Election board delays decision on changes
Jim Maniaci
Dinι Bureau
WINDOW ROCK The Navajo Board of Election Supervisors Thursday
postponed a decision on proposed major changes to the referendum
law. If approved the resolution, proposed by Delegate Omer Begay
(Greasewood Springs Chapter), would go to the Navajo Nation Council,
which has not looked kindly on reforms that would give citizens
a way to adopt a law without going through the lawmakers.
Also tabled until its Jan. 10 meeting were twin resolutions establishing
deadlines for challenges by candidates about the qualifications
of other candidates and write-in candidate procedures.
By a 3-2-2 split vote, the board reaffirmed its October resolution
holding off the start of staggered tribal school board elections
until 2004, as requested by two of the three tribal school board
associations.
The groups said members were elected believing they would serve
four-year terms and it wouldn't be fair to change that without
advance notice. The board and Education Committee approved the
change in January 2000 for the chapter-level general election
in 2000, but it was never implemented due to having three directors
Richie Nez, Carol Kirk Perry and Rose Graham up
for election in one year.
Supervisors approved asking the council to add farm board seats
to the list of vacancies to be filled by appointments instead
of
special elections. The board also approved the voter registration
total of 90,636 on Dec. 4 and forms for candidates to fill out,
including campaign expenses.
Begay said he introduced the resolution because of what happened
this past summer with the IHS 638 election. In that election,
those who turned out to vote rejected the proposed acquisition
by a 4-1 margin, but the measure failed because of the tribal
law requiring approval by a majority of all registered voters
some 2.5 times greater than the total turnout.
(The council will conduct a study session Jan. 3 and 4 at the
Gallup Holiday Inn with the Navajo Health Care System Corporation
about the proposed $277 million Public Law 93-638 contract to
take over the IHS Navajo Area medical services.)
Begay's resolution calls the tribal law "an impossibly high
standard for approval." It also says, "It is in the
best interest of the Navajo Nation to amend the referendum provisions...make
them more accessible...provide a reasonable standard for the number
of votes required to adopt...and expressly provide that successfully
adopted referendum measures or initiatives will have the effect
of law."
He proposes:
Lowering the level of petition signatures needed to put a proposed
law to a vote from 30 percent to 10 percent.
Lowering the approval level to a majority of those who vote on
the question.
Having tribal lawyers instead of the election board
provide simplified language for the ballot.
Allowing the council, by a three-fourths vote (66 delegates) instead
of a two-thirds vote (59 delegates) to change a voter-approved
law.
Charging a referendum's sponsors (the "petition committee"
) $2,500 to put the measure on the ballot for a nation-wide vote
and $500 for a chapter vote.
Expanding the now very tight deadlines for the election administration
to put on an election from 60 days to 120 days.
Confirming that a referendum or initiative that is passed is,
indeed, new tribal law, and not just advisory.
Changing the name of such measures, for the most part, to initiatives,
which is a citizen-sponsored proposed law. Off the reservation,
a referendum means a citizen challenge to a law already passed
by a legislative body.
Supervisor Frannie George (Eastern Agency) thanked Begay for coming
to the board and not by-passing it as some have done in the past.
She steadfastly and repeatedly objected to the provision that
would have the Office of Legislative Counsel and the Attorney
General write simplified ballot language. This is the type of
conflict that happened in the summer of 2000 with the previous
board over the ballot to reduce the council's size to 24 delegates.
George maintains, "The Board...is the policy maker,"
not the lawyers. "This part needs to be corrected."
She also has concerns about the judicial review provisions.
Board Chairman Jackie Burbank (Chinle Agency) recommended raising
the 10 percent (which would be about 9,000 people) to 15 percent
(about 13,500 people) to help get the council's approval for the
changes. Begay agreed this would be acceptable, although the 10
percent would be better.
Elections Director Perry listed five staff concerns:
Having the tribal lawyers write simplified language. "We
prefer it the other way around, the normal way. As Mrs. George
said, the board sets the policy. They (the lawyers) shouldn't
be doing it."
Requiring people signing petitions to give either their tribal
census number or U.S. Social Security number, instead of both.
Allowing 45 days, instead of 10 days, to verify signatures. She
said it can take up to 30 days to do 4,000 signatures on a council
delegate's petition in the past. (Nominating petitions are not
used anymore.)
Requiring the council to appropriate, instead of just identify,
funds for a referendum it submits to the people.
How to pay for citizen-initiated measures, since $2,500 would
not cover very much of the $145,000-plus cost of a referendum-initiative
vote nor would $500 cover the approximate chapter election cost
of about $1,200.
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A clean and sober New Year's
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP It's a different way of welcoming in the new year. There
won't be funny hats, or streamers, or noise makers. But it will be
a celebration nonetheless. A sober celebration.
A number of community organizations are joining forces to sponsor
two family friendly and alcohol and drug free New Year's Eve events.
Although both events are rooted in the traditions of Native American
cultures, all community members are welcome to attend.
The Fifth Annual New Year's Eve Gourd Dance and Powwow will be held
at Gallup Junior High, 680 S. Boardman. Just down the road, the Third
Annual New Year's Eve Navajo Shoe Game competition will be held at
the Na'Nizhoozhi Center, Inc. (NCI), 2205 E. Boyd.
NCI, Fighting Back, the Navajo Nation's Department of Behavioral Health,
the local chapter of United Indian Tribal Youth, and the Gallup McKinley
County Schools are combining resources to host the powwow and shoe
game. In addition, many local businesses are helping to sponsor the
events.
According to Marian Shorthair of NCI, organizers are looking to celebrate
sobriety and honor people living sober lives while welcoming in the
new year.
"It's important to have a sober place and sober activity for
people to come to," added Kevin Foley of NCI. "It's a model
activity to show that people don't have to get scknockered to celebrate
the new year."
Leroy Nelson, from the Navajo Nation's Department of Behavioral Health,
is helping to organize the shoe game. He believes the traditional
Navajo game is a healthy way for family members, from children to
grandparents, to spend time together.
According to NCI's Dennis Lorenzo, chairman of the powwow organizing
committee, the powwow's gourd dancing will begin at noon on Monday
at Gallup Junior High School. After a supper break from 5 p.m. to
6 p.m., the gourd dancing will resume for one hour. The powwow is
scheduled to begin with the 7 p.m. grand entry. Instead of an admission
charge, people are asked to donate a nonperishable food item or school
supplies at the door. They are also encouraged to bring their own
chairs although some bleacher seats will be available.
The powwow will feature Leonard Anthony as master of ceremonies,Tom
Goodluck as the arena director, Larry Anderson as the head gourd dancer,
Joe Shunkamolah as head man dancer, Shannon Roach as head lady dancer,
Adrian Morris as head boy dancer, and Snow Wing as head girl dancer.
The Asta' Butte Singers will be the northern host drum group. Powwow
organizers are looking for a southern host drum group.
According to Foley, Alcoholics Anonymous awards chips, or tokens,
to people as they celebrate lengths of recovery time in their sobriety.
Theannual sobriety powwow, he explained, supports that same message
by celebrating the "collective annual sobriety" of participants.
During the evening, a special dance will be held to honor people living
sober lives, he said.
In addition, raffle prizes and door prizes will be awarded throughout
the powwow. Raffle tickets will be sold through the early part of
the gourd dancing and powwow.
The Navajo shoe game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at NCI, and
there is no admission charge. Anyone interested in playing on a team
needs to be at NCI by then. According to organizers, if many players
sign up, more than one game will be played in different locations
around the facility.
The Navajo shoe is a traditional game played during the wintertime
between two teams with 12 players on a side. According to Nelson,
the main songs that are sung during the lengthy game go back to Navajo
creation stories. The game's origin is rooted in the mythological
dispute between animals of the day and animals of the night.
The two teams hide a small yucca ball from each other in four shoes
that are buried in each team's sand pit. The teams try to correctly
guess where their opponents have hidden the ball, and points are tallied
through the use of 102 yucca leaves.
Shoe games are fun social events, filled with singing, laughter, and
teasing. Nelson believes the game not only promotes a healthy activity
time for families, but it also promotes the Navajo cultural legacy
from one generation to the next.
For further information about the powwow or shoe game, contact NCI
at (505) 722-2177.
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Super Mom turns Wonder Woman for state
police
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP New Mexico State Police secretary Lisa Lovato, the department's
Civilian of the Year, sat blushing in her office Friday morning at
the attention of an Independent photographer.
State Police Agent Kevin Bruno peeked around the corner into her office.
"We're so proud of you, did we tell you that?" he said.
Capt. Glenn Thomas and Lt. Robert Cron selected Lovato to receive
the award at last Saturday's law enforcement gathering at Red Rock
State Park.
Bruno didn't hesitate to give reasons for her selection: "She
is awesome. If something needs to be done, she is very reliable...and
she has personality to boot."
Bruno has been working in the Gallup office since 1997 and said he's
found Lovato easy-going and hard-working. He said she's the best civilian
employee he's ever met in the state police.
Lovato modestly said she doesn't really deserve the award a
plaque with her name on it and the honor of Civilian of the Year for
2001.
"I'm just doing my job," she said.
Lovato has another plaque in her office from when she won Civilian
of the Year in 1995, her first year on the job.
State Police Capt. Faron Segotta and Major Michael Francis were Lovato's
first supervisors in Gallup when Segotta was lieutenant and
Francis captain over the Grants and Gallup division.
Lovato's favorite supervisor is Lt. Robert Cron, who worked up to
sergeant and lieutenant while Lovato worked in Gallup.
"He's always been there for me. He's always there to lend an
ear. He's very giving of himself. There is a shy side to him,"
Lovato said.
She said she will also miss Capt. Glenn Thomas, who has left Gallup
to begin a job in Santa Fe as commander of the Criminal Investigations
Division.
But she looks forward to working with Capt. Timothy Baughman, who
will start commanding the district Jan. 2. Lovato said she heard he
worked in Gallup with Thomas when they were rookie officers, decades
ago.
Lovato also is fond of Bruno. "He's so much fun to work with.
He has a good heart. He's a little erratic but he makes the
place fun to be in," she said.
In a lighter moment she added: "He's such a pain in the behind."
Lovato basically runs the Gallup state police office. Like Santa Claus,
she knows what officers are doing and who they've spoken to.
She files and copies their reports, writes letters and handles irate
callers. "Sometimes I think I know this department like the back
of my hand," she said.
Lovato also transcribes tape recordings of interviews with victims
and suspects in various cases, including homicides and robberies.
"It's tough at times. I see and hear everything that's going
on on a daily basis. I see what the officers are going through. And
they're all great officers. They don't get recognition like they should,"
Lovato said.
While a Wonder Woman at work, she's Super Mom at home.
Lovato is a single mom with three children from a past marriage
Angelo, 17, Eric, 13, and Lexi, 10. Their dad, who she didn't want
to name, lives in Gallup and is a good father who spends a lot of
time with the children, she said.
She was a mother at age 16 while growing up in Gallup. "It was
devastating. I pretty much gave up my childhood," Lovato said.
She credits her parents, Louie and Dolores Cordova of Gallup, with
helping her survive as a young mother and Gallup High student. She
went back to school two weeks after having Angelo. She had no thoughts
of dropping out of high school.
While she's had to stall her dream career being a psychologist
she said she wouldn't trade the experience of having her children
for anything.
"Sometimes I think I was just born to be a mom. It came so naturally,"
she said.
She wants to be a psychologist to "find out what makes people
tick."
While she hasn't taken any college classes, she plans to start in
a couple of years, when her daughter is a teen-ager. For now, she
believes working full time and going to school would take too much
time away from her children.
Her advice for young mothers is that you can do it. "You just
kind of have to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving,"
she said.
Now she's working with Angelo trying to help him get his GED at the
University of New Mexico-Gallup. He dropped out of Gallup High and
Central High.
He wants to go to art school after getting his GED.
Lovato lives for her children. "I just want them to know I'll
always be there for them," she said.
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Area sports
The 2001 prep area football season was full of success
stories.
The Gallup High program got a new coach and led by senior leader Brian
Long, had its first non-losing season in seven years, breaking even
at 5-5.
Ganado also underwent a coaching change and didn't miss a beat behind
quarterback Ty Lynch and wide receiver Lavon Salabye, qualifying for
the state playoffs once again.
A senior-dominated Grants team won its first district title to qualify
for the state playoffs.
Kirtland, led by defensive standout Jesse Foutz, regained its status
as a San Juan power, finishing second in the always tough District
1AAAA, to return to the state playoffs after missing last year.
Led by standouts Graham Drummonds and Louis Sarracino, the Laguna-Acoma
Hawks won its first state playoff game, making it into the semifinals
for the first time under fifth-year coach Dan Sanders.
Ramah, led by standout Tucker Simons, ended its final six-man season
with the state title in a record-setting fashion, beating Lake Arthur
101-76.
However, the biggest success was the turnaround of Red Mesa's football
program by Pita Olomua, taking them to the state playoffs and a conference
championship.
For that feat, Olomua was selected the Independent's All-Area Football
Coach of the Year.
Foutz, who was the District 1AAAA Lineman of the year, recording 90
solo tackles and 12 quarterback sacks, was voted the Defensive Player
of the Year.
Laguna-Acoma's prolific quarterback Graham Drummonds, who amassed
over 2000 yards and scored 35 touchdowns, was tabbed the Offensive
Player of the Year. Drummonds rushed for 1,015 yards and 19 touchdowns
and threw for 1,220 yards and 16 touchdowns.
All the aforementioned players were selected to the Independent's
All-Area football teams.
Named to the AAA-AAAAA Offensive Team were Lynch, quarterback; running
backs Marcus Benally of Shiprock, RoShaun McKinney of Grants and Max
Wheeler of Kirtland Central; Salabye and Window Rock's Scott Begay
at wide receiver; linemen Brian Long, Eli Garcia (Grants), LaMour
Tulley (Shiprock) and Cody Wheeler (Kirtland-Central); and Grants
center Milo McMinn. Kirtland Central kicker Jared Whipple was also
selected.
Making it onto the AAA-AAAAA Defensive Team were Foutz, Gallup lineman
Jim Ramirez, Thoreau defensive lineman Virdell Brown, Crownpoint Eagle
Jeremiah Platero, Gallup linebackers Adam Becenti and Jude Candelaria,
Grants linebacker Jesse Miera, Wingate linebacker Ray Martin, Gallup
cornerback Tony Saucedo, Kirtland-Central cornerback Garrett Lucero
and Shiprock safety Nate King.
Lynch threw for over 2000 yards to lead the Hornets back into the
state playoffs. Benally again led the state's AAA running backs in
rushing, amassing 1,581 yards despite playing injured. Wheeler rushed
for 1,503 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Broncos. McKinney, who missed
three games due to injuries, ran for 1,094 yards and eight touchdowns.
Salabye caught 54 passes for 1,164 yards and 14 touchdowns for Ganado
while Begay caught 47 passes for 986 yards and eight touchdowns for
Window Rock.
Drummonds was one of four Laguna-Acoma Hawks selected for the A-AA
All-Area Offensive Team. Running back Daniel Vallejos, center Louis
Sarracino and lineman Anthony Oso were also named to the team.
Simons, a double threat as a rusher and passer for the six-man state
championship Mustangs, was selected as an all-purpose player. Navajo
Prep's Tyrrell Noelson was the other running back.
At wide receiver was Valley's Andrew Griffin and Red Mesa's Fred Begay.
Other linemen selected were Clay Naha, Ramah and Ivan Begay, Newcomb.
Ramah kicker Raanan Harrison was the final player.
Drummonds, Sarracino and Simons were also named to the A-AA All-Area
Defensive Team. Joining Sarracino on the line were Navajo Prep Eagle
Luther Martin, Ramah Mustang Cagney Martine and Laguna-Acoma Hawk
Karlton Twobull. Also selected were linebackers Reginald Antonio of
Ramah, R-Jay Thomas of Valley and Nolan Douma of Laguna-Acoma. Joining
Simons and Drummonds in the secondary were Laguna-Acoma Hawk Ronald
Sarracino and Zuni Thunderbird Bobby Bowekaty.
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Hopi school board member wants a new
junior high
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
POLACCA, Ariz. Anita Bahnimptewa, the newest board member elected
to Hopi/Junior High School Governing Board, said construction of a
new junior high school building would make a big difference toward
the education of junior high students.
Bahnimptewa said a new junior high school building is needed because
the current building is overcrowded and junior high school and high
school students should be separated because of the different levels
of maturity.
She said junior high school students would be more likely to improve
academically if the two were separated because teachers would be more
likely to give one on one attention to the students.
She emphasized that the junior high would likely get more publicity
if it had its own building...
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Navajo Nation fire calls
Dinι Bureau
WINDOW ROCK The Navajo Nation Fire Department
answered the following calls recently, according to Chief Larry
Chee:
Chinle
Dec. 14 at 11:14 p.m., doublewide mobile home fire more than three
miles southwest of Tsaile Lake. The family was not home at the time,
the home was destroyed, and there were no injuries.
Dec. 15, three vehicle rollovers, two in Chinle on U.S. 191, and
one in Tsaile and all victims refused assistance.
Crownpoint
Dec. 18, two Thoreau High School students injured in baseball bat
swinging fight on an afternoon school bus. One boy's head was cut
open, the other was knocked out...
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Begaye: No new NAPI manager
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK Resigning members of the farm board can either
help the enterprise "become fruitful again," or be remembered
as leaving a negative mark on the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry
(NAPI) by hiring a new general manager.
That's the message Navajo President Kelsey Begaye's staff will read
into the record today or Sunday at what is expected to be two full
days' of a NAPI board meeting, under way at the tribal farm headquarters
near Farmington. Begaye's prepared message will be delivered either
by administration Chief of Staff Derrick Watchman or staff attorney
Karen Bernally.
"I believe the placement of a new general manager prior to
placing a new Board of Directors compromises the integrity and the
goals and objectives of the new board," Begaye's strongly worded
message reads. It goes on to say, "I feel such an action to
select and hire a new general manager prior to the placement of
the new NAPI Board of Directors is not prudent, and in many aspects
sets preconditions where they should not exist..."
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UNM-G nursing program ready to return
Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer
GALLUP Representatives from the New Mexico Board of Nursing
and UNM-Gallup will meet Feb. 22 to complete approval for a revitalized
nursing program.
Doors to the school's new Health Career Center will open in March
to a fresh class of nursing students after more than a year of suspended
classes. Board members accepted the faculty's offer to shut down
the two-year associate program in the fall of 2000 after efforts
to improve the existing program failed.
The board first placed the nursing program on probation in 1998
because its students had been falling short of the required 80 percent
pass rate among fist-time takers of the NCLEX exam, a requirement
for all prospective registered nurses.
In addition to sub-par pass rates, which had been hovering between
70 percent and 75 percent since 1994, the board complained about
the curriculum's failure to design classes which built upon the
knowledge students acquired in previous classes as they progressed
through the program...
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Accountants brace for last-minute filers
SANTA FE (AP) New Mexico accountants are bracing for a wave of late
tax filers thanks to a nine-month, penalty-free tax payment deadline
enacted for most of the state.
Both state and federal governments in April agreed to grant 21 counties
in New Mexico a nine-month extension, pushing the traditional April
15 deadline to Jan. 16, 2002.
The extension was to ease the burden for counties affected by the
Cerro Grande Fire and other wildfires.
Accountants in Santa Fe and Los Alamos said hundreds of people took
advantage of the extension, some who owed money and are waiting to
pay, and many others who haven't yet prepared their taxes. ..
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Cubero body ID'd
CUBERO, N.M. (AP) The investigation continued Friday into the
death of the longtime Cubero postmaster and her husband.
The body of Teresa Baca was found inside the post office at 6 p.m.
Thursday, Cibola County Undersheriff Johnny Valdez said.
Baca's husband Anthony was seen at the post office just before the
killing and witnesses told police the two had exchanged words.
Anthony Baca was later found with a gunshot wound at his Albuquerque
home...
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Deaths
Tom J. Baldwin
WIDE RUINS, Ariz. Services for Tom Baldwin, 83, will be held
at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 31 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial will
follow in Wide Ruins.
Baldwin died Dec. 27 in Gallup. He was born Nov. 15, 1918 in Wide
Ruins.
Baldwin a labor worker and tending to his livestock.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Baldwin of Wide Ruins; sons,
Larry Baldwin, Ivan Baldwin and Dwayne Baldwin all of Wide Ruins;
daughter, Bessi Yazzie of Gallup, Dorothy Baldwin, Elsie Baldwin
and Suzy Baldwin all of Wide Ruins; 30 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren
and two great-great grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Jack Gaddy, John Gaddy, Trae Baldwin, Dwayne
Baldwin, Bryon Baldwin and Ivan Baldwin.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Wide Ruins Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Amos Bluehouse Johnson
GANADO, Ariz. Services for Amos Johnson, 88, will be held
at Presbyterian Church, Ganado. Burial will follow at community
cemetery, Ganado.
Johnson died Dec. 25 in Ganado. He was born July 18, 1913 in Cornfields,
Ariz. into the One Who Walks Around You for the Reed People.
Johnson attended elementary school in Fort Defiance, Ariz., Tohatchi
and Ganado Mission. He was employed with the railroad, Army Depot
during World War II, caseworker for ONEO, watchman for project Hope
and contract work for Sage Memorial Hospital.
Survivors include his sons, Julius Johnson of Ganado and Justin
Johnson of Navajo Station, Ariz.; daughter, Madeline Johnson of
Phoenix; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Brian Johnson, Julian Johnson, Amo Johnson II,
Ingram Johnson, Robert Gorman Jr. and Irvinson Jones.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Sarah Dee Yazzie
HOUCK, Ariz. Services for Sarah Yazzie, 34, will be held
at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 31 at Navajo Assembly of God Church. Milt
Shirelson will officiate. Burial will follow at community cemetery,
Houck.
Yazzie died Dec. 24 in Phoenix. She was born Sept. 25, 1967 in Whiteriver,
Ariz. into the Zuni Clan for the Salt People Clan.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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