Missing



Harrilicia "Gina" Brown

 

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High alert again issued by FBI to U.S.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Announcing a terrorist alert during the holiday season, the Bush administration is urging Americans to be extra vigilant amid an increase in credible threats.

The FBI put 18,000 law enforcement agencies "on the highest alert" Monday because of threats culled from intelligence sources across the globe, said Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge.

"Now is not the time to back off," said Ridge, delivering the third government alert since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The intelligence does not point to a specific target or type of attack — either in America or abroad.

"It would be so much easier, admittedly, if there were a little more specifics we could refer to, but there are not," Ridge said.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the threat comes from people with links to al-Qaida, the terrorist network headed by Osama bin Laden and suspected in the Sept. 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,500.

The threat is not tied to the weekend attacks and retaliation in Israel — and may not be a direct response to events in Afghanistan, as al-Qaida is known for planning attacks far in advance, the official said.

Ridge said the convergence of Christmas and Ramadan, the Islamic holy month which ends in mid-December, could be tempting to terrorists who have a history of striking during religious observations.

"The sources are more credible and, let me just say, the decibel level is higher as they talk about potential attacks," Ridge said.

Ridge offered little hope of finding the source of anthrax attacks that shook the nation in the wake of the Sept. 11 suicide hijackings over Washington, New York and Pennsylvania.

In the anthrax investigation Monday:

The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said tens of thousands of letters mailed around the country could have picked up trace amounts of anthrax while passing through a contaminated Trenton, N.J., postal facility in October.

Investigators already have tracked 300 letters that passed through the Trenton facility within seconds of anthrax-laden letters destined for two U.S. senators. Health officials in every area of the country that received those letters are on alert, but so far no infections have turned up, said CDC director Dr. Jeffrey Koplan.

The Bush administration issued its first terrorist alert Oct. 11, followed by a one-week advisory Oct. 29.

White House officials said the level of concern leading to the new alert is not any greater than for the previous two.

They said Ridge pushed for the alert because of the new information and out of concern that the public, politicians and police were getting complacent.

"The further removed we get from Sept. 11, I think the natural tendency is to let down our guard," Ridge said. "Unfortunately, we cannot do that."

Americans can help by reporting suspicious activity to police, Ridge said.

The action comes in the middle of a Christmas shopping season that is an especially important one for recession-weary retailers.

"A terrorism alert is not a signal to stop life," said Ridge. "Add your eyes and ears to our efforts to find and stop those who want to harm us. We have no way of assuring or guaranteeing or pinpointing where the terrorists will attack."

Ridge made the announcement because Attorney General John Ashcroft was out of town. Bush has distanced himself from the alerts, which have been criticized for unduly alarming Americans.

Ridge said there was no disagreement within the administration over whether to issue the latest alert.

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15-year-old girl gone since Nov. 25

Andrea Egger
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 15-year-old Gallup girl has been missing since Nov. 25, police said Monday.

Gallup Police Detective Sgt. Rick White said Cpl. Miranda Littlefield is working the case of Harrilicia "Gina" Brown, 15, whose family filed a police report last Tuesday.

White said that he doesn't know if Littlefield has had any success with the case yet.

Brown was reported as being 5-feet, 4-inches tall and weighs about 130 pounds. She has shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes.

She has a pierced right eyebrow and a mole by her right nostril.

When she was last seen by her mother on Nov. 25, she was wearing blue jeans, a gray sweatshirt and a black blouse.

The mother said a friend dropped her off around 2:30 Nov. 25 and she went to her bedroom. The mother never saw her leave and said she might have crawled out her bedroom window, somethig that she has done before, but she's never been gone this long.

The family believes she is a runaway.

The mother said her daughter was not mad or upset when she came home on Nov. 25, but she still believes her daughter ran away. She said she's worried that her daughter might have run into foul play.

Although the family thinks their daughter is a runaway, White said the Gallup Police are considering this a missing persons case.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Brown family at 870-3490, or the Gallup Police Department, 863-9365.

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Scorpion defense too much for Bengals

Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

GALLUP — Turnovers and a lack and inaccuracy in shots earned the Gallup Bengals a 70-37 loss against an impressive defensive Farmington Scorpion team in boys prep basketball action Monday night at Gallup High School.

"We were expecting and prepared for their full court press," said first-year coach Ryan Cordova. "I told the guys but maybe they didn't believe me for some reason."

"I think this was a real eye-opener for them. They can't think they can walk on to their home court 2-0 and win. They were able to see it and learn from it. They know they need to be prepared and ready to play," Cordova added.

The Bengals finished the night with a total of 30 turnovers and made 13 of their 33 two-point attempts. They also were 1-for-10 in trys and 8-for-19 at the line.

The Scorpions almost outscored the Bengals in double-digits in every quarter but the third quarter, 19-4 in the first, 22-15 in the second and 21-9 in the first. The Bengals outscored Farmington 9-8 in the third.

With just over a minute into the game, Farmington took a 5-0 lead with Nick Saiz sinking a pair of free throws. The Scorps then took the ball back on a steal by Saiz, who then attempted a shot. A rebound by Jerome Joe gave the Bengals little offensive opportunity but Saiz grabbed another steal and sank a trey.

Despite a travel on Gallup, the Bengals took possession of the ball on a block by Bengal Jeremy Lewis and finally landed their first basket on a jumper by Dominic Romero.

The Scorpions then proceeded to a nine-point run while Gallup lost the ball seven times. The run ended when Romero assisted a pass to Robb Erickson for a basket.

Farmington scored four more points with a three-pointer from Nat Deswood and Adam Grimes on an offensive rebound for a slam dunk to make way for a 19-4 lead into the second quarter.

The Bengals battled back at the beginning of the second quarter with both teams exchanging baskets for a combined total of 17-point between the teams.

The Bengals opened with an assist by Joe to Erickson but Farmington came back with an assist of their own from Robert Adams to Dustin Moore. Scorp Grimes them sank a jump shot but Bengal Fermin Gallegos fired in a trey. Farmington retaliated with Saiz handing out an assist to Adams and Bengal Erickson made a drive to the basket. The fight ended on a jumper by Frasier matched with one from Bengal Lewis.

Farmington then took back control of the ball for a 10-point run. The run was ended on an assist from Daniel Guliford to Erickson.

The Scorpions scored five more points before Bengal Nathaniel Tsosie made a drive up the middle for a basket at the buzzer but the Scorpions still retained a big 41-19 lead.

"I told them we need to settle down and I had to draw up our game plan again," Cordova said is what he told his team at half-time. "(But) we still failed to do what we needed to do. The fouls were in their favor 9-1 but they weren't bad calls just bad playing. We couldn't come together and didn't get back in the game."

After a lengthy offensive domination by Farmington, the Bengals were finally able to outscore the Scorpions in the third
quarter but not by much. Gallup scored nine to Farmington's eight.

In the final quarter, the Bengal's were once again limited to nine points while Farmington triumphed with 21.

Scorpion Grimes scored on a jump shot, Bengal Lewis then went 1-for-2 at the line and Scorp Saiz countered with a jumper.

A drive to the basket by Bengal Erickson was then followed by a 13-point run, including a technical by Gallup. The foul was given then Bengal coach Cordova insisted on putting in one of his players that he knew wasn't on his lineup.

The run was interrupted when Bengal's Steve Garcia and Ryan Yazzie made a pair of free throws each. Four more points were scored by Farmington before Bengal Aaron Skeets ended with a put back.

"This game is my fault. I take full responsibility for the loss. When you see us again we will be a totally different team on the court. We are just going to have to take each game one step at a time and move forward from here," Cordova concluded.

The Bengals were led by Erickson with 14 points. Lewis added five points, seven rebounds three steals and two blocks.

Frasier led the Scorps with 16-points, five rebounds, a steal and dished out three assist. Grimes pumped in 15-points, five rebounds and three blocks.

The Bengals (2-1) will travel to Fort Defiance on Thursday to play the Window Rock Scouts.

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Man scares housemates

Staff Report

GALLUP — A bat and a knife were used by a relative to terrify an extended family, all living in one house, according to Gallup Police.

Police were called to 310 W. Princeton St. around 12:16 a.m. Sunday, according to a police report.

Officers spoke with Kevin Billie, 19, who said he was in the back bedroom with his girlfriend, Michelle Reyna, 18, of the same address, when they heard fighting in the other room. Then someone began to bang on the bedroom door.

Billie opened the door and saw Pete Lujan, 40, of the same address, holding a black bat and wielding a knife. Billie said Lujan told him he was going to beat him up, and Billie jumped out a window to escape, according to the police report...

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Sheep industry on last legs

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In the industry's heyday, millions of sheep streamed out of the mountain pastures of the West each fall — meat and wool headed to local railheads and on to global markets.

Sheepmen were part of the backbone of an emerging and independent economy in much of the early West. Tens of thousands of migrants flocked to the region, but there were five times as many sheep as people.

Over the decades, however, the vagaries of international trade and diners' tastes, combined with consolidation of the packing industry into only a few hands, have left crumbling what once was a pillar of the West.

"My family loved it," Idaho rancher Brad Little recalls. "That was our summer vacation and — I guess you could call it a winter vacation — lambing and shearing..."

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Deaths

Bessie Carol Howe

ROCK SPRINGS — Services for Bessie Howe, 50, will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Cope Memorial Chapel.
Rev. Howard McCormick will officiate. Burial will follow on family land, Rock Springs.

Howe died Dec. 1 in Gallup. She was born May 21, 1951 into the Red Running into Water, Divison of Zuni People Clan for
the Hairy People Clan.

Howe was a homemaker, rugweaver and did beadwork. Her hobbies included traveling and listening to oldies music.

Survivors include her husband, Frank Howe of Rock Springs; sons, Clarence E. Howe and Frank Howe Jr. both of Rock
Springs; daughters, Cornelia Mae Howe, Sandra Mae Howe and Carol Mae Howe all of Rock Springs; brothers, Sam Long of
Rock Springs; sisters, Helen Damon and Lucy Long both of Rock Springs; and five grandchildren.

Howe was preceded in death by her father, Joe Smith; brothers, Tsosie Long, Pete Long Sr.; stepfather Tom Long and
grandparents, Hebah and Jimmie Watson Sr.

Pallbearers will be family members.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Walter "Dickie" E. Jarrell

MILAN — Services for Walter E. Jarrell, 67, will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 6 at the Grace Baptist Church, Milan. Rev. Dale Thatcher will officiate.

Jarrell died Dec. 1. He was born April 16, 1934 in Logan, W. Va.

Jarrell was a member of the Milan Volunteer Fire Department for 28 years, and was in the Marine Corps during the Korean
War.

Survivors include his wife, Carol; sons, Donald E. Jarrell of Highland, Md, Bret Jarrell of Pascagoula, Miss., Rodney Curl of
Phoenix and William "Cotton" Jarrell; daughter, Rhonda Neeb of Waterford, Md.; brother, Pat Jarrell of W.Va.; nine
grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Jarrell was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bill; sisters, Clemmie, Ruth and Pearl.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Grace Baptist Church.

Ronald Lee Tapaha Sr.

SANDERS, Ariz. — Services for Ronald Tapaha Sr., 37, will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at St. Ann Mission, Klagetoh, Ariz. Father Flann O'Neil will officiate. Burial will follow at Klagetoh Cemetery.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m., tonight at Rollie Mortuary.

Tapaha Sr. died Nov. 30 in Fair Grove, Mo. He was born July 27, 1964 in Ganado, Ariz. into the Red House People Clan for
the Bitterwater People Clan.

Survivors include his wife, Wilhelmina Tapaha of Sanders; son, Ronald Lee Tapaha Jr. of Sanders; daughters, I'Rene Tapaha,
Michaela Tapaha and Ronnaesaha Tapaha all of Sanders; mother, Agnes Tapaha of Klagetoh; brothers, David Lewis Tapaha of
Klagetoh and Roy Lee Tapaha Sr. of Chambers; and sisters, Sally Ann Jackson and Shirley Ann Tapaha both of Klagetoh.

Tapaha Sr. was preceded in death by his father, Sammy Paul Tapaha.

Pallbearers will be family members.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Ben Musket

BRIMHALL — Services for Ben Musket, 90, was held at 10 a.m., today at Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church, Rehoboth.
Rev. Gordon officiated. Burial followed on family plot, Brimhall.

Musket died Nov. 30 in Albuquerque. He was born Jan. 10, 1911 in Mexican Springs into the Weaver/Zia Clan for the
Towering House People Clan.

Musket attended Tohatchi Boarding School and Wingate Boarding School. He was employed with the Community
Conservation Project, Tohatchi Power Plant, Wingate Ordinance, Brimhall Road Construction, Navajo Sawmill, Federal
Government Forestry and Navajo Tribal Council. He was Coyote Canyon Chapter President and Vice-President. He was a
member of the Grazing Committee, C.A.C., CCRC Board of Directors, Red Willow Farm Board and Tohatchi Christian
Reformed Church Elders.

Survivors include his sons, Leo, Wilbert and Clintis all of Crownpoint, Martin Lloyd of Brimhall and Herbert Musket of
Ramah; daughters, Phyllis M. Largo, Lucy M. Yazzie and Ruby Musket, all of Brimhall; brothers, Wilson of Mexican Springs
and Kee Musket of Tohatchi; sisters, Rose M. Begay and Grace Thomas of Mexican Springs; 42 grandchildren; 43 great-
grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Musket was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Curley Musket; sons, Willie and Henry Musket; daughter, Margaret Muskett and parents, Hosteen and Danasbah Muskett.

Pallbearers will be Manuel Begay, Leo Thomas, Lawrence Muskett, Wilbert Muskett Jr., Wayne Muskett and Jermaine Cayatineto.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Wilbert Muskett Sr. residence.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Margaret J. Rupert Yates

SAN RAFAEL — Services for Margaret Yates, 70, will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Grants Mortuary Chapel and
1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6 at Free Trinity Navajo Mission. Rev. William Cope will officiate. Burial will follow at a private
cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Grants Mortuary.

Yates died Dec. 1 in Grants. She was born Aug. 16, 1931 in Wood County, Ohio.

Yates was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and active in missionary work.

Survivors include her husband, Rev. Ogle C. Yates of San Rafael; sons, Seth A. Yates of Brimhall and Jonathan D. Yates of
Waynesburg, Pa.; daughters, Rachel Adair of Martin, S.D., Dorcas Ann Yates of Grants and Miriam E. Yates of Ethan, S.D.;
mother, Mildred Harshman Dewese of Columbus, Ohio; brother, Charles Dewese of Wood County, Ohio; sisters, Edith
Myers of Findlay, Ohio, Sharon Rupert of Columbus and Karen Mazey of San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Aaron Yates, Lindell Adair, Jonathan Yates, Seth Yates, Earl Adair and Ogle Yates.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to, Margaret Yates Memorial Fund For Missionary Work, Sawmill Chapel, Wesleyan Methodist Church, PO Box 206, San Rafael, N.M., 87051.

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