Gallup perfect in district
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
GALLUP — The Gallup Bengals put together a 'gutsy' effort in
remaining undefeated in District 1AAAA with a 40-29 victory over the
Farmington Scorpions in girls' prep basketball action Friday night.
"We're playing hurt, we're playing sick. It was a gutsy effort,"
Gallup head coach John Lomasney said. "It was sloppy. A lot of
balls bouncing off our hands and stuff like that. It was still a good
defensive effort."
The Bengals remained perfect in the district with a record of 5-0
and an overall mark of 17-1.
Much of the night the Bengals seemed to show the injuries, aches and
pains that have been inflicted upon them this season were taking their
toll. Many players were slower than usual reacting to the ball and
the Bengals missed numerous inside shots that kept the Scorpions in
the game.
"I felt like Gallup didn't play as well as they could have tonight.
They missed a lot of their shots. I felt fortunate to be in the game,"
Farmington head coach Brad Dalton said. "At the end of the game
I felt like we had a chance. Gallup is such a fabulous team and I
felt fortunate just to be in the game at the end."
A case in point was starter Perrline Kelewood, who hit the floor in
the first quarter with an ankle injury and had to leave the game.
She reentered the game in the second period, but after going down
to the floor once again, she left for the duration of the contest.
Lomasney said Kelewood will quite possibly miss tonight's game with
the Albuquerque High Bulldogs in Albuquerque.
Also, Daniella Aretino was not having one of her best games. Aretino
missed numerous inside shots and finished with only two points on
the night. She did grab seven rebounds and hand out three assists
to help the Bengals to victory.
With two of Gallup's biggest players hurting, the Bengals turned to
their bench and got some key play from Ramonica Harvey and Tanya Bailey.
Both substitutes led the Bengals in scoring 10 points apiece. Harvey
hit a pair of three-pointers on her way to double-digit scoring and
Bailey scored her 10 points while grabbing three rebounds.
"They came off the bench and did a good job offensively
for us," Lomasney said of his two main substitutes. "They
did a good job. And Tanya's not playing 100 percent. Ramonica's hurt
here and there. But they came in and gave us some much needed points
out there. I'm certainly proud of them and that makes us a better
team when they can come out there and contribute like that."
The Bengals led from start to finish, but it was never
a really comfortable lead for Gallup.
A three-pointer by Harvey put the Bengals up 10-4 in the first quarter
and Gallup held a 13-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Farmington was within three points at 15-12 in the second quarter
on a free throw by Cortney Nickerson. But Harvey hit another three-pointer
for the Bengals, upping their advantage to 18-12. Gallup's lead remained
at four points at 20-16 at halftime.
Back-to-back buckets by Aretino and Roberta Tahe gave the Bengals
a 28-21 lead with 1:05 left in the third quarter. Gallup held a seven-point
lead at 30-23 at the end of the period.
A driving layup by Samantha Roberts got the Scorpions within 30-25
in the fourth quarter, but the Bengals responded with inside goals
by Bailey and Jyme Beth Begaye for a 34-25 Gallup lead.
Twice the Scorpions got within seven points, but each time the Bengals
responded. After a pair of free throws by April Ledesma cut the margin
to 36-29 with 1:59 remaining in the game, but the Bengals went to
their spread offense.
Farmington was forced to foul and Gallup made 4-of-4 free throws down
the stretch with Begaye and Harvey each hitting 2-of-2.
Begaye finished with nine points and four assists and
Tahe had seven points and five rebounds to also lead the Bengals.
For the Scorpions, Roberts led the way with seven points and six rebounds.
Nickerson, Ledesma and Shauntel Adams all finished with six points.
The Bengals now try to keep their undefeated record alive tonight
when they face the Bulldogs in Albuquerque.
"Where we're at right now and going on the road, you can't take
anybody lightly," Lomasney said. "We need to go out in that
ballgame, take control so we can rest some people and try to get healthy
for next week."
Farmington fell to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in district.
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Willeto elected as new delegate
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo voters have elected Frank Chee Willeto Sr.
as a delegate to the Navajo Nation Council, Marie Toledo as a member
of the Na' Neel Zhiin Ji Olta Day School Board and Vanessa Begay-Lee
as a member of the Eastern Agency Land Board.
Willeto had been appointed as the interim delegate following the death
of Harry Jackson on Dec. 29. The Tuesday vote changes Willeto's status
on the council from interim to permanent. The current term runs until
January 2003.
Willeto will represent the Torreon and Pueblo Pintado chapters of
the Eastern Agency.
Willeto received 267 votes, followed by Daniel E. Tso with 217 votes
and David B. Rico with 120 votes.
In the Torreon Chapter, Toledo received 265 votes and Richard Montoya
129 votes to complete Jackson's term on the Na' Neel Zhiin Ji Olta
Day School Board.
Begay-Lee ran unopposed for the Eastern Agency Land
Board seat for the Bread Springs, Church Rock and Red Rock chapters,
receiving 141 votes.
Willeto served as Navajo President Milton Bluehouse's vice president
in 1998 and 1999 and was on the council's Public Safety Committee.
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Legislature hears victims of N.M. 'predatory'
lenders
Analysis/ New Mexico Legislature
Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau
SANTA FE — A New Mexico consumer group wants the Legislature
to do something about what it calls "predatory lenders"
especially so-called payday loan companies that it claims take advantage
of the poor.
While the report targets payday lenders, it comes hard on the heels
of a Navajo court ruling against high interest rates charged by Capital
Loan Corp. of Gallup.
Judge Loretta Morris of Crownpoint District Court ruled Capital Loan
was charging three Navajo borrowers "unconscionable" rates
of interest on small loans.
Morris's ruling brought together three small claims cases to deal
with the high interest.
Genevieve Platero of Crownpoint borrowed $200 from Capital
Loan. The annual rate of interest was 191.31 percent, and there was
an added finance charge of $105.
Fern Henry of Mexican Springs borrowed $100 from Capital. The loan
had an annual percentage rate of 233.76 percent and a finance charge
of $53.60.
Julia Largo of Continental Divide borrowed $500 from Capital at an
annual interest rate of 89.62 percent and a finance charge of $205.
Each loan contract also assesses a 5 percent late payment charge.
All three loans were made before passage of the Navajo Nation Finance
Charge Limitation Act, which limits monthly interest to 1.5 percent.
Morris limited the interest rate to 21 percent and said the same rate
will apply to all such loan contracts made before last July 22.
In issuing her ruling, Morris wrote:
"Are these interest rate agreements ones which
are freely made? The court takes judicial notice of the very high
poverty rates in the Navajo Nation, and the smallness of the loans
indicate need by borrowers. The court also wonders what fair and honest
lender would charge interest rates from 89.62 percent to 233.76 percent.
This court cannot enforce that kind of agreement."
Poor people in need of cash are easy targets.
Seeking help
The New Mexico Public Interest Research Group released
a report titled "Show Me the Money!" at the Capitol this
week while seeking legislative help to lower interest rates that it
compares to loan sharking.
The report identifies predatory lenders as "rent-to-own stores,
'traditional' pawn shops, auto title pawn lenders, payday lenders,
and sub-prime mortgage and auto loan companies," but particularly
targets payday lenders who make small loan advances on checks held
for future deposit. The annual interest on such loans can reach 300
percent or higher.
In a typical payday loan transaction, the borrower writes a personal
check for $115 to borrow $100 for two weeks. After two weeks, if the
load is rolled over, an additional $15 is paid, bringing the cost
of borrowing $100 to $130.
NMPIRG found that New Mexico is one of eight states
that allow triple-digit interest rates on small loans.
The group would like to see action during the next legislative
session on the problem and has the support of Attorney General Patricia
Madrid who said she can "see no economic justification"
for such high rates on short-term loans.
"Those who borrow money at these exorbitant rates find themselves
caught in a state of debt from which they have little chance of escape,"
Madrid said. "This short-term lending industry maintains they
are providing a service; unfortunately for many, that service is one
of perpetuating debt."
Rep. Leo Watchman, D-McKinley and San Juan counties,
introduced a bill during the last session to try to limit interest
rates on short-term loans. He said he was acting in response to complaints
from his constituents caught up by high interest rates.
He has said he will take no action this session, but
might revive the effort in the 2001 session.
When Watchman's bill was heard in committee last session,
he found himself the only person in a crowded committee room supporting
lower interest rates.
He was shocked to find arrayed against him not only loan companies,
but also bankers and financial industry lobbyists, all of whom oppose
any attempt to control interest rates with usury laws.
Still, there was a sense in the committee that poor people somehow
were being caught in the rub between free enterprise and the need
for some sort of regulation and by the real difficulty of saving needy
and sometimes desperate people from themselves.
Any attempts at control will find legislators up against big banks
and big business. NMPIRG said payday loan operations alone are expected
to generate $2 billion in revenue nationwide next year.
Watchman's bill was tabled in committee. A group was established to
study small loan practices in the state and suggest legislative action.
Recommendations
NMPIRG would like to see the state enact an interest
rate cap on small loans of 36 percent or less. It also would like
to see the act controlling small loans rewritten; require short-term
lenders to post fees and annual percentage rates; enact strong check-cashing
legislation to halt the practice of loan companies cashing borrowers
checks in an effort to force payment; and provide money to research
and educate consumers about the problem.
The group also cautioned consumers to avoid payday and other short-term
loans by doing such things as asking creditors for more time to pay
bills.
If it is impossible to avoid borrowing money, consumers
should shop for the lowest rates and insist on knowing ahead of time
finance charges and annual percentage rates. Those who receive payday
loans should make sure they borrow only what they can afford to pay
back without borrowing again.
NMPIRG also cautioned that "another high-cost,
predatory lending industry is beginning to flex its muscles to enact
... legislative safe harbors for its practices. In many wave elected
Frank Chee Willeto Sr. as a delegate to the Navajo Nation Council,
Marie Toledo as a member of the Na' Neel Zhiin Ji Olta Day School
Board and Vanessa Begay-Lee as a member of the Eastern Agency Land
Board.
Willeto had been appointed as the interim delegate following the death
of Harry Jackson on Dec. 29. The Tuesday vote changes Willeto's status
on the council from interim to permanent. The current term runs until
January 2003.
Willeto will represent the Torreon and Pueblo Pintadof making poor
people even poorer while other people profit from their misery. It's
an old story, but it will remain to be seen next session whether lawmakers
can write a happier ending, the thing one Navajo judge already has
tried to do.
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Ceremonial seeks money from legislature
Nancy Watson
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Association
is lobbying the New Mexico State Legislature for $340,000.
Two bills seeking money have been introduced on behalf of the Ceremonial.
Rep. David Pederson, D-McKinley County, introduced a bill for $240,000
and Sen. Gloria Howes, D-Cibola and McKinley counties, introduced
one for $100,000...
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Delegates may receive more benefits
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation's Budget and Finance Committee
has voted to change the tribe's 88 Council delegates from independent
contractors to common-law employees.
This means Social Security and federal income taxes will be deducted
from their $25,000-a-year paychecks and when they retire, they will
be able to collect federal Social Security payments.
But the change, passed Tuesday, still must be approved by the full
council...
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DWI Court provides route to recovery
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The first time the police caught him drinking and driving,
Raymond Salazar, now 42, was coming home from a party.
The second driving while intoxicated arrest came when Salazar got
into his car after he turned to alcohol to soothe himself after his
divorce proceedings.
The third and final time, the police charged Salazar with DWI the
day before he gained custody of his daughter. He was drinking because
he was worried about the custody lawsuit and his job...
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Mayor, city manager lobby for money
Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau
SANTA FE — Gallup Mayor John Pena and City Manager David Ruiz
were at the Legislature Thursday to lobby for three funding requests
totaling almost $10 million.
They officials would like to see the city receive at least $1,463,000
from the Legislature this year.
They described the measures as crucial, with Ruiz citing in particular
the need for money to fund an engineering study for the Navajo-Gallup
water pipeline and for an engineering study for the city's wastewater
collection system...
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Money fight stalling work at chapters
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Shiprock area political leaders are putting pressure
on the Navajo tribal government to stop fighting with the New Mexico
Legislature over who is going to pay for the cost of administering
state grants.
Pressure from the Northern Agency Council may have forced the Navajo
Nation Council's Intergovernmental Relations Committee to approve
three New Mexico state capital projects worth $210,000.
On Jan. 15, the Northern Agency Council voted 61-0 to
urge the IGRC "to immediately approve all pending intergovernmental
agreements between the Navajo Nation and the NM State Office of Indian
Affairs without indirect cost stipulations..."
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Begaye vetoes gaming attempt
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — TheNavajo NationCouncil's attempt to open
the door to gaming on the Navajo Reservation has received a chilling
reception in the president's office.
Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye Friday vetoed the resolution
passed by the council that would have allowed chapters that support
gaming to continue discussing local casino proposals.
He said in his veto memo that one of the main reasons he vetoed the
resolution was his belief that the council debate was not fair...
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