Zuni cops seize marijuana
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
ZUNI — Zuni's first drug bust in several years netted two pounds
of marijuana estimated to have a street value of $16,280.
Acting on a tip from a citizen, criminal investigators
Lee Lucio and Vinton Jachew simultaneously searched two Zuni homes
Thursday and seized the marijuana.
Emil Yuselew was arrested, prosecuted in tribal court, ordered to
spend six months in jail and given a $500 fine.
A second person, Jarvis Neese, was caught with the drugs at an apartment
leased to his girlfriend, who was not named, said Tribal Administrator
Shirley Bellson. Neese was arrested but released.
Zuni tribal court ruled that there were problems with Neese's arrest.
Charges are expected to be refiled this week.
Neese's girlfriend was also arrested but released. But she may be
facing charges for allowing the illegal activities in her home, a
violation of her lease agreement.
"We have notified the housing authorities, and more than likely
she will be evicted from the complex," said Bellson.
This was a first offense for all parties.
Bellson said the council intends to become stricter on these crimes
and increase sentencing. "We want to double the penalties and
are close to getting all council members to agreement," she said.
"We want to make an example and let people know that we don't
tolerate this activity."
Bellson said police investigators expect several more drug arrests
soon, not related to the Yuselew-Neese incident.
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Outsiders swarm onto Hopi lands
Begaye: Law will be upheld
Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau
HARD ROCK, Ariz. — An influx of outsiders has been heading onto
Hopi Partitioned Lands despite a request from the Hopis to stay away.
But things have been quiet so far, said Eugene Kaye, assistant to
Hopi Tribal Chairman Wayne Taylor.
That's what Hopi and U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs officials are hoping
will continue as the latest deadline in the century-old land dispute
between the Navajos and Hopis occurs today.
As of today, Navajo families living on the HPL who have not signed
an agreement with the Hopis which would allow them to stay on the
HPL for 75 years are technically trespassers.
Today also marks the occasion when the Hopi Tribe will officially
gain jurisdiction over Navajo families living on the HPL. Up to now,
the BIA has had primary jurisdiction.
Leaders of both tribes have said, however, that there
are no plans at the present time to evict any of the Navajo resisters,
who number about 10 families, or 127 people.
Taylor last week issued a statement asking non-Indians to stay away
from the HPL, saying nothing was going to happen this week. This hasn't
stopped non-Indian supporters of the resisters.
A march, called, "Save Black Mesa Prayer Walk," began Thursday
at San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff and was expected to conclude
today in Big Mountain, where most of the resisters live.
About 25 people marched while others rode in cars. Signs
along the way encouraged the marchers to continue their battle "to
save Black Mountain."
"The marchers were all white and Asian," remarked Violette
Tso of Tuba City. "I wanted to know, where are all the Navajos?
These white people with feathers and everything were
out there marching, but I didn't see any Navajos."
Other non-Indians were arriving at Hard Rock, just east of Big Mountain,
late Monday.
One couple said they tried to make it to Big Mountain
after dark but decided the roads were too bad, so they turned around
and decided to camp out at the Hard Rock Chapter.
Another couple from New York drove around the Hopi Cultural Center
in circles unable to find their way out of the parking lot. They refused
to say whether they were heading to Big Mountain but were heard asking
directions to Rocky Ridge, near Hard Rock.
There was even a delegation from the Swedish Parliament
and at Hard Rock Chapter gathering statements from resisters.
Although the chapter was bombarded with press and non-Indian visitors,
life went on as usual with classes in art, weaving and cooking taking
place at the chapter house.
Navajo tribal officials in Window Rock, as well as Navajo police,
continued to monitor the situation Monday with a contingent of tribal
police also in the area in case any problems arose.
Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye has also issued a statement
asking for non-Indians who come onto the HPL not to cause any trouble.
"Although their intentions are good, they should walk humbly
on our lands. These actions are not sponsored or sanctioned by the
Navajo government," he said.
Begaye has asked for today to be a day of prayer on
the Navajo Reservation and also within the HPL.
"The Navajo Nation," Begaye said, "would be irresponsible
if it did not advise the non-signing Navajo families that there is
no chance, after all this effort, to overturn the law or fundamentally
change the Accommodation Agreement, although we are working for key
improvements in its language with regard to making leases permanent,
protecting sacred sites and providing a fair judicial process."
Taylor, in his state of the nation speech to members
of the Hopi Tribal Council recently, said he hopes he is seeing an
end to the dispute between the two tribes.
"This has consumed our efforts and resources for over 100 years,"
he said. "It's time to move forward and away from this contentious
issue,"
Taylor said that while the Hopis gain control today over the HPL,
the challenge is not finished since Navajos who did not sign the agreement
will remain on the land until they have exhausted their appeals in
federal court. He anticipates this could take about another year.
Taylor, who emphasized that Hopis have always wanted a peaceful settlement,
said when Navajos have completed their appeals, they will have to
move or be moved.
"Let it be over for once and for all," he
said.
Contributing to this story was Independent correspondent
Stan Bindell.
| Top |
NHA project to give clients financial
freedom
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — Officials for the Navajo Housing Authority have begun
a massive project they hope will give many NHA clients a financial
freedom they never had before.
For the past two weeks, appraisers hired by NHA have been going to
the various housing units built by the agency over the past 30 years
to determine their present value, so that those Navajo families who
have been buying them will be able to use the equity to become more
self-sufficient.
When the appraisals of all NHA units are done probably in the next
60 days those who have been buying their homes through the mutual-help
program will find they have equity in their homes, which will give
them some financial independence, said NHA Director Chester Carl.
This will open up the possibility, he said, that some of the families
"may want to borrow on that equity to raise the capital to start
a small business.
"Or if they don't like being under NHA, they could
go to a bank and borrow enough money to pay us off and then just pay
off the bank note," he said.
This leverage of home equity has been a major source
of income for off-reservation businessmen. Carl said there is no reason
why Navajo families who have been buying their homes through NHA can't
do the same thing.
"Outside the reservation, housing equity is (a major component)
of economic development," he said.
Even families who pay rent can get involved because of federal laws
that allow people to convert their federal rental units to a housing
units they can eventually own.
This idea of using equity to create an economic development
base has gained popularity within the tribal government in recent
years.
It's one of the main reasons for the creation of Karigan Estates in
St. Michaels, a soon-to-be-built housing project meant to help create
a Navajo middle class that would have borrowing power to create small
businesses.
Carl said even if the Navajo families don't use the equity, a realization
that their home has some financial value could change how they view
their home.
"When you talk about home value, Navajos traditionally have referred
to it as the value of the persons who live within the home and not
the home itself," Carl said.
But if this concept can be changed, it could alter how many NHA families
view their homes.
"If they realize their homes have value, they will take better
care of their homes," he said.
It may also diminish a problem NHA has faced since it was created
how to get Navajo families to stay current with their rental or mutual-help
payments, as the amount paid to own a rental unit is called.
"A family is willing to make a $500 to $600 monthly
payment on their pickup, but when it comes to their home, they don't
understand that this is also increasing their assets," Carl said.
The company hired by NHA to do the appraisals so far has inspected
about 700 of the 7,072 homes built by NHA since the late 1960s.
The ones inspected so far include some that go back
to the 1960s and have been renovated in recent years.
Many of the families who have lived in these units have complained
that these units have been falling apart or have serious design problems.
Carl said NHA has been undertaking a massive renovation program fueled
by a $14 million annual federal grant to renovate these homes, so
the families not only would have a decent place to live but would
also have a higher resale value.
In recent years, the NHA has gotten away from these old-style housing
projects, where each home looks the same and is built almost adjacent
to neighboring houses.
The new approach, which could also mean a higher resale value for
NHA homes, allows homes to be built in a scattered pattern with unique
design features chosen by the homeowner.
Carl said NHA officials have talked about the possibility
that some families living in NHA housing might decide to get a second
mortgage and then lose their home, because they could not afford to
pay the bank loan as well as the NHA housing payment.
If that happens, Carl said, NHA would have no choice but to find another
eligible family to take over the house and the payments.
"We don't want to see that happen, which is why we have contracted
(with) this company which provides excellent homeowner's instructional
classes," Carl said. These classes teach NHA families what they
need to know about mortgage repayments and the seriousness of getting
behind on the payments.
"I think the younger generation especially will be responsive
to these classes," Carl said.
| Top |
Tuba City teams hold edge for final week
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
TUBA CITY, Ariz.— The 3A Enchantment Region Conference heads
into its final week of action beginning tonight and the road appears
to go through Tuba City High.
In both the boys and girls conference races, the Tuba City Warriors
and the Tuba City Lady Warriors appear to have a slight advantage
for the top spot.
By virtue of knocking off Winslow Saturday 65-59, the Tuba City Warriors
are sitting alone in first place with an 8-2 record...
| Top |
Hopefuls' petitions due
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Wednesday is the deadline for candidates to file
their nominating petitions for more than 400 Navajo Nation elected
offices.
And today is a special election for the Torreon and Pueblo Pintado
chapters of the Eastern Agency to fill the seats left vacant by the
recent death of Council Delegate Harry Jackson.
In addition to deciding whether Frank Chee Willeto, the appointed
interim delegate, will complete Jackson's term on the council, voters
will fill Jackson's seat on the Torreon School Board. Jackson's council
term runs three more years...
| Top |
No kids at religious compound
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
FENCE LAKE — Cibola County Sheriff's deputies and the New Mexico
State Police Friday found no children when they served a court order
to take two children who were allegedly abused at a religious compound.
Police served the order where a religious group, called Aggressive
Christianity, is living, Undersheriff Johnny Valdez said.
"We were told that the kids were on a vacation and were not there,
so we talked with several adults as well as the people who were running
the organization," Valdez said...
| Top |
Taylor has questions on pipe project
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Anderson Engineering will get a $23,941 contract to
design a 12-inch sewer pipeline from Golf Course Road to State Highway
117, and it has Councilor Shirley Taylor asking questions.
Grants Projects Coordinator Roberta Martinez spoke about the pipeline
project during a special city council meeting Monday.
She said the project will be done with grant money left over from
the $869,000 Federal Economic Development grant in the "Loop
the City Project" in water and sewer lines unveiled by former
City Manager Clif Lear. Lear died last year...
| Top |
Navajo police reports
Ganado bus collides with car
WINDOW ROCK — A Ganado school bus collided with a car early Monday
in a two-vehicle accident during a snowstorm on icy Arizona Route
264 between St. Michaels and Ganado.
None of the passengers on the school bus was injured. Details of the
accident were still sketchy Monday, but police said 44 students and
adults were taken to Sage Memorial Hospital in Ganado to be checked.
Four doctors, two physicians assistants and hospital employees pulled
from other departments screened those who needed treatment. One of
the doctors, Carlyle Schlabach, said one adult from the second vehicle
was admitted with serious injuries, but would not identify the person.
The first load of students and adults arrived at the hospital at 8:20
a.m...
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Arizona man injured in wreck
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A Fort Defiance, Ariz., man was flown to the University
of New Mexico Hospital Monday after his vehicle hit a pool of water
and spun out of control on State Road 264 in McKinley County.
Clement Anthony, 56, was transferred to the intensive care unit where
he is listed in critical condition. His vehicle sustained heavy damage
to the driver's side. Anthony was traveling westbound about 11 a.m.
when his vehicle spun out of control and crossed the median. Sliding
into the westbound lane, his vehicle collided with the front end of
another vehicle heading east.
A witness who was traveling westbound told police the
roadway had standing water on it but that Anthony was driving at a
high rate of speed when he passed her...
| Top |
N.M. lawmakers feel heat of capital outlay
deadline
Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau
SANTA FE — A judge has given New Mexico until July to do something
about the inequities in capital outlay funding money for school construction
and repair that the state gives its schools. And lawmakers are trying
to do something.
The judge's order came as a result of a lawsuit against the state
by the Zuni, McKinley-Gallup and Grants-Cibola school districts, in
which they successfully challenged the way the state spends federal
dollars that are given to school districts that have significant non-taxable
land such as Indian reservations or national forests.
That money now goes into the state's capital outlay funding...
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