Winter's punch



Snow continued to fall late Tuesday as New Mexico highway department crews, above, set up signs and barricades closing I-40 between Gallup and Albuquerque. Below, Flagstaff (Ariz.) High School students Davis Laughter, front, and Aaron Claw, both 14, walk through a snow flurry on their way home from school Tuesday.

Photo above by Jeff Jones; below by Associated Press

 

---

Report critical of NAPI a 'hot potato'

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — This week's political hot potato causing jostling between the President's Office and tribal delegates who sit on the NAPI Board of Directors concerns an independent assessment reported to be highly critical of crop enterprise management.

The 400-plus page Mid Kansas Assessment Team report analyzing Navajo Agricultural Products Industry management practices, within two separate documents, has alarmed NAPI General Manager LoRenzo Bates. So much so, that Bates believes its contents could result in an outside firm being recommended to take over crop enterprise management.

"What's out there now is the final document," Bates said. "It's not a draft."

The Mid Kansas report is beginning to circulate at a crucial juncture, with the full council set next week to possibly decide the fate of a proposed potato processing plant. A $20 million tribal capital investment is at stake, and possibly another $10 million in startup costs.

"I used to be extremely optimistic that this project was going to go forward," Bates said. "I can only hope that the council sees through all of this and goes ahead with it."

Hogback Delegate Ervin Keeswood Sr., who will be stepping down from the NAPI board next month, said he doesn't object to the full council viewing the Mid Kansas report, as long as it's done in a fair manner. The purpose of the report was to recommend changes, without becoming destructive in scope to the tribe's overall reputation, he said.

"This initiative goes way beyond just the potato plant venture; this speaks to doing business with the Navajo Nation ... the current board is very adamant about making changes at NAPI, to make it a very conducive business environment," Keeswood said.

So far, only the NAPI board, which met Monday night, has viewed the Mid Kansas report, Bates and other tribal delegates have confirmed. The office of Navajo President Kelsey Begaye will soon be reviewing its contents. Begaye was represented at Monday's meeting by Arvin Trujillo, director of the tribe's Division of Natural Resources.

"(NAPI) management wasn't included in this," Bates said, referring to Monday's meeting.

Six NAPI board members and three NAPI employees, including Bates, left Tuesday on a six-day trip to Washington to try and drum up support for continued congressional funds needed to complete the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, or NIIP. As the current proposed agreement is structured, NIIP water would be offered at no charge to R.D. Offutt, the proposed potato plant operator.

Late last week, NAPI board President George Arthur, tribal delegate for the Nenahnezad and San Juan chapters, visited the President's Office and left disappointed and upset, sources said. Arthur argued that the NAPI board had an agreement with the President's Office, and other involved parties such as the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to keep the Mid Kansas report an internal document.

However, sources said President Begaye wants the entire 87-member council to have copies. Begaye's staff was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Bates said the involved parties agreed that the report was never intended for "outside viewing."

Shiprock Council Delegate Wallace Charley vehemently diagrees with Bates. Friday, Charley sent a letter to Begaye, stating that with tens of millions of dollars in potato plant funds on the line, all delegates need to review the report in order to make an informed decision.

Don't be fooled by incremental funds the tribe is being asked to invest in the project, such as the $20 million capital outlay,
Charley cautioned the tribe's required amount for the overall $150 million project will eventually work out to $67 million.

"That's where they've hidden the numbers," Charley said, referring to project planners. "They're not telling the council the total amount they'll be accountable for."

Charley added that the council needs to know what budgetary account the $20 million capital outlay would come from.

"This is about tribal asset," he said. "Tribal asset is the people's asset."

President Begaye, more than any single tribal official, should have immediate access to the Mid Kansas report, since he coordinated the task force that sanctioned an independent NAPI assessment, Charley said.

"Therefore, he (Begaye) is entitled to it," Charley said. "Besides, he's the executive for the Navajo Nation."

Bates tees off

Bates said he was recently insulted by a Mid Kansas executive who told him, "If you can't spell 'corn,' and you can't count to 10, then you shouldn't be here." Those comments apparently involved references critical of NAPI management.

Bates said Mid Kansas may be positioning itself, or another firm like it, to take over NAPI management. He said that possibility would fly in the face of what tribal enterprises are intended to be business ventures for the Diné people, operated by Navajo people.

No one wants to go back to the days of the 1970s, when the Ball company of Colorado took over NAPI management, he said.
Bates offered that he would not object, should the report warrant it, the use of an outside entity to act as a consultant on NAPI management decisions and procedures.

"Ball sucked Navajo dry," Bates said. "They didn't do anything differently than what we've done today, other than bring in center pivots."

However, Keeswood emphasized that the Mid Kansas report was agreed to by all parties.

"At the onset, the current board said it would do a fair assessment of NAPI," Keeswood said.

Bates and other sources have said that the Mid Kansas findings may be viewed as a way of justifying the replacement of current NAPI board members with business professionals.

Should the President's Office use the Mid Kansas report as a tool to change NAPI's Plan of Operation, on a unilateral basis, "Then, obviously, we've got a problem," he said.

Asked if he objected to the full council receiving the report, Bates said, "That's not my call." He added that those viewing it "should look at the entire picture objectively, and not go on assumptions at this point."

Charley said R.D. Offutt may be sending the Navajo Nation a letter, saying it intends to stand by the tribe for a future potato plant venture, even if it fails during next week's go-around. The venture has been a concept since the Albert Hale administration.
Addressing another concern of Charley's, Bates said NAPI financial reports are sent to Navajo Comptroller Bobby White each month. White has said those reports are unaudited. But Bates added that an annual audited report is also sent to White. It
includes year-end and coming-year projections.

Charley has said the council needs to know what NAPI's cash flow status is before making a commitment to the potato processing plant.

Another source said when NAPI made its spring orders for fertilizer, seeds, machine parts and other farm items earlier this week, many vendors turned down the requests due to prior debt accumulation by NAPI.

Keeswood noted that President Begaye has given prior support to the potato processing plant venture during the tribe's 164 review procedure. Keeswood also noted, however, that Begaye and his staff may have new concerns stemming from the Mid Kansas report.

Bates said the Navajo Nation Washington Office, which Begaye controls, received a presidential directive not to help the NAPI delegation set meetings with New Mexico congressional representatives. NAPI members hope to meet this week with representatives from the Washington offices of Sen. Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Reps. Tom Udall and Joe Skeen, and in addition, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Bates said it is never a good scenario for the tribe to turn down a potentially viable project, then hope a private investor will stick with the concept.

"If the Navajo Nation Council tables (the potato plant proposal), or disapproves it, that says, 'Basically, we're not interested,'" he said.

| Top |

---

Group gets OK to pursue IHS takeover

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Health Care System Corporation won a split decision Tuesday to apply to the Indian Health Service for a contract to take over the largest remaining IHS operation.

The Inter-Government Relations Committee's 5-2 vote authorized the $433.1 million Public Law 93-638 application, with the NHCSC to return to the committee with a proposed contract.

Lawrence Platero, new Economic Development Committee chairman, opposed the tribal takeover. He was not convinced it would result in better medical care to patients.

"If you can convince me that grandma won't have to go through nine yards of paperwork to get a walker she needs, if you can convince me grandpa will get the orthopedic referral he needs, then I would be in favor of it," Platero said.

Lydia Hubbard-Pourier, the tribally chartered non-profit corporation chief executive officer, pointed to a similar large takeover in Alaska, saying it greatly improved health care for natives.

She said the acquisition of the eight service units and area office functions would bring additional financial resources, improved management and more health care. Four reservations Navajo, Hopi, Zuni and San Juan Southern Paiute are part of the IHS Navajo Area.

The application indicates a two-year takeover, with four units being assumed the first year in Shiprock, Tuba City, Chinle and Fort Defiance.

Committee Chair Edward T. Begay, a member of the team that worked for almost five years on the takeover, asked her to answer questions raised by the resolutions reviewers.

She said three programs already under "638" contracts would be removed from the application, that the corporate board and staff are preparing the organizational chart, setting up the billing and accounting system, and updating the amounts of money available through the IHS as the federal agency works on its fiscal year 2002 budget. The board already approved a pay-benefits plan that matches or exceeds both tribal and IHS pay and benefits.

Assistant Attorney General Tom Christie said the application provides the flexibility with accountability for the project to succeed.

He said the government doesn't bill very well and this is the challenge the corporation must meet to succeed. He also predicted doctors would be more responsive to patients, which should increase billings.

Negotiating the contract, "Generally is a lot like a dance. If you pass this, and the council's passes it, we will have taken the first step in the dance," he said. Then the IHS must make its counter offer, taking the second step in the dance.

One of his main concerns is whether $60 million will be enough to pay for contract support costs what it will cost the corporation to administer the federal funds. He said buy-back provisions may have to be exercised if Congress doesn't allow enough of the extra contract support costs.

The corporation has 10 voting members, plus a vacancy for the Fort Defiance unit.

At-large members are David J. Baltzer, CEO and president of the Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in Gallup, Ken Whitehair of the Ramah School Board and Ervin Chavez of Nageezi. Service unit representatives are Jeannette Vice of Crownpoint, Richard Bowman of Gallup, Sally Ann Dick of Winslow, Cecelia Begaye of Chinle, Jim Badonie of Tuba City,
Helen Bonnaha of Kayenta (interim board president) and Thomas Atcitty of Shiprock.

Non-voting members are Erma Marbert of Crownpoint, Dr. Frank Armao of Winslow, Ron Tso of Chinle, Dr. Susie John of Tuba City, Dr. Christopher Percy of Shiprock, Ursula Knoki-Wilson of Chinle, Christie and Judy Begay-Secody, director of the Navajo Nation Health Division.

Plans call for each of the eight service units to form its own operating corporation with the NHCSC being an umbrella company to administer the funds now used by the IHS areas and headquarters staffs.

Under the buy-back provision, the IHS would continue to operate a service unit until the local or tribal corporation is ready to take it over.

The corporate approach is being used because the design team learned that the grass roots people didn't want the operation to be controlled by the council as part of the tribal government.

There are about half as many IHS employees 3,000 as tribal employees 6,000. The IHS budget for the service units, around $309 million a year, is about three times the tribal general fund. But the $433.1 million (which includes contract support costs) is about $150 million less than the total tribal budget of $584.7 million for this year.

The Health-Social Services and Budget-Finance Committees approved the resolution without opposition or abstention on Jan. 5 and 9, respectively.

| Top |

---

Cibola County wrestles with jail jam

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Like it or not, Cibola County is in the middle of a jail crisis and if nothing is done now it will get worse, officials say.

Cibola County has no jail facility of its own and the private prison company it now uses seems unwilling to negotiate a new contract. In April the existing contract Cibola County has with Corrections Corporation of America will expire and with no new contract, it spells hard times ahead.

Even if the county were to negotiate a new contract at the current rates, it would spell disaster for county finances, officials say.
In 1998 the county was averaging about 35 inmates a day at a cost of $300,000 per year. The county now has substantially more inmates a day, about 80, and the cost is close to $1 million a year.

When County Manager Bob Ortiz was asked if there is a jail crisis, he answered, "Oh, I think so. If they (CCA) don't extend our contract and work with us, we'll have to send all of our inmates to facilities out of the county and that can be a logistics nightmare."

A portion of the county's current inmate population is sent to Gallup to save costs over what Cibola County pays to CCA for inmate costs.

What it will take to ease the situation is a new jail facility, but the county doesn't have money to build one.

Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard spot, Cibola County is in the process of investigating a turn-key jail. Cibola County will hire someone to design the facility, finance the facility, build the facility and then run it all at a price which will get the county out from under skyrocketing inmate costs with CCA.

There's a whole lot more to building a 200-bed detention center than just putting up four walls and some bars, which is why the Cibola County Commission needs to take the process one step at a time.

Ortiz said a professional from the Bureau of Prisons, whose only job is to help local governments plan new detention facilities, will be in Grants on Feb. 12 to make a presentation to the county commission.

"We want to have all persons who may deal with inmates, from judges to local prosecutors, probation and parole personnel, Grants and Milan police, the sheriff's department, state police, Acoma and Laguna police, anybody at all who may deal with inmates to be at the meeting," Ortiz said. The presentation will be at the regular county commission meeting in the Cibola County Convention Center.

"This meeting will bring attention to issues concerning the new facility," Ortiz said. There are several issues people need to know about, Ortiz said. For example, simply because an inmate is housed in a private facility does not mean the county gives up liability if something happens.

The county recently got back proposals from two prison teams which can provide the turn-key operation Cibola County wants. One is from Ray Mitcham & Associates in Roswell and the other is Nims, Calvanie & Associates of Albuquerque.

At the last county commission meeting, commissioners gave Ortiz the go-ahead to form a local committee to study the proposals.

"We are in the process of forming a team now," Ortiz said, adding that the team should have representation from the county attorney's office, the sheriff's department, at least one of the magistrate judges, and others with backgrounds which would benefit selection of the proper company to build the facility.

"What we're looking for is input from a diverse group of people," Ortiz said.

Of the proposed 200 beds, Cibola County will need only 80 at the present time, Ortiz said. As for the future, "Part of the design plan is to design it so it can be expanded," Ortiz said. The company submitting the successful proposal will rent out the remaining 120 beds to other counties. Cibola County will be responsible for inmate per diem costs.

Cibola County currently uses the Cibola County Corrections Center in Milan for its main inmate detention center. The facility is a huge one, recently converted to a federal detention center for illegal aliens who sometimes must be jailed for up to five years before being returned to their home countries.

| Top |

---

Panthers beat Gallup JV

Carrie Loretto

GALLUP — A defensive switch keyed a comeback by the Gallup Catholic Panthers and they capitalized on 24 turnovers to take a 57-46 victory over the Bengal JV at Gallup High School Tuesday night.

"I just wanted to do something different, it didn't work out so I went back to what we do normally. Usually we don't go man, but I thought I'd give it a try and see how it goes and apparently it didn't work out,"Gallup Catholic coach Vince Lonetree said of the Panthers late start which saw them trailing 12-3 after the first quarter.

Switching back to a zone defense combined with an aggressive full court press, Galllup Catholic (12-1) was able to stop Gallup's halfcourt offense which picked the Panthers apart for the early lead. The Panthers' pressure took its toll in the second period, producing ten Bengal turnovers in the quarter alone which Gallup Catholic converted into six layups and a free throw.

The Panthers scored 21 points off turnovers in the game.

Marshall Lemoine had the first of his five steals and took it in for the score to trigger a 13-2 run which turned a 12-3 deficit into a 16-14 lead in the second period. Jarred Montano responded with Gallup's only bucket during the run. Michael Estrada scored and added a free throw going to the hoop following another Bengal turnover. Lemoine came away with a second steal and teammed up with Estrada for another fastbreak bucket.

Estrada came up with the next Panther steal and got the ball ahead to Lemoine who drove downcourt for the score. He was fouled on his way to the basket, but missed the free throw. After Montano wrestled the rebound away from a Panther player, Estrada tallied another steal and scored to tie the game.

Lemoine immediately came up with another steal and spotted Estrada open downcourt for another easy score.

An 18-footer by Jeremy Lewis ended a 3 1/2 minute scoring drought for Gallup to stop the Panther run. Montano's three-pointer regained a 19-18 lead for the Bengals, but Lemoine scored once again on his fifth steal of the period.

"In the first half I thought our defense was excellent, our shots were falling, we were playing well, we were running the ball good, it's just that as soon as they went into that press we couldn't handle the pressure tonight,"Gallup junior varsity coach Ben Chavez said."We came out and things were looking pretty good for us. Unfortunately the pressure got to us, we are playing with some young kids."

Gallup's defense limited the Panthers to a single free throw in the game's first six minutes forcing three turnovers and outrebounding them 7 to 2. Offensively, Nathaniel Tsosie opened up the scoring, manuevering underneath the goal for a score.
Lewis drove through the lane, missed, but came up with his own rebound and put it back off the offensive glass for two.

A swarming Bengal defense produced a steal and Daniel Guliford nailed a three at the other end with 5:46 left. Neither team was able to score over the next three minutes until Montano grabbed an offensive rebound and it came back out to him for a three-point basket putting Gallup up 10-1.

"We went out there and tried to fight them and we were in it til the last five minutes and then I think strength and size just took over on us,"said Chavez.

The Bengal JV stayed close in the third quarter, but an NBA range 3-pointer by Brian Morris at the buzzer put Gallup Catholic up 37-30 going into the final period.

The Bengals were still within striking distance when Jerome Joe drilled a three-pointer with 6:20 left, but a couple of fastbreak scores after back-to-back Gallup misses put the Panthers' lead into the double-digits which held up despite a Bengal three-point threat.

Tsosie sank a three to bring the Bengals within 45-38 then was fouled later in the period on another attempt. He only made two of the three free throws leaving the Bengals down 49-43 with 2:15 remaining in the game. That was Gallup's final challenge as the Bengal JV dropped to 7-3.

Lemoine finished with seven steals and 10 points in the win. Estrada led the team scoring with 15 points. He also dished out four assists and came away with four steals. Bryan Sparks netted 10 and hauled down six rebounds.

The Bengal JV was led by Montano who came off the bench to score 11 points and grab six rebounds. Lewis and Tsosie finished with 10 points apiece.

| Top |

---

Pedestrian killed in Window Rock

Jim Maniaci
Dine' Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A 55-year-old Fort Defiance woman died Saturday night while walking on Arizona Route 264 near the
Window Rock Civic Center.

Navajo police identified her as Susie Ann Yazzie.

No charges were filed against the driver, Eugene Yazzie, 43, of Window Rock who took evasive action, steering into the left-hand turn lane and applying his brakes. However, he still could not avoid the pedestrian-vehicle collision, the Window Rock Police District report said.

Susie Ann Yazzie was walking in the westbound lanes of the five-lane highway in front of the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds and was about one-quarter of a mile west of the civic center, the report said...

| Top |

---

Johnson sees 'hope' with Sanchez gone

Walter Howerton Jr.
Managing Editor

SANTA FE — Gov. Gary Johnson kept telling lawmakers that it was "time for a new beginning" on Tuesday in spite of the fact that he was pretty much delivering the standard Johnson legislative agenda.

Johnson wants school vouchers, a tax cut, wise spending of the $400 million or more the state is receiving from the boom in gas and oil, revision of drug laws. And he sounded hopeful that some of his old ideas might fly this time around.

Why?

Johnson put it bluntly at a news conference after his State of the State address opening the New Mexico Legislature's 45th session. "It has a lot to do with new leadership in the House. It has a lot to do with Raymond Sanchez being gone," he said...

| Top |

---

---

Deaths

Sarah S. Tracey

TSE BONITO — Services for Sarah S. Tracy, 98, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Mary Mother of Mankind Church, St. Michaels, Ariz. Father Meldon Hickey will officiate. Burial will follow at St. Michaels community cemetery.

A rosary will be said at 3 p.m. today, Jan. 17, at Tse Bonito Mortuary Chapel.

Tracy died Jan. 15 in Gallup. She was born Jan. 15, 1903, in Nazlini, Ariz., into the White Mountain Apache Red Running Into the Water for the One Who Walks Around People Clan.

Tracy was a rug weaver, homemaker, sheep rancher, and a herbalist.

Survivors includes her son, Sammy Slinkey.

Tracy was preceded in death by her first husband, George Slinky and second husband, Elmer Tracy, and sons, Justin Slinkey Sr. and Johnnie Slinkey Sr.

Pallbearers will be Stanley Slinkey, Johnnie Slinkey Jr., Dave Harris, Herbert Slinkey, James Slinkey, and Willard Tsosie.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Sammy Slinkey's residence.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Gerald Virgil Etsitty

CHINLE, Ariz. — Services for Gerald Virgil Etsitty, 32, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Chinle. Father Blane Grein will officiate. Burial will follow at thecommunity cemetery in Chinle.

Etsitty died Nov. 23 in Albuquerque. He was born May 19, 1968, in Ganado, Ariz., into the Red Bottom Clanfor the Water Flows Together Clan.

Etsitty was employed as a construction worker and a silversmith. His hobbies included rodeos and playing basketball.

Survivors include his daughter, Resheena Etsitty of Albuquerque; parents, Kathleen Etsitty and Kee Toadlena Sr., both of Chinle; brother, Truman Etsitty of Chinle; sisters, Geraldine Rogers and Kelvina Crosby, both of Chinle; and grandparents, Lloyd and Violet Etsitty.

Etsitty was preceded in death by father, Gerald V. Etsitty Sr., and maternal grandparents, David and Martha Curley Sr.

Pallbearers will be Truman Etsitty, Valentino Hadley, Roland Dalton, Virgil Dalton, Robert Dalton Jr. and Henderson Curley.

The family will receive friends and relatives at 6 tonight at Joanne Dalton's residence, 4 miles north of Chinle Basha's.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Maxine Wilson

NEWCOMB — Services for Maxine Wilson, 85, were held at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at Newcomb Christian Reform Church. Pastor James Fleming officiated. Burial followed at Tohali Cemetery, Toadlena.

Wilson died Jan. 10 in Famington. She was born Oct. 15, 1915, in Lakehouse Valley into the One Who Walks Around You
People Clan for the Red House Clan.

Wilson was a medicine woman in the Blessing Way, weaver and a rancher. She was a member of Newcomb Christian Reform Church.

Survivors include her sons, Theodore Wilson Sr. of Two Grey Hills and Thompson Wilson of Blackhouse Valley; daughters, Helen Matchers of Two Grey Hills, Sarah Begay, Evelyn Edd and Loretta Yellow, all of Blackhouse Valley; brother, Cecil Yazzie of Sheep Springs; sister, Mae K. James of Sheep Springs; 28 grandchildren; 41 great grandchildren and four great-great
grandchildren.

Wilson was preceded in death by her husband, Notah Wilson; son, Henry Wilson Sr.; brothers, John Teller, James Peter and
Amos Peter; sister, Inez H. Begay; parents Navajo Peter and Old Lady Redhouse; and agranddaughter.