Veterans are honored

 

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Watchman abuse case is delayed

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A Navajo New Mexico state representative accused of battering his Arizona girlfriend, then twice violating a court order not to contact her, will get his day in tribal court after the Nov. 7 election.

Leo Watchman Jr., 33, the 9th Legislative District Democrat who is unopposed on the Nov. 7 ballot, was in Window Rock District Court Thursday morning for a pretrial conference on all three charges.

Watchman also is believed to have been living in Arizona while serving as a New Mexico legislator.

Watchman succeeded his late father five years ago in the post that represents voters in southern San Juan and northern McKinley counties.

Judge LaVerne A. Johnson approved the delay of the hearings, with the battery charge to be heard Dec. 7 and the two charges of interfering with a judicial proceeding to be heard Dec. 11. A pretrial conference is between the prosecution and defense and often is used to work out a plea bargain.

Navajo police arrested Watchman on the battery charge Sept. 22 at the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department, where he is deputy director.

Watchman took several weeks' leave and refused to talk with reporters.

That same night he allegedly called Marion Buck, 36, at the mobile home they had shared for about five months on Curve Pond Drive in Window Rock. The telephone answering machine recorded his conversation, according to court records.

Watchman then allegedly violated the court's protection order again the next night. Court records said the answering device recorded his call about sending someone by to pick up fencing tools he needed for his job.

The young legislator, whose New Mexico address officially is Asayii Road near Navajo, was featured in People magazine's 100 most eligible bachelors in July. The magazine article incorrectly said he owned a 20,000-acre ranch. The ranch actually is Navajo trust land, and thus not subject to private ownership.

The battery charge stems from a domestic violence confrontation that began about 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 22 when Buck returned to her home. According to the tribal police report, she said he told her she smelled like dope and threw her against a wall.
When Buck tried to call police at the station about a mile away in Window Rock, Watchman tore the phone off the wall, the report said. He then grabbed her several times and threw her against a chair, the report added.

To defend herself Buck told officers she scratched and kicked him, and he had scratches on both cheeks when arrested less than 12 hours later.

After a while, he calmed down, she told officers. Then he left around 3:30 a.m. She told police he said he didn't want anyone to know what happened and that she shouldn't call the cops.

Officers found she had a bruised and swollen right wrist.

Buck had told officers that Watchman had abused her before, but this time she wanted to file criminal charges.

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Driver held on murder charge

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — A McKinley County man charged with the second-degree murder of a woman killed in a car wreck has been ordered held pending further proceedings.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Puglisi on Wednesday found enough probable cause for the case against Calvert Cayatenito to continue.

Cayatenito, 24, is accused of killing Sophie Billie Martin, 28, during a police chase in Littlewater on the Navajo Reservation.
Court records said Cayatenito was drunk when he slammed his car into the back of a car driven by Martin on Navajo Route 48, about five miles east of N.M. 371.

Martin died at a hospital in Crownpoint. Her two children, 11-month-old Kaleb and 11-year-old Tashina, were injured in the crash.

Marcus Cleveland, an investigator with the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, testified Wednesday that Cayatenito ran stop signs, traveled with his car lights off and swerved to avoid police blockades.

Cleveland said Cayatenito's car was clocked at speeds of up to 92 mph.

Court records said Cayatenito's blood-alcohol level was 0.2 percent more than twice the state's presumed level of intoxication.

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Law to ban cockfighting in Cibola

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Cibola County commissioners passed a resolution to publish a new animal control ordinance that is designed to protect citizens and outlaw cockfighting at an emergency meeting Thursday.

Until the new ordinance is passed a process that will take six weeks Sonny Small will be able to hold cockfights at the local cockfighting arena known as "The Pit."

County Manager Bob Ortiz said the ordinance has to be published again because several changes have been made.

This time the county is publishing a new ordinance rather than amending the 1987 ordinance, which has been challenged in court by Small, owner of the Zuni Mountain Game Club.

At a hearing Monday, Judge Joseph Arite granted Small his petition to stop the county from enforcing the 1987 ordinance. Small claimed the ordinance, known as 87-1, was never published and therefore, it is not valid under New Mexico law. That decision left the county without an animal control ordinance.
When asked if his clients would challenge the new ordinance, James Sims-West, attorney for Small, said that remains a possibility, but added that no action will be taken until he has had a chance to read the new ordinance.
Commissioner Mark Hiles said, "The intent (of 87-1) was always good, but if someone got picky they could outlaw things like rodeo, roping and livestock handling. We needed to be sure livestock practices are not affected."
Commissioner Jim Meisner motioned to change the status of the meeting from special meeting to emergency meeting. He said the health and safety of the residents of Cibola County has been threatened without an animal control ordinance. The motion was quickly passed.
Ortiz enumerated the changes and additions in the new ordinance and emphasized a vote to pass the resolution was a vote to publish the ordinance, not to pass it.
Chairman Bill Dawson asked Ortiz if cockfighting would still be illegal under the new ordinance and Ortiz said it would be.
Fred Scott moved to approve the resolution. It was quickly seconded and unanimously passed by all five commissioners.
The only discussion occurred when Commissioner Clara Chicharello asked what happened to 87-1. County attorney Sherry Thompson explained what happened and Chicharello wanted to know whose fault it was. Thompson said it was the responsibility of the county clerk to publish proposed ordinances, but it is impossible to tell what had happened 13-14 years ago.
Dawson said the ordinance would be published today and residents would have two weeks in which to comment on it. The commissioners will vote on the ordinance at the Nov. 13 meeting and citizens can get a copy of the ordinance from the county clerk's office.
The only public comment came when Small's wife, Shirley Small, asked the board to clarify whether the public had two weeks to speak up. Dawson said yes and told her citizens could comment in person or submit written comments.
About 20 proponents of cockfighting attended the meeting, but Steve Hayden, the new manager of the club, was not present.
Wording was added that will give the owner of an animal that has been injured or killed by a dog the right to kill the dog if it is on his property and the right to collect damages.
The new ordinance has exclusions to the section on animal cruelty. They include fishing, hunting, trapping, falconry, the treatment of livestock, and rodeo practices.
It will take at least six weeks to complete the process required to pass the ordinance. During that time the animal control officer is still picking up stray dogs. There are New Mexico statutes that give the county some authority to enforce part of the old ordinance.

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Thoreau completes week-long march into finals

Abelita R. Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

FT. WINGATE — Thoreau capped a long week of tournament play with a hard-fought victory against Wingate Thursday night in the semifinals of the District 1AAA tournament.

The Lady Hawks defeated Wingate in four games, 8-15-8, 15-6, 16-14 and 15-7.

The Lady Hawks will take on the undefeated Shiprock Lady Chieftains on Saturday at 7 p.m. for the district championship.

"They played awesome, it was too cool. It was unbelievable. I know that there were some people who didn't think that we were going to get this far, just by observing people. But now we've done it and we are going to play for district championship," Lady Hawk coach Josie Willie.

"We just weren't at the right place at the right time. I know they didn't play to their potential. With what Thoreau showed us, they were very hungry, they wanted to win and showed everybody what they had with all their talents and came together," Wingate coach Jennifer Gillson said.

The two teams played close early until the Lady Bears pulled ahead with Philena Yazzie serving five points. Elvina Benally had two stuff block in a row, a kill followed by Benally, Erica Smith with a kill and an error on Thoreau, 10-5.

At 12-8, Bear Smith finish serving game one with three points. Nicole Moses had a stuff block, a net violation of the Hawks and an ace on game point.

The Lady Hawks made a surprising comeback in game two.

Thoreau opened up a 4-1 lead, before Wingate slowly scored two points.

Leadin 5-3, Hawk Morgan came up and served four points, with two aces. The two other points were Wingate errors.

Wingate scored their last two points with a kill from Elvina Benally and a bad attempt by Shanta for a 10-6 score.

Stephanie Laurence helped the Lady Hawks, serving three points with kills from Morgan and Shanta, and a lift call on Wingate for a 13-6 advantage.

Hawk Yazzie served the last two points with two more kills from Morgan and Shanta.

The third game went into rally scoring with the Lady Hawks winning 16-14.

Thoreau drew ahead of Wingate, 5-2, before the Lady Bears tied the game at 5-5. After giving and taking sideouts, the game was tied at 7-7, 8-8 and 10-10, when the Lady Hawks scored three with Sharon Platero serving with a kill from Anderson and two errors on Bear Lee.

The Lady Bears fired right back and retied the game at 13-13 with Lee serving taking back two points with two Hawk mistakes and a stuff block from Torri Benally.

The game was tied again at 14-14 on an error on the Hawks on Bears sideout, but made up for the error on the Hawks next side with an ace by Laurence.

Hawk Calladito served the final two points with two kills from Shanta.

In game four action, there was a tie at 2-2, before the Lady Bears scored four points with Elvina Benally serving. Nicole Moses delivered a pair of kills in a row and Torri Benally repeating Moses, 5-2.

The Lady Hawks finally pulled together, and pulled away from the Bears with Shanta serving. Shanta served seven points at 6-3. She got two aces, a dink kill and two kills from Anderson, a dink kill from Morgan and a Bear error for a 10-6 lead.

The Bears rallied making the Hawks earn their next points with eight sideouts and pulled within 12-7.

Hawk Laurence served the last three points for Thoreau. Wingate gave the Hawks the three points with three errors.

Leading the Lady Hawks was Rochelle Shanta with 19 attempts, 11 kills, two dinks, eight digs, three blocks with two stuffs, 16 serves for 10 points and three aces.

Shanta a senior was very proud of her team for coming together and talking to take the win. She is ready to take on Shiprock and just hopes they play the same way they did against Wingate.

Right behind Shanta was Melissa Anderson with 25 attempts, 11 kills, two dinks with one kill, 21 digs, four blocks with one stuff and had served 14 with six points.

Stephanie Laurence had 14 attempts, six kills, four dinks with one kill, eight digs, one block and served 19 serves for 10 points and three aces; and Cindy Morgan had nine attempts, three kills, four dinks with three kills, 12 digs, 11 serves for five points with three aces.

"Considering out past history record, these girls (Wingate) have come so far. Wingate has always placed last and to see them come this far close to the regional tournament I give them a lot of credit just getting this far. Tonight's game was an eye opener for them, that if you really want something in life and you want it bad, you'll do anything for it," Gillson said.

Leading the Lady Bears was Elvina Benally with 38 attempts, 12 kills, five dinks with two kills, 12 digs, eight blocks with four stuffs, 16 serves for 10 points. Nicole Moses had 14 attempts, six kills, two dinks, six digs, six block with two stuffs and 13 serves for four points; and Torri Benally had 17 attempts, five kills, four dinks, three digs, one block with a stuff and served four for one point.

Shiprock sweeps team titles

Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor

TOHATCHI — The Shiprock teams swept the district titles and Wingate earned a couple of firsts during the District 1AAA meet held in Tohatchi Thursday afternoon.

Wingate frontrunners Cateka Tsosie and Leonardo Jim captured the individual titles for the first double-victory in the school's history.

Tsosie's almost half minute victory marked the first time Wingate has had an individual district champion. She led the team to a runner-up finish behind the dominant Lady Chieftains which secured the first state berth in nearly 10 years.

"I ran with my heart," the freshman runner said of her winning performance. "It means a lot. It's been a long time since (Wingate's) had a top runner for girls."

Tsosie had a little bit of trouble in the first part of the race running into muddy conditions which made going downhill difficult. But after that, she opened up a big lead and gradually pulled out to a 15-20 second lead over runner-up Thomasina Hayes of Shiprock. That lead held up as the runners headed up the final half mile climb to the finish.

"It was muddy on top of the hill, that kind of threw me off. But I heard Shiprock huffing and puffing behind me so I went for it," Tsosie said of taking the lead early. "When I came up the last hill, I thought she was right behind me, I could hear her footsteps. I told myself, 'Don't give up, finish strong, pump my arms.'"

Tsosie went on to win in 20:49.

Hayes was second in 21:16 leading a string of Shiprock runners to the finish and the district title.

Shiprock easily won the meet with 26 points. Wingate was second with 60 and Crownpoint secured the other state berth with
64 points. Tohatchi finished fourth with 78 points. Thoreau did not field a complete team.

After their junior frontrunner, Shiprock placed freshman Shantel Begay, fifth in 21:48, eighth grader Roxanna Billy, sixth in 22:04, freshman Lisa Begay ninth in 22:25, and senior Virginia Beyale, tneth in 22:29.

"We were pretty sure (we'd win)," Shiprock girls coach said. "We told them today you want to win district and you want to win it big."

That translated into all-district performances for their first five runners.

Also placing in the top ten were Tonya James of Thoreau with a third place finish in 21:20 and Cassandra John of Tohatchi, seventh in 22:10. Both runners also qualified to compete at next Saturday's state meet at Red Rock State Park.

Wingate's runner-up finish was also fueled by an all-district performance by Fallen Snyder who finished fourth in 21:32. The Bears also had Fallena Snyder 15th (23:24), Leocinia Garcia 20th (23:58) and Rachael Willie 24th in 25:19.

Crownpoint packed together in the 11th, 12th, 13th, 16th, and 17th positions for its third place finish. Tabitha Morgan (22:35) led the line followed by Jerrilene kenneth (22:39), Kimberly Smith (22:43), Jesse Joe (23:26) and Laura Shorty (23:40).
"We were hoping for second. We knew we had to be packed in the middle to finish second," Crownpoint coach Tim Rice said.
"They were packed, the just needed to be up a couple more places to beat Wingate."

The Shiprock boys also seemingly waltzed through the boys division placing four runners in the top ten and all five scoring runners in the top 12.

To ensure they'd stay healthy with the wet weather this past week, Shiprock coach Al Madera said he didn't push his runners in workouts.

"It showed today. Our times were slower than the last time a little bit. Our objective was to come down and win. We accomplished our objective," he said.

Sophomore frontrunner Terrance Yesslith led the Chieftains to their district win with a third place time of 17:14. Brian Washburn and Sheldon Benally finished toghether in fifth and sixth with times of 17:40 and 17:43 respectively. Kevin Lee also broke into the top ten with an eighth place time of 17:54. Orlando Walters 12th place finish (18:25) completed the team total.

Shiprock won with 33 points. Crownpoint was second with 45 and Tohatchi had 51 for the other state berth. Wingate was
fourth with 84 and Thoreau did not field a complete squad.

Jim, Wingate's junior runner who transferred from Gallup High last fall, won his fourth race this season. He went out fast for
the early lead and toured the course in 16:23.

"It means a lot to me, to our coach, he's pushing us all the time in practice," said Jim of Wingate's first individual title since Robertson Snyder two years ago.

Jim, who has been a consistent top 10 performer in all his meets this season including those against his former teammates and other big schools, won at Valley, Crownpoint and Wingate.

Crownpoint senior Michael Norton was the runner-up in 16:43. Teammate Brian Washburn was fifth (17:40) and the Eagles packed their next three runners in at 13th, 14th and 15th with Michael Vandever (18:36), Gabriel Vallo (18:39) and Erwin Joe (18:44) to complete their runner-up showing.

Tohatchi's first finisher was Geral Nez, seventh in 17:43. Dwight Carlson (18:13) and Philbert Etsitty (18:19) finished tenth and 11th and Jason Smith (18:49) and Jermain Bryant (18:54) also finished together in 16th and 17th.

Thoreau's Lauerence Nez, ninth in 18:09, was the other top 10 finisher.

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Grants' season continues with win over Socorro

Staff Report

GRANTS — No. 2 seed Grants led two games to none and then had to hold on to outlast No. 3 seed Socorro 15-11, 15-4, 12-15, 4-15, 15-11 Thursday night during the semifinals of the District 3AAA volleyball tournament.

Already enjoying its season ever at 13-5 overall, Grants advances to play at top-seed Hot Springs Saturday at 7 p.m. for the district tournament finals. Regionals for the top two teams get underway next week.

"We started off slow and we just stopped playing our game," fifth-year head coach Audrey Dominguez said of the five-game match. "Socorro was tipping the ball and we panicked. But we served well, missing just two serves in five games."

The Lady Pirates had beaten Socorro twice, 3-0 and 3-1 during the regular season. Both of Grants' district losses were to regular season district champ Hot Springs...

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Keams Canyon Post Office expands

Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent

KEAMS CANYON, Ariz. — The expansion of the Keams Canyon Post Office could mean better days ahead for Navajos and Hopis.

Hopi Vice Chairman Phillip Quochytewa Sr. remembers when the land dispute heated up in 1974 as Hopi and Navajos had confrontations in Keams Canyon, but an expanded post office now shows another way that members from both tribes are working together.

"We're here to live and work together as good neighbors," he said.

The Keams Canyon Post Office held a dedication last week to honor the recent expansion. Keams Canyon is the closest post office to the Navajo community of Jeddito, so many Navajos have post office boxes here...

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Deaths

Anita Bryant Begay

NASCHITTI — Services for Anita Bryant Begay, 76, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Father John Mittlestadt will officiate. Burial will follow at the Naschitti Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be held 3-5 p.m. today at Cope Memorial Chapel. Rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. today at Cope Memorial Chapel.

Begay died Oct. 24 in Gallup. She was born May 7, 1924, in Naschitti into the Salt People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.

Begay was a homemaker, rancher and a hand trembler medicine woman.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas H. Begay; sons, Harry Byrant and Thomas Benally; daughters, Alice M. Roanhorse, Virgie Begaye, Judy Begay, Alta Price and Juanita Yazzie; brothers, Robert Bryant and Allison Bryant; 30 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Begay was preceded in death by Vernon Roanhorse, Ronnie Begay, Regis Benally, Paul Denetdale, Patrick Toney and Vernon Yazzie, and parents, John and Sally Bryant.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at the Naschitti Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Jason Judy

SMOKE SIGNAL, Ariz. — Services for Jason Judy, 77, will be held at 11 a.m. MST Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Catholic
Church in Keams Canyon, Ariz. Father Clayton, OFM, will officate. Burial will follow on family land in Smoke Signal.

Judy died Oct. 24 in Chinle, Ariz. He was born June 15, 1923, in Smoke Signal into the Salt Water Clan born for the Tobacco People Clan.

Judy was a railroad worker and a rancher.

Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Judy; son, Michael Judy; daughters, Sarah Castillo, Beulah Judy, Berdina Judy, Berdina Tom and Clara Judy; sister, Linda Paddock; and 13 grandchildren.

Judy was preceded in death by sons, Gibson K. Judy and Eddie L. Judy; and parents, Jane and Frank Cowboy.

Pallbearers will be Ned Castillo Jr., Jay Cee Judy, Larry Blackmountain Jr. and Jakeson Jack Bahe.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at the family residence in Smoke Signal.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Isabelle Tsosie

SALINA SPRINGS, Ariz. — Graveside services for Isabelle Tsosie, 50, will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 on private land seven miles south of Old Salina Springs Trading.

Tsosie died Oct. 25 in Albuquerque. She was born July 20, 1950 in Salina Springs, Ariz. into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Black Streak People Clan.

Survivors include his mother, Tullie Tsosie of Salina Springs, Ariz.; brothers, James Tsosie of Chinle, Ariz., Steven Tsosie of Salina Springs, Ariz. and Wilson Tsosie of Phoenix; and sisters, Susie Larson of Manti, Utah, Rosita Stewart of Salina Springs, Ariz. and Alta Tsosie ofAlbuquerque, NM.

Tsosie was preceded in death by her father, Ben Tsosie.

Pallbearers will be Elroy Ahasteen, Howard Billie Jr., Gerald Curley, Scott Larson, Kris Stewart and Justin Tsosie.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mary H. Johnson

CANONCITO — Services for Mary H. Johson, 69, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday Oct. 28 at the Word of Life Church in Canoncito. Pauline Platero will officiate. Burial will follow at the Canoncito Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. today at Salazar & Sons Mortuary in Albuquerqe.

Johnson died Oct. 24 in San Fidel. She was born Dec. 9, 1931 in Thoreau.

Survivors include her husband, Pastor John Johnson Sr.; sons, Abraham Johnson, Tim Johnson, Jason Johnson and John Johnson Sr.; daughters, Virgie Sepncer, Varlene Romero, Ruby Hoskie and Peggy Minnick; sisters, Mabel Morgan and Hospah Morgan; 23 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Lloyd Johnson, Burt Barlone, Kevin Johnson, Terry Morgan, Willie Nelson and Robert Platero Jr.