Group fights council size, pay
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
CHURCH ROCK — The Diné for Better Government, which helped
reduce the size of the tribal Legislature by three-fourths, has sprung
into action again.
Last week, more than three dozen people discussed a long list of concerns
and settled upon keeping the drive alive, along with seeking repeal
of the $10,000 raise the council voted to the 90 elected central government
officials.
The group believes the council used a back door approach to obtain
the only raise in a decade for the 88 lawmakers, plus the president
and vice president. In October delegates started receiving annual
salaries of $35,000; the vice president, $55,000; and the president,
$65,000.
The council also approved a one-third increase in mileage for delegates,
to match what tribal employees receive, but has not raised the per
diem to cover motels and meals. Delegates get about half what tribal
employees receive for their room and board.
DBG participants remain unhappy with the increased salaries because
chapters refused to give up their veto power over the raise and the
council overrode a presidential veto in the matter.
Since the $25,000 salary began in 1990 the council never once went
directly to the chapters to seek an increase. The bigger paychecks
costs more than $1 million a year.
The 40 percent pay hike came because of an obscure section of the
government code noticed by tribal lawyers. The Office of Legislative
Counsel ruled that it allowed the council to consider more money without
seeking chapter approval if the Government Development Commission
presented the increase.
The measure's sponsor, Delegate Ervin Keeswood, chairman of the Government
Services Committee, argued that tribal employees had been given pay
raises of about one-third during that decade.
A similar restriction in the government code requires two-thirds of
the more than 100,000 Navajo-registered voters approve any change
in the size of the council. In the controversial Sept. 5 election,
voters favored the referendum by a 3-1 margin, but could provide only
about half of the needed number of votes.
Key council members, such as Keeswood, said the obvious message was
the people wanted the council to take a serious look at the tribe's
organization.
The tribal code already assigned that task to the Government Development
Commission, which is planning at least two major meetings on the topic.
A spokesman for the Diné group said a meeting on the two topics
will be held in each of the five agencies, starting with Chinle on
Dec. 29 at a location to be announced.
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Teachers' union raises sick-leave concerns
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The decision by officials of the Gallup-McKinley County
School District to change the sick leave policy concerning teachers
has been questioned by the local teacher's union.
Tom Payton, president of the McKinley County Federation of United
School Employees, said the change is unfair to new teachers who may
have trouble adjusting to conditions in this area during their first
months on the job.
The change, which took place in October, does away with the practice
of allowing teachers to receive all 12 sick leave days at the beginning
of the school year. Instead, teachers will now earn it as they go
one or two days a month. If they take more than that, they will be
docked.
This is the way most businesses operate as well as most other government
agencies. But Payton says that new teachers come to Gallup facing
a number of unique situations that the school board should take into
consideration in developing the district's sick leave policy.
He pointed out that many people who first come to Gallup have problems
adjusting to this altitude and some need to take a few days just doing
that.
"I also talked recently to a doctor at the Indian Health Service
who told me that you find different viruses here than in other parts
of the country," he said.
Elementary school teachers are especially prone to getting ill early
in the school year, he said. "They come in contact with 20 or
more students a day and they're young and haven't learned yet that
when you cough, you cover your mouth."
This policy change doesn't affect the older teachers because after
a year or two here in the district, most will have accumulated a couple
of weeks or more of sick leave.
Originally this policy change was to have taken place in August but
School Superintendent Robert Gomez said in a memo on Oct. 23 that
it would begin at that time since school officials during orientation
had told new teachers that they would be receiving all of their sick
leave days at the beginning of the school year.
Since some had taken off more than they had actually earned in the
first two months they were employed, he said that it would be unfair
to dock them for the excess. But any excess sick leave after Oct.
23 would be handled under the new policy and teachers who did not
have enough sick leave on the books would be docked.
Payton said he couldn't understand why the district made the change
in the first place since he had not seen any reports that indicated
teachers were abusing the district's sick leave policy.
In fact, he said that a seven-month study done by the district recently
on the use of substitute teachers revealed that the main reason substitutes
had to be hired was not to replace teachers on sick leave but because
of meetings and training sessions called by the central office.
He said that if administrators want to reduce the number of subs that
have to be hired, they should cut down on the meetings. "I know
of a number of teachers who have had to come to work sick because
they needed the money," he said.
Paula Garcia, personnel director for the school district, said that
except for Payton, she has not received any complaints from any teachers
about the change.
She said the only complaint she received was from a teacher who was
upset at having to accrue 25 sick leave days before the district would
start buying them back from the teacher at $25 a day.
This is a policy started by the district to encourage teachers not
to use sick leave days unless they were actually sick. By buying them
back at $25 a day, the district actually saved money because it costs
between $50 and $100 a day to hire a substitute.
"It's also better for the students if the teacher is at work
rather than having us rely on a substitute," Garcia said.
The policy allows teachers to save up all of their sick leave if they
so desire since none of it is lost if it is not used and then receive
the $25 a day when they retire.
Payton said that not all administrators like the sick leave policy
change. At least one principal has told teachers at his school that
if they have to take sick leave days in excess of what they have earned,
he would not dock them but just take it from their future sick leave.
Garcia said she was not aware of any principals in the district ignoring
the sick leave policy.
She added, however, that the policy is expected to be reviewed in
the near future by an advisory body the district has set up to listen
to issues affecting teachers and students and make recommendations
on school policy.
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Felon found with weapon
Jury indicts man, others
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Some people never seem to learn - and Carlos Earl Hall
Jr., 27, of Baton Rouge, La., appears to be one of them.
Sometime within the past 10 years Hall was convicted of a felony and,
at the time, was told that he could not possess a firearm.
On Sept. 19, Hall was traveling through Cibola County when he was
stopped by New Mexico State Police. Officers found a .45 caliber semi-automatic
pistol in his vehicle along with less than an ounce of marijuana,
so police ran a check on Hall. A short while later a computer report
showed Hall was a convicted felon and was not supposed to have the
pistol, and definitely not the marijuana.
To prove the point the Cibola County grand jury indicted Hall on charges
of possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon, a fourth-degree
felony, and possession of marijuana, a petty misdemeanor.
If found guilty and fined and sentenced to the maximum, Hall faces
up to one and one-half years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.
Dale John Roaix, 43, of Grants, was indicted on charges of burglary
of a home and larceny. The charges stem from Sept. 19, when Roaix
allegedly entered a home on Rouse Road in Grants and took a rosary,
a bolo tie and 20 wallets belonging to the occupant of the home.
The burglary charge is a third-degree felony and the larceny charge
is a misdemeanor. Roaix, if convicted and fined to the maximum, could
spend up to two and-a- half years in jail and/or be fined up to $5,000.
Julian R. Martinez, 42, of 1507 Tietjen, Milan, was indicted by the
grand jury on charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol
or drugs, driving while his license is suspended or revoked and resisting,
evading or obstructing an officer. Martinez was stopped in a vehicle
by Grants Police on Sept. 20.
In other court matters District Judge Joseph Arite:
Sentenced Gina Ware, 32, of 400 Anderman, Grants, to a three-year
deferred sentence and placed her on probation for three years for
cases involving forgery, conspiracy and larceny over $100. Ware and
her attorney worked out a plea agreement with the court prior to sentencing.
Sentenced Joseph C. Torrez, 23, of Milan, to a three-year deferred
sentence and three years of supervised probation for felony possession
of a controlled substance and tampering with evidence.
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Pine Hill, Valley split
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
PINE HILL — Valley Sanders outrebounded Pine Hill by a nearly
3-1 margin that fueled an 86-73 win Saturday night.
In the girls game, Pine Hill used free throw shooting to key a 50-44
win over Valley.
The Pine Hill boys, 1-1, will host Quemado Tuesday while the Pine
Hill girls, 2-0, will play in the Magdalena Invitational Friday and
Saturday.
Valley will host Rock Point Tuesday with the boys and girls teams
playing.
Boys, Valley Sanders 86, Pine Hill 73
The Valley Pirates overcame a first half deficit as the Pine Hill
Warriors used a flurry of free throw shooting to grab the early lead.
The 2-0 Pirates played aggressively on the boards in the second half
that ignited a solid third period comeback.
"Rebounding was the big difference," Valley head coach Mark
Forster said. "In the third quarter we were able to focus while
Pine Hill lost its focus. We had to play tough defense. We're looking
good but we still have lots to iron out."
Pine Hill, 1-1, held a 40-37 halftime lead before Valley erupted on
the boards.
Valley's J.C. Baldwin scored on a fastbreak basket before teammate
Arilson Six put in the go-ahead bucket on an offensive rebound that
put the Pirates ahead for good, 41-40.
The Pirates blew past the Warriors, going inside for the easy shots
on second and third shots off the glass.
Six, who led the Pirates with 20 points, ran off four successive scores
inside that gave Valley a 47-42 lead.
In the meantime, Pine Hill went ice cold from the field, missing on
10 straight shots, including 0-of-7 from three-point range.
The Pirates pushed their lead to 13 points, 55-42, before the Warriors
got their first points from the field on a trey by senior point guard
Urian Maria, who led all scorers with a game-high 25 points.
By the time the third period was over, Valley Sanders had outpointed
Pine Hill 27-10 on 12-of-25 shooting from the field. The Warriors
were also hurt by eight turnovers in the third quarter.
Pine Hill pulled to within nine points in the fourth period before
the Warriors had to foul the Pirates to stop the clock.
Valley marched to the free throw in the final three minutes to sink
10-of-14 free throws that sealed its second straight victory.
"It (being outrebounded) really seemed to manifest itself in
the third quarter," Pine Hill coach Dave Whitesell said. "We
have to figure out how to play aggressively for 32 minutes. We'll
have to learn to box out. But Valley is well-coached and has the talent.
It was a good game for us and it's all about preparation for district."
In the first half, Pine Hill sank 24-of-29 free throws to lead 40-37
by intermission. In contrast Valley sank 9-of-13 at the line.
For the game, Valley made 24-of-32 free throws for 75 percent while
Pine Hill sank 35-of-45 for 78 percent. In the rebounding department,
Valley outrebounded Pine Hill 49 to 18.
Valley shot 40 percent from the field (30-of-75) while Pine Hill shot
30 percent (16-of-46).
Valley displayed balanced scoring with its two post players Arilson
Six with 20 points and Shawn Gene, who played with four fouls and
that Pine Hill was unable to take advantage of, finished with 15 points.
Chaushie Forster and Jay Thomas each finished with 10 points with
J.C. Baldwin and Ardell Watchman each with nine points.
Pine Hill's Urian Maria led the way with 25 points along with three
treys with Justin Begay with 14. Michael Raphaelito and Dominic Chischilly
each tallied nine points with Nathan Henio with eight.
Girls Pine Hill 50, Valley Sanders 44
Pine Hill used free throw shooting to turn back Valley Sanders 50-44
in the girls game.
The Lady Warriors, now 2-0, converted 19-of-30 free throws for 63
percent shooting while the Lady Pirates sank 6-of-18 for 50 percent.
Valley, which lost two players on fouls, had 28 fouls to Pine Hill's
18.
Pine Hill nursed a slim 8-7 first period lead with free throw shooting
in the second period to pull ahead for a 20-10 advantage.
Lady Warrior Candace Daw, who finished with 17 points, sank 7-of-8
free throws in the period. But Valley was able to cut that lead down
to six points by intermission, 20-14, with three quick scores by Danelle
Garner, Madeline Wilson and Savannah Yazzie.
Using a 2-1-2 zone in the second half, Pine Hill was able to shut
down the inside lanes to Valley.
Pine Hill held a seven-point lead, 47-40, with about two minutes left
in the game when Cecile Raphealito stopped, paused and then nailed
a key three-pointer that gave the Lady Warriors a 10-point edge.
The Lady Pirates turned the ball over on a crucial turnover when Denise
Roan was whistled for an offensive foul with 1:19 remaining. Roan
scored Valley's final two baskets only to come up short, 50-44.
"It was a tough defensive battle," Pine Hill coach Raphael
Esparza said. "The girls are now playing Pine Hill Warrior defense.
Every girls came in and did their part. (Candace) Daw hit 8-of-11
free throws that kept us in the game."
Pine Hill's leading scorers were Candace Daw with a game-high 17 points
while Cecile Raphealito added 11. Pat Arthur scored nine and Denise
Johnson eight points. Denise Johnson led Pine Hill with 12 rebounds
with Denise Begay with nine boards and Sherrily Apache with eight.
Valley had two players in double digits with Gina Lynch with 11 points
and Denise Roan 10. Terioln Keedah chipped in eight points.
Tohatchi falls behind early, loses big
Abelita R. Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
TOHATCHI — The defending Class AAA state champions, Silver City,
took a big lead over the Tohatchi Lady Cougars and pulled away to
beat Tohatchi 66-41 in girls prep basketball Saturday.
"Silver City has always been a good ball club and you can't take
anything away from them. It was a good game for us and there should
have been a lot of things that we should have done and shouldn't have
done but we just have to re-group," Tohatchi coach Fern Spencer
said.
A well focused Silver City team leaped to a 10-3 lead early in the
first quarter. A jump shot by Tona Saponaro, a steal by Jennifer Whetten
who drove the ball downcourt for the basket and an open lay-up by
Jessica Garcia put Silver City up 16-5 at the end of the first period.
Going into the second quarter, the Lady Cougars played a better game
scoring 12 points, but Silver City scored 17 to take a 33-17 lead
into half-time.
Trailing 23-9, Tasha James made a shot just inside the three-point
line for a 23-11 score. On a driving shot by James, she was fouled
by Iris Aguirre and went to the line for a three-point attempt. Seh
missed the free throw, but came back on the next possession with a
drive for the basket and a 27-15 score. James also made the last basket
of the quarter on another drive to the goal.
Silver City continued to rack up the points in the third quarter outscoring
Tohatchi 20-12 to open up a 24-point lead.
Silver City's Jennifer Gonzales led her team in the quarter with eight
points coming on a jump shot and baskets with assists by Garcia, Abeyta,
Whetten.
Cougar Geri John led her team with six points with two open shots
and a rebound put back up for a basket.
James made a great drive under the basket with an underhanded shot
for two points and Bernice Yazzie had a jump shot, but Silver City
led 53-29 going into the final quarter.
Trailing 58-29, Bernice Yazzie got a little more aggressive grabbing
the ball from Silver City for two points and came right back with
two more on a jump shot. Tanisha Bitsoi also had a drive of her own
for the basket to cut the margin to 58-35.
Bitsoi had another drive after Robby Vendrely made a lay-up, and Tanisha
Tohe made a jump shot to make it 62-39.
Bitsoi ended the game getting possession of the ball on a turnover
on a bad pass by Silver City to drive in for a lay-up at the buzzer.
One area Spencer feels her teams needs to work on is their passing.
"It wasn't as crisp as I wanted it to be, but I think those are
some of the things we still need to work on. We weren't meeting the
ball like we were supposed to, yet when we're in practice they do
it and when you come out to the court it doesn't happen."
Tohatchi shot 0-of-8 from three point range and 19-of-25 from the
field. From the free throw line, they were 3-for-7 for 43 percent.
Silver City made shot 64 percent from the field on 28-of-44 field.
They were 1-of-5 on three-point attempts for 20 percent and 7-for-11
at the line for 64 percent,
"It was a good game. These are the kind of games that are going
to be competitive and hopefully we learn from this game and just keep
working before district," Spencer said.
The Lady Cougars (1-2) will play in the Gallup Invite on Thursday
against Winslow.
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Tuba campus to get Cultural Learning
Center
Staff Report
TUBA CITY, Ariz. — On Wednesday, Diné College will conduct
a "log-raising" ceremony at the Tuba City west campus, celebrating
the 19th Cultural Learning Center to go up at tribal colleges nationwide.
At 11 a.m., the College Board of Regents, representatives of the Navajo
Nation, members of the Tuba City Steering Committee, students, faculty
members and other project sponsors will gather on site to stack logs
and hammer nails for the new addition to the campus.
The log structure will be a 1,300-square-foot hogan. This effort is
part of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) national
initiative to create repositories for art and culture at each member
institution of AIHEC.
Cassandra Manuelito-Kerkvliet, president of Diné College, said
in a news release, "This new log facility will greatly benefit
our students and provide a unique and beautiful edifice that will
preserve our Diné language, history, philosophy and culture.
The prominent message of hope expressed by my grandfather, Chief Manuelito,
shapes my philosophy and goals. He said, 'Education is the ladder
to success for my people, tell my grandchildren to climb the ladder...'
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Five chapters get grant for land-use
plan
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — CW TOP Development Corp., a collaboration of five rural
chapters located on the eastern-most edge of the Navajo reservation,
recently received an $80,000 grant over a two-year period to expand
its program.
The purpose of the non-profit group is to work together toward common
goals. The CW TOP name is derived from using the first letter of each
of the names of the chapters involved: Counselor, Whitehorse Lake,
Torreon/Starlake, Ojo Encino and Pueblo Pintado.
The organization has been in operation since September 1996. It was
originally organized to collaborate on building a high school within
a centralized location for all of the chapters. The school was not
built but the organization continued on.
The funds will help to complete a land-use plan and hire staff to
develop a 14.5-acre site for residential and commercial use...
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Canadians get a disturbing look at immigration agency
This is the second article detailing the problems the Rev. and
Mrs. Edward Richmond have experienced with the Immigration and Naturalization
Service.
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — Father Edward Richmond, an Episcopal priest from Canada,
didn't intend to teach anyone a civics lesson in American government
when he assumed a church ministry in Gallup. He and his wife Joan
came to share the Christian gospel with the small congregation at
the Church of the Holy Spirit.
But through several years of frustrating transactions with the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), a bleak civics lesson
has emerged. To those who have come to know the Richmonds during
their temporary stay in the United States, it's been a startling
and disturbing look into a federal agency that few American citizens
know much about.
The Richmonds are reapplying for another one-year extension of Richmond's
employment authorization while their application for permanent status
is pending with the I.N.S.
Richmond has agreed to stay at the Gallup church for three more
years if his application can get I.N.S. approval, but the agency
is running about 18 months behind in processing applications...
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Mobile home parks told to fix problems
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Two mobile home park owners here have
taken their case against the local Regional Business Development Office
to the Navajo Nation president.
In a meeting last week, the owners or former owners, according to
the RBDO appealed for presidential intervention.
President Kelsey Begaye told the group in his office that policies
should be enforced in a humane way and said he would try to intervene
after talking with Tony Skrelunas, Economic Development Division director.
The RBDO is part of his division.
Skrelunas told the Independent on Tuesday that he wanted the division's
side of the story told, "So we don't look like the bad guy."
But on Wednesday the regional staff, based on the advice of the Navajo
Justice Department, said the tribe's access to information act prevented
that...
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Robberies mar holiday in Milan
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Holidays are normally quiet in Milan, but police officers
were busy Thanksgiving Day with two armed robberies and a family
fight that sent one woman to the hospital for stitches before she
was booked into jail.
Details were sketchy.
The first robbery occurred about 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Mustang
gas station on Route 66 in Milan. A store clerk said she wasn't
working that morning, but the 20-year-old business hasn't had many
problems until this month. The store was robbed three weeks ago,
too. The Independent was unable to contact the manager for comments.
The Cibola County Sheriff's log entry said police were looking for
an older Hispanic male in a green jacket who was possibly involved
in the robbery...
Deaths
Carlos D. Yazzie, Sr.
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Services for Carlos D. Yazzie Sr., 58,
will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 28 at Fort Defiance Catholic
Church. Father John Mittelstadt will officate. Burial will follow
on private family land, Buffalo Springs, N.M.
Visitation will be held at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Rollie Mortuary-Palm
Chapel.
Yazzie died Nov. 24 in Fort Defiance, Ariz. He was born Oct. 4, 1942
in Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Red House People Clan for the Bitterwater
People Clan.
Survivors include his sons, Carlos D. Yazzie Jr. of Mesa, Ariz. and
Devon Yazzie of Fort Defiance, Ariz.; father, Pahe D.
Yazzie of Buffalo Springs, N.M.; brother, Wilfred D.
Yazzie of Tohatchi and sister, Debra Baldwin of Kayenta, Ariz.
Yazzie preceded in death by mother, Caroline D. Yazzie; son, Darron
Yazzie and brother, David D. Yazzie.
Pallbearers will be Marshall Arviso, Eric Yazzie, Joe Giron, Jonah
Bizardi, Dannell Begay, Stanley D. Yazzie, Greg Begay and
Ernest D. Yazzie.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Clarence Milton Mike
ALBUQUERQUE — Services for Clarence Milton Mike, 41, was held
at noon, today, Nov. 27, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor William Overton
will officate. Burial will follow in the City Cemtery.
Mike died Nov. 23 in Albuquerque. He was born Dec. 5, 1958 in Gallup
into the Salt Water Clan for the Red Running into the Water Clan.
Mike lived in Red Rock. He attended Gallup High and T.V.I for welding
and auto repair courses and was employed as a silversmith. His hobbies
include softball and basketball.
Survivors include his mother, Betty Lee of Albuquerque; brothers,
Amos Mike and Frank Milton Lee both of Albuquerque; and sisters, Clara
Davidson of Albuquerque, Laura Saracen of Belen, and LeNora Johnson
of Rio Rancho.
Pallbearers will be John Saracen Jr., Bobby Lee, Randy Johnson, Brandon
Lee, Milton Lee, and Randy Johnson Jr.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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