Thoreau director rescued at El Malpais
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
EL MALPAIS — Ground and air crews searched throughout the near
freezing night in the treacherous El Malpais south of Grants for missing
56-year-old Thoreau Indian school administrator Bob Oconnell.
Search crews from Grants, Gallup, Zuni, Bluewater and
Albuquerque probed the blackened lava rock trail since dark Sunday
night and early this morning, looking for Oconnell, director of the
St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School.
He was found about 9 a.m. today safe. Further information was not
immediately available at press time.
Two Civil Air Patrol aircraft from Los Alamos joined the search about
10:45 p.m. Sunday, hoping to spot a campfire on the ground. They flew
in a grid pattern with air crews watching the ground intently for
any light that may have been a signal fire.
"We'll search 'til we find him," a tired Owen
Couch said late Sunday. Couch is a field coordinator for the New Mexico
Department of Public Safety.
About 9 a.m. Sunday, Oconnell got into his new sub-compact
sport utility vehicle at his home in Thoreau and left for the Acoma-Zuni
Trail about 17 miles south of Grants. The trail is a prehistoric one
used by Native Americans for the past 1,000 years. The main trail,
about eight miles long, spans the distance between State Highway 53
and State Highway 117 across the rugged El Malpais, Spanish for "The
Badlands."
The trail is marked for the average hiker, but it is
certainly not marked in the class of a Grand Canyon type trail. Jeanne
Ratlief, El Malpais National Park ranger said the trail is marked
with stacked rocks that can be seen in a series of line-of-sight courses
across El Malpais during daylight hours.
"This is what you call a wilderness trail,"
Ratlief said. "We don't recommend anyone be on it at night."
Hikers who have crossed El Malpais on the trail say
it is a series of up and down hills of lava rock interlaced with a
catacomb of caves and ravines. In the rock valleys between hills,it
is nearly impossible to see nearby lights of Grants, or even vehicles
traveling on State Highway 53 or State Highway 117.
"It's my understanding that at night, it can be very easy to
get lost in there," Couch said.
Oconnell told his wife, Kay, that he would return home
about dark, Couch said.
When Oconnell failed to come home she called the New
Mexico State Police about her missing husband.
Officers found Oconnell's Rave-4 parked at the Acoma-Zuni
Trailhead on the State Highway 53-side of the trial.
When Oconnell still did not come out on the trail, search teams were
called into action.
Oconnell wore black insulated pants and a gray jacket. "I'm told
that he was prepared for a day hike, but I don't think he was prepared
to spend the night out here," Couch said.
With the nighttime temperatures dipping to as low as 33 degrees, searchers
encounter not only rough, razor-sharp black El Malpais lava rock,
but must walk the trail and not use all-terrain vehicles.
"If we can't locate him by morning we'll bring in horses,"
Couch said as the clock neared midnight.
One of the major problems in the search is exactly which trail Oconnell
took.
The main trail cuts across the lava rock toward State Highway 117,
but a secondary trail splits off to the south of the main trial.
At midnight six teams of four persons on each team were walking the
trails from different directions, looking for Oconnell and calling
out his name in the darkness.
Search teams coordinate efforts through hand-held radios
and global satellite positioning devices to a base-camp on the Highway
53 side of the trailhead.
Ratlief said people get lost in El Malpais about every two years.
"The last time was when a woman hiker became separated from her
friend," Ratlief said. "She went in there prepared and simply
held up overnight on the trail."
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Outsiders defend role in dispute
Hopis blast foreigners as 'aggressive'
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — A spokesman for a group of international observers says
foreigners are being blamed falsely for all kinds of improper behavior
in connection with the Navajo-Hopi land dispute.
"The media is asserting that we are responsible for bomb threats,"
Marion Kuepker said. He has been coming to the Big Mountain area for
the past several years to talk to Navajos living on the Hopi Partitioned
Lands who believe their rights have been violated.
Kuepker, who comes from Germany, and other Europeans have been on
the HPL for weeks in connection with the latest deadline in the century-old
dispute. They have come under attack from Hopi officials, who claim
that their sole purpose is to cause trouble and that they refuse to
listen to the Hopi side of the dispute.
Kuepker said in a statement they have been attacked unfairly by Hopi
leaders such as Cedric Kuwaminvaya, the chairman of the tribe's land
team, who has accused them of being "among the most aggressive
and abusive people on this planet."
"(The media are) also asserting that we as white people are dividing
Indians," he said Friday, "and want nothing more than a
confrontation with the Hopi people."
But what the foreign observers are here for, Kuepker said, is to help
the Navajo elders who spend a great deal of their time going to different
meetings, speaking out against relocation.
"We want to make sure that they can speak for themselves by helping
them with transportation," Kuepker said, "and (doing their)
daily life chores during their absence."
The Hopi belief that foreign observers who come to the HPL are violent
"only serves to create an aggressive climate, which will only
create aggression," he said.
"We don't believe we divide Indians. Traditional Hopis and traditional
Navajos divided themselves long ago from their tribal council. These
officials are not their traditional leaders; they are only viewed
by the people as puppets of the U.S. government."
Kuepker said his group has no intention of becoming
violent or do any physical damage to anything or anyone.
"Our form of resistance," he said, "is
non-violent civil disobedience."
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Programs reach out to teens
Preventing drug, liquor abuse is key
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Since she was 15, the high school sophomore, now 18,
had spent her weekends drinking with friends. She had begun to experiment
with marijuana, crack and amphetamines.
As her body began changing one month ago, her attitude
began changing also. That was when she found out she was pregnant.
She decided to stop using all controlled substances for good.
The young woman asked that her name not be used in this article, so
she will be called Anne.
Anne said she got little support from her father and
uncles, who drink heavily. She did not seek professional counseling,
but the student group sessions at her high school helped. The students
she met understood her situation.
Providing students assistance to give up substance abuse is almost
as important as helping students resist drugs altogether, said Judy
Oakes, the counseling coordinator for the Gallup-McKinley County Schools.
The schools also present antidrug and antialcohol programs to all
students, starting with kindergarteners, Oakes said.
The district hires five student assistant counselors,
but only two of those positions are currently filled. Oakes added
that volunteers from the community are needed to work with the antidrug
programs.
Some not effective
However, not all the programs are effective, teens said.
During Red Ribbon Week eachtence days in prison.
card fraud on March 3. Dubois already has served 307 pre-sentence
days in prison.
e days \]Jge Joseph Ar\Z@sentenced several people, including:
Sandra S. Chavez, 26, of 414 Dennie Lynn, Grants, a habitual offender,
to an 18-month suspended sentence and probation for embezzlement of
more than $250 in goods. The embezzlement took place Aug. 4.
Donna M. Martinez, 31, of Albuquerque, an habitual offender, to an
18-month suspended sentence and probation to run concurrencusing on
persuading students to "just say no to drugs." The trend
nationwide is to target abuse prevention campaigns at younger children,
Oakes said.
The teen-agers agreed with the counselor, saying older students consider
the drug prevention programs at their middle and high schools to be
jokes.
Victor Curley, a 20-year-old senior at Gallup Central High, said prevention
would best influence the youngest students, though even that may fail.
"They should try in elementary (school) to get them to not drink,"
Curley said. "But when they get older, they're going to get interested,
and they're going to want to know.
"Schools only have you for so long, and when you get out, you
do what you want."
Money for programs
To tackle alcohol and drug problems already on campus, the Gallup-McKinley
County Schools received $857,000 and may receive $100,000 more in
federal grants each year for three years for the Safe Schools, Healthy
Students program, which will increase the number of police on campus
and give students better access to counseling, said Larry Linford,
the district's grants and public relations coordinator.
Jovanna Martinez works with the high schools as part of the McKinley
County Combating Underage Drinking Program.
She talks to students at the high schools to find out
what strategy would most effectively reduce alcohol use.
"I went to high schools and junior high schools and asked what
they wanted they said there's nothing to do but drink in this town,"
Martinez said.
Martinez became coordinator for the program a few months ago and said
she is working to build a skating park and to host dances for youth
as alternatives to the normal social activity, drinking.
Counselors explained that talking to teen-agers about drinking is
different from talking to adults. Teen-agers sometimes don't worry
about their distant future, whereas adults understand better the lasting
effect of their mistakes.
Also, teen-agers require more attention.
"Any meaningful work that is going to be done with adolescents
needs to involve their parents," said Freida Bruysschaard, counselor
and a co-chief executive officer at Bradams Inc., which treats youth
who abuse control substances.
The community should also get involved to help young people make correct
decisions, counselors said.
Too few centers
Oakes, the counselor with the school district, said the treatment
centers for children in the community are too sparse and do not offer
in-depth care as the adult treatment centers do.
However, Oakes and Bruysschaard said they were hopeful because they
notice the community becoming more active through new programs like
Safe Schools, Healthy Children.
Another community plan is the Navajo Nation's Hozhozhi Youth Diversion
Project in which youth in trouble can participate in Navajo activities
to resolve their problems. Teen-agers attend sweat lodges talking
circles and other activities with their parents for three weeks. Various
agencies, including the police departments, can refer children to
the program, said Donovan Brown, the Navajo Nation chief prosecutor.
The program will begin in a few weeks with the help
of a $473,830 federal grant.
From 1994 to 1997, Donovan said he saw about 27,000
juvenile referrals. Alcohol use plays a significant part in many of
the crimes juveniles commit on the reservation, he added.
Though teachers, relatives and other people work to influence children
to choose healthy lifestyles, some teen-agers are hard to change.
Anne said she regrets she drank before, but she could not think of
anything someone could have said to deter her drinking.
"Counselors' and teachers' efforts are not effective because
those are just words," Anne said. "The only real way they
(teen-agers) can learn is to go through it themselves."
Learning the hard way
Another 18-year-old sophomore also learned the hard way to cut down
on his drinking. The young man, who asked to remain anonymous, will
be called George.
George said he drank heavily until he found himself trying to run
off with two one-quart bottles of alcohol he found at his friend's
house. As he ran, he tripped and hurt a tendon in his hand. He said
he then realized drinking was resulting in too many problems.
Among those problems were the deaths of several friends who became
involved in violent confrontations while drinking. Though George's
mother had punished him for coming home drunk several times, the punishments
did not have the same effect as his own experience.
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Tuba City girls win title
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
WINSLOW, Ariz. - Much of this season Tuba City junior guard Tammy
Secody has played pretty much in the shadow of her teammates after
winning the Conference Player of the Year honor last year.
However, Secody came back in grand fashion as she nailed a pair of
key scores in the final minute including the game-winner with three
seconds left to lift Tuba City to a stunning come-from-behind 51-49
victory over Winslow, which blew a seven-point lead in the final 1:03,
Saturday night during the 3A Enchantment Regional Finals.
In the boys regional finals, a full-stregth Winslow team held off
Tuba City for the first time this season with a 78-71 victory to earn
the No. 1 seed for this week's state tournament that gets underway
Tuesday at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz. with the
Sweet 16 field...
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Zuni boys keep hold on first
ZUNI - Zuni remained in first place in the district with an easy 76-29
district win over Shiprock Northwest Saturday night.
Zuni, 7-1 in district, 16-7 overall, led 28-6, 39-13,
57-25 before winning 76-29.
Zuni had Aaron Simplicio with 13 points and Clayton Edaakie with 12...
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Lady Bengals get another team effort
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
ALBUQUERQUE — The Gallup Bengals are another step
closer to clinching the District 1AAAA No. 1 seed.
The Bengals, again depleted due to injuries, responded with a team
effort to capture a 58-26 victory over the Rio Grande Ravens at Rio
Grande High School Saturday night.
The win improved No. 2 Gallup's record to 20-1 overall and 8-0 in
the district...
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Zuni girls in three-way tie
ZUNI - Zuni split a pair of district games over the weekend and finished
in a three-way tie for third in the district, by whipping Shiprock
Northwest 91-15 Saturday after losing to Newcomb 63-45 Friday.
Dulce, Navajo Pine and Zuni were all tied for third with 4-6 marks.
However Dulce won the coin flip for the No. 3 seed for districts that
get underway tonight. Navajo Pine was No. 4 with Zuni No. 5. Zuni,
12-11 overall, will be at Navajo Pine and Shiprock Northwest will
travel to Dulce tonight in the first round of districts.
Game times are 7 p.m....
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Tribal judge wants summit on justice
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation has held summits
on everything from economic development to energy issues. Now the
nation's highest-ranking judge believes it is time for one on justice.
Navajo Chief Justice Robert Yazzie wants to hold a justice
summit to improve service to the reservation's 200,000 or so residents
and to the tribal court system, where almost 70,000 cases a year are
heard.
Chief Prosecutor Donovan Brown first proposed the summit, and Yazzie
has thrown his judicial weight behind the idea. No date has been set...
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N.M. Legislature
Lawmakers tackle lots of unfinished business
Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau
SANTA FE — Here it is. The final four days of the New Mexico
Legislature's 30-day session. And there is still a lot to be done.
There is no state budget. There has been no vote on Indian gambling
compacts. School vouchers have died quietly, tabled by a state Senate
committee, but legislation to address school capital outlay problems
to deal with school construction and remodeling still is working its
way through both houses.
Despite the heavy workload remaining before lawmakers, there still
is lots of election year political squabbling going on, including
a controversial amendment introduced on Saturday asking that the state
House condemn Gov. Gary Johnson for "hypocritical actions ...
and the mixed messages he sends New Mexicans regarding drug use"
that brought squeals of protest from Republicans...
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Jury indicts San Fidel man on sex charge
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A 33-year-old San Fidel man was indicted by a grand
jury on first-degree felony charges of criminal sexual penetration
of a child under 13.
In addition to the sex charge, the 13th Judicial District grand jury
also charged Robert Tsethlakia of San Fidel with bribery of a witness
when he allegedly threatened the child to keep her quiet. The bribery
apparently happened about the same time as the sexual assault. Bribery
of a witness is a third-degree felony.
Grants Police investigated the incident, which allegedly
took place between January 1999 and September...
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Deaths
Charlie Orillie
TOH-LA-KAI — Services for Charlie Orllie, 93, will be held at
10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Bethlehem Chistian Reformed Church. Pastor
Bobby Boyd will officiate. Burial will follow at the Twin Buttes Church
of Nazarene Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. today, Feb. 14, at Cope Memorial
Chapel in Gallup.
Orillie died Feb. 11 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 19,
1906, in Mentmore into the Meadow People Clan for the Black Streak
Wood People Clan.
Orillie attended school in St. Michaels, Ariz. He was
a past official for the Twin Lakes Chapter House. He was employed
as a heavy equipment operator, rancher, farmer and was active in missionary
work for the Christian Reformed Church.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie Orillie; sons, Steve Orillie and
Faron Orillie, both of Toh-La-Kai; daughter, Aileen Redhouse of Kirtland,
Fern Gonzales of Gallup, Jean Orillie of Toh-La-Kai, Mary Shirley
of Tohatchi and Rita Williamson of Scottsdale, Ariz.; brothers, Ben
Spencer of Red Rock, Jone C. Joe of Twin Buttes and Tom W. Joe of
Bell Gardens, Calif.; sisters, Alice Shirley of Twin Buttes and Juanita
Spencer of Red Rock; 25 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and
five great-great-grandchildren.
Orillie was preceded in death by his daughters, Helen Orillie and
Louise Orillie, and a grandson.
Pallbearers will be Steve Orillie, Faron Orillie, Farrell Begay, Eugene
Begay, Edison Begay Jr. and Brian Orillie.
She was born Dec. 6, 1919, in St. Michaels, Ariz., into the Red Running
into the Water People Clan for the Near the Water People Clan.
Chischilly was a rancher and a traditional rug weaver. She was employed
with the Little Miss Muffet Day Care as a foster grandparent.
Survivors include her husband, Glen Chischilly Sr.; sons, Richard
Chischilly, Glen Chischilly Jr. of Fort Defiance, Ariz., Charlie Charley
of Window Rock, and Phillip Chischilly of Crownpoint; daughters, Maggie
Tsosie, Ella Holyan, Sadie Dooline, Georgia Chischilly, Corrina Chischilly,
all of Window Rock, and Clara Manuelito of Fort Defiance, Ariz.; brothers,
Joe Peshlakai of Fort Defiance, and Sam Peshlakai of Pueblo Pintado;
sisters, Louise Peshlakai, Ella Mae Peshlakai, and Irene Yazzie, all
of St. Michaels, and Nellie Brown of Los Angeles, Calif.; 31 grandchildren;
and 23 great-grandchildren.
Chischilly was preceded in death by four children; parents,
Charlie and Mae Peshlakai; brother, Johnny Peshlakai; sister, Louise
Yazzie; grandparents, Slim Red Lake and DaNabah Red Lake; and a grandson.
Pallbearers will be Emery Dooline, Leonard Holyan Jr.,
Lambert Holyan, Edison Dooline, Glen Chischilly Jr. and Richard Chischilly.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services
at Glen Chischilly's residence in Natural Bridge, Ariz.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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