Competing candidates

 

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Driver is tops with kids

Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer

GANADO — The best bus driver in Arizona starts off his bus routes thinking to himself, "I'm holding raw eggs in my hand. I don't want them to break."

Freddie Yazzie said, "When I used to go to school, a bus driver was just a bus driver, but if you really get into what they do, there's a lot of issues." Yazzie recently was named best school bus driver of the year in Arizona for the second year in a row.

"I have to take them to school and bring them home safely to their mom and dad."

Yazzie is more proud of his students than his award. He watches his students cross the street after they get off the bus and he points out several times how carefully they follow safety rules in and around the bus.

Before he started his afternoon route with his primary school children, he quizzed them on the appropriate behavior for riding a school bus. Sometimes, Yazzie said, he awards students who get the answers right.

His two afternoon runs have fewer students than his morning run, when all of his primary, intermediate and middle school students get on the bus together for a total of 63 students. In the morning they're sleepy and quiet; in the afternoon they're restless and hyper. But Yazzie has figured out a way to keep even the afternoon crowds settled down.

He built a magazine rack by attaching several vinyl pockets to the front seat cushion. He asks the nearby hotels to donate the magazines they get. Yazzie likes to carry National Geographic, but he has expanded the selection since his students asked him to have Seventeen and Teen magazines.

What matters to Yazzie is that the children use their time on the bus to read. The activity also keeps them in their seats.

Yazzie didn't always have such an easy time disciplining his young passengers.

Yazzie moved back to Ganado from Idaho five years ago when his daughters started school and he wanted them to experience living on the reservation. In Idaho, Yazzie worked at the sawmill. When he moved to Ganado, his brother, a school bus driver for 20 years, suggested trying the profession. Yazzie had never thought about working with children before.

His first assignments were not easy. He was just getting used to maneuvering a school bus and he had to drive students to athletic competitions. He didn't get the chance to get to know most of those students, so it was hard to discipline them.

The next year, he got his regular route on bus number 38 and he saw those students twice a day all year, and some for several years. He became attached to them, and he began to think of them as his own children. Yazzie said he was able to talk to them not only about school bus safety but also about the importance of their education.

As he got to know them better, they started warming up to him too.

His younger students gave him two Pokmon cards (Pokmon is a popular children's cartoon) and taught him how to trade for more cards. Yazzie collected 10 cards.

When two of his students got into a physical fight in the bus, Yazzie said he had a long and constructive discussion with one of the boys after his bus route.

Yazzie talks to some of his students outside the bus when he sees them around town. The younger ones will greet him sometimes with a hug. The older ones often keep in touch with him after they stop riding his bus.

Now, Yazzie said he wants to be even more involved with children, possibly as a teacher.

Already, he does extra activities with the schools. He helps with the Sportsmanship program where T-shirts are given to students at games who exhibit sportsmanship. He also helps with the bus safety poster contest.

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City OKs cash for crippled Ceremonial

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — After rehashing the Lodgers' Tax Committee's recommendations, Gallup City Council members voted Tuesday to keep allocations to area organizations the same as last year including money for the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial.

The council approved $15,000 for the Ceremonial to be used for brochures and advertising, despite the fact that financial statements requested from Ceremonial officials were confusing at best.

Ceremonial officials had asked the city for more that $40,000 from the lodgers' tax fund.

At the work session last week, council members requested time to review packets and financial statements from various organizations soliciting funds from the city.

The council also made a specific request last week for the Ceremonial to provide financial statements before the city would approve the appropriation of lodgers' tax funds or the additional $40,000 the organization has requested.

Mayor John Pena said the city has received a financial report from the Ceremonial and that with an inventory of $104,000 under current assets, it appears the organization is in good shape.

If the Ceremonial were to convert its inventory into cash, he said, it would be able to rid itself of all its liabilities.

The Ceremonial's recently hired accountant, Tony Gonzales, said the inventory may not be accurate because a fiscal inventory is not taken until the organization's fiscal year ends in December.

And unless someone is willing to buy the inventory, he said, it will be hard to convert it to cash.

Councilman Louie Bonaguidi, who is the president-elect for the Ceremonial, said that it also would be difficult to sell much of the inventory because it consists of T-shirts and coins from 1990 to 1995.

"As you can tell by that financial statement, that's a lot of parentheses," he said. "We are in need of money. I mean let's face it, I'm not going to brag to you about how well the Ceremonial's doing. We're not doing well. We had a bad year, but it's
apparent that we could lose this small treasure it we don't do something as a community."

The Ceremonial is not simply relying on the city for financial support, he said; it also has been in contact with the New Mexico
Department of Tourism, as well as companies such as Intel.

Although the Ceremonial has received a favorable response from these entities, it has not received any commitments at this point, he said.

Pena pointed out that the city already allocates funding to the Ceremonial to pay for its parades and by waiving the cost of the labor, utilities and liability involved in its use of Red Rock State Park.

Last week, several members also questioned the "duplication of services" among agencies specifically the requests from the Gallup Convention and Visitors Bureau, Gallup McKinley Chamber of Commerce and Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments to launch separate Web sites promoting Gallup.

Pena said he believes multiple Web sites would become confusing to people searching the Internet for information about Gallup and that the agencies should work with GCVB to develop one Web site.

But several members of the audience disagreed, saying the more Web sites Gallup has, the better the odds are people will hit on them while surfing the Internet.

Pena also said that the city needs to set aside funds to pay for the next Municipal League Conference that is being held in Gallup this August.

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Grants man gets 9 years for child sex

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Clarence Jones, 68, of Grants, was sentenced to nine years in prison for criminal sexual contact with a minor under age 13.

Jones originally faced another charge of first-degree criminal sexual penetration, but that charge was dropped in a plea bargain.
District Judge Joseph Arite sentenced Jones on Oct. 13 for two counts of criminal sexual contact, a third-degree felony, and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a fourth-degree felony.

The full sentence was nine years and 18 months of which 18 months was suspended for an actual sentence of nine years. Jones was ordered to serve two years probation when he is released.

The judge ordered Jones to receive sexual offender treatment while he is in prison and he must attend and complete a treatment program when he is released. Jones was ordered to pay probation costs and a $100 DNA fee. Upon release, Jones will have to register as a sex offender.

Grand jury action

The grand jury issued a number of indictments last week.

Harry Lucero, 41, of Albuquerque was indicted for one count of arson, a fourth-degree felony, for allegedly starting a fire that caused an explosion at a dwelling that belonged to Richard Bailie. He also was indicted for criminal damage to property ($1000 or less), a petty misdemeanor, for allegedly damaging a wooden fence that belonged to Gilbert Chavez.

Karen Aragon, 44, of Grants, was indicted for aggravated DWI, driving while license suspended or revoked, failure to carry proof of financial responsibility, turning without signaling, and failure to maintain a traffic lane.

Shawn Dukart, of San Rafael, was indicted for aggravated DWI, possession of marijuana (one ounce or less), and driving while license suspended or revoked.

Edward Merayo, 23, of Tijeras, was indicted for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Latuasha Elkins, 21, of Prewitt, was indicted for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a fourth-degree felony, and use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

Jackie Smith, 31, of Thoreau, was indicted for receiving or transferring a stolen motorcycle, a fourth-degree felony, to Robert Hewes on Nov. 11, 1999.

Sampson Blea was indicted for aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, a fourth-degree felony, after he allegedly struck a family member with a 9mm handgun.

Jimmy Olveda, 40, and Leopoldo Hernandez, 44, both of Grants, were both indicted for charges stemming from an alleged incident Aug. 18.

Olveda and Hernandez were indicted for automobile burglary, a fourth-degree felony, breaking and entering, larceny over $250, receiving stolen property, and tampering with evidence.

The two allegedly entered a 1985 pickup and U-Haul trailer and stole a TV, CD player, microwave and fishing rod and then tried to hide the evidence from officers.

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Fired up Bengals win in five games

Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer

ALBUQUERQUE — A fired-up Gallup team led by junior hitter Christine Begay with 21 kills stunned Albuquerque High in five games, 7-15, 15-13, 13-15, 15-11, 15-6 Wednesday night in the second round of the District 1AAAAA volleyball tournament.

No. 4 seed Gallup, now 8-12 overall, advances to the district semifinals to play at No. 3 Cibola Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The winner of the semifinals will earn the right to play at top seed Rio Rancho Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the district tournament finals.

Despite being swept by Albuquerque High twice during the regular season, Gallup coach Racheal Stewart felt that her team was capable of pulling off an upset.

"We just have so much talent on our team," Stewart said. "It keeps getting better. We were fired up. We've been preparing for Albuquerque High all week. We watched the film and we knew we could beat them."

At 6-foot-1, Begay finished with a total of 21 kills, 19 kills and a pair of dink kills along with two stuff blocks.

"When she's (Begay) hot, she's hot!" Stewart said of Begay who dominated the net with her spiking. "She's great!"

Begay put away three of her 21 total kills in the first minutes of the decisive rally-scoring fifth game as Gallup surged to a quick 6-0 lead.

Albuquerque High, which finished at 8-9 overall, got its first point on a kill by Andrea Chavez, who finished the match with nine kills.

With Anna Antonio serving, the Lady Bengals ran off five more points as the Lady Bulldogs hit five spikes that sailed into the net for an 11-1 lead. A pair of kills by Mia Zamora made it 12-3. But Gallup was able to put Albuquerque High away for the game and the match on a pair of kills by Erika Foutz, who added nine kills and three dink kills.

Albuquerque High won the opening game, thanks to a quick 7-0 lead. Gallup rallied briefly with a late comeback with Natalie Reeder at the line for four service points on a pair of kills and a stuff block by Begay but Albuquerque High prevailed 15-7 on a game-ending kill by Lauren Snider.

Gallup broke a seven game losing streak to Albuquerque in the second game with a close 15-13 win on a Foutz dink kill.

In the third game, the Lady Bengals broke a 2-all tie with an impressive 7-0 run with Ava Green serving. Green served a pair of aces and Begay put away three kills. But Albuquerque stormed back to slip by Gallup with a 14-13 lead before Begay nailed a kill for the sideout. But the Lady Bengals were charged with an illegal rotation that gave the ball back to the Lady Bulldogs.
Andrea Chavez pounded the winning kill for a 2-1 game lead.

Gallup rallied in the crucial fourth game that sent the game into the rally-scoring fifth game.

Albuquerque High staked a comfortable 8-3 cushion on three kills by Snider along with a kill by Camille Mannera. But with Natalie Reeder serving, the Lady Bengals bounced back to surge ahead, 9-8 ,on two more kills by Begay along with a dink kill by Anna Antonio. The Lady Bengals were plagued by committing five service errors on their next eight serves by still managed
to hold a 10-9 lead. Two balls hit out-of-bounds made it a three-point cushion. The Lady Bulldogs countered with kills by
Zamora and Mannera to close the gap to within 12-11. But Gallup was able to claim the tying game on two more kills by Begay.

Gallup's Christine Begay had 19 kills, two dink kills and two stuff blocks and Erika Foutz added nine kills and three dink kills.
Ava Green led in serving with 14 service points, Carla Parades had 13 service points, and Anna Antonio and Natalie Reeder
each finished with 12 service points.

Camille Mannera led Albuquerque High with nine kills and 10 service points. Andrea Chavez finished with 20 service points along with nine kills and one dink kill; Mia Zamora had nine kills, two dink kills and one stuff block; Jocelyn Garcia added 13
service points along with one kill, three dink kills and one stuff block; and Lauren Snider had eight kills and two dink kills.

Pynes, Grants still hurting

Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer

GRANTS — Grants senior quarterback Wade Pynes figures he's at 60 percent right now. Even though that's still a long ways from being fully recovered from his ankle injury with a broken chip bone, Pynes is expected to start against Hot Springs Friday night in a key district battle.

"It's slowing getting better," Pynes said of his injury that revealed a broken chip bone in his ankle. "It (the ankle) is swollen. I still can't run and I can't plant my feet as well when I pass the ball. I can't boot as quickly or run the option. I've been saying my prayers and I hope that I don't get a lot of pressure from Hot Springs. But I feel responsible for that loss to Cobre last week."

Grants, 4-4 overall, 1-2 in district, entertains Hot Springs, 5-3, 1-1 in district, in a crucial district matchup for both teams.

The Grants Pirates are coming off a tough 41-27 district setback to district-leading Cobre 41-27 last weekend on the road. The Indians broke open a close 14-13 lead with 27 unanswered points before the Pirates scored a pair of touchdowns in the final period to close the gap in the end.

Pynes bravely played the entire game at quarterback with a broken chip bone in his ankle. Pynes, who was hobbling all night long which limited his running ability and mobility with his passing, was able to complete 4-of-19 passes for 38 yards with no interceptions. Pynes had a couple of passes dropped by his receivers. Pynes rushed three times for a minus two yards. Senior fullback Daniel Hunsaker rushed 10 times for 115 yards and one touchdown.

"Daniel Hunsaker that a good game against Cobre," Pynes said. "And on the defensive end, Floyd Brito came up with a big interception late in the game."

Pirate tight end Jessie Miera is out for the season with an ankle injury after reinjuring it again in the Cobre game. Tailback Michael Brito has a bruised hip but is expected to play and Eli Garcia has a sprained ankle.

Like Cobre coach Brian Miller, Hot Springs coach Travis Lee expects Pynes to play Friday night.

"We expect him to play," Lee said during an interview Tuesday afternoon. "He'll be better."

The Hot Springs Tigers (5-3, 1-1) have beaten Hatch 47-6, Lordsburg 19-7, Deming 47-27, Santa Teresa 34-7 and have lost to Tularosa 14-0, and last week to NMMI 13-12 in the final period. In district play, Hot Springs lost a low-scoring 14-2 defensive battle to district-leading (2-0) Cobre 14-2 and then beat Socorro 21-13. After playing Grants, Hot Springs will host Bernalillo in its district finale.

The only injury that the Tigers have is to defensive end Clyde Martin who has an ankle injury and is listed as doubtful by his coach.

Coach Lee expects a tough battle with Grants.

"We'll match up well with Grants," coach Lee said. "We know coach Burns well. We played him when he was at Eunice."

Lee said he was a little surprised at last week's Grants-Cobre 41-27 score.

"Every game's different," he said. "We lost 14-2 to Cobre. We couldn't score. But Friday night is a big game for us. We're still in (the district race). We need to beat Grants and Bernalillo. If we win, we're still in. We have to take care of our end first."

Against NMMI, Hot Springs blew a 12-0 lead going into the fourth period.

"They (NMMI) scored twice in the final quarter," Lee said.

Hot Springs, which finished last year with a 3-6 record, is led by senior quarterback Grant Taylor (6-1, 160) who has passed for over 1,000 yards this season. In the backfield are senior running back Beau Davis (6-1, 185), who has rushed for 500 yards but missed three ballgames due to an injury along with senior running back Artie Nunez (5-9, 145) who has 400 yards rushing.

Hot Springs will enjoy an edge on the defensive and offensive lines with senior tackle Tyson Rush (6-5, 295) along with senior tackle Jaimie Castillo (6-1, 275).

"We'll be bigger than Grants, but they'll be quicker," Lee said.

Lee was sympathetic about Grants' injury woes.

"When you lose one guy, you lose two positions," he said. "Grants is the same way as us. We have 14 or 15 good players that play both ways. But coach Burns will have his guys ready. We're expecting a good game."

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Rehoboth victorious over Pine Hill

Abelita R. Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

REHOBOTH — The Rehoboth Lady Lynx beat the Pine Hill Lady Warriors in three games, 15-7, 15-9 and 15-12, in a 6A district face off on Wednesday night.

The Lady Lynx will match up against Tohajiilee today at 6 p.m.

"They (Lynx) came out very aggressive at the beginning. I think it (the win) did increase their confidence, and it will help them against Tohajiilee," coach Eulalia Gonzales said.

The Lady Lynxs' took a 10-0 lead in game one with Erika Romero serving two points with one ace, Erin Holwerda serving five points with two aces and Jamie Holwerda serving three points with one ace...

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Galanis, Heath cite goals as magistrate judge

S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Local radio listeners and members of the Rotary Club were treated to a preview of Gallup's own version of a candidates' debate. Democrat George Galanis and Republican Roxanne Heath, candidates in the Division 2 magistrate judge race, faced off over lunch Wednesday.

The short debate was carried live by KYVA and KXXI radio. The format allowed a two-minute opening statement by each candidate. KYVA news radio commentator John McBreen then asked each candidate two questions. Time was set aside for Rotarians to address questions to each candidate. Then each candidate was given two minutes for a summation and closing remark.

A candidates' forum will be held Nov. 2 that will allow all candidates in local races the opportunity to answer questions on a live radio broadcast.

Heath, the incumbent appointed by Gov. Gary Johnson to finish Karl Gillson's term, vowed to use her skills and experience in public service to better due process "regardless of race, who someone is or who they know," she said. "A judge must review each case without prejudice. It's what I do best..."

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Deaths

Dorothy Radosevich

GALLUP — Services for Dorothy "Dragica" Radosevich, 82, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father James Walker will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from noon to 7 p.m. today at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel.

Radosevich died Oct. 23 in Albuquerque. She was born Feb. 14, 1918, in Page "McGaffey."

Radosevich's parents moved from Mrkopaij, Austria, Yugoslavia. She was best known as the City of Gallup clerk for 50 years (1936-1986), where she knew and worked with 20 mayors and administrators. She was a member of the Sacred Heart
Cathedral and the Croation Lodge.

Radosevich was preceded in death by her parents, Bartol and Angelina Radosevich; sisters, Rose Borra and Mary Radosevich; and brother, Rudy Radosevich.

Pallbearers will be Ronald Caviggia, Richard Estrada, Thomas Grazda, Jean Paul Monge, Jonathan Monge and Robert Radosevich.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Carlene D. Willie

CHINLE, Ariz. Services for Carlene D. Willie, 40, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Father Blane Grein, O.F.M. will officiate. Burial will follow at the Chinle Community Cemetery in Chinle, Ariz.

Willie died Oct. 24 in Tucson, Ariz. Shee was born Dec. 12, 1959 in Chinle, Ariz. ito the Honey Comb Rock People Clan for the Edge of the Water People Clan.

Willie was a 1978 graduate of Chinle High School. She attended one year of nursing school in Durango, Colo. and one year with the Phoenix College. She was employed by the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup and the Indian Health Service in Chinle, Ariz. as a nursing assistant.

Survivors include her husband, Frank Willie Jr. of Iyanbito; daughters, Cheryl L. Joe; parents, Benjamin Descheenie and Edward Begay; brothers, Elmer Leonard, Cornelius Leonard and Christopher Descheenie of Chinle, Ariz. and Leland Leonard of Phoenix; sisters, Cornelia Billie of Chinle, Ariz.; and one grandchild.

Willie was preceded in death by her mother, Lola T. Begay; brothers, Lorenzo Leonard, Mahlon Descheenie; and a sister, Agnes Francis.

Pallbearers will be Cornelius Leonard, Christopher Descheenie, Notah Tayah, Jerry Billie, Brian Brown and Stanley Etsitty.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at the Edward Begay's residence.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.