Sounds of the season



Under the direction of Bob Ippel, above, Rehoboth Christian High School Choir and audience members unite to sing Hallelujah at the conclusion of the annual Christmas Concert Sunday evening at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Below, choir member Nick Thompson holds a note during the concert.

Photos by Nicole Goodhue

 

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BIA may be bumped from lease process

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation Deputy Attorney General Britt Clapham delivered a message Friday to the tribal council that might suffice as a much-anticipated early Christmas gift.

Clapham told delegates that the U.S. House of Representatives had passed a concurrent resolution regarding business site lease streamlining. The Senate passed the Navajo Nation Trust Land Leasing Act of 2000 last week, part of a consolidated legislative measure affecting Indian country.

"That's on its way to President Clinton now," Clapham said during the second day of the council's two-day special session.

The Navajo Nation Trust Land Leasing Act will eliminate the Bureau of Indian Affairs from the reservation's cumbersome and time-consuming business site leasing process. The lone exception will involve mineral leases.

Since the mid-1950s, when BIA authority began over business leases, tribal leaders and businessmen have complained that the BIA review of business leases nearly duplicates Navajo requirements. The BIA process is performed at different intervals than the tribal process causing unnecessary delays for prospective business owners.

"This indeed is another major accomplishment for the Begaye-McKenzie administration, with considerable help and support of numerous resources including the standing committees and the Navajo Nation Council," said Navajo President Kelsey Begaye.

The Navajo Nation Trust Land Leasing Act of 2000 has involved a months-long process to work with members of Congress by amending U.S. Code Section 415. The Navajo Nation will now have greater control over a more simplified process.

"The elimination of the BIA from this mechanism will help to speed up the current Navajo business site leasing process,"
Begaye said. "We are grateful Congress has been supportive by passing this legislation. Although we have no direct indications of President Clinton's actions, we are confident that President Clinton will sign the bill into law after which point we can move our economy forward."

Tribal Division of Economic Development Director Tony Skrelunas said new regulations will not need BIA approval. Signature approval will come from the secretary of the Interior.

"These changes are important in creating a business-friendly environment on the Navajo Nation," Skrelunas said. "The new leasing regulations will allow for various methods for charging business property rent, for providing incentives to business owners and for enabling better management of Navajo business and commercial properties."

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., introduced the Navajo Nation Trust Land Leasing Act of 2000 in May. The legislation was approved as part of a House resolution. Co-sponsoring the bill was Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

Kyl said the new business site leasing rules will speed up by at least 50 percent the process for issuing leases, create predictable procedures for leasing trust land, and creative incentives for businesses to open and operate on the reservation.

Kyl said the old system involving BIA would discourage many businesses from even considering a location on the Navajo Nation.

"There's no longer a need for the (Interior) secretary to be involved in routine leasing decisions that the Nation can make by itself," Kyl said.

"Right now, leasing trust land on the Navajo Nation is a time-consuming process that requires duplicate applications and potentially months or years of waiting for answers ... Making it easier and faster to process lease applications is one way to help create jobs where they are clearly needed," Bingaman said.

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Police: Man challenged cops to fight

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A Gallup man was arrested Saturday after police said he challenged officers to fight and tried to stab one of them with a ball point pen.

Officers were responding to a call about a man who was being verbally abusive to dispatchers when the suspect, Larry Martinez, 46, met police carrying a sling shot and acting as if he was about to use it on the officers, police said.

Police said Martinez was intoxicated and verbally abusive to officers during the incident, telling them he had beat up bigger guys and raising his hand toward the face of one of the officers.

Martinez told police he would shoot the people who kept throwing rocks at his house and walking on his property.

Police then told Martinez to relax, that they would stay near his residence and try to identify the suspect throwing the rocks.
Police then left the scene.

About five minutes later, they were called back to the same residence after it was reported that Martinez was once again verbally abusing dispatchers, police said.

When police returned, the suspect invited the officers inside and it was explained that if he wanted police assistance, he would need to calm down and stop using profanity.

Believing the suspect was a danger to himself and possibly anyone walking near his residence, police then asked him if he wanted to speak to a counselor at the hospital.

This caused Martinez to begin to yell and punch his fist in a violent manner, telling officers "to come and get him."

Martinez then was informed he was under arrest for assault and officers attempted to handcuff him.

But the suspect continued to resist, grabbing an uncapped ball point pen and waving it toward one of the officers in an attempt to stab him, a police report said.

After refusing orders to put the pen down, officers used pepper spray on the suspect and were able to take him into custody.

Martinez was booked into the McKinley County Adult Detention Center on charges of aggravated assault upon a police officer, a felony, and resisting/obstructing an officer.

While at the jail, Martinez apologized for the incident, police said.

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Citizens learn about danger of radiation

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — A group of Grants' citizens attended a Hazardous Materials Awareness training Sunday, the first step in the city's preparations for the opening of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) route on I-40.

John Shay with the State Department of Public Safety said the shipments of contaminated materials could begin as early as February, although they are more likely to start in late August or September. Trucks carrying shipments of materials contaminated with low levels of radiation will be traveling east along I-40 to WIPP in Carlsbad.

Peggy Jordan, Cibola County emergency management coordinator, said this is the first in a series of trainings that will be held in the community. The WIPP program and the Department of Public Safety sponsored the training at no cost to the community.

Classes like the one Sunday in Grants are being held in communities along the I-40 corridor where shipments of radioactive materials are scheduled to begin next year.

Capt. Robert Garcia witih the Gallup Fire Department taught the class, which is the first of five levels of training for Haz Mat responders. The class is designed to teach a person how to respond if he or she is the first one on the scene.

Although the class was sponsored by the WIPP project, Garcia said the radioactive spills are the least of the problems they encounter on the highways and the course is not specific to radioactive material. There are many hazardous materials being shipped on highways each day that are potentially dangerous if they are spilled.

Students learned how to identify a hazardous situation and determine what product the truck or rail car may be carrying by its shape and the placards and signs on the vehicle. After identifying the material the students were taught how to identify the hazard and take appropriate steps to move people to a safe location. The next step is to notify the appropriate authorities about the spill.

Once a student has completed the eight-hour training and passed an exam, his local emergency management coordinator certifies him at the Awareness Level. An awareness level certification does not qualify a person to approach the spill or remove a victim who may be contaminated. The person must collect enough information to identify the hazard and then move to what is known as the cold zone a safe distance from the hazard.

Garcia stressed the importance of evacuating the area immediately and waiting for trained personnel, generally a fire department employee, who has protective clothing. If someone enters the hot zone where a victim is, he may become contaminated and then pass that contamination to others.

The other levels of training and certification are: operations, technician, specialist, and incident commander. Generally these courses are provided to law enforcement and fire department employees who have the responsibility and training to protect the public in a hazardous situation.

Jordan said more training would be held throughout the county at different locations. "The more people that know about chemicals, the better," Jordan said.

There will be an Awareness Level Training in Bluewater Village on Monday and Tuesday evenings. For more information, call Peggy Jordan at 285-2550.

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Lady Bengals 'stop the bleeding' with 51-34 road win

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

ALBUQUERQUE — The Gallup Lady Bengals ended end their losing streak Saturday night by defeating Eldorado 51-34.

Gallup coach John Lomasney said that he is glad the girls were able to get over their problems and end their five game skid.
"It stops the bleeding for a little while," he said.

Lomasney said that his team played well at times and that his team is learning how to put a complete game together.

"We're not a 32 minute ballclub yet, but by the end of the season I think we might be."

The Lady Bengals, who got back to .500 with a 5-5 mark, started the game off where they left off the night before against Sandia. Gallup was not shooting the ball well and turned the ball over four times. The Eagles had problems early as well, and the two teams ended the first quarter in a 9-9 tie.

Gallup opened the second quarter with a 10-0 run and never looked back. Led by Vanessa Hubbard, the Bengals took control and led at the half, 27-15. Hubbard scored nine of her 17 points in the second quarter.

Gallup would go up by 12, their biggest lead, right before the half, but a basket be Alez Cobb would cut the lead to 25-15. Vanessa Hubbard hit a jump shot with two seconds left in the half to put the Lady Bengals back up by 12.

Eldorado (3-7) pulled to within seven in the third quarter and had the Bengal lead down to six in the fourth, but the Bengals put the game away at the free throw line.

Gallup had problems shooting from the line early, shooting 5-for-8 in the first half but then going 0-for-6 in the third and beginning of the fourth quarters. It wasn't until Roberta Tahe came to the line with the Bengals up 43-32 that the Bengals would hit a free throw in the second half.

Tahe would go on a hot streak, hitting six straight free throws to put the game out of reach. Carla Paredes and Candace Roanhorse both hit a pair of freethrows late to help the Bengals finish a respectable 15-of-24 from the line.

Gallup did not hit any three-pointers in the first quarter, but opened the second quarter with one. Seconds into the second quarter, Roanhorse grabbed a rebound off a missed Bengal shot and found Hubbard open behind the line. Gallup would go on to hit 4-of-12 from three-point range, two coming from Tahe.

The Bengals were led by Vanessa Hubbard, who finished with 17. Roberta Tahe finished close behind with 16.

Missing close baskets was one of the problems that Lomasney said he saw during the game. "We missed some second hand shots, but we were getting the offensive rebounds and the close looks, and that is a positive thing."

The Eagles were led by Alex Cobb. Cobb was the only Eldorado player to score in double figures, finishing with 13.

The Bengals outrebounded Eldorado 32-22, with Candace Roanhorse grabbing 11 boards for Gallup.

Gallup only had nine turnovers in the game, Eldorado had 14. The Eagles turned the ball over nine times in the first half.

Fouls kept several Bengals benched in earlier games, but Eldorado had more players sitting with fouls in the Saturday game.
Gallup was called for 17 in the game and Eldorado was called for 18. None of the players fouled out, though a player on each team finished with four and five other players finished with three.

All of the fouls committed by both team put the two at the free-throw line often and early in the game. Eldorado finished the game 11-of-17 from the line.

Despite the five game losing streak and offensive problems the Bengals had the past few games, Lomasney said they did not change any of their game plans nor does he plan to make any.

"No changes. We run man-to-man defense and run our offense. There are some things we will try to do better, like get more offensive rebounds, but so far this season we have done good. We are a young team and are still learning. We just make mistakes down the end. We need to learn how to close out games."

Tuba City can't overcome slow start in title game
Winslow Winter Classic

Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer

WINSLOW, Ariz. - Defending Class 3A state champion Tuba City rallied from an early deficit but fell to unbeaten Class 5A Corona del Sol 54-49 Saturday night during the tournament finals of the 24-team Winslow Winter Classic.

Corona del Sol, 14-0, held off Tuba City down the stretch by sinking 7-of-8 free throws in the final minutes to preserve its latest win.

In the third place game, Window Rock proved that it could play without its top player in sophomore forward Roberta Haskie who sat out half of the game with foul trouble as the Lady Scouts stunned Class 5A Desert Vista 46-34.

In the fifth place game, host Winslow disposed of Class 5A and defending tournament champions Gilbert Highland 68-55.

Named to the all-tourney team were Alexis Timpone, Nikki Revling and Lindsay McClellan from Corona del Sol; Amy North, Tammy Secody and Jayme Lomakema from Tuba City; Andrian Chee and Roberta Haskie from Window Rock; Francine McCurtain and Lexie Jensen from Winslow; Alexis Welch from Desert Vista; Lorena Sullivan and Miranda Todachine from Monument Valley; Tiffany Jesperson and Erin O'Bryan from Gilbert Highland; Melissa Jones from Ganado; Charmayne Johnson from Coconino; Lenelle Tahe from Flagstaff and Charae Cook from Snowflake.

According to Winslow coach and tournament director Don Petranovich, the 24-team tournament bracket may be trimmed down to 16 teams for next year.

Finals Corona del Sol 54, Tuba City 49

Corona del Sol gave every impression that the Lady Aztecs were going to hand Tuba City a resounding defeat in the tournament finals.

The Lady Aztecs, 14-0, raced to a quick 8-0 lead on scores by four different starters. Tuba City got on the scoreboard on an inside score by junior guard Jayme Lomakema along with a pair of free throws by Nicole Tsingine who came off the bench to score 14 points.

But Corona del Sol, which returned three starters from last year's 28-5 team that lost to eventual state champion Chander in the state semifinals, ran off eight unanswered points for a commanding 16-4 lead. However Corona del Sol got into serious foul trouble with its two post players, 6-1 Nikki Revling and 6-1 Amber Larsen along with starting guard Alexis Timpone. Larsen,
Timpone and Revling each had four fouls but Tuba City was unable to take advantage of the situation.

The Lady Warriors rallied in the fourth period with senior post Amy North going inside for a score and then sinking a pair of free throws. Junior guard Sharlimar Navaho drilled a trey and senior guard Tammy Secody added a bucket that pulled Tuba City to within two points, 45-41, with 3:37 left in the game.

But Corona del Sol, which had beaten Hopi 86-33, Page 53-35 and Desert Vista 56-35 in the tournament, remained in the lead as Tuba City sent the Lady Aztecs to the free throw line in the final minutes where the final outcome was decided.

Corona del Sol converted 7-of-8 free throws with Timpone a perfect 4-for-4 with McClellan hitting 3-for-4 as the Lady Aztecs held off the Lady Warriors for their first tournament title.

Tuba City's top scorer was Nicole Tsingine who came off the bench to tally 14 points with Sharlimar Navaho chipping in 11. North and Tammy Secody each added eight points with Lomakema with six.

Corona del Sol's top two scorers were McClelland with 17 points and Timpone 14.

Tuba City struggled with its shooting, hitting on 14-of-48 from the field for 29 percent shooting with Corona del Sol shooting 50 percent, 21-of-42.

The Lady Warriors had the edge from long range, sinking 6-of-19 treys for 32 percent while the Lady Aztecs hit on 1-of-7 for 14 percent.

Third place Window Rock 46, Desert Vista 34

Window Rock's Roberta Haskie got into foul trouble early picking up two fouls in the opening period and her third in the first minute of the third period before sitting out the rest of the second period.

Haskie started the second half but she lasted just three minutes before picking up her fourth foul with 4:51 left and sat out the rest of the period. With four fouls, Haskie started the final period and was able to play the rest of the game.

"I told the girls that Roberta (Haskie) won't be able to score 34 points and have 18 rebounds every game," Window Rock coach Bo Whitelock said. "We have to fill in the gaps so I was proud of our finish."

Playing just half of the game, Haskie still finished with top scoring honors with 13 points with Andrian Chee with 12.
"It's been a tough tournament and we're happy to be here and we couldn't be more excited to win third place,"Whitelock said.
"The whole team contributed. Our defense has picked up and working better as a team. The girls are keeping their minds on the game."

Window Rock grabbed the lead for good when sophomore guard Renee West drilled a trey, Haskie followed with an inside score and senior guard Andrian Chee added another score off a fastbreak for a 13-7 advantage. The Lady Scouts never lost the lead the rest of the game against the Class 5A Desert Vista Lady Thunder.

Haskie was whistled for her third foul at the start of the second period with Window Rock on top 15-8. However the Lady Scouts were able to nurse their lead despite having its top player, Haskie, sitting on the bench the rest of the first half.

West nailed her second trey, senior post Jeanelle Kirk scored off the glass and Andrian Chee added another score as Window Rock secured a comfortable 22-10 cushion. In the meantime, Desert Vista turned the ball over seven times that fueled Window Rock's run.

By halftime, Window Rock was in firm control 24-12 as Desert Vista struggled with 2-of-7 shooting from the field.

Window Rock had a 30-18 lead with five minutes remaining in the third period when Haskie got called for her fourth foul. Haskie went to the bench but Window Rock again showed that it could play with its top standout.

Senior post Leona Birtcher scored successive baskets to mold a 34-18 lead. But Desert Vista (8-7) staged a brief rally, cutting an 18-point Window Rock lead, 38-20, down to six points, 40-34 with 2:59 remaining in the game with Alexis Welch and Jade Abel, who finished with 19 points, each accounting for three scores during the comeback.

However Window Rock was able to regain its composure as senior post Treva Jim scored her only points of the game on a crucial layup with 1:32 left in the game. The Lady Scouts sealed their win on two late scores by Chee and Haskie to win, 46-34.
Window Rock hit on 21-of-56 shots from the field for 38 percent shooting with Desert Vista 14-of-45 for 31 percent.

Window Rock, 7-5 overall, will host Gallup Thursday in a rematch of the opening round of the Gallup Invitational.

Tuba City 65, Window Rock 56

Tuba City grabbed an 18-9 first period but led by only a 26-23 margin by halftime. The Lady Warriors still clung to a 45-43 third period lead before putting the game away in the final period by outscoring the Lady Scouts 20 to 13.

Tuba City was led by Amy North with 20 points, Jayme Lomakema 19 points, and Nicole Tsingine 11.

Window Rock was paced by Roberta Haskie with 23 points, Treva Jim 21 and Andrian Chee 11.

"I felt we were right there with Tuba until the final four or five minutes of the game," Whitelock said. 'We woke some people up. Our girls can play with anybody. Our region is probably the toughest in the state. We've played some quality teams and that had bonded the girls."

Ganado 54, Bradshaw Mountain 47

Ganado's Melissa Jones pumped in 31 points including 25 in the first half to lift the Lady Hornets to a 54-47 win over Bradshaw Mountain.

Ganado led 38-32 at halftime.

Jolene Benally and Kendralyn James each added nine and eight points respectively for the Lady Hornets.

Bradshaw Mountain had three players score in double digits with Meg Powers with 15 points with Tori Stooks and Meghan O'Brien each with 14 points.

Monument Valley 65, Snowflake 45

Monument Valley led 14-9, 32-16 in easily disposing of Snowflake, 65-45.

Lorena Sullivan led the Lady Mustangs with 21 points with Miranda Todachine with 10.

Snowflake was led by Talia Johnson with 14 points.

Coconino 51, Chinle 39

Coconino downed Chinle 51-39 Saturday afternoon at the Winslow High old gym.

Coconino led 12-7, 23-13, 40-24 before winning 51-39.

Louann Yellowhair was Chinle's leading scorer with 12 points.

Coconino was led by Juana Brown with 12 points, Charmayne Johnson 10 and Heather Quinn and Michelle Moore each with eight points.

Alchesay 64, Greyhills 56

Alchesay raced to a 21-12 first period lead and held on for a 64-56 win over Greyhills.

Greyhills' top scorers were Windy Harris with 19 points, Rayetta Farrell 17 and Marissa Chee 10.

Alchesay's leading scorer was Robyn Parker with 13 points.

Seton Catholic 53, Pinon 29

Seton Catholic led 13-8, 26-16, 44-20 before winning by 24 points.

Pinon had Shannon Kevine and Shantel Muzzie each with seven points.

Seton was led by Maggie Mitchell with 15 points.

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Some school leaders may get extended-year contracts

Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Members of the Gallup-McKinley School Board will soon get a chance to show how much they appreciate administrators within the district.

The school board has been discussing the possibility of giving some administrators extended year contracts.

In the past, state law has allowed school boards to give the district superintendent only a multi-year contract and that was limited to two years.

The state legislature last year, however, at the request of school boards around the state, agreed to change the law allowing the superintendent to get a three-year contract and other administrators two years...

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Gallup fails to slow down Ravens

Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor

GALLUP — A deliberate Bengal offense was Gallup's best defense through the first 11 minutes of their game against Rio Grande Saturday night.

But then Rio Grande went on a 17-1 run over the next two and a half minutes to pull out to a 28-13 lead and then cruised from there for a 66-33 victory in boys prep basketball action.

"We tried to control the tempo and slow the game down, but anytime they sped us up, their physical ability and talent took over," Gallup coach Earl Diddle said after watching his Bengals drop to 2-4.

Rio Grande coach Ron Garcia felt his team, now 5-3, got off to a slow start, which combined with early foul trouble, kept Gallup close in the first half...

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Deaths

Leon Lundstrom Sr.

MILAN — Services for Leon Howard Lundstrom Sr., 71, were held at 10 a.m. today, Dec. 18, at St. Vivian's Catholic Church, Milan. Father Gil Mangampo officiated. Burial followed at Grants Memorial Park.

Lundstrom died Dec. 15 in Albuquerque. He was born July 4, 1929, in Bismarck, S.D.

Lundstrom was a resident of Milan since 1965. He was employed with Zuni Mountain Country Club and Kerr-McGee and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the United Mine Workers Union and Milan Elks Lodge. His hobbies included gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Margaret Lundstrom; sons, Leon Lundstrom of Las Vegas, Nev., and Charles Lundstrom of
Albuquerque; daughter, Patricia Lundstrom of Gallup; brother, Milton Lundstrom of Salt Lake City, Utah; and two
grandchildren.

Lundstrom was preceded by death by parents, Hjalmer and Marrieta Jackson Lundstrom.

Pallbearers were Louie Castillo, Bob Russell, Carl Russell, Michael Iverson, Ron Ortiz and Felix Gonzales.