Death of Shiprock baby questionable
Body discovered in unheated trailer
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The death of a baby in an unheated trailer near
Shiprock in late November is being investigated as a homicide, but
no charges had been filed as of Thursday, a Navajo police spokesman
said.
Lt. Ivan Tsosie, Criminal Investigations Department acting chief,
said the case has been turned over to the Safe Trails Task Force,
a joint tribal-federal program to investigate and prosecute serious
crimes on the reservation.
Although no charges had been filed in the case as of Thursday, the
father, Jason David Harrison, 31, of Shiprock is being held in Albuquerque
on an aggravated battery warrant from Durango, Colo. Colorado is seeking
to extradite Harrison.
Tsosie said the cause and manner of death of the 7-month-old girl
had not yet been determined and authorities were waiting for the results
of toxicology tests, which usually takes about a month.
The girl's mother, Jannifer Curley, 20, of Shiprock was reported to
be with her family in the Steamboat area.
The incident began the night of Nov. 28 when Curley, Harrison and
their child used a cold new trailer that lacks running water and electricity
to try to sleep. The baby soiled her clothes and after being cleaned
up was in a diaper, the detective's report said.
Her father wrapped her in blankets and put her on a mattress on her
stomach. When her parents woke up the morning of Nov.
29, they found her not breathing. Harrison performed cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation, but could not revive the girl, the report said.
Both adults became afraid of being arrested, so Harrison stole his
brother's 1997 Ford Mustang and they fled to Albuquerque, sleeping
in the vehicle for 57 nights, the report said.
The couple told their families the baby was with a grandmother in
Steamboat.
On Sunday the Albuquerque police found the vehicle and arrested Harrison,
and not taking Curley into custody. Harrison also called a sister
that day and told her the baby had suffocated, the report said.
When the family talked with Curley, she told them her daughter actually
died in November in a Shiprock trailer. Relatives found the little
girl wrapped in three blankets in a closet with a box in front of
the door, the report said.
Traffic fatality
A 29-year-old Sheep Springs woman died in a two-vehicle collision
Tuesday night on U.S. 666 near Tohatchi, Navajo police report.
Stacey Smith, the driver, died around 7:30 p.m. at the scene, between
Mile Posts 25 and 26, in a 1990 four-door Buick. Her three passengers
Clara Smith, 46, Alexis Martin, 19, and Dana Martin, 18, all of Sheep
Springs were taken to the Gallup Indian Health Service hospital, treated
and released.
No charges were filed, according to the Crownpoint Police District
detective's report.
The other driver, Kyle Dean Dennison, 18, of Tsaile, told officers
he was headed south in a 1997 Dodge pickup truck with a younger sister
to a basketball game.
He said the other car slid into his lane, so he steered left. Smith
began to regain control of her car and Dennison said he turned hard
right, but they still collided.
Dennison suffered a sore neck, but was not hospitalized. His sister
was not injured.
Police credited the use of seatbelts with saving the lives of one
driver and the four passengers in the two vehicles.
Smith's death is the first of the year on the New Mexico portion of
the reservation and the first of the year on U.S. 666 between Gallup
and Shiprock. Two other adults have died on the Arizona section of
the reservation, none in Utah, so far this year.
| Top |
Group sues to halt delegates' pay hikes
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Members of the group opposed to the Navajo Nation
Council's $10,000 a year pay raise have sued, but without directly
attacking the salary increase.
Four members of Diné for Better Government which also wants
to reduce the size of the tribal legislature filed suit Thursday in
Chinle District Court against Controller Bobby White and other unidentified
defendants "in their capacity as individuals authorized to sign
or process Navajo Nation check or pay accounts."
Instead of directly challenging the pay raise to the 90 elected central
government officials (the president, vice president and 88 delegates)
the suit goes after the council's declaration that its members are
"common law employees," basically calling the designation
a lie designed to artificially and illegally raise delegates' annual
pay above the $25,000 specified in the tribal code.
Before becoming "common law employees," the delegates were
considered independent contractors for U.S. Internal Revenue Service
purposes and had to do their own tax withholding, often running into
problems at the end of the year. After the change, the deductions
were done by the controller's Finance Division from the bi-weekly
paychecks.
The group figures the changes cost the Legislative Branch $1.3 million
a year. Of that, $880,000 comes from the 88 delegates each receiving
an additional $10,000 a year. The remaining $400,000-plus comes from
$190,960 in Social Security deductions, $44,660 for Medicare deductions
and $176,000 for deferred compensation additional income delegates
can claim after a certain number of years and equal to one-fifth their
annual pay.
The suit excludes the president and vice president and comes just
four days before the council convenes its five-day winter session
Monday.
The suit also comes 30 days or more after President Kelsey A. Begaye
and Attorney General Levon Henry were served with the notice of intent
to sue. That notice is required by tribe's Sovereign Immunity Act,
a law that says the council has to give its OK to be sued. They were
served between Dec. 13 and 18.
Letters from the four to Begaye and Henry begin, "The Navajo
Nation Council illegally increased the pay of Council delegates without
approval of the Navajo people. The council also illegally made themselves
'common law employees' so they could increase their benefits without
approval of the Navajo people."
The letter added other possible defendants might be the council, its
committees and each delegate.
Plaintiffs are Nellie Judy of Pinon, Cleo Y. Johnson of Pinon, Eddie
Arthur of Many Farms and Ernest Yazzie of Sanders and Church Rock.
The plaintiffs ask the judge for 11 points of relief, starting with
a temporary restraining order to prevent payment of more than $25,000
a year, "whether as benefits, taxes or wages."
Then they want the TRO turned into either a preliminary or permanent
injunction.
They want the judge to declare they were denied their rights under
Navajo common (traditional) law, the U.S. Indian Civil Rights Act,
the Navajo Bill of Rights, any other tribal law the court can find,
plus declaring they were denied due process and equal protection of
the law.
The plaintiffs want the judge to declare that paying delegates salaries
and benefits more than $25,000 is illegal and that the defendants
don't have the authority to pay them more than that amount each year.
The four also want the court to appoint separate legal representatives
and have the tribe pay for it, waiving the posting of a security bond
until the final hearing.
"Review any and all other decisions or actions of the defendants
and, if found to be in contravention to the relief requested, enjoin
the action," is the ninth point.
Finally the quartet wants to recover its costs and attorney's fees,
plus have the court grant any other relief it finds proper.
Last year the Diné for Better Government, through Delegate
Edison Wauneka, tried to sue to stop the pay hike, but were shut out
by legal requirements and the complication of having a delegate sue
the other delegates.
To get the pay hike, the council went through the Government Development
Commission after Chief Legislative Counsel Steve Boos issued an opinion
that it was legal to go that way.
The move followed the council's failure to convince at least two-thirds
of the 110 chapters to pass resolutions within 30 days giving up their
veto power. The veto power over council salary raises was included
in the Title 2 changes that went into effect in 1990 when the three-branch
form of government began.
That followed the council's first successful override of a presidential
veto. Begaye called the council action self-serving, although he ended
up getting an additional $10,000 a year.
The council's pay did not change in the 1990s, and delegates pointed
to a one-third increase to tribal employees. Proponents of the $35,000
also said inflation reduced their salary's value to less than $19,000.
Delegates also raised their mileage reimbursement by one-half to match
tribal employees', but still receive about half the reimbursement
for motels and meals as tribal employees.
When the 19th Council took office in January 1999, Begaye's first
veto stopped delegates from raising the advances they could draw against
their salaries. Now that they are receiving $35,000 a year, there
is a resolution on the agenda for this session to raise the advance
from $15,000 to $25,000.
The Diné for Better Government also announced it will host
a public meeting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Toh Nanees Dizi
(Tuba City) Chapter House with the plaintiffs to answer questions
and receive comment.
| Top |
Grants OKs pay raise for workers
But exact figures not provided to council
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Six months before the new fiscal year begins, the city
council voted 3-1 to approve employee wage hikes and then awarded
a contract to remove stacked old asbestos drinking water pipes from
city property.
OSHA and the EPA warned Grants to remove the pipes, so Grants is going
to pay Keers Environmental $14,569 to get rid of the stuff. Councilor
Shirley Taylor asked if asbestos drinking water pipes were used in
the city water system and was told that about 70 percent of Grants'
water pipes are asbestos pipes.
Both issues were part of the Grants City Council meeting Thursday.
The council also combined two jobs into one, an engineering assistant
and a code enforcement officer. Grants has experienced a tough time
trying to hold onto its code enforcement officers, mostly because
of low salaries.
The engineering assistant job is a new job classification and a rather
strange one for the city of Grants because the city has no engineer
for the assistant to assist. The old code enforcement officer salary
began at $10.37 per hour and the new wage hike puts the salary at
the same. However, by combining the code enforcement job and the engineering
assistant job, the new salary will be more than $31,000 per year.
Pay raise
It is unclear how much of a percentage the average wage hike will
be when, and if, city employees get the hikes because the numbers
were not broken down.
That's one of the problems Taylor has with the plan. "You didn't
supply me with documents stating why these are needed," Taylor
said to City Manager Bob Horacek.
Horacek earlier said the new wages were arrived at through the efforts
of a salary committee using Council of Government guidelines.
Taylor asked who was on the salary committee and Horacek told her
it was made up of city employees, mostly administrators.
"Didn't we just give 5 percent raises to the employees this year?"
Taylor asked Horacek.
"We gave 3 percent increases," Horacke said, adding that
the raises councilors were reviewing Thursday would not go into effect
until the next fiscal year, provided the city has the money.
Taylor said she would like to have citizen input on the committee
and she asked the matter be tabled. Taylor said more talks are needed
before any decision is made and she added that the city should provide
more reference material.
No one seconded the motion so it died on the floor.
Councilor Ruben Aranda motioned to approve the wage classification
plan; Councilor Ron Ortiz seconded the motion and the council voted
3-1 to approve it. Councilor Robert Ulibarri was the third "yes"
vote on the plan and Taylor voted against it.
She also voted against a resolution which paves the way for combining
the two jobs in the form of a budget revision. Ortiz said the city
was not trying to create a job for a certain person, but rather fill
a position which is needed. Horacek said with several upcoming projects
on the line, the city needs the expertise.
"We're not going to get a lot of expertise for $31,000,"
Taylor said.
Asbestos cleanup
While talking about the asbestos water pipe removal project, Operations
Management International Inc. Manager David Sohns told a concerned
Taylor that about 70 percent of Grants' water system is asbestos pipe,
but the residents should have no concern.
What led to that part of the meeting was a comment by Taylor that
the city is being required to clear stacked asbestos pipe above ground,
but has asbestos pipe underground.
Sohns explained that asbestos is a danger to the public if it is breathed
into the lungs, but not a danger if it is ingested through the stomach.
"So, the water system in the ground is no danger to any citizen
because of the asbestos?" Mayor Bill Snodgrass asked.
"That's correct," Sohns said.
"The asbestos becomes a problem when it is airborne, not in a
water pipe," Snodgrass said.
"That's correct," Sohns said.
The council voted 4-0 to pay Keers Environmental the $14,569 to remove
the above-ground asbestos water pipe at 1400 Lobo Canyon Road and
at the end of Animal Shelter Road.
In other matters the council:
Approved 4-0 a Litter Control Grant Application, which will put some
10 Grants youths to work this summer earning part-time wages cleaning
up litter.
Approved 4-0 the reappointment of Ernest Martinez and Cyndi Reynolds
to the Cemetery Board for two-year terms ending January 2003.
Approved 4-0 the appointment of Paul Pena, Dora Fidel and Dennis Cordova
to the Golf Course Advisory Board for two-year terms ending January
2003 and appointed Tom Fitzsimmons and Jack Farley to the same board
for one-year terms ending January 2002.
| Top |
Wingate overtakes Thoreau
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
THOREAU — The Thoreau Lady Hawks could not keep up with Wingate
late as the Lady Bears turned a two-point deficit at the end of the
third into a 50-41 victory.
The District 1AAA victory put Wingate (12-2) atop of the standings
with a 2-0 record. Thoreau (13-3) dropped to 1-2 in district.
The Lady Bears went into the fourth quarter behind 32-30,
but outscored the Lady Hawks 20-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away
and win.
"I thought we started off a little sluggish, with the big crowd
we may have been a little nervous," said Wingate head coach Al
Martinez.
Martinez said the two teams gave the near-packed Thoreau High School
gym a good game and that all of the district games are like that.
"You're not going to blow any team out in this district."
Thoreau missed its first shot in the fourth quarter and Wingate capitalized
with Nicole Moses hitting a shot to tie the game at 32-32. After a
Thoreau turnover Wingate took the lead on a shot from Tonia Yazzie.
Thoreau did not score in the fourth quarter until Lisa Ramone hit
a pair of free throws with four minutes left in the game to cut the
Wingate lead to 35-34.
After Wingate went on a 7-0 run Cassandra Ping scored Thoreau's next
points, hitting a pair of freethrows and then hitting 1-of-2 from
the line.
Ramone hit a shot to pull the Lady Hawks as close as 46-39, but they
would not score again until the final seconds as Wingate's defense
stepped up and caused three turnovers resulting in a 4-0 run. Ramone
got the ball as time expired and hit a shot for the last points in
the game.
"Most of the girls had a good game," said Thoreau head coach
Jori Flom. "We gave up way too many offensive rebounds."
Flom said she thought the Lady Hawks did a good job playing defensive
zone, but had a few problems towards the end. "We have to correct
the errors and hopefully we can give them a little better game next
time."
The Lady Bears outrebounded Thoreau 30-28 with Alta Largo grabbing
seven for Wingate. Cassandra Ping pulled down 11 for Thoreau. Both
teams turned the ball over 23 times.
Thoreau jumped out to an 8-2 lead with Ping and Kaytaundra Francisco
each scoring three. Wingate scored the next eight points, led by Elvina
Benally with four to take the lead 10-8.
The Lady Hawks ended the first and went into the second quarter with
a 7-2 run, taking their lead to 17-12. Ramone did most of the damage,
scoring four of the Lady Hawks points during the run.
Wingate responded with another 6-0 run, taking back the lead 18-17.
Katrina Velasquez ended the run and gave Thoreau the lead back, hitting
a shot with under two minutes left in the half. The two teams exchanged
baskets one more time before the half and Thoreau went into the locker
room up 21-20.
The third quarter started slow, with neither team scoring in the first
four minutes of the second half. Thoreau finally put points up with
3:58 left in the third on a pair of freethrows by Ramone.
Wingate got their first points of the second half with 3:38 left in
the quarter on a pair of freethrows by Moses.
Down one, Benally hit a three to put the Lady Bears back up 25-23.
The two teams exchanged leads twice and had the game tied twice in
the final minute of the third quarter. Velasquez grabbed an offensive
rebound with 12 seconds left in the quarter and put it in, breaking
a 30-30 tie, giving Thoreau the lead for the last time in the game
32-30 going into the fourth quarter.
Leading the way for Wingate was Elvina Benally with 19 points. Lisa
Ramone scored 20 to lead Thoreau.
"I am proud of (Tonia Yazzie), she shut down Thoreau's top scorer
Francisco," commented Martinez. Yazzie held Francisco to only
three points.
Martinez also said he was happy with his players Yazzie and Elvina
Benally for their offensive play. "The girls were able to find
them inside and the two were able to finish off plays when we most
needed them," Martinez said.
Thoreau will play Saturday at Hope. Wingate will travel to Tohatchi
on Saturday.
Bengal boys lose in route
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — Albuquerque High grabbed a quick lead from the start
and never looked back in shutting down Gallup 44-19 Thursday night
in a District 1AAAAA game.
"We didn't shoot the ball very well," Gallup head coach
Earl Diddle said as his Bengals slipped to 3-10 overall, 0-1 in district.
"It wasn't a pretty sight. We'll have to play better defense.
But I think the kids are doing the best they can for their abilities."
Gallup shot a miserable 23 percent from the field, 8-of-35, while
Albuquerque High doubled that with 47 percent shooting, 20-of-43.
The Bengals also fared poorly from long range, missing on 0-of-8 treys
while the Bulldogs hit on 2-of-7 for 29 percent shooting.
Gallup will be looking to rebound Saturday with a road game at West
Mesa in another district battle.
The Bulldogs, 5-8 overall, 1-0 in district, led from the outset and
never trailed against the struggling Bengals.
A pair of three-pointers by Bulldogs' Greg Estrada and Nathan Gorence
over the Bengal zone defense sandwiched around a duece by Gorencegave
the Bulldogs a commanding 8-0 lead which the Bengals were unable to
recover from.
A pullup jumper by Bengal senior Maurice Guliford at the four-minute
mark gave Gallup its first points of the ballgame after a four-minute
drought.
Albuquerque High, which had lost 63-53 to No. 2 ranked Sandia recently,
increased its lead in the second period, hitting 6-of-13 from the
field to grab a comfortable 22-9 lead at intermissoon.
The Bengals struggled from the field, hitting on just 2-of-9 from
the field.
It was a defensive battle in the third period with both teams playing
a patient half-court offense. Gallup again went cold from the field,
hitting on 2-of-12 shots from the field while Albuquerque High was
just 3-of-10 to take a 28-15 lead into the final period.
The Bulldogs cranked it up in the final period, pounding the ball
inside for the easy shots as Jerry Martinez, who finished with 12
points, scored three quick buckets as he went inside twice and then
scored off a fastbreak and later sank a pair of free throws.
The Bulldogs, who nailed 7-of-11 shots in the final period while the
Bengals were 2-of-8, nursed their lead up to 25 points, 42-17, with
under two minutes remaining in the game before winning comfortably,
44-19.
Gallup's top scorers were Drew Money and Maurice Gilford with six
points each.
Albuquerque High had Nathan Gorence leading the way with 13 points
while Jim Newell and Jerry Martinez each tossed in 12 points.
| Top |
Aragon fights ouster; Tsosie's safety
threatened
Walter Howerton Jr.
Managing Editor
SANTA FE — Manny Aragon stood up at his new seat at the back
of the New Mexico Senate on Thursday and told his colleagues what
he called a tale about "a mother, her baby and her right to vote."
When he was through talking it was clear that he was not through fighting.
Aragon, D-Bernalillo, was unseated as Senate president pro tempore
on Wednesday. It was a post he had held since 1988 and he lost it
by a single vote, 21-20.
Bernalillo Democrat Richard Romero was elected president pro tem in
a surprise move orchestrated by Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Bernalillo,
with the help of Navajo Sen. Leonard Tsosie, D-Bernalillo, Los Alamos,
McKinley, Rio Arriba and Sandoval. Romero, McSorley and Tsosie all
voted with Senate Republicans...
| Top |
Auditor tells Milan: Hire an accountant
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The 1999-2000 audit of the village finances is completed,
Milan Village Manager David Jiron told the board of trustees Thursday
night.
Gary Gaylord, the auditor, is expected to contact Jiron at the beginning
of next week to schedule an exit interview.
Mayor Elizabeth Lopez-Rael said she had talked to Gaylord recently
and he said he thought the village finance department needs more help.
The quarterly reports are outstanding for September and December.
Rael said Gaylord recommended the village hire an accountant/bookkeeper
as soon as possible...
| Top |
Schools' new retention plan now in effect
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The reaction from parents to the new retention policy
being implemented by the Gallup-McKinley County School District
has been mixed.
"A lot of people have called us and said that they will work
with us," School Superintendent Robert Gomez said.
Others, however, have objected to new state laws which limit the
parents' ability to have their children promoted despite counseling
by school officials to have the child retained.
Earlier this week, the school district sent letters to several thousand
parents in the county to inform them of the new state-mandated retention
policy and how this could affect their children...
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Gallup council puts 'wish list' in order
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The Gallup City Council continues to prioritize projects
funded by the revenue bond sale.
Stan Henderson, executive director of public works, said when city
council members last discussed the project listing in December, they
were presented with a rough draft of the revenue bond expenditures.
At that time, he said councilors asked the city to proceed with the
design of several projects to refine the conceptual cost estimates
and also requested the money be split over several years in order
to look at the investment picture on the money not being expended.
Henderson then presented councilors with a rough draft of requested
expenditures with comparisons between the previous and current proposals...
| Top
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Huge mural will honor Navajo Code Talkers
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — The community of Gallup, already brimming with many
examples of open air, public art, is about to become the recipient
of a huge mural honoring the Navajo Code Talkers.
The project is a creative collaboration among three parties. The
first is Be Sargent, an artist who has created a number of spectacular
murals in Massachusetts over the last decade. The second is George
Athens, a local businessman who is providing the artist with her
canvas a huge expanse of wall space in downtown Gallup.
And the third? That is the local community. Sargent is looking for
public feedback and guidance as she develops the mural's design,
and she is looking for a number of volunteers willing to help during
the project's under painting phase...
Deaths
Priscilla Sandoval Bertelle
ALLISON — Services for Priscilla Bertelle, 63, will be held at
10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Pat Universal
will officiate. Burial will follow at San Mateo Community Cemetery.
Visitation will be at held from noon to 7 p.m. today, Jan. 19, at
Rollie Mortuary. A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at Rollie Mortuary.
Bertelle died Jan. 16 in Albuquerque. She was born Feb. 3, 1937, in
San Mateo.
Survivors include her husband, John Bertelle of Gallup; son, Julian
Ruiz of Gallup; daughters, Brenda Bertelle of Albuquerque and Louisa
Herrera of Gallup; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Bertelle was preceded in death by her parents, Alfredo and Tonita
Mirabal Sandoval, and brothers, Benny Sandoval and Eusevio Sandoval.
Pallbearers will be Joe Bertelle, Randy Diaz, Jerry Herrera Sr., Jerry
Herrera Jr., Felix Lopaz III and Julian Ruiz III.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at San Mateo Fire Department and after the rosary at the
Sacred Heart Family Center.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Charlie Watchman
PAYSON, Ariz. — Services for Charlie "Charles" Watchman,
83, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Our Lady of the
Blessed Sacrament, Fort Defiance, Ariz. Father Martan will officiate.
Burial will follow at Fort Defiance Community Cemetery.
Watchman died Jan. 16 in Payson. He was born Sept. 15, 1917, in Cold
Springs, Ariz., into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Red Running
into the Water Clan.
Survivors include his wife, Ester Watchman; sons, Leonard Watchman
and Daniel Wauneka, both of Fort Defiance; daughters, Charlotte Watchman-Wilson
and Charlene Arviso, both of Fort Defiance; brothers, Pete Yazzie
of Fort Defiance and Lee Tashnabully of Farmington; and sisters, Lillian
Malone of Mexican Springs, Mary A. Robbins, Ella M. Slinkey and Lucille
Dineyahze, all of Fort Defiance, Alice Notah of St. Michaels and Betty
Allison of Tohatchi; 31 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
Watchman was preceded in death by his parents, Onebah and John E.
Watchman; sons, James William Watchman, Ernest Watchman and James
Wauneka; sisters, Josephine Quiver, Mary Josephine Begay and Anna
Marie Shirley; and brothers, Albert Watchman and Francis Watchman.
Pallbearers will be Manuel Watchman, Olin Watchman, Eldon Watchman,
Alan Watchman, Ron Blackgoat and Ervin Wauneka.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmy Nelson Charley
TEESTO, Ariz. — Services for Jimmy Charley, 47, were held at
10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, at First Baptist Church, Winslow, Ariz.
Pastor Joe Curley officiated. Burial followed at Desert View
Cemetery, Winslow.
Charley died Jan. 10 in Low Mountain. He was born April 8, 1953, in
Ganado, Ariz., into the Kinyaanii Clan for the Tsinajinii Clan.
Charley atttended Low Mountain Boarding School, Chinle Boarding School
and Many Farms High School. He was a rancher. His hobbies included
hunting.
Survivors include his wife, Katherine Charley of Teesto, Ariz; son,
Eric Charley of Chinle, Ariz.; daughters, Genevive Horseson of Cross
Canyon, Valerie Charley of Chinle and Dawn Begay of Teesto; mother,
Frances Nelson of Smoke Signal, Ariz.; sisters, Julia Charley of Smoke
Signal, Lena Nelson of Phoenix and Belinda Bahe of St. Michaels half-sisters
Nellie Harrison, Sandy Dick, Helene Cosen, Dorothy Charley, Bessie
Smith, Esther Charley Yazzie, Annette Pahe, Anna Martinez;
half-brothers Harry Charley, Raymond Charley, Dan Charley and Steven
Charley.
Charley was preceded in death by his father, Dan Charley Sr.
Pallbearers will be family members.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Teesto Chapter House.
Robert Brown
MANUELITO — Services for Robert Nelson Brown, 47, will be held
at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial will
be on family land, Tsedetah Canyon.
Brown died Jan. 16 in Flagstaff, Ariz. He was born Nov. 22, 1953,
in Manuelito into the Bitter Water Clan.
Survivors include his parents, Tom and Bertha Chischilly of Manuelito;
brothers, Ed Chischilly and Myron Chischilly of Manuelito ; sisters,
Juanita Brown of Gallup and Vida Olsen of Williams, Ariz.; and grandmother,
Ella Upshaw of Grand Canyon, Ariz.
Brown was preceded in death by his brother, Herman Brown.
Pallbearers will be Kenneth Price, Ray Earl, Ben Chischilly, Wayne
Curley, Ed Chischilly and Myron Chischilly.
The famlily will meet at 6 tonight at Manuelito Chapter House.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Jesus Romo
GALLUP — Services for Jesus Romo, 81, will be announced at a
later date.
Romo died Jan. 17 in Gallup. He was born Jan. 6, 1920, in Jalisco,
Mexico.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Lolita Dolores Verdugo
GAMERCO — Services for Lolita Verdugo, 74, will be announced
at a later date.
Verdugo died Jan. 17 in Gamerco. She was born Oct. 30, 1926, in Corrales.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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