Man pleads guilty to assault

By Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

SHIPROCK — A man who allegedly stabbed his wife to death in their neighbor's front yard committed suicide Wednesday afternoon by driving his vehicle over a 300-foot cliff, according to the Navajo Criminal Investigations Department.
Before Jim Peters, 38, took his life, Navajo police tried to negotiate with him. Two Shiprock Navajo Department of Law Enforcement officers on routine patrol found him in his 1991 Isuzu Amigo on top of a mesa some 15 miles northeast of Shiprock.
A CID detective said Peters died at the scene.
Peters allegedly stabbed his common-law wife of two decades, Verma Charley, numerous times in the chest, stomach and legs outside their neighbor's home in the Northeast Heights subdivision about 10 p.m. Monday.
The stabbed woman had fled their home and pounded on her neighbor's door. The 7-inch kitchen knife was recovered on the carpet of the neighbor's living room, according to the CID report.
The couple's son confirmed to officers that his parents had quarreled in their bedroom about an unknown problem. The youth tried to break up the fight, but Peters allegedly cut him on the hand and threw him down. Charley, only partially clad, fled with only minor wounds, but Peters caught her and stabbed her again.
The neighbor, Farrell Benally, said he saw the 38-year-old man stab his 46-year-old wife, who collapsed face down on the carpet.
Emergency medical technicians attempted to keep the wounded woman alive, but she died before they reached the Indian Health Service hospital in Shiprock.
Police immediately launched a search for Peters, who had fled north on U.S. 666. But the 6-foot, 200-pound man eluded them for a day and a half.
Charley worked in the business office of Din College's Shiprock campus, and the couple had three daughters and the 17-year-old son.

Suicidal robber dies

CORTEZ, Colo. Mark Miller, the 44-year-old Cortez man who robbed a Shiprock convenience store of an estimated $800 Sunday afternoon, died at Southwestern Memorial Hospital Monday, according to the Navajo Criminal Investigations Department.
Miller shot himself in the head with a .38-caliber revolver as officers from several police agencies closed in on him south of Cortez. Rushed to the nearest hospital, he had been placed on life-support systems.
Officers from the Navajo Department of Law Enforcement, the Southern Ute Tribal Police, the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office and the Colorado Highway Patrol caught up with him after "stop sticks," which puncture tires, were spread on U.S. 666 about three miles north of Shiprock.
The Montezuma County Sheriff's Office recovered the stolen money Monday.

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By S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer

GALLUP — With a 2-1 vote, McKinley County Commissioners approved a new private contractor for the county adult detention center Wednesday morning.
The contract has not been signed or approved yet, but Management and Training Corporation, Ogden, Utah is expected to begin operation of the Gallup facility around Jan 1. A public hearing to discuss and answer questions about the new contract and operator will be held on Tuesday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the county courthouse.
Commissioners decided to select another private contractor after studying the feasibility of running it as a county department. Operating expense estimates compiled by the county finance department forecast expenditures of nearly $4 million per year.
"My preference would be to have the county operate the jail, but we can't afford it," Commissioner Harry Mendoza said.
"The county is not financially able to do it," County Manager Irvin Harrison said. " In order to afford it, we'd have to cut staff and re-visit the budget."
Commissioner Chairman Earnest C. Becenti, Sr. and Mendoza both appeared anxious to finally get the jail troubles that have occupied a lot of the discussions for the last two years behind them.
Commissioner Ben Shelly, however, offered a substitute motion to table the decision and advertise again for bids, this time based solely on housing McKinley County and Gallup inmates. Shelly claims his reasoning was based on a petition presented to the commissioners last month by area residents. The petition asked the commissioners to return the jail to a county facility and not house dangerous out-of-the-area inmates.
All three of the top private prison corporations in contention for the contract had disclosed plans to rent empty beds to other jurisdictions, just like the present contractor, Correctional Services Corp.
"All three operators will bring in out-of-state criminals. We need to honor the petition or send out another RFP (bid) based on county inmates only," he said.
"No one will bid. That's how they make their money. And that's why they're in business," Mendoza countered.
County Attorney Doug Decker told Shelly that any corporation that did bid would charge the county a higher per diem, resulting in an added cost to the county.
"In my opinion," Mendoza said after the meeting, "Shelly's concern about the petition was only to stall for more time to try to reinstate negotiations with CSC."
"If he was really concerned about public safety and opinion, why did he ignore the other petitions that were presented months ago?" Mendoza asked.
Last year, administrators from Gallup-McKinley schools presented the commissioners with a petition signed by more than 500 citizens. The petition asked the commissioners to reconsider safety issues with the jail, due to the close proximity of the facility to several schools.
Becenti and Mendoza both expressed confidence that the new contract had built-in safeguards that weren't in place with the CSC contract.
"There's a citizen oversight committee, revenue sharing, additional training and tightened security are all addressed in the agreements," Harrison said. "The oversight committee is planned to be in operation a week before MTC takes over."
Although the contract isn't ratified yet, some of the negotiated items between MTC and McKinley County include:
A classification plan titled, "Murderers do not belong in a dorm setting;
Installation of security sensors between the ceiling and roof;
Commissioners to appoint 10-13 members to a community board;
MTC to pay county 50 percent of facility revenue exceeding $36 per day per inmate; and,
MTC to pay county 50 percent of inmate telephone revenue.
The employees now working for CSC will also be encouraged to apply for work with MTC.
"Qualified applicants will be offered employment up to an initial 180-day probationary period," stated the MTC criteria outline.
According to information provided by MTC's website, the corporation has been in the corrections business for more than 10 years and exceeds standards set by the American Corrections Association. Presently, it operates 10 facilities in four states seven in Texas and one in California, Arizona and Colorado.
In September, MTC was awarded a contract to run the 1,380-bed Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Ohio. In other county business, commissioners met in a closed personnel session to discuss the renewal of the county manager's contract, which expires November 27. The action was tabled until a review of Harrison's job performance can be completed. Discussion is expected to resume at the December 8 commissioners' meeting.

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Miss Navajo seeks help for needy

By Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Miss Navajo, Victoria Yazzie, wants to feed 150 needy families on the Navajo Reservation on Thanksgiving Day, but she will need help with the project she estimates is going to cost $2,000.
With the aid of volunteers, she is compiling a list of needy families and intends to purchase the food, assemble the food baskets and distribute them.
Yazzie has asked the public to donate cans of food, which can be delivered to her office at the Navajo Nation Museum, Library and Visitors Center in Window Rock. People who want to donate money can send it to the Office of Miss Navajo, P.O. Box 2860, Window Rock, Ariz 86515.
Yazzie said she has received either checks or commitments for at least $400 from American Indian Services of Provo, Utah, the Navajo Times and the Office of the President-Vice President. Yazzie also wrote to each Navajo Nation Council delegate, requesting a donation.
"Sometimes, on Thanksgiving Day, it is hard for me to enjoy turkey with my family, when in my heart, I know that many families in our great nation have nothing to eat," Yazzie said.
"Let's work together, hand-in-hand, and make Thanksgiving Day a day of thanks for many people. If you elect to help me with this project, we must act quickly to make it a success."

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Domestic abuse meeting
WINSLOW, Ariz. — The Third Annual Conference on Domestic Violence will be held Tuesday at Little Singer Community School. This year's theme is "Uniting and Creating Harmony For Our Community." The conference will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast. Information: (520) 526-6680 or 526-2950.

Christmas bazaar
SANDERS, Ariz. — A Christmas bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Sanders Fire Station. Cost for a section is $10 and all vendors must supply their own tables and chairs. No food booths will be accepted. Information: (520) 688-2424.

Thanksgiving dinner
TONALEA, Ariz. — A groundbreaking ceremony for Navajo Route 21 and a community Thanksgiving dinner will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Tonalea Chapter House. Information: (520) 283-5921.

Arts and crafts sale
GALLUP — A holiday arts and crafts sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 at the City Recreation Center. There will be wood crafts, hand-sewn goods, painted glass, wall hangings, Christmas ornaments and more. Booths are still available. Information: 863-1295.

Twin Lakes meeting
TWIN LAKES — There will be a regular chapter meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Twin Lakes Chapter House. Information: (505) 735-2600.

Chapter meeting
MEXICAN SPRINGS — A regular chapter meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Mexican Springs Chapter House. Information: (505) 733-9351.

Tohatchi meeting
TOHATCHI — A chapter meeting will be held at noon Sunday at the Tohatchi Chapter House. Information: (505) 733-2660.

Choirs to perform
GALLUP — The Northwest New Mexico District Honor Choirs will perform at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the Gallup High School auditorium. The event is free to the public. Also performing will be Gallup High School's Concert Chorale. Information: 863-3821, ext. 533.

Littlewater meeting
LITTLEWATER — A regular chapter meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Littlewater Chapter House. Information: (505) 786-2120.

Dance
YAH TA HEY — A country/western dance will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday at Mardi's Diner. Admission will be $7 for adults and $3 for children. Information: (505) 733-2206 or (505) 732-4230.

Cake walk
CHURCHROCK — There will be a cake walk and bingo from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday at the Churchrock Chapter House. Information: 863-4197.

Country/western dance
MANUELITO — A country/western dance will be held from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at the Manuelito Chapter. There will be concessions and door prizes. Information: 863-9694.

Parent workshop
BORREGO PASS — There will be a parent workshop held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday at Borrego Pass School. Information: (505)786-5237/5880.

Man pleads guilty to assault

Staff Report

ALBUQUERQUE — Jimmy Raphaelito, 34, has pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon on the Navajo Reservation.
At a plea hearing, Raphaelito admitted he assaulted Elaine Martine with a 13-inch knife on Aug. 5, 1998, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney John J. Kelly's office...

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Pinnacle Bancorp to buy Gallup's Western Bank

By Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — Another bank has changed owners in Gallup but this conversion is expected to be a great deal less traumatic for bank customers and workers than some recent sales.
Pinnacle Bancorp, Inc. announced yesterday that it has signed an agreement with First Place Financial Corp. to purchase Gallup's Western Bank, as well as another of the company's banks in Durango...

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Experts discuss school vouchers

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Two of the state's top experts on the school voucher system will be in Grants today for a public forum.
It will be held starting at 7 p.m. at La Ventana Steak House, 110 1/2 Geis St...

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New contractor will run detention center

By S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer

GALLUP — With a 2-1 vote, McKinley County Commissioners approved a new private contractor for the county adult detention center Wednesday morning.
The contract has not been signed or approved yet, but Management and Training Corporation, Ogden, Utah is expected to begin operation of the Gallup facility around Jan 1. A public hearing to discuss and answer questions about the new contract and operator will be held on Tuesday, November 16, at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the county courthouse.

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