Fog, ice: Dangerous duo



Fog freezing to the surface of County Road 19 in Prewitt caused this pickup truck to skid and collide with a passing freight train Wednesday morning. The white vhicle in the background stopped to offer help and a few moments later a third vehicle also lost control on the slick roads and collided with it. Nobody was injured.



With more than 9,000 books to care for at Washington Elementary School (some have been on the shelves since the 1950s), librarian Irene Montoya uses a variety of tapes, glues and even a knife to repair the tattered books so they can last another year.

Photos by Jeff Jones

 

---

City bond projects put into order

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — After weeks of discussion, Gallup City Council members have prioritized a list of capital improvement projects to be paid for with money from the recent bond sale.

City Manager David Ruiz said the conceptual estimates are necessary in order to further invest the proceeds from the bond sales and maximize the city's interest income.

The city already has been investing the funds in the overnight markets, he said. However, the city's financial advisers have recommended council members prepare a document of anticipated expenditures for the next three years in order to invest the funds quickly and in the best way possible.

Ruiz stressed that the list and the amounts all are subject to change and advised council members to continue to seek public input from residents in their districts. As far as the details of each project, he said, all the money will be spent at council's direction.

Council members approved the first year funding of the following list of projects that originally were advertised to voters during the bond election: wastewater treatment plant phase 1A construction, $900,000; Dani Drive reconstruction, $374,868; Patton Drive reconstruction, $40,000; Third Street Bridge Replacement, $400,000; Sanostee Drive reconstruction, $400,000; Hillcrest Cemetery improvements, $40,000; Ford Canyon Park improvements, $40,000; library improvements and addition, $60,000;
and Sports Complex improvements, $40,000.

Also on the advertised list is the Gurley Avenue reconstruction but before the city allocates $250,000 for this year, it is waiting to see if the University of New Mexico-Gallup receives state funding for the matching funds it has agreed to.

The proposed project listing council members have been reviewing also lists 19 additional projects that were recommended by residents during four public hearings.

However, because of the low attendance at these meetings, council members do not believe the list represents what majority of residents want.

But Ruiz instructed council members to contact the people from their district who submitted the comments to find out whether their recommendations are critical and if others support the projects.

In addition to the list advertised to voters, council members approved funding for the following projects: Little Puerco flood control dam, $105,083; Red Rock State Park improvements, $40,000; library heating and air conditioning replacement, $150,000; Nizhoni Boulevard/College Drive traffic signal light, $40,000; Navajo Gallup Water Pipeline study, $75,000; and Sidewalk Reconstruction Program, $400,000.

| Top |

---

School libraries need $1 million to update shelves

Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The current state of every public school library in the county is a 'disgrace," according to officials in the Gallup-McKinley Public School District.

The average book in a school library is more than 21 years old and some schools spend more money on sports uniforms yearly than they do on books, say library officials.

"There are some books here that my son checked out when he was here," said Irene Montoya, who oversees the library collection at the Washington Elementary School. Her son is now 34 years old.

Carol Sarath, the district's library media coordinator, and others have been on a low-key crusade to get the school board to pay more attention to the school libraries and provide funding to bring school collections to an adequate level.

One of the problems is that there is no state or even district mandate to the schools on how much money should be spent on the library collection. In fact, the administrators at each of the 33 schools in the county decide on their own how much money to allocate to book purchases.

"Some schools don't spend any money on improving the library collection," Sarath said.

Up until recently Washington Elementary was in that category but in the last year, thanks to Title I and other programs, it was able to purchase $16,000 worth of books for the school's Accelerated Reading program. While this has allowed the district to buy some popular books, like the ones written by Dr. Seuss, it has not helped in purchasing books on subjects like
oceanography and other subjects that may be of interests to the students, Sarath said.

The only money the library had this past year to buy books outside the reading program was the $200 it raised through a book fair, Montoya said. That purchased between 10 and 15 books for a student population of 250.

Nationally, education groups urge schools to spend at least $35 a year per student on new books for the library but the Gallup schools average far under that, probably $6 or less, Sarath said. One of the reasons for the disparity, she said, is that only 11 of the 33 people heading the school library systems is a certified librarian.

"New Mexico is one of only four states that does not require a certified librarian to oversee a school library," Sarath said. The only requirement that New Mexico has is that the person have a high school education.

What this means is that while hiring someone who is not certified saves the district money, most of the district's librarians don't have the expertise or the clout to see that the situation changes.

Sarath said she sees a cycle occurring in many schools. Teachers bring their children to the school library and see that it doesn't meet their needs so they don't use it that much, thus giving administrators a reason not to provide any funding.

She recently appeared before the school board and explained that the lack of funding may be one reason district students don't read very much.

She pointed to recent studies which confirm something that librarians have been saying for decades students do better academically in schools that spend more money for libraries.

School Superintendent Robert Gomez said at the meeting that he agreed that the situation needed to be changed and asked Sarath how much it would take to bring the school libraries up to speed.

At that meeting, she said she didn't know but later said it would cost the district a one-time grant of $1 million and a
commitment to provide adequate funding annually from then on.

Gallup isn't the only district facing this problem, which has caused state legislators to look into finding a statewide solution to the problem.

A bill has been introduced in this session of the legislature that would allow the state to issue bonds to provide funding for districts to upgrade their library collections.

| Top |

---

Cibola school forum Saturday

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — The Grants chapters of League of Women Voters and the Business and Professional Women will host a forum Saturday for candidates in the Grants/Cibola County school board election Feb. 6.

The forum will take place 2-4 p.m. in the gymnasium at the Future Families Foundation Center, 551 Washington Ave., Grants.

The open seats are now held by Rita Suazo, District 1; chairman Terry Fletcher, District 3; and Undersheriff Johnny Valdez, District 2. Lloyd Felipe and Bob Murdoch each have two more years of their four-year terms to serve.

Valdez is the current board member from District 2, but he did not file for re-election. District 2 is made up of parts of Grants, San Rafael, and San Mateo. Samuel Trujillo and Dion Sandoval, both of San Rafael, are hoping to fill the seat vacated by Valdez.

Suazo is running unchallenged in District 1 for a second four-year term. The district includes Laguna and Acoma pueblos, and the communities of Seboyeta, and Cubero.

Fletcher was elected from District 3 two years ago after Andy Tafoya resigned and he is running for re-election in his district. His opponent is Micella "Mitzie" Baca.

The candidates will be given five to seven minutes to speak before the forum is opened up to questions from the audience.

Baca said she was nervous about the forum, but she looks at it as an opportunity to answer the public's questions and to clarify her reasons for running for the board.

Baca retired from the school district last June after working in the superintendent's office for 41 years. Before retiring Baca said there had been some differences between herself and Superintendent Linda Coy. She said she wants to make it clear she is not running for the school board in order to get rid of Coy.

Coy had questioned Baca's candidacy in December because she was not living within District 3 at the time she filed for candidacy. At issue is the fact that Baca lives in District 2, not District 3 where she is a candidate. She is building a house in District 3 and will be moved in by the time the new terms begin in March.

The question was settled when Assistant County Attorney Sherry Thompson, in a written opinion to the county clerk said, "Ms. Baca's candidacy is valid, and she may continue with the election."

Sandoval also said he was nervous, but he said, "I am looking forward to it. I think it will be interesting." He said his campaign is going well. He has been going door to door and this weekend he will visit District 2 Grants residents.

Candidates Fletcher, Trujillo and Suazo could not be reached for comments.

| Top |

---

Ganado teams split with Window Rock

Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

GANADO, Ariz. — The Ganado boys outplayed the Window Rock Scouts, pulling out a 82-77 win, while the Lady Scouts dominated the first quarter against the Lady Hornets and barely edged them in the end, beating Ganado 55-53 in 3A Enchantment conference games Wednesday night at the Ganado Fieldhouse Gym.

Boys Ganado 82, Window Rock 77

"It feels great. We played four quarters hard. I really thought that mentally we could play good but I didn't know if we had it physically," Hornet coach Dave Freeman said on his team win, despite it being their third game of the week. "We showed a lot of heart tonight. We went out there and played as hard as we could, and on dead legs."

Ganado and Window Rock started the first quarter head-to-head with the Hornets leading at the end of the quarter, 18-17.

Hornet Jay Taliman opened with a jump shot and Scout Elcaro Lee answered back with a basket. Hornet Cody Mueller also sank a jump shot and Lee came right back with another basket, tying the game at 4-4.

The see-saw battle continued throughout the quarter, but the Ganado took the one point lead on an assist from Ricardo Montano to Mueller for the one point lead.

The Hornets jumped into the second quarter on a basket from Mueller and a trey from Kasey Bluehouse, putting Ganado on top 23-17.

The teams once again exchange a total of 15 points before the Hornets went on an eight point run.

Ahead 29-26, the Hornets finished the quarter with a drive to the basket from Mueller followed by a jump shot, Lavon Salabye assisting Taliman for a basket and Mueller with a basket from an assist from Manuel Rico, with the Hornet going into half-time leading 37-26.

The Scouts came back from half-time controlling the third quarter, outscoring the Hornets 26 to 17.

Scout Lawrence Hickson opened with a trey, Lee made a drive to the basket and sank a jump shot and Hornet Taliman made basket, with the Hornets still leading 39-33.

Window Rock answered right back with a three-pointer from Dewayne Morgan and Augustine Anderson with a steal to take the ball in for a lay-up, putting Window Rock down by one 39-38.

Trailing 49-42, Scout Lee sank a basket, Lee made a drive to the basket, Darren Joe made a pair of free throws and Lee made a basket. Hornet Montano ended the eight point run with a three-point basket and Scout Anderson ended the quarter with a pair of free-throws, leaving the Scouts behind 54-52 going into the final quarter.

Both teams continued to battle through the final quarter, but at 62-61 a 12 point run by the Hornets helped them close the game with the win.

Hornet Bluehouse sank a trey, Lavon Salabye made two back-to-back drives to the basket, Mueller made a jump shot, Salabye grabbed a steal for a basket and Bluehouse went 1-for-2 at the line, giving the Hornets a 74-61 advantage.

Scout Asa-Ryan Begaye stopped the run on a three-pointer and finished the four point play at the line and Lee made 1-of-2 free throws at the line.

With just over a minute left to play in the game and Ganado leading 74-66, the Hornets were able to seal the back and forth action of the fourth quarter by going 8-for-12 at the line.

"I am very proud of the kids because we believed we could win and did the things it took to win. We did the blocking, getting the loose balls," Freeman said.

"We knew as a coaching staff that they were going to come out strong. In this conference, everybody wants to beat each other.
Even if we are 4-1 in conference we knew that this was going to be very tough. I think our boys were mentally off from the start, especially that first-half and we didn't really come ready to play like we can," said Scout head coach Tim Arviso.

The Hornets Cody Mueller led his team with 24 points and eight rebounds.

Other scorers for the Hornets were Taliman pumping in 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds; Bluehouse walked away with 13 points and three steals; and Lavon Salabye tallied 11 points.

Scout Lee lead the Warriors effort with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Morgan added 22 points and Darren Joe finished with 12 points.

Ganado (2-5 in conference) will play at Greyhills on Saturday and Window Rock (4-2 in conference) will play Winslow in Friday and Pinon at home on Saturday.

Girls Window Rock 55, Ganado 53

"We shot horribly today. We only made six points in the first quarter, but overall we came back. We fought back and just didn't lay down and die," said Lady Hornets head coach Gwyn Grant. "We just need to get our intensity going and we really didn't come out as hard as I had wanted us to, but once I had a talk with them they finally stepped it up."

The Window Rock Scouts started a strong first quarter with an 11 point run.

Scout Jodelle Bitloy opened with a jump shot, Andrian Chee sank a trey, Robert Haskie made a lay-up and Jeanelle Kirk and Haskie both made baskets, giving the Scouts a 11-0 lead.

Hornet Melissa Jones sank a basket and Candice Kirk with an offense rebound ended the 11 point run, but the Scouts were right back with another 11 point run.

Scout Haskie scored on a drive to the basket, Ronnie Begaye assisted a play to Krystal Kontz, Begaye scored on an offensive rebound, Haskie sank a lay-up and Kontz hit a three-pointer.

Hornet Melissa Peterson ended the run and quarter on an offensive rebound, giving the Scouts a 22-6 lead.

The Hornets retaliated in the second quarter, outscoring the Scouts 21 to 7.

Ganado started with a trey from Peterson and a drive by Melissa Jones, but Scout Kirk answered back on an offensive rebound, with Window Rock still up 24-11.

Ganado then had an eight point run, but the Scouts were still in the lead at 24-18.

Hornet Jolene Benally went 1-for-2 at the line, Jones sank a pair of free throws and Peterson made a jump shot and on offensive rebound.

Behind 29-24, Ganado went into half-time trailing by a basket when Peterson went one for two at the line and Jones made a pair of free throws.

"I am very proud because we are at that point were we are 50/50 and we're looking to get over that hump and tonight could have been one of those hump busters," Lady Scouts coach Bo Whitelock said on his teams win.

The two teams continued to battle in their third quarter, but Window Rock proceeded to lead outscoring the Hornets 17 to 15, going into the final quarter leading 46-42.

Both teams fought throughout the fourth quarter, exchanging baskets one after the other.

Scout Haskie started the scoring by putting the ball back in the basket on a rebound, Hornets Adrienne Jones was right back on an offensive rebound as well, Hornet Peterson sank a jump and Scout Andrian Chee sank a trey, putting the Scouts ahead 50-47.

Leading 52-50, Scout Chee assisted a play to Haskie and Hornet Melissa Jones sank a two jump shot, putting the score at 55-53.

A last minute effort from the Hornets left them short when an attempt by Benally and Melissa Jones fell through, giving the Lady Scouts the 55-53 victory.

"Being on the road and against a very tough team that defeated Monument Valley and almost knocked off Tuba City this is a true contender and one of the final four from last year with a number of outstanding returners, so I am very proud of our girls for hanging in there. It should show them now that they are capable of night in and night out," Whitelock said.

"They (Hornets) gave a 110 percent and sometimes the games just don't go your way or fall for you. It was just one of those games that we had," Grant concluded.

Scout Chee tallied 13 points and grabbed three steals.

Leading the Lady Hornets in their effort was Melissa Jones with 22 points, grabbed five rebounds and two steals. Hornet
Peterson walked away with 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocked-shots.

The Lady Scouts (3-3 in conference) will play at Winslow on Friday and the Lady Hornets (3-4 in conference) will play.

The two teams will face off in a make up game on Wednesday at the Fort Defiance Fieldhouse.

| Top |

---

Four vehicles collide

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

PREWITT — Black ice was the cause of a four-vehicle accident Wednesday morning when police said a pickup truck slid into a passing train and caused a chain reaction of wrecks on County Road 19 in Prewitt.

New Mexico State Police Lt. Tom Dobson said the string of accidents began when the driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck, William Jerald, 16, slid into the train, bounced off and ended up against a portable Santa Fe Railroad building on the east side of the intersection.

When a passerby in an Oldsmobile Alero stopped to help, a third vehicle a Chevrolet Cavalier tribal vehicle slid out of control on the ice and crashed into the passerby's unoccupied car...

| Top |

---

City bond projects put into order

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — After weeks of discussion, Gallup City Council members have prioritized a list of capital improvement projects to be paid for with money from the recent bond sale.

City Manager David Ruiz said the conceptual estimates are necessary in order to further invest the proceeds from the bond sales and maximize the city's interest income.

The city already has been investing the funds in the overnight markets, he said. However, the city's financial advisers have recommended council members prepare a document of anticipated expenditures for the next three years in order to invest the funds quickly and in the best way possible...

| Top |

---

---

Deaths

Pauline Begay Pete

MANUELITO — Services for Pauline Pete, 50, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Pastor Arthur J. Willams will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.

Pete died Jan. 22 in Albuquerque. She was born Aug. 2, 1950, in Gallup into the Sleep Rock People Clan for the Meadow People Clan.

Survivors include her sons, Richard Begay Pete of Gallup, Roger Pete of Manuelito and Ricky Woody Jr. of Window Rock; daughters, Ceclia Pete of Smith Lake and Judy Begay Pete of Gallup; brother, Glen Begay of Manuelito; sister, Betty Begay of Manuelito; and 10 grandchildren.

Pete was preceded in death by her husband, David Pete, and parents, Kenny and Emma Begay.

Pallbearers will be Junior Joe Begay, Wilson Begay, Adrian Evans, Edison Gruber, Bernard Lee and Richard Pete.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Peter Deswood Sr.

ROUND ROCK, Ariz. — Services for Peter Hoskie Deswood Sr., 80, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Saint Isabel Mission. Father Caron Vollmer will officiate. Burial will follow at the Lukachukai, Ariz., cemetery.

Deswood died Jan. 20 in Chinle, Ariz. He was born July 4, 1920, in Round Rock into the Water Flows Together People for the Big Water Clan.

Deswood attended Fort Wingate. He was employed as a farmer, rancher, plant mechanic for Kerr McKee, Union Pacific Railroad, Bureau of Indian Affairs as a cook, and uranimum miner.

He served on the Navajo Tribal Council, was president of the Senior Citizens, and served on the following committees Parks and Recreation, Budget and Finance, Resource Committee, Farm Board, Soil and Water Conservation and Advisor. His hobbies included traveling, walking and silversmithing.

Survivors include wife, Mary R. Deswood of Round Rock; sons, Luther Deswood Sr. of Mexican Hat, Utah, Henry Deswood and Michael Deswood, both of Round Rock, Luke Deswood of Tsaile, Ariz., Peter Deswood of Farmington, Wilbert Deswood of Tempe, Ariz., Phillip Deswood of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Steve Trujillo and Jerry Deswood, both of Phoenix; daughters, Moella Deswood and Rose M. Draper, both of Round Rock, Marilyn Nez, Virginia Deswood and Sandra Deswood, all of Tsaile, Sally Nelson of Eager, Ariz., Louella Deswood of Sweet Water, Ariz., and Susie Deswood of Lukachukai, Ariz.; brothers, Tom James of Fruitland and Kee Lee Yazzie of Sacramento, Calif.; sister, Sadie Yazzie of Round Rock; 49 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Deswood was preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn N. Deswood; parents, Marie Lee and Totsohnii Yazzie; brothers, Sam James and David James; and daughter, Marilyn Ann Teller.

Pallbearers will be Luther Deswood Sr., Jerry Deswood, Michael Deswood, Steve Truillo Jr., James Draper and Jeris Draper.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Lucy Dawkins Lewis

GALLUP — Services for Lucy Lewis, 75, will be held at noon Saturday, Jan. 27, at St. Matthews Methodist Church, Trevose, Pa. Private disposition will be held in Gallup.

Lewis died Dec. 10 in Gallup. She was born April 29, 1925, in New York.

Lewis graduated from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. She was a secretary in the Peace Education Department of the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia for 40 years. She was a member of NAACP and worked for civil rights.

Survivors include her son, William Joseph Lewis III of Philadelphia; daughter, Stephaine Lewis-Kraitsik of Gallup; sister, Patricia Tunnell of Sun City, Ariz.; and three grandchildren.

Lewis was preceded in death by her husband, William Joseph Lewis Jr.; parents, Hortense and Edward Dawkins; brother, Edward Dawkins; and grandparents, Madora Henderson and John Pinkard.

Ricky Yazzie

LOWER GREASEWOOD SPRINGS, Ariz. — Services for Ricky Yazzie, 37, will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at the Catholic Church, Lower Greasewood Springs.

Yazzie died Jan. 20 in Phoenix. He was born May 16, 1963. in Barshto, Ariz., into the Red House Clan for the One Who Walks Around You People Clan.

Survivors include his father, Lou Yazzie, and sister, Silviya Yazzie.

The family will meet at 6 tonight, Jan. 25, at the Mary Joe Yazzie residence.