. Rainaldi then defeated Pederson...

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Deaths

Ross Lee Francis

GAMERCO — Services for Ross Francis, 73, will be held at 7 p.m. today, Jan. 16, at the Joshua Generation for Jesus, 1375 Elva Dr. Cal Jones will officiate.

Francis died Jan. 11 in Gallup. He was born Feb. 5, 1927, in Versailles, Mo.

His hobbies included outdoor sports, fishing and hunting.

Survivors include his wife, Jean L. Francis of Gamerco; son, Tim L. Francis of Gamerco; daughters, Shirley Feldhusen of Scottsdale, Ariz., Edith Hazel of Carencro, La., and Karen Francis of Phoenix; brother, Jack T. Francis of Phoenix; and six
grandchildren.

Francis was preceded in death by parents, John and Nettie Francis; sister, Marilyn Wood; and brother, Edward Francis.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Lorraine Jumbo Sells

ROUGH ROCK, Ariz. — Graveside services for Lorraine Jumbo Sells, 73, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, on family land inRough Rock. Melvin Harold will officiate.

Sells died Jan. 13 in Chinle, Ariz. She was born Dec. 12, 1927, in Many Farms, Ariz. into the Tl'ogi (Zia) for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.

Survivors include her sons, Earl Sells of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz., Bennie Sells, Larry Sells, Lawerence Sells and Terry Sells, all of Rough Rock; daughters, Lorina Grey and Michelle Pinto, both of Rough Rock; sisters, Evelyn Tso of Chinle, Ariz., Alice Segina of Many Farms, and Grace Gray of Kayenta, Ariz.; 31 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Sells was preceded in death by her husband, Kit Sells; son, Gilbert Sells; brothers, David Jumbo, Richard Jumbo, Eddie
Jumbo, Howard Jumbo; and sister, Elizabeth Etsitty.

Pallbearers will be family and relatives.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at the family residence, Rough Rock.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Alvin P. Phlieger

GALLUP — Services for Alvin P. Phileger, 69, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Pat Universal will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Michaels Cemetery, Collyer, Kan.

Phlieger died Jan. 14 in Gallup. He was born Nov. 2, 1931, in Quinter, Kan.

Phlieger was a member of the Elks Lodge and AIME. He received his degree from Kansas State University.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon Phlieger of Gallup; son, Michael D. Phlieger of Albuquerque; daughter, Shawnda M.
Osborn of Belen; brother, Gilbert Phlieger of Garden City, Kan.; sisters, Renalda Fitzpatrick of Phoenix and Annette Phlieger and Loretta Turner, both of Quinter, Kan.; and three grandchildren.

Phlieger was preceded in death by parents, Michael and Rosina Phlieger; brother, Norbert Phlieger; and sister, Armella Marie Phlieger.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Curtis, Scott Curtis, Mark Heppler, Michael Heppler, James Meisner and Danny Osborn.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Freddie L. Anderson

GRANTS — Services for Freddie L. Anderson, 79, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. The Rev. Armin Stolp will officiate. Burial will follow at Grants Memorial Park.

Visitation will be at held from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, at Grants Mortuary Chapel.

Anderson was born Aug. 31, 1921, in Miami, Ariz.

Survivors include her son, John Anderson of Albuquerque; brothers, Richard Cromer of Oracle, Ariz., Ben Stepp of North Carolina and Roy Stepp of Phoenix; sister, Dorothy McCoy of Miami, Ariz.; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Anderson was preceded in death by her husband, Norma J. Anderson.

Pallbearers will be Larry MacKendrick, Shawn Anderson, Ian Anderson, Robert Clark, Bill Cromer and Jon Anderson.

Correction

TOHATCHI — The obituary published for Rambo Becenti, 53, inadvertently omitted that he was preceded in death by his father, Frank Norton Sr. The name was incorrect in Saturday's edition.