Evacuation at Zuni



Zuni police block the entrance to the Public Health Service building in Rough Rock Thursday morning after a refrigeration leak alarm went off, causing the facility to be closed and evacuated. Several patients were transferred to GallupIndian Medical Center. Firefighters inspected the building and found the alarm had malfunctioned.

Photo by Jeff Jones



Rehoboth Christian High School varsity Junior Engineering and Technolgy Society team won top national honors. Seated, from left to right, are Andrew Yazzie, Josh Frederiksen, and Sharon Robertson, who are holding a large slide rule. Standing, from left to right, are Coach John Van't Land and varsity team members Naomi Kruis, Tara Kamps, Toby Crooks, and Ron Charles.

Photo by Craig Robinson

 

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Ex-election heads face charges
Abuse of office charged

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Tribal criminal charges were filed Wednesday against the old Board of Election Supervisors, with five of them scheduled to appear March 5 and the other three March 7 in Window Rock District Court.

Each is charged by the Attorney General's Office of the Chief Prosecutor with abuse of office (Title 17, the criminal code) and violation of duties (Title 11, the election code).

The complaint asks that each be fined $3,700, put behind bars for a year and, if still on the board, to give up the seat permanently. The complaint also asks the judge to order the group to repay the cost of the aborted election, $153,189.

Summoned to appear first are Vice Chairwoman LeNora Fulton of Window Rock and members Paul Redhouse and Roy H. Tso Sr. of Teec Nos Pos, Jay DeGroat of Crownpoint and Jackie Burbank of Chinle. Scheduled to appear two days later are Chairwoman Eunice Begay and Harry D. Brown of Tuba City and Juliette Largo of Chinle.

Not charged they were absent for the critical vote were members Bessie Yellowhair of St. Michaels and Leonard A. Begay of Chinle.

Those who won re-election or still have two years to go in their terms are Fulton, Tso, Burbank, Brown, Largo and Yellowhair.

Initiated by an August memo from Chief Legislative Counsel Steve Boos in response to a question by Council Delegate Freddie Howard, the investigation resulted in two charges each against the eight members present July 31 when the old board canceled the next day's chapter-level election that also contained the referendum about reducing the council to 24 members.

The board voted 7-0 (the chairwoman votes only to break a tie) to postpone the election.

The board battled Boos and Attorney General Levon Henry about the wording on the ballot for the referendum question, complained about being prevented from having independent legal advice, felt it was wrong to allow only four days for absentee
voting instead of the normal 30 days, and about the council not providing money as required by law for the referendum.

(The council size reduction required a majority of all registered voters to approve, but the number of ballots cast wasn't even
close. Those who did vote favored the reduction by more than a 2-1 margin.)

Supervisors concluded there were enough changed circumstances a general provision the election code gives the board to handle unusual situations to allow the postponement of the voting until October. But Boos, his staff, and Henry ruled that the changed
circumstances applied to very specific circumstances.

On July 10, before the board's vote 21 days later, the council's Inter-Government Relations Committee transferred money for the election, although the board asked for it months earlier. When the council stripped the board of its duties, it transferred the non-
hearing functions to the IGRC.

Prosecutors point out in the complaint that the ballots actually did arrive in time for the voting. The board believed the council should have provided enough money so the ballots could have arrived in time for the absentee voting's start 30 days before the
election, which would have been the end of June.

The complaint alleges that the code required the election to be held the second Tuesday of August (the 1st) and that by not doing
so the "Defendant acted in his actual official capacity, knowing such conduct was unlawful, and thereby denied or impeded
others in the exercise and enjoyment of their rights." This is the abuse charge.

The complaint also alleges that by not holding the election Aug. 1 supervisors violated the code because, "It is unlawful for any chairman or members of the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors ... to knowingly and willfully fail or neglect to perform any
duty under any part of this chapter in the manner prescribed by this chapter."

More than 20 potential witnesses are listed in each complaint.

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JETS teams at Rehoboth soar to national heights

Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — If you heard a conversation locally about the great JETS team, it's likely you are talking about Rehoboth and not New York.

The JETS program at Rehoboth High School has been achieving unbelievable results this past year, with both the junior varsity and varsity ranking nationally.

The junior varsity finished this year coming in second place in Division I, its highest finish ever. The varsity not only finished first in its division but also came in seventh nationally among all of the 1,667 JETS teams across the country.

"I couldn't believe how well we did this year," said John Van't Land, Rehoboth coach. When he broke into class and told the members of the team how well they did this year in national competition, "everyone just went crazy," he said.

A lot of people in this area probably think that with the name JETS that the Rehoboth team excelled in either football or basketball, but in actuality, the team excelled in solving engineering problems.

JETS derives from the title Junior Engineering Technical Society and team members are expected not only to answer multiple choice questions dealing with engineering subjects but to expound in essay form on how to solve problems in fields like mining and energy.

Now competing for its fifth year in the past six years, the Rehoboth teams have been going up the ranks in recent years to become one of the top schools in the country in the annual competition, which is sponsored by top engineering organizations and the U.S. Department of Energy.

The varsity team, all of whom are seniors, consists of Ron Charles, Toby Crooks, Kari Feddes, Josh Frederiksen, Tara Kamps, Naomi Kruis, Sharon Robertson and Andy Yazzie. On the junior varsity team are Robin Acothley, Jerrod Damon, Erin
Holwerda, Peter Ippel, Jeffrey Jamon, Sandy Morrison, Tim Tamminga and Sierra Yazzie.

Frederiksen said the key to winning the competition is doing well in the essay portion since every team has problems with the multiple choice. "It's real hard to get over 50 percent," he said.

The essay questions deal with some aspect of problem solving. For example, students may be given a scenario dealing with a mining operation and would then be asked how they would improve mining conditions or make it more efficient.

This year, for the first time, students were given the broad areas in which they would be tested in the essay portion and Frederiksen said he and another teammate, Yazzie, decided to get some first-hand information about coal mining in this area.

"Gary went to church with someone who works for the Pittsburg and Midway mines and he gave us some good ideas," Frederiksen said.

For doing so well on the competition, the varsity team is being honored by the JETS program and the U.S. Department of Energy at a symposium and exposition Feb. 17-18 in Washington, D.C. All of the team's expenses are being picked up by the sponsors.

Besides attending an awards ceremony, team members will get a chance to tour some city attractions and may even get a tour of the White House.

One of the goals of the sponsoring groups is to try and encourage more high school students to think of engineering as a career.

"I think most of the members of our team haven't made a decision yet on what they want to go into when they go to college,"
Frederiksen said.

But he admits that all of this competition and talk about going into engineering may be paying off since fellow teammates "might look into going into engineering because of this experience."

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Bibo, Seyboyeta eager for park

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Edward Michaels of Bibo doesn't want to anger Grants residents, but he believes the Enchanted Skies Park being planned by the Lodestar Project at the University of New Mexico is exactly the type of economic development that could help the 200-year-old Cebolleta Land Grant survive into the 21st century.

This is also a view held by Land Grant President Danny Gonzales of Seyboyeta.

The Enchanted Skies Park, a family- and school-oriented educational park with telescopes and observatories, will be built on a mesa somewhere in Cibola County.

Lodestar is looking at five different sites four on Horace Mesa, which would be accessed from Grants, and one on the mesa above Bibo and Seboyeta. Both towns want the project located in their community.

Michaels, a native of Bibo, runs the Bibo Bar and Restaurant. He has had to close the restaurant because of lack of business, but the bar is still open.

If the park is built on the mesa above Bibo, the land grant will lease the land to UNM. Michaels said this money would allow the village to make the improvements it needs, pay its taxes and provide children's programs.

Both Michaels and Gonzales feel the most important aspect of the proposed park is the educational advantage it would provide for the village children. Michaels said young people would be able to see they don't have to be laborers because there would be scientists working and visiting the site.

As for Seyboyeta, Gonzales said that last fall the residents voted almost 2-1 in favor of the project.

Michaels believes this would be good for all of eastern Cibola County because Lodestar has promised to keep the jobs for local people.

"This side of the county has not seen any economic development in years," Michaels said. "Grants is thriving. We need some help."

He said Grants would still benefit if the park were in Bibo because people traveling west would stop there for the night. However, Bibo would not benefit if it is built in Grants.

The Environmental Impact Statement for the park should be available in March or early April for public review and comments.
During this period the Air Force, which is the agency responsible for writing the document, will hold public hearings.

Once the review period is over, possibly by late summer, the Air Force will review the comments and make any changes to the document it feels are warranted. At that point the staff will make a recommendation of a preferred alternative (site) and the EIS will be sent to the Deputy Secretary of the Air Force, who will choose one of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS for the location
of the park.

Michaels said, "All I am asking is to let the project go on its own merits and leave politics out."

Bibo, Seboyeta history

Michaels has outlined the history of his community in a one-page handout.

In 1807 the King of Spain granted almost 200,000 acres to 30 families who settled what is now Bibo and Seboyeta. In 1912, when New Mexico became a state, the descendents of these families lost most of the land because they were unable to pay the taxes.

Even though the grant today is only 20,000 acres, it is the largest land grant left in New Mexico. Many have not survived and it is difficult for the 500 people who live on the grant to raise the money to pay the taxes on their communal lands. The community needs a new sewer system, water lines and a new reservoir for irrigation.

Regarding Seboyeta, Gonzales is working to get grant money to build the community a fire station. Gonzales left Seboyeta when he was young and worked in another state for 40 years before retiring and returning home.

Michaels said residents who choose to stay in the village drive an hour to an hour and a half to their jobs. Some work as far away as the Intel plant in Rio Rancho

For many people the one-and-a-half hour drive each way into Albuquerque is just too long. For many years Michaels lived and worked in Albuquerque and came home only on weekends to visit his family. He said it is too hard on families and doesn't leave them enough time to spend with their children when one parent leaves before dawn and doesn't get home until dark.

From 1951 to 1982 the uranium mines kept people employed. But, Gonzales and Michaels say there was a price for that work. They can cite a long list of people who lived along the road where trucks carrying the ore passed by 24 hours a day and who have died of cancer. Although no studies have been done to determine a correlation between the dust from the uranium ore and the cancers, some people believe there is a connection.

One of the mines was on the land grant and the grant received royalties from the mines. Gonzales said the community used that money to build the sewer system and water lines for the village.

He said the community prefers to be self-sufficient rather than relying on outside sources for funding.

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Pine Hill overwhelms Lady Panthers

Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer

GALLLUP — The Gallup Catholic Lady Panthers were able to keep up with Pine Hill in the first quarter, until the Lady Warriors went into full effect, beating the Lady Panthers 67-23 in Thursday night District 6A basketball action.

"In the first quarter we put in a rotation with some of the girls that haven't seen much playing time lately. So we used this game to get everybody in and get a really good rotation. We knew the girls going out there hadn't played with each other in a long time and that is part of the reason we had them out there playing together," Pine Hill coach Rafeal Esparza said.

Warrior Alicia Cody began the scoring going 1-for-2 at the free throw line, but Panther Kathleen Mason sank a basket, giving the Lady Panthers the 2-1 lead.

Warrior Cody made a jump shot and Althea Dooley sank a pair of free throws, putting the Warriors in the lead 5-2. Lady
Panther Katy Sparks stopped the two point run on a basket.

Both teams exchanged points for the rest of the first quarter.

Tied at 9-9, Warrior Candice Daw sank a trey, but Panther Stevie Chavez made a basket and Warrior Denise Johnson closed the first quarter with a basket to give Pine Hill a 14-11 lead.

In the second quarter, Pine Hill and Gallup Catholic again traded scores with Panther Maggie Mosher hitting a jump shot only to be answered by Warrior Rena Pat with a trey. Mason also went 1-for-2 at the line.

Leading 17-14, Pine Hill took control of the game and never looked back.

Warrior Daw went 1-for-2 at the line and made a basket, Cecile Rafelito was 1-for-2 on free throws, Dooley sank a basket,
Denise Johnson and Arthur both had a pair of free throws and Rafelito and Daw each had a three-pointer to put Pine Hill up 33-14.

The Lady Warriors continued to dominate the third and fourth quarter, allowing the Lady Panthers to score only three points in the third and six in the fourth.

The Lady Warriors went on to double their lead scoring 16 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth, giving them a 67-23 victory.

"We are struggling with team defense right now and rebounding, but we were really happy with the effort they were giving. They were shutting down those passing lanes and getting some really good stops. That is really what we are looking for heading down to the end of the season," Esparza said.

Dooley led Pine Hill with 14 points. Arthur added 12 and Johnson tallied 10.

Mason led the Panthers' effort with seven points before fouling out.

"We are in a good position right now. The girls are feeling really good about their defense and their team spirit. We are going to go out for the rest of the season and make it a real challenge for the rest of the teams in the district," Esparza concluded.

Pine Hill (3-2 in district) will play at Ramah on Saturday.

Gallup boys suffer another district loss

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

ALBUQUERUQE — The Gallup Bengals only scored four points in the opening quarter as the Cibola Cougars took advantage of several Bengal turnovers, on their way to a 53-24 win Thursday night at Cibola High School.

Cibola, (8-9, 3-2 district) took advantage of six Bengal (2-11, 0-5) turnovers in the first quarter to jump out to a 16-4 cushion.

Cibola scored the first seven points of the game before Maurice Guliford put in a basket for the Bengals first score.

Drew Money scored off a jump ball to get the Bengals as close as 7-4, but the Cougars scored the next nine points in the quarter. Mikal Monelte got hot midway through the first quarter and scored 10 of Cibola's final 12 points in the quarter, including a slam dunk off a breakaway.

"I thought we got outmanned from the get go," said Gallup coach Earl Diddle. "Their defense swarmed us and they have a whole
set of post men that are very good. The whole team can pass and catch very well for big men."

The Bengals were able to keep up in the second quarter, scoring eight points and holding the Cougars to 10 points. The two teams traded baskets back and forth, with neither team being able to put together a run in the quarter.

Drew Money scored five of the Bengals eight points in the quarter while Fermin Gallegos put in the other three with a basket and 1-of-2 from the line. Kyle Payne and Monelte each scored four for Cibola in the quarter.

The second quarter proved to be the highlight of the evening for the Bengals, as they would only be able to score 12 points the rest of the night.

Gallup was outscored 15-5 in the third and 12-7 in the fourth.

Cibola opened the second half with a 13-0 run before Guliford hit 1-of-2 from the line. Eight of the points during the Cibola run came off of four baskets by Monelte.

Alan Branch scored a basket for Cibola before Gallup would score again, closing out the quarter with baskets from B.J. Begay and Gallegos.

In the third, Cibola played near perfect offense, not giving the ball up at all and shooting 5-of-7 from the field.

Gallup's only points in the final quarter came off a basket by Nathan Nakai early in the quarter a shot by Guliford midway through and a three by EJ Patterson with under a minute left in the game.

Mark Shelton and Branch each had four points for Cibola in the fourth quarter.

Gallup only turned the ball over six times in the second half compared to 13 times in the first half.

"They keep their composure in the face of adversity," said Diddle of his team. "They are a really very good kids. That's what I like about them, they don't quit."

Gallup was led by Drew Money, who finished with seven points. Fermin Gallegos and Maurice Guliford each scored five.

Cibola was led by Mikal Monelte, finishing the game with 22 points. He was the only player for either team to finish in double figures.

Gallup was outrebounded by the Cougars 27-23 with Chris Lange and Monelte each finishing with seven for Cibola. Gallup's leading rebounder was Maurice Guliford with eight.

Gallup had 19 turnovers in the game to only nine by Cibola. The Cougars only turned the ball over twice in the second half.

Gallup will play on Saturday in Albuquerque against Albuquerque High and then will return to Albuquerque to play Valley in a game that was snowed out last week.

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Prison project is top priority for Howard

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The new chairman of the Navajo Nation Council's Public Safety Committee's top priority will be to finish the prison project.

Committee members chose Freddie Howard last week to succeed Edward Jim Sr. as chairman of the seven-member panel that oversees the Public Safety Division, including the Corrections Department. Edison Wauneka was re-elected as vice chair for the next two years. Other members are Harry Clark, Ernest Nez Sr., Harry Williams Sr. and Harry Willeto.

Howard, first elected to the council in 1973, wants the committee to decide which of three firms' proposals would best serve the tribe. Each offer for the large prison would provide a percentage of its beds for the tribal Corrections Department.

Howard, delegate for Bird Springs and Tolani Lake chapters, also was the committee chairman for six years, starting in 1993, until the Council took office in January 1999. He said his second priority will be to gain a new police-oriented retirement system...

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Author: Adoption an emotional issue on both sides

Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent

GALLUP — Dr. Ron Nydam is passionate about the subject of adoption. It's a passion that was born out of failure.

Nydam, the author of "Adoptees Come of Age: Living within Two Families," will speak at 7 tonight at Bethany Christian Reformed Church, 1110 S. Strong Drive. His presentation, "The Joy and Grief of Adoption," will explore adoption dynamics for birth parents, relinquished children and adoptive parents.

In a recent phone interview, Nydam explained that his interest in adoption issues grew from his experience as a marriage counselor. An ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church, Nydam had served as a church pastor for 10 years and had run a counseling service for 15 years. During those years, much of his time was spent counseling married couples trying to save rocky relationships. Many of those marriages eventually ended in divorce...

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Deaths

Marcela G. Esparza

GALLUP — Services for Marcelina G. Esparza, 94, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Father Diego Mazon will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel.

Esparza died Jan. 31 in Belen. She was born June 2, 1906, in Morelos, Zacatecas, Mexico.

Esparza was a member of the St. Jerome Parish.

Survivors include her daughters, Charlotte Esparza and Dorothy Gutierrez, both of Gallup; two grandchildren; five great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren.

Esparza was preceded in death by her parents, Ponciano and Ruperta Gonzales; brothers, Jose Gonzales, Manuel "Chico"
Gonzales and Manuel "Grande" Gonzales; sisters, Luisa Gonzales, Cleotilde Ortiz and Refugia Sanchez; and second husband, Celso Esparza.

Pallbearers will be F' Yazzie Aragon, Lionel Gutierrez, Patty Gutierrez, Phillip "Peapot" Gutierrez, Rhinnon Gutierrez, and Eddi Joe Jaramillo.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Russell W. Herrick

GALLUP — Services for Russell W. Herrick, 72, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at First Assembly of God Church.
The Rev. David Toppen will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held 3-5 p.m. today, Feb. 2, at Cope Memorial Chapel.

Herrick died Jan. 29 in Gallup. He was born Jan. 31, 1928, in Wabash, Ind.

Herrick was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Japan and during the Korean Conflict. He received two bronze stars. He was
a heavy equipment operator and auto mechanic. His hobbies were hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his sons, Robert E. Herrick Jr. of Gallup and Robert E. Herrick of Farmington; daughters, Mildred Baker and
Mary Jane Carroll of Lakewood, Wash.; sister, Edna Vergon of Naples, Fla.; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Herman Deleeuw, Willard Dause, Juan Bravo, Guillermo Rebollo, Peter White and John Easton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Casa San Martin and the Community Pantry.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

LaTanya Billy

CHURCH ROCK — Services for LaTanya Jean Billy, 20, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Rollie Mortuary-Palm
Chapel. Burial will follow at Tohatchi Community Cemetery.

Billy died Jan. 29 in Tucson, Ariz. She was born Dec. 11, 1980, in Gallup into the Towering House People Clan.

Survivors include her mother, Arlinda Wison of Tohatchi; daughter, Crystal Ashley Billy of Tohatchi; brothers, Alex Billy of Twin Lakes, Brian Billy of Mexican Springs, Aaron Wilson of Tohatchi; sisters, Casandra Billy and Kimberly Wilson, both of Tohatchi; grandparents, Isabel and Tony Billy, both of Tohatchi; and stepfather Anslem Wilson of Tohatchi.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Patrick John Billy

PINON, Ariz. — Services for Patrick Billy, 20, were held at 10 a.m. today, Feb. 2, at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church, Pinon. Sister Rose officiated. Burial followed in Pinon.

Billy died Jan. 28 in Chinle, Ariz. He was born Nov. 6, 1980, in Gallup into the Red Running into the Water People for the Start of the Red Streak People Clan.

Billy attended Rough Rock High School, where he played football when he was a senior. His hobby was sports.

Survivors include his parents, Stanley and Marie Billy; brothers, Ernest Yellowhorse and Gene Shorty; sisters, Gena Williams,
Tina Billy and Lena Billy; and grandmother, Lorena Billy.

Billy was preceded in death by his brother, Henry Yellowhorse.

Pallbearers were Ernest Yellowhorse, Gene Shorty, Kenneth Williams, Hansen Tapaha, Robert Billy Sr., Robert Billy Jr. and
Robert James.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at St. Mary of the Rosary Catholic Church.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Joe Nabahe

NASCHITTI — Services for Joe Nabahe, 63, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Latter Day Saints Church, Sheepsprings. Elders Raven Berg and McReynolds will officiate. Burial will follow at the family cemetery, Naschitti.

Nabahe died Jan. 31 in Albuquerque. He was born Jan. 23, 1938, in Naschitti into the Blue Bird People Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Under His Cover People Clan.

Nabahe attended Tohatchi, Toadlena, Intermountain Indian School and Albuquerque Indian School, where he was the valedictorian. He was involved with the swim team, track and football team. He was retired from sheet metal industry and thesign business.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Mary John Nabahe of Tuba City, Ariz.; sons, Kevin Nabahe, Rolf J. Nabahe, Darrell C. Nabahe of Albuquerque, and Delain L. Nabahe of Phoenix; daughters, Romona Nabahe and Cindy R. Nabahe of Albuquerque
and Cynthia M. Nabahe of Phoenix; brothers, Anthony Nabahe and Alfred Nabahe, both of Shiprock, Chee Nabahe of Tolleson,
Ariz., and Kenneth Nabahe of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz; and sisters, Juanita Nabahe of Naschitti, Nellie Witherspoon of Seattle,
Wash., and Gloria Nabahe of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Nabahe was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Flora Nabahe Sr.; brothers, Jacquin Nabahe Jr., Truman Nabahe, and
Paul Nabahe; and sister, Jean N. Montoya.

Pallbearers will be Kevin Nasbahe, Darrell C. Nabahe, Delain L. Nabahe, Emery W. Lonjose, Ronald Nabahe and Rufus
Nabahe.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at the Nabahe residence, eight miles east of Naschitti.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Bill Sievers

ZUNI — Services for Walter William Sievers 64, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 16 at White Ranch, Fence Lake.

Sievers died Jan. 28 in Gallup. He was born Jan. 18, 1937, in Gillette, Wyo.

Sievers was an Indian trader, truck driver and cowboy. He was a resident of Zuni for 30 years.

Survivors include his sons, Billy Sievers, Mike Sievers and R.J. Sievers, all of Phoenix; daughter, Terry S. Gchachu of Zuni;
brother, Dean Sievers of Casper, Wyo.; sisters, Jackie Clabaugh of Green Valley, Ariz., and Bettye McDermott, Fresno, Calif.;
and five grandchildren.

Sievers was preceded in death by his parents, Claus and Minnie Ruby Sievers; brother, Lambert Sievers; and sisters, Katherine
Haymaker and Betty Zane Abrahamson.

Kin J. Elkins

CUBERO Services for Kin J. Elkins, 74, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Elkins residence, Cubero.

Elkins died Jan. 30.

He served in the U.S. Marines during World War II. He was in the bar and restaurant business and also served with the Valencia
County Sheriff's Department.

Survivors include his son, Kin Elkins Jr.; daughters, Shannon Montano, Janice Montano and Lesley Gomez; and siblings,
Lawrence, D.J., Dave, Buddy, Fred, Hattie and Mildred.

Elkins was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy, and brothers, Jack and Keith.

Donations may be made to the Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Volunteer Svcs. Dept. in Albuquerque.

June Iris Blackgoat

CORNFIELDS, Ariz. — Graveside services for June Blackgoat, 42, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Cornfields Cemetery. The Rev. Tom Flynn will officiate.

Blackgoat died Jan. 31 in Chinle, Ariz. She was born June 14, 1958, in Fort Defiance, Ariz., into the Coyote Pass Clan for the
Waters Edge People Clan.

Blackgoat attended Greasewood Boarding School. She was self-employed as a silversmith, beadworker and did sewing. Her
hobbies include watching television and traveling.

Survivors include her mother, Bella Blackgoat Hale of Cornfields; stepfather Allen M. Hale of Wide Ruins;brothers, Darrell
Blackgoat, Durwin Blackgoat, both of Fort Defiance and Darrick Hale and Cordell Hale, both of Cornfields; sisters, Verna
Blackgoat, Dorothy Blackgoat, Arlinda Hale and Rachel Jim, all of Phoenix, Yvonne Begay and Lucinda Hale, both of
Cornfields; grandmother, Alice C. Singer of Cornfields; and two grandchildren.

Blackgoat was preceded in death by her father, Juan Blackgoat; brother, Daniel Blackgoat; and grandfather, Chee Singer.

Pallbearers will be Mark Kasuse, Ronald Blackgoat, Wayne White Jr., George Francis, Geoffrey Francis and Leftie Spencer.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Cornfields Chapter House..