Masked man holds up Allsup's clerk
Suspect in custody
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A masked and possibly armed suspect in a convenience
store robbery was arrested this morning after detectives tracked a
trail of footprints and money he left in the snow.
Gallup Police detectives arrested Virgil Pinto, 23, of Yah Ta Hey
about 10:30 a.m. at the Golden Desert Motel in connection with the
early morning robbery of Allsup's Convenience Store on Arnold Street.
Pinto was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on
charges of robbery and two counts of aggravated assault.
The store clerk's 15-year-old daughter told police she was helping
her mom at work about 2 a.m. when the suspect approached her and pointed
toward her an object he had concealed under his shirt.
The suspect then told the girl, "If you scream, I'll shoot you.
Give me all the money," a police report said.
The girl told police that at first she thought a family friend was
playing a joke on her but when she realized it was an actual robbery,
she became afraid.
Her mother, who had been cleaning the restroom, came out when she
heard the store alarm go off, police said. At that time, she said
a man with a white piece of cloth wrapped around his mouth ordered
her to take the money from the cash register, a police report said.
After the clerk gave him the money, police said the suspect ran out
of the store heading northbound around the building.
Both victims told police they did not see a gun, that whatever weapon
the suspect had was kept under his jacket the whole time.
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Report: Tribe hit by 'brain drain'
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation Council delegates received copies
of a fancy 75-page report on last year's tribal economic summit, along
with comments from Economic Development Division Director Tony Skrelunas
and his staff.
Skrelunas hosted a Wednesday lunch for the delegates and commented
on eight key topics, saying it is up to the council to support the
recommendations, "but create legislation that allows action to
occur and real economic development to exist."
His audience included Dr. Taylor McKenzie, Navajo Nation vice president,
and Edward T. Begay, council speaker.
Skrelunas' assistant Edward Richards, small business development director,
said, "The Navajo Nation is experiencing a severe case of 'brain
drain' with our youth. We encourage them to go off to school to get
an education and when they obtain a college degree, we have nothing
to offer them in the area of a job market. So they don't come back."
Recommendations include:
• Provide incentives to local land owners and users for business
development.
• Improve existing tribal and federal policies to allow land
leasees a greater opportunity to use their land as collateral.
• Remove the U.S. government from the lease process. This is
under way with the former president having signed the law to allow
the Navajo Nation to submit its steps for the Interior Department
secretary's approval. (The law still requires U.S.
secretarial approval of mineral leases.) The council changed the tribal
code to allow the division to draft the regulations for the
council's Economic Development Committee to send to the council, then
Washington, D.C.
• Develop a modern Internet system for access to tribal laws,
court decisions and resolutions.
• Create a fair process for tribal loans based on credit history,
including an educational loan program.
• Use a participation approach to economic development planning
that shows respect for culture and tradition.
• Write a master plan for telecommunications trunk lines based
on a comprehensive inventory and public comment.
• Design a tax incentive program for business development opportunities;
encourage entrepreneurs to start businesses; and
establish a sales tax to fund local needs such as sewer treatment
and fire stations (under way).
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Cibola cockfights to end in 30 days
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The 17-year, somewhat secretive relationship cockfighting
has with Cibola County will come to an abrupt end in 30 days when
a new animal control ordinance becomes law.
The ordinance was approved 5-0 vote by the county commission in a
special meeting Friday. The ordinance contains a clause banning cockfighting
once and for all.
The vote dampened the spirits of many cockfighting enthusiasts who
came to the meeting to portray cockfighting as a sport deeply oriented
in the Hispanic culture and one enjoyed by families. At the other
side of the sepctrum were the anti-cockfighting proponents, who showed
outward joy at the commission's decision.
Zuni Mountain Game Club erupted into a controversial spotlight in
September 2000 when Raton resident Steve Hayden leased the facility
from Sonny Small of San Rafael. He went to the sheriff's department
to talk with law officers, who later said it was the first time they
became aware a cockfighting pit existed in Cibola County.
From that time on the fight was on and it wasn't about chickens either.
It seems the county had a 1987 animal control ordinance banning cockfighting
and Hayden, who does contracting work in Colorado and said he raises
700 fighting cocks, claims he invested more than $30,000 into the
business and later found out it was illegal in Cibola County.
The issue spilled over into the lap of a county commission which seemed
unwilling to commit to one side or the other until a new slate of
commissioners was elected. What's more, the 1987 ordinance was determined
by the courts not to be valid because of a snafu with the county clerk's
filing of the ordinance.
While the old county commission seemed unwilling to take a stand,
this one did Friday and it was to ban cockfighting after hearing testimony
from more than 16 witnesses. Most of the witnesses were in favor of
pitting fighting cocks against each other in the name of "sport"
and some were against it, calling it a sport all right a "bloodsport."
When Commissioners James Meisner, Bennie Cohoe, Issac Padilla, Fred
Scott and Arturo Candelaria walked into the Cibola County Convention
Center, their faces showed the seriousness of the night.
The agenda called for only one thing to be discussed and acted on:
the animal control ordinance.
Commission Chairman Padilla set the tone for the night disorder of
any kind would not be tolerated. His point was amplified by the presence
of sheriff's deputies ringing the room.
Sherry Small, wife of the game club's owner, was the first to speak.
She called for the commission to uphold cockfighting, a right still
given by the state.
(New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana are the only three states in the
nation to allow cockfighting; 18 states make it a felony to organize
or participate in cockfighting, and 33 states make it against the
law to be a spectator. Nine New Mexico counties ban cockfighting and
several communities also ban it).
She called it a matter of Hispanic culture and heritage that cockfighting
should be allowed because of the Hispanic population in Cibola County
and New Mexico.
She then launched an attack on the groups fighting the legalization
of cockfighting in Cibola County, saying the same groups also call
for a ban on hunting and fishing. "What's next?" she asked.
"Don't partner our county with groups that would want to change
our way of life."
Both sides speak out
Elisabeth Jennings, executive director of Animal Protection of New
Mexico, argued that people's freedoms are limited only by the impact
those freedoms have on others. She added that animals do not have
the same right; however, people did ban cockfighting in 47 states.
"Our system is flexible," Jennings said. "I'd like
you to uphold the ban this evening."
Billy Small, son of Sonny Small, used a different tact, naming other
portions of the animal control ordinance in his argument
against adopting the ordinance.
Lawrence Young said not enough thought has been put into the ordinance.
He asked if the county intended to put more animal
control officers on the street? "You have two now and they can't
even handle Grants," Young said. He asked that the county
leave cockfighting as it is in the county.
Craig Williams, vice president of the Grants/Cibola County Chamber
of Commerce, said the chamber agrees with the ban.
Arnold Arvisu, an officer with Game Fowl Fanciers of New Mexico, repeatedly
told the commission that cockfighting is a
cultural issue. "It is guaranteed by the Treaty of Guadeloupe
Hidalgo that we can fight these cocks," he said.
Cecilia Perrow, a retired history professor, said she taught New Mexico
history and failed to see where the treaty specifically
guarantees cockfighting.
Several others, including Karen Hayden, wife of Steve Hayden, spoke
on behalf of cockfighting by, among other things,
attacking animal rights groups. "The animal rights activists,
they are the real radicals," she said.
Several of the cockfighting enthusiasts also spoke of bringing their
children to the cockfights.
Steve Hayden spoke only a few minutes, explaining how he got into
the business and that he spent more than $30,000 on the
business and an additional $10,000 in legal fees fighting the ban.
He also said he would police the area to pick up trash left by
cockfighting attendees.
Minutes before the vote Pailla said the number of letters and telephone
calls he received about the issue has been remarkable.
Cohoe said he wanted the ordinance to be more concise and asked if
amendments could be made to it. He later said he was not
referring to cockfighting, but to other animals not named in the ordinance,
such as horses, cows and chickens.
Claire Tillman, a cockfighting critic who sat in the crowd listening
to the events unfold, later said, "Cockfighting is inhuman
and it disturbs me that cockfighters encourage their children to participate
in these bloody fights. Children are impressionable
and they learn values by what goes on around them."
Tillman, a teacher, said, "I think each of our commissioners
made the right choice. Their responsible decision shows they
listened to their constituents and they care about the children, and
the animals. I hope the state legislature will do the same so
that we may join the other 47 states who already ban this cruel activity."
| Top |
Tuba City girls win key battle
Staff report
WINSLOW, Ariz. — Defending girls Class 3A state champion Tuba
City edged out Winslow 47-46 in overtime on a snowy Saturday night
in a crucial 3A Enchantment Conference showdown before a capacity
crowd.
In the boys game, defending state champion Tuba City was knocked off
by Winslow, 87-73.
In the only other games that weren't cancelled because of the weather,
the Kirtland Central teams swept visiting Piedra Vista.
Games that have been rescheduled for tonight include Pinon girls and
boys at Window Rock, Navajo Prep at Newcomb and Ganado girls/boys
at Greyhills.
Tuba City girls 47, Winslow 46
"It was a big win on the road and we're glad to get it,"
Tuba City coach Tamyra Rogers said. "Our fans had to come through
the snow to see the game and it made a lot of difference to the girls."
Tuba City, now 21-3 overall, unbeaten and in first place in the conference
with a perfect 9-0 record, will close out the regular season at home
Tuesday against Pinon and against Winslow Wednesday in a key rematch
before traveling to Window Rock Friday. If Tuba City and Winslow end
up tied for first place at the end of the regular season a coin flip
will determine the conference's top seed for regionals.
"It was tough loss," Winslow coach Don Petranovich said.
"We didn't play very well on the defensive end. We let them get
a lot of easy baskets. Tuba City was a lot more aggressive on offense
than we were."
Winslow, 18-3 overall, 8-1 in conference, will host Ganado Tuesday
before closing out at Tuba City Wednesday and at Greyhills Friday.
"We have to worry about playing Ganado first and try for a split
with Tuba City," Petranovich said.
Winslow grabbed a comfortable 15-8 first period lead before Tuba bounced
back to trail 21-20 at intermission. The Lady Warriors then took a
35-33 lead into the final period. Tuba City had a five-point lead
with over a minute remaining before Winslow came roaring back to tie
the game and force the game into overtime.
In the overtime period, Tuba City got a bucket by Jayme Lomakema followed
by the winning bucket by Tammy Secody.
Secody led Tuba City with 16 points with Lomakema adding 14. Amy North
contributed 12.
Winslow's Francine McCurtain led all scorers with 20 points while
Nicole Begaii added 10.
From the free throw line, Tuba City made 3-of-9 while Winslow was
5-for-9.
Winslow boys 87, Tuba City 73
Winslow upended defending state champion Tuba City 87-73 in the boys
game making the boys conference race a little more interesting with
a stunning win over the defending state champion.
"It was a big win," Winslow coach Paul Landis said. "We
were able to handle their press."
Winslow led from the outset with a commanding 19-9 lead, 37-29 at
intermission. The Bulldogs stretched their lead to 60-45 before winning
by 16 points. Tuba City topped Winslow 47-43 during the Winslow Holiday
Invitational Finals last month.
Tuba City, now 7-2 in conference play, had Tristan Kewanyama with
17 points, LaVar Martin 14 and Josh Allan 11.
Winslow, 6-3 in conference play, 11-9 overall, had balanced scoring
with five players in double figures with Seth Davis leading the way
with 25 points, Bryan Curtis with 20, Heston Yazzie 13 and with Roland
Jones and Manuelito Shirley with 10 each.
Winslow sank 19-of-33 free throws while Tuba City made 17-of-19.
Kirtland boys 67, Piedra Vista 51
The Bronco boys overcame a slow first half to beat the visiting Panthers
in District 1AAAA.
"We played pretty well," Kirtland coach Steve Scott said,
who added that cold first half shooting may have been the result of
a big district win over Bloomfield Friday night.
The Broncos, unbeaten in District 1AAAA with a 3-0 record, 15-1 overall,
trailed 14-13 after the opening period and led by just three at half-time,
33-30. A strong third quarter in which they outscored Piedra Vista
14 to 6 put the Broncos up 4736 and they continued to pull away in
the fourth period.
Kirtland shot 37 percent (27-of-69) for the game. Piedra Vista made
13-of-48 from the field, including 4-of-12 from three-point range.
They also outshot Kirtland 16-of-25 to 12-of-16 at the free throw
line.
Pat Crawford led four Broncos in double figures with 20 points. Kenny
Smith tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Zach
Hohenberg scored 12. Devon Manning also hauled in 7 boards.
Kirtland outrebounded Piedra Vista 38 to 30.
Cory Stock was the only double figure scorer for the Panthers with
15 points and 5 rebounds.
Kirtland's defense helped counter their slow offensive night as they
came up with 27 steals. The Broncos finished with 15 turnovers while
Piedra Vista lost it 27 times.
Kirtland girls 80, Piedra Vista 44
In the girls game, Cory Moon's 20 points led a balanced attack against
the Lady Panthers. Nadia Begay scored 17 points, Shantel Begay 12
and Jaimey Tanner nine in the win.
The Kirtland teams will host Farmington in a key district contest
this week.
| Top |
School board stalls on contract with
Coy
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The Grants/Cibola County School Board refused last week
to give Superintendent Linda Coy an extension to her existing contract.
Coy's contract will expire in June 2002. However, the re-employment
schedule adopted by the board in 1994 states: "The superintendent
will be considered for re-employment at the January board meeting
annually or in the year in which his/her contract expires, at the
board's discretion."
Coy came to the district in September 1999 and her original contract
would have expired this June, but six months after she arrived, the
board extended the contract to June 2002. The contract that would
have expired this June is for $83,680 a year.
Coy asked the board for another extension, but the board declined
to take action at its Thursday night meeting...
| Top |
Fulton promoted to Navajo police chief
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Dorothy Fulton can keep the four golden stars she
wore on her collar as Criminal Investigations Department chief. But
now they will stand for chief of the Navajo Nation's largest policing
agency, the Law Enforcement Department.
She also is the first woman to be the Law Enforcement Department chief.
Herb Clah Jr., Navajo Public Safety Division director, selected Fulton
to head the 350-member patrol department. He then had Navajo Nation
Council Delegate Mark Maryboy, whose district includes her home chapter
of Red Mesa, make the announcement Friday morning.
She succeeds Leonard Butler, who left in July and is now with the
Natural Resources Division Rangers...
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Hopi radio station depends on volunteers
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
POLACCA, Ariz. - After leading a two-month training stint, John
Gregg leaves KUYI with the certainty that the Hopi-operated radio
station will succeed because of community and volunteer support.
"This station has so much internal support from volunteers
and that's what makes the difference," he said.
Gregg, a former Tuba City on-air personality at Greyhills High School's
KGHR, was on loan from American Indian Radio On Satellite (AIROS)
where he works as program manager and network assistant manager.
He spent the past two months training 16 volunteers at KUYI. The
volunteers program and air the station's music as well as preform
behind-the-scenes work...
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Tribal Council delays action
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — While the Navajo Nation Council made several major
decisions during last week's quarterly winter session, delegates did
not reach many other items on the agenda.
As usual, delegates removed several proposals from the agenda while
adding others.
Forwarded to either the next special session (Feb. 1-2) or regular
session (April 16-20) were:
The long-standing resolution to take back $10 million from the Navajo
Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI) potato growing, processing and
selling project and redistribute it for capital improvements...
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Navajos' eviction by U.S. not likely
Jerry Kammer
The Arizona Republic
BIG MOUNTAIN — Tension crackled a year ago in the crisp winter
air of this high desert rangeland east of the Grand Canyon. Time
was running out for Roberta Blackgoat and other Navajos defying
an order from Washington to leave their homes by last Feb. 1.
Blackgoat, an 83-year-old widow, dug in. Supporters from across
the United States and foreign countries joined in denouncing
relocation as a human rights violation. Rumors swelled that federal
marshals were on their way with eviction orders.
The deadline passed without serious incident.
A year later, Blackgoat says her failing health not the federal
law may force her to leave her home, a three-room stone building
on a pinon-studded ridge 15 miles from the nearest paved road...
Deaths
Albert Lain
GALLUP — Services for Albert Lain, 72, were held at 11 a.m.,
today at Cleburne Funeral Home Chapel in Cleburne, Texas. Rev. Charles
Payne officiated. Burial followed at Baker-Lain Cemetery.
Lain died Jan. 24 in Gallup. He was born April 5, 1928 in Haskell,
Texas.
Lain served in the U.S. Navy. He retired from Pronto's Auto in Gallup
as a mechanic.
Survivors include his brothers, Hubert Lain of Burleson, Texas, Michael
Lain, Tommy Lain and Raymond Lain all of
Cleburne, Texas and sisters, Juanita Evans of Cleburne, Texas and
Anita Irwin of Texas City, Texas.
Pallbearers will be J. W. Adams, Carlton Crook, Grady Cheek, Virgil
Worlow, Troy Jones and H. Bridges.
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