Good Samaritans



Red Rock Elementary students Kristin Damon, left, passing motorist Nathan Nakai and his daughter Elizabeth, Marquise Estrada, Destiny Estrada, Bridgette Gonzales, and Guadalupe Andablo pose next to a 300-pound boulder that fell Monday onto a schoolmate as she was walking home from school. The students lifted the boulder off the leg of Elizabeth Montano and Nakai treated the girl for shock.

Photo by Nicole Goodhue

 

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Schoolkids pull rock off girl
Child's leg broken

Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Elizabeth Montano will remember her close encounter with a boulder near her school for a long time.

The 8-year-old third grader found herself trapped under the boulder near Red Rock Elementary School on Monday for several minutes until five of her schoolmates managed to get the 300-pound rock off her.

By Monday night, her parents, Gilman and Ramona, heard the bad news a broken femur that would keep her in traction at the Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital for three weeks and then in a body cast for another six to eight weeks.

"It was just a freak accident," her mother said Tuesday afternoon.

The five schoolmates involved in the rescue Bridgette Gonzales, Kristin Damon, Guadalupe Andablo and Destiny and Marquise Estrada also said they were surprised as they were heading home from school Monday afternoon to see Elizabeth fall and the huge rock roll over on top of her.

Elizabeth was walking as her friends said she does every day along a hill that abutted Henrietta Drive just north of the school when her friends saw her trip over something. As she was falling, she grabbed at a boulder that was resting on the side of the hill, causing it to dislodge and fall over her leg.

Gonzales said she and the other students immediately ran to help Elizabeth, trying for several minutes to get the rock off her, as their friend screamed in pain.

"It was just too heavy," Damon said.

After about five minutes, Elizabeth's friends were able to get the boulder off her by having two push and the others pull at the same time.

"The girls were so brave and wonderful," Elizabeth's father said. "They knew exactly what to do."

As soon as Elizabeth was out of immediate danger, two of the schoolmates went to call 911 and another went down the street to let the Montanos know what happened.

By that time Nathan Nakai, who had picked up his daughter, was driving by and saw the rescue. He immediately stopped and ran to help the still-screaming Elizabeth as she and her friends waited for an ambulance.

"She was in shock," Nakai said. "My main concern was to keep her still."

Nakai said he was also concerned because of the blood that was running down her face.

By this time, Elizabeth's father had arrived on the scene. He saw his daughter's leg bent at a 90 degree angle and helped keep her still until the ambulance arrived some 20 minutes after the first call was made.

Ramona said she didn't learn of the accident until one of the girls returned to her house a couple of minutes later and told her what had happened. She also ran up the street and held her daughter's head until the ambulance arrived.

Doctors later told the Montanos that their daughter had broken her left femur and had slight injuries to her head and left ankle.
"She's already saying she wants to go back to school," Gilman Montano said.

But that isn't going to happen for some time, as doctors told the Montanos that Elizabeth may be spending Christmas in her hospital bed and then will be recuperating until at least March.

"Elizabeth was lucky," her mother said, "that the boulder didn't fall on her back."

The youngest of four kids in the Montano families her nearest sibling is 18 years old Elizabeth was spending most of Tuesday sedated because of the pain.

Although she plans to be spending a lot of time 24 hours seven days a week, as she said at the hospital, Elizabeth's mother said she also plans to look into what can be done about the rocks and boulders that dot the hillside next to Henrietta Drive.

"That area needs to be taken care of," she said. "There's a lot of kids who walk to and from school that way."

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Pair to face ethics panel
Ex-Sheep Springs officials charged with misusing funds

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Two immediate past Sheep Springs Chapter officers have been charged with violating the Navajo Ethics in Government Law.

Bennie Joe and Pattie Sam, who were the chapter's president and secretary-treasurer, respectively, until new officers began their four-year terms in October, will go before the Navajo Nation Council's Ethics-Rules Committee on Jan. 6 and 7.

In its complaints, the Office of Ethics and Rules charged Joe with conflict of interest plus violating the Local Governance Act about issuing contracts and Sam with the same offenses, plus nepotism and unauthorized use of tribal funds.

On Tuesday Joe said he hadn't had time to talk with a lawyer yet about the complaint, but said, "We're out of office and I don't know what's going on. I need to sit down with someone and get some advice."

Sam could not be reached for comment.

Ethics investigator Lewnell B. Harrison asked the committee to forbid Joe and Sam from holding tribal elected office for five years and that they be ordered to repay $3,049 each. Those are the standard penalties sought in ethics cases, along with immediate resignation from office if the offender is still in office and is convicted of an offense involving more than $1,000.

Allegations against Joe

Joe is accused of hiring Sam to be the chapter community service coordinator while also being secretary-treasurer from May to July 1998 and August to October 1999, paying her $3,312.

The immediate past president also is accused of ignoring the membership's vote on Nov. 21, 1999, to hire Alvin Allen as a housing project supervisor by giving the job, and $1,056 for two months work, to Sam eight days later.

Joe also in November 1999 contacted Leon Nelson and Leonard Hunt for estimates to wire the homes of Jasper Beget, Jim Bryant and Herbert Brown. The two men gave estimates of $2,400 and $2,000 for the labor and supplies, but were never contacted to actually bid for the contract.

The complaint said Joe instead hired Sam's brother, Ernie Sherman, for $1,730.

Allegations against Sam

Sam was paid $1,727 from May through July 1998 as the chapter's coordinator, plus $1,584 from August through October 1999. The complaint alleges that for the 1999 work, she ordered clerk-typist Zilla Peshlakai not to deduct anything from her paycheck.

The investigator charges that her hiring did not follow the proper procedure and that her seven paychecks as coordinator were not approved by the chapter's membership, which amounts to unauthorized used of tribal funds.

Sam also is accused in the complaint of ordering Peshlakai not to take any deductions from the $1,056 for the housing supervisory work. Again, the complaint charges this was unauthorized use of tribal funds.

The nepotism charge stems from Sam telling her brother, Ernie Sherman, about the wiring estimates from Nelson and Hunt so that he could secretly underbid the other two. Harrison charged that this violated three tribal laws.

The eight-member committee's hearings will be the first to be held in 2001.

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Laguna man to head effort

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Ronald J. Solimon, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna, has been selected to serve as the next president and chief executive officer of Indian Pueblos Marketing, Inc. in Albuquerque.

Solimon began the job of overseeing management for the two business components of IMPI on Nov. 27. The nonprofit component is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC) with its museums and education programs; the for-profit part of the business includes a restaurant, catering services, retail gift shop, wholesale jewelry, arts and crafts department, smoke shop, meeting facilities, and leased office space.

Solimon said he is excited about his new position, adding, "We have an outstanding management team here that I am looking forward to providing management for." He wants to make the Cultural Center one of Albuquerque's stopping points.

Albuquerque is developing the concept of a "cultural corridor." The corridor begins on the south end with the new Hispanic Cultural Center. In the center are the aquarium and botanical garden, the museums, and Old Town. Solimon wants the IPCC to be the northern point for the cultural corridor.

He said the city has plans to link the attractions with some type of mass transportation, perhaps a trolley, so that tourists can leave their cars downtown while they visit.

Solimon said he is working with Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca, the Albuquerque Convention Bureau, and other groups to join forces in attracting and entertaining a diverse group of customers.

Solimon said the IPCC is an excellent place to learn about pueblo culture, customs and traditions and to buy handicrafts from Native artisans. He said any day there are a variety of activities.

On a single day this week the IPCC hosted a reception for 500 contestants and their families for the Indian National Finals Rodeo and a tour for the Center for U.S. and China Arts Exchange. The center is involved in a variety of cultural exchange programs. The restaurant features Southwest dishes and attracts many locals for lunch.

Before accepting the position with IMPI, Solimon worked for the St. Paul, Minn.-based public relations firm, Goff & Howard. Solimon didn't leave home to take this job; his office was in Albuquerque and his clients were the Laguna Development Corporation and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians Corporate Commission. The Ojibwe are business partners with the Laguna Pueblo in the Laguna Development Corp. The corporation manages the Dancing Eagle Casino.

Solimon is a graduate of West Mesa High School, New Mexico State University's School of Business Administration & Economics, and the University of New Mexico Law School.

After college Solimon worked as an executive and legal assistant to the Laguna governors. This was at the time the Jack Pile mine was closing and the Pueblo was beginning to implement its economic development plan. Solimon was responsible for implementing the economic development projects for the pueblo.

The Laguna Construction Company was formed to reclaim the mine and it has continued to provide environmental reclamation for government projects across the nation.

Solimon worked for Laguna Industries, a manufacturing and service firm, for 14 years. The company manufactures components for mobile electronics devices at its plant in Mesita. Solimon left Laguna Industries a year-and-a-half ago to take the public relations position.

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Guliford, Davis top list of runners

Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor

GALLUP — Gallup's dominance in cross country translated into another abundance of honors for the Bengal program.

Gallup coach Curtis Williams was tabbed the Independent's Coach of the Year and frontrunners C.R. Davis and Felicia Guilford were named Runners of the Year.

Other Bengal runners garnering Independent All-Area Cross Country honors were Roxann James and Paula-Etta Houston for the girls' team and Nabahe Austin and Lonnie Williams on the boys'.

The Lady Bengals won the programs' 22nd state title this past fall, their fourth consecutive, in dominating fashion led by the area's best runner Felicia Guliford.

The Gallup girls team, which had between eight and nine runners vying for the seven varsity spots, won four of the five meets that Guliford missed because of a hip injury. Their only loss was a runner-up finish to Ganado at the Window Rock Invitational in the second week of the season.

Guliford returned to racing at the Eldorado Invitational in October and led the Bengal girls to five more meet victories including
the District 1AAAAA and state titles while winning those five individual titles as well.

Paula-Etta Houston was another Bengal runner who missed part of the season because of injury and in the top two runners' absence, Roxann James picked up the slack and led the rest of the Bengal team to team victories.

All three Bengal runners finished 1-2-3 at the state meet for all-state honors which made them easy selections for the all-area team.

Grants sophomore Erin Lewis won five individual titles, including the District 3AAA title, and challenged Guliford at the Tohatchi and Grants Invitationals in the last two regular season meets.

Wingate sophomore Cateka Tsosie was a consistent top 10 performer, even in meets where Gallup was competing. Tsosie captured the District 1AAA title before completing her season with an all-state sixth place finish.

A pair of 3A Enchantment Region runners made it onto the team after top five finishes at the state meet.

Tuba City frontrunner Ciji Honahnie led the Lady Warriors to a fourth straight state title despite stomach cramps which kept her from repeating her individual state title. She finished fourth overall behind Monument Valley Mustang Rebecca Wiseman.

The Gallup boys also dominated the AAA-AAAAA team with its top three runners C.R. Davis, Nabahe Austin and Lonnie Williams.

Davis was a unanimous choice for male runner of the year winning five races including the District 1AAAAA title. The flu kept him from contending for an individual state title, but his fourth place finish did lead the Bengals to a runner-up showing.

Teammates Nabahe Austin and Lonnie Williams were consistent top 10 performers for the Bengals with Williams finishing third at district and eighth at state while Austin was sixth at district and sixth at state for all-district and all-state honors.

Kirtland Central Bronco Vernon Harrison became eligible just in time to win the District 1AAAA and Class AAAA state title while leading the Kirtland Broncos to the district title and a third place finish at state. Teammate Chad Dawson led the team during the regular season, winning a couple of meets. He garnered all-state honors with a sixth place finish at the state meet.

Wingate Bear Leonardo Jim was another consistent top five performer who won four races including the District 1AAA title. He capped his season with a third place finish at state for all-state honors.

Window Rock Scout Gabriel Haskie was the 3A Enchantment Region champion and led the Window Rock Scouts to a state runner-up finish with an all-state sixth place finish at the 3A Arizona state meet.

The Zuni Thunderbirds dominated several smaller meets and challenged Gallup late in the season. They put together a perfect score to capture the District 7A-AA title and won the A-AA state title easily. From that team, Kenton Kallestewa and Bryan Waatsa were named to the all-area team for A-AA schools.

Rehoboth frontrunner Andy Yazzie, the individual state runner-up in A-AA was also named to the team along with brother Lloyd Yazzie.

Class A St. Michael was a surprise runner-up in Arizona A-AA to perennial power Hopi behind the strength of frontrunners Joshua and Jeremiah Thompson. Joshua won the North A-AA conference title and was the runner-up at state. Jeremiah also garnered all-state honors with a fourth place finish.

Both the Hopi boys and girls teams ended their final season in A-AA with state titles.

Off the championship boys team, Delwyn Takala, third at state, was named to the all-area team.

The Hopi girls dominated the small school all-area squad with Martina Goklish, state runner-up, Alyssa Fredericks, conference champ and third place all-stater, Iva Sahneyah, fourth at state, and Tara Secakuku, fifth at state, being selected.

Latanya Slim who also broke into the top 10 at state (sixth) and the top 5 (fourth) at the conference meet was also selected.
Laguna-Acoma Hawk Monique Garcia, fourth in Class A-AA, completed the team.

Gallup boys still looking for first win

Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor

GALLUP — The Gallup Bengal basketball team is still looking for its first win of the season after providing another previously winless one with theirs Tuesday night.

A quicker Los Lunas squad beat Gallup 44-39 at Gallup High School in boys prep basketball action.

"They're quicker, their ability to penentrate the ball hurt us," first year Gallup coach Earl Diddle said after watching the Bengals slip to 0-3. "We had our moments that I thought we played pretty well, but we made some mistakes that cost us the game."

Rebounding, not pressuring the perimeter shooters and turnovers hurt Gallup in their unsuccessful home opener.

Los Lunas outrebounded Gallup 27 to 22, including 10 offensive boards to Gallup's 15 defensive rebounds. Although Los Lunas only capitalized on three of those for points, one of them resulted in a three-point play which put the Tigers up by ten points in the fourth quarter.

Eric Sanchez grabbed a miss and was fouled on his way back up. He made the ensuing free throw for a 39-29 lead.

The Bengals did make a final run with Chris Vicente grabbing a pair of offensive reobunds, putting one back himself for a basket. The other resulted in a pair of free throws by Tredell Dawes.

But Gallup's inability to take care of the ball against Los Lunas' aggressive defense forced another Bengal turnover and Omar Vargas found Jamie Mora for a basket to put the Tigers back up 41-33 with three minutes still remaining.

After a missed three-pointer, Gallup was able to capitalize on a Tiger turnover with Brandon Wyaco finishing a drive with a bank shot.

Los Lunas, which spread the floor to run time off the clock, missed a quick three-pointer that was rebounded by Fermin Gallegos. Gallegos then got the ball to Vicente, who got the roll which closed the gap to 41-37.

However, defensively, Vargas was able to drive the ball downcourt for an uncontested layup. Wyaco scored once more for Gallup, but forced to foul to stop the clock, Drew Money was called for an obvious intentional foul which gave the Tigers two free throws and possession of the ball with 16.1 seconds left.

Money, who was allegedly involved in a teen party at which alcohol was present, started for Gallup Tuesday.

"We've investigated it and there wasn't anything there. If there was we would've done something about it," Diddle said about the incident.

Jason Utash opened the scoring with a pair of free throws after drawing a foul on his drive to the basket. That set the tone for the game as Los Lunas outquicked the Bengal defense time after time. The Tigers also made three treys to mix up their offense.

"They've got kids who can shoot the ball and a pretty good scheme," Diddle said. "We got shots, we're just not a very good shooting team."

For the game, Gallup shot just 40 percent from the field (18-of-45). Los Lunas shot 41.8 percent, including 3-of-14 from three-point range.

After falling behind 4-0, Gallup was able to stay close early. A score off an offensive rebound by Maurice Guliford tied the score at 16-16 near the end of the first quarter, but a basket by Rustin Porter on an inbounds play gave Los Lunas the advantage at the end of the period.

Still tied at 22-22 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the second quarter, Los Lunas closed out the half with a 7-0 run to take a 29-22 halftime lead.

The Tigers opened up a nine-point advantage in the third quarter as Gallup went 1-of-8 from the field, 0-for-2 from the free throw line and turned the ball over eight times until the final minute.

B.J. Begay banked in a shot and Money drove in for another score as Gallup only trailed 33-28 going into the final period.

Begay led Gallup with 11 points. Chris Vicente added 10 and Money finished with 8. Maurice Guliford led the rebounding with 7.

Dominic Pohl was the only Tiger in double figures with 10, but nine Los Lunas players scored in the win.

Gallup will host Window Rock Thursday.

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Late rally lifts Hopi girls

Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent

POLACCA, Ariz. — The Hopi Lady Bruins went on a late 11-4 spurt to defeat Chinle 51-47 in girls basketball action Tuesday night.

Chassity Gould scored four key points and Mallory Shattuck added three. Gould and Hannah Honani netted 11 points each to top the Lady Bruins. Shattuck added 10.

Jaime Begay paced the Wildcats with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Shannon Yazzie added 11.

"We played a lot better tonight than we played at the River Valley tournament," Hopi coach Rick Baker said. "Tonight our full court defense was much better, but our offense was still lacking. But it was still enough to win..."

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Letter angers water lawyer

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation's water rights attorney, Stanley Pollack, says tribal hydrologist Jack Utter's "open letter" criticizing non-Navajo lawyers for not pursuing the tribe's Colorado River water rights is inaccurate and worse.

"I believe the letter is libelous ... whether it were to identify me by name or not, it doesn't really matter," Pollack said Tuesday, referring to Utter's Sept. 28 letter published in the Independent.

"Your first inclination is to respond in kind."

Pollack said he preferred to make his comments brief, since Utter's letter is the subject of forthcoming legislative oversight hearings Dec. 12-14 before the tribe's Government Services and Resources Committees. One of the witnesses scheduled to appear is Pollack...

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Deaths

Nancy L. Chee

GALLUP — Services for Nancy L. Chee, 76, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Pastor David Toppen will officiate. Burial will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.

Chee died Dec. 4 in Gallup. She was born March 16, 1924, in Fort Defiance, Ariz., into the Painted Check People Clan for the Red Running into the People Clan.

Survivors include her sons, Vernon Smith of Farmington and John Chee of Philadelphia, Pa., and three grandchildren.

Chee was preceded in death by parents, Joe E. and Ella Rose Smith.

Pallbearers will be John Chee, Ernie Encinias, Anthony Joe, Perry Joe, Aaron Ruple and Vernon Smith.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Murray Ronald Mason

GALLUP — Services for Murray R. Mason,43, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Grace Navajo Baptist Church, Gallup. Brother Ted Ferris will officiate. Burial will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. tonight at Cope Memorial Chapel.

Mason died Dec. 2 in Gallup. He was born Oct. 22, 1956, in Crownpoint into the Folded Arms Clan for the Tangle People Clan.

Mason attended South Sevier High School and Southern Utah State; he participated in football, basketball and track. He was employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a draftsman and also worked at Days Inn and Travel Lodge as a night auditor.

Survivors include his son, Mitchell Johnson of Gallup; parents, Jimmie Mason of Ganado, Ariz., and Christine J. Mason of Gallup; brother, Murment Mason of Gallup; sisters, Myrtle Mason and Mary Mason, both of Gallup; and grandparents, Fred and Janet Jones and , Edgar and Celia Mason.

Mason was preceded in death by brother, Jimmie Mason Jr., and his grandparents.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Cowboy, Willie Smith, Kevin Barton, Jimmie Chee, Wilbert Barton and Thompson Bell.

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

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Joe C. Begay

SANDERS, Ariz. — Services for Joe C. Begay, 70, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Valley Baptist Church at Sanders. Burial will follow at New Lands Cemetery, Sanders, Ariz.

Begay died Dec. 4 in Gallup. He was born Feb. 4, 1930, in Hollow Mesa, Ariz., into the Rock Gap People Clan for the Many Goats People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Mary B. Charley

CROWNPOINT — Services for Mary B. Charley, 108, were held at 11 a.m. today at Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church.

Pastor Bob Jippings and Gordon Stuit officiated. Burial followed at the Mission Cemetery, Rehoboth.

Charley died Dec. 1 in Farmington. She was born July 19, 1892, in Collidge into the Towering House Clan for the Edge Water People Clan.

Survivors include her sons, Ben Charley of Barstow, Calif., and Dan Charley of Mariano Lake; daughters, Nora Thomas and Anna King, both of Mariano Lake, Emma Marie Maskett and Cindy Charles, both of Crownpoint, Elsie Begay and Annie Muskett, both of Thoreau; sister, Emma Jones of Littlewater; 50 grandchildren, 140 great-grandchildren and 46 great-great-grandchildren.

Charley was preceded in death by parents, Marcellino and Bah Bedea; brothers, Willie M. Charley and Willie Yazzie; and sister, Eunice Antonio.

Pallbearers were David Charles, Emerson Thomas, Leroy Muskett, Jermoine Cayatineto, Ervin King and Olson Charley.
Cope Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Josiah Terrell Pino

GALLUP — Services for Josiah Terrell Pino, infant, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow on family land in Twin Lakes.

Pino died Dec. 2 in Albuquerque. He was born Nov. 3 in Albuquerque into the Towering House Clan for the Mexican People Clan.

Survivors include his parents, Tracey Ann and Joseph Pino Jr., both of Gallup; grandparents, Emma Begay of Gallup and Tom Tso Sr. of Pinon, Ariz., and grandparents, Joe and Grace Pino of Twin Lakes.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Escanado Jackson

TEESTOH, Ariz. — Services for Escanado Jackson, 87, were held at 11 a.m. today at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial followed at the Gallup City Cemetery.

Jackson died Dec. 1 in Payson, Ariz. He was born July 10, 1913, in Teestoh, Ariz., into the Salt Clan for the Bitter Water Clan.

Jackson retired from the railroad. He also had worked as a community health representative and the Gallup-McKinley County School as a custodian.

Survivors include his daughters, Darlene Jackson and Jennifer Jackson both of Sand Springs, N.M.; brothers, Steven Jackson of Provo, Utah, Raymond Jackson of Dilcon, Ariz., Phillip Chee Jackson of Teestoh, Ariz., and Phillip Jackson of Tuba City, Ariz.; sisters, Inez Betoney and Eleanora Jackson Curtis, both of Teestoh, Ariz., and Alice Yazzie of White Cone, Ariz.; and two grandchildren.

Jackson was preceded in death by parents, John Nez Jackson and Asdzane Ksohi.

Pallbearers were Tony Bahe, Ronald Johnson, Hardy Phelps, Gerald Hale, Michael Alcott and Larry Sanbrero Sr.

Cope Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

Thelma "Terri" M. Stern

GRANTS — Services for Thelma Stern, 65, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Grants Memorial Park. Burial will follow at Grants Memorial Park.

Stern died Dec. 4 in Grants. She was Nov. 8, 1935 in Chicago, Ill.

Stern lived 18 years in Japan. She was a professional artist and art teacher.

Survivors include her husband, Paul Stern, and sister, Lucille Guzman.

Stern was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Luella Olson, and brother, Raymond Olson.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at 1724 Del Norte. Grants Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.

Irene Manuelito

VALLEYSTORE, Ariz. — Services for Irene Manuelito, 82, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Chinle, Ariz. The Rev. Blane Grien will officiate. Burial will follow on family land, Valleystore, Ariz.

Manuelito died Dec. 1 in Flagstaff, Ariz. She was born Nov. 18, 1919, in Chinle, Ariz., into the Salt People Clan for the Wateredge People Clan.

Manuelito was a medicine woman and her hobby was weaving.

Survivors include her husband, Joe Manuelito; daughters, Mary Curley, Josephine Gishie, Jane Begay and Nellie Yazzie; 40 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Yazzie, Walter Curley, Corey Yazzie, Sullivane Manuelito, Arthur Yazzie and Benson Haudley.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at Mary Curley residence, 2.5 miles from Old Valleystore, Ariz.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Louie Yazzie

COUSINS — Services for Louie Yazzie, 69, will be announced at a later date.

Yazzie died Dec. 3. He was born Sept. 5, 1931, in Two Wells, N.M.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.