Potato plant pending; money projections
rosy
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — Navajo Nation officials are expecting to make a decision
within the next three weeks on the future of the long-delayed potato
processing plant near Shiprock.
Larry Foster, chief aide to Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye,
talking on this and other key issues facing tribal government, said
Tuesday the president's office is waiting for the delivery of an investment
analysis now being done on the potato plant.
"That analysis is supposed to be here this week," he said.
Once the analysis arrives, Begaye and his staff will study it to learn
whether the project is still financially viable.
The tribe has been looking at a proposal by the R. D. Offuit Co. since
1987 that would develop a plant to convert potatoes grown by the Navajo
Agricultural Products Industries into potato chips and other products.
While the project has the support of almost all members of the Navajo
Nation Council, negotiations have stalled over the question of tribal
sovereignty and where disputes will be settled in tribal or state
courts.
The project has been stalled so long that Begaye has asked that the
feasibility study, now more than five years old, be updated to see
whether anything has changed in the market to make the plan less viable.
Foster stressed in the past that this move doesn't indicate the tribe
is getting "cold feet," but only that the tribe wants to
be sure the market is still there before it invests tens of millions
of dollars into the project.
Revenue projections
Foster also said the president's office probably won't know until
late February or early March what the early projections are for tribal
revenue for the next fiscal year.
By this time last year, tribal officials were aware that projections
indicated a shortfall of some $20 million for this year's budget.
But a number of factors including a robust oil market resulted in
no shortfall occurring when the budget was finally approved.
"While we haven't received any figures yet, our understanding
is that the situation this year will be a far better one than we were
facing at this time last year," he said.
In fact, the oil industry is continuing to see high prices at the
pump, which means extra royalties for the tribe.
Officials for the tribe's Office of Management and Budget, which oversees
the preparation of the annual budget, said in the past that preliminary
projections for next year's budget would have already been made by
this time.
But the controller's office was asked this year to delay giving out
preliminary figures until it had more accurate projections. If the
projections are given too early, tribal budget officials said, the
tribe arrives at a budget that is unrealistic and results in tribal
program directors developing budgets that by May or June have no basis
in reality.
Foster said the tribe is still seeing fuel tax collections, now in
their fourth month, far exceeding expectations.
"We projected an annual income of $10 million a year, and we're
doing better than that so far," he said, adding that prices at
gas stations throughout the United States have been high and are expected
to go even higher as summer approaches, which means that royalties
to the tribe will also be going up.
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Targets of recall in Window Rock say
they may run again
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — Larry Foster, the subject of a failed recall movement,
said Tuesday this hasn't dampened his spirits about being a member
of the Window Rock Unified School District Board.
In the next few weeks, he will make a decision on whether he will
run again for election. He says he probably will run.
Elmer Milford, who was also the subject of a recall and whose term
expires this year, is leaning toward running again, school officials
said.
"I have received a lot of support and a lot of calls to keep
going," said Foster, who is also the chief aide for Navajo Nation
President Kelsey Begaye.
The two board members, along with Pauline Begay whose term will not
expire this year were the subject of a recall by the Concerned Citizens
for Better Education. The recall failed when the tribe's election
office threw out for various reasons 56 percent of the 520 signatures
submitted by the group.
"If you look at the number of valid signatures that the group
had, it was only some 7 percent, which meant that a lot of voters
didn't support the recall effort," Foster said.
The recall movement began after the three refused to renew the contracts
of three popular principals last summer, a decision all three board
members said they would do over again.
Foster went further, stating he and the other board members were committed
to making decisions they believed "were in the best interest
of students" within the district.
Begay, in a statement released last week, said the recall effort demonstrated
several things to her.
"First, some of us as Navajos are not educated enough to know
what a recall petition is, what its major purpose is or why the petition
is being circulated, especially for those who only speak the Navajo
language," she said.
She said the rejection of so many signatures also indicates that many
Navajos need to learn how to fill out the petition correctly and know
whether their signatures will be valid. For example, many Navajos
who lived outside the district boundaries and who were not registered
to vote signed the petitions.
Both Foster and Begay were critical of staff members within the school
district who got involved in the petition drives.
"The staff should be grateful they have a job," Begay said.
"Their focus should be to provide the best quality education
to the students ... We cannot afford to spend our energy on something
that negates our goal of education."
Officials for the citizens' group said their efforts
to remove the three board members are not over. If either Milford
or Foster decides to run for re-election, the officials said, it will
make a concentrated effort to get them defeated at the election polls.
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Navajo cops investigate 3 murders
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — A 79-year-old Tuba City woman died Tuesday after
being stabbed in the chest. Navajo tribal police also reported Tuesday
the 10th traffic fatality on the reservation this year as well as
two other homicides in the Fort Defiance and Crownpoint areas.
In the Tuba City homicide, emergency medical technicians trying to
revive Glennis Singer discovered the stab wound.
The woman was found on the floor of her home by a daughter who called
the Tuba City Police District around 5:45 a.m.
Navajo police believe Singer was attacked more than three hours before
being found. Her home is about one-quarter of a mile south of the
Arizona Public Service Co.'s electric power substation.
Navajo officers and detectives took three Tuba City men ages 36, 59
and 65 into custody for questioning in the case but did not file charges
against them.
Other murders
Two additional homicides occurred last week in Fort Defiance and Crownpoint.
Freddie Harvey, 53, of Yah-Ta-Hey died of massive face and head injuries
Friday night or Saturday morning.
A woman went to the Indian Health Service hospital in
Fort Defiance about 6:15 a.m. Saturday to report a man bleeding in
the street at Old Red Lake Road and Roanhouse Drive. Taken to the
hospital, Harvey was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Window Rock Police District report listed the case as alcohol
and drug related, but gave no details.
Shortly before noon Saturday, the Crownpoint Police District received
a call about a dead man found near a Native American Mission about
one mile west of McKinley County Road 61.
Police found a man believed to be Harry Notah, 40, who lived three
miles east of Thoreau High School. He reportedly left home the night
before for a drinking spree. A man passing through the site found
Notah's beaten body and contacted the mission. Notah's mother made
a tentative identification, but confirmation was pending.
Police believe Notah fought with his killer because a shattered club
and blood were found at the scene.
Officers found a drunken man nearby. They consider him a suspect,
but did not arrest him.
Traffic death
The traffic fatality occurred before 1 a.m. Friday, one mile north
of the Sanostee Chapter House on BIA Route 5010. Once again, Navajo
police said alcohol was involved.
Tommy Nabahe, 45, who lived three miles west of Newcomb, died when
his southbound vehicle went off the road into a wash, hit a culvert
in a steep bank and toppled onto its right side.
The Shiprock Police District report said alcoholic beverages were
found inside the vehicle.
Another victim, James Dayzie, 45, who lives about 3.25 miles northwest
of the Newcomb Chapter House, survived. He was taken to the Indian
Health Service hospital in Shiprock.
Police did not say which man was the driver, but they believe the
driver fell asleep at the steering wheel.
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Tuba City avoids first round letdown
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — There was a surprisingly high mortality rate
among area boys basketball teams during Tuesday's opening round of
the 3A Boys State Championships while in the 3A Girls State Championships
all four girls teams survived and advanced with impressive performances.
Ganado and Monument Valley, the 3A Enchantment No. 3 and No. 4 seeds,
made quick exits Tuesday afternoon at the Northern Arizona University
Skydome.
Ganado was disposed off easily by West No. 2 seed Seton Catholic 69-45
and Monument Valley was unable to avoid the first-round jinx for the
third year in a row as the No. 4 Mustangs were also whipped by West's
top seed Fountain Hills 73-48...
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Death may be due to fall
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The body of a Gallup woman, who most likely fell after
a night of drinking, was found Tuesday morning lying face down in
the arroyo across from the Magistrate Court on Boardman Drive.
The deceased, Ruthie Clawson, 66, was spotted by an unknown male who
informed court employees that a female individual was lying in the
bottom of the arroyo near the court, police said.
Police said a court clerk waved down a passing police car and showed
Patrolman Owen Pena the body at the bottom of the ditch...
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Shelly accuses Democrats of breaking
rules
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — At a meeting of the local Democratic Party Tuesday night,
McKinley County Commissioner Ben Shelly said he would protest any
action the group took because he thought the meeting was invalid.
Four days before the meeting, Shelly had asked New Mexico Party Chairwoman
Diane Denish to intercede and postpone the meeting.
He said at the meeting and in a letter to Denish that he believed
the public, especially the Native American public, was not properly
notified of the party's meeting...
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Gallup-Rio triple OT game worth the price
Robert Arrieta
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — For fans who bought tickets to Saturday night's Gallup
boys basketball game, it was a bargain price for a great game.
The Bengals hosted district rival Rio Grande and, for the second time
this season, played a close game.
Both teams were so evenly matched that the game could not be settled
in four quarters, or an extra period, or another extra period. In
fact it took three overtimes for Rio Grande to finally slip past the
Bengals, 63-60...
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Cibola may put records on microfilm
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Fearing that a fire could destroy county records now
stored in a multitude of cardboard boxes, County Manager Bob Ortiz
is asking some questions.
When he began talking about the situation at the Cibola County Commission
meeting recently, he started with simple words: "I want to tell
you about a problem."
Since Cibola County was created in 1981, records have been stored
in cardboard boxes in a county-owned building...
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Three admit to drugs
Judge's son gets jail term
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
CHINLE, Ariz. — The son of a tribal judge was given a year in
tribal jail after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a police
drug raid earlier this month.
Two of the others who were arrested have also pleaded guilty.
A total of five people were arrested in the raid conducted by Chinle
police on Feb. 6. No court complaint was filed against one of the
five because he was wanted on a judge's bench warrant for another
crime...
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Special session looms for N.M. Legislature
Walter Howerton Jr.
Santa Fe Bureau
SANTA FE — The New Mexico legislative session is supposed to
end at noon Thursday, but don't count on it.
Gov. Gary Johnson said Tuesday he does not believe the Legislature
can work out a budget he can sign by the time the clock runs out.
He sees too many problems in the budget being considered by the Senate
to sign it.
If the Senate budget reached Johnson's desk, an aide
to the governor said Monday, it would set a "land speed record"
for being vetoed...
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Deaths
Freddie James Hardy
BLACK HAT — Services for Freddie James Hardy, 53, will be held
at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Good Shepherd Mission in Fort
Defiance, Ariz. The Right Rev. Stephen Plumber will officiate. Burial
will follow on family land in Black Hat.
Visitation will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the church
one hour before services.
Hardy died Feb. 12 in Fort Defiance. He was born Dec.
19, 1946, into the Edge Water People Clan for the Towering House People
Clan.
Hardy completed high school in Fort Defiance. He attended two years
of trade school in Dallas, Texas. He was an archer with Navajo Community
College. He was also a Vietnam veteran; after serving two terms he
returned to the Black Hat area where he became a rancher, taking care
of sheep.
Survivors include his father, Tom Hardy and stepmother, Margaret Hardy,
both of Fort Defiance; brothers, Tommy Hardy, Jonathan Jose, Timothy
Hardy, Wayne Hardy, all of Fort Defiance, Andy Hardy of Tohatchi and
Joe Jose of Mesa, Ariz.; sisters, Cindy Hardy of Mesa and Arlene Hardy
of St. Michaels, Ariz.
Hardy was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Hardy,
and brother, Ronald Hardy.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Hardy, Joe Jose, Jonathan
Jose, Timothy Hardy, Wayne Hardy and Andy Hardy.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.
Laura Rachel Bertinetti
GALLUP — Services for Laura Rachel "Laurie Rae" Bertinetti,
16, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at The Door-Gallup
Christian Center. Pastor Gregory Johnson will officiate.
Bertinetti died Feb. 14 in Gallup. She was born March 2, 1983, in
Gallup.
Bertinetti attended Gallup McKinley County Schools through the ninth
grade. She was then home-schooled to present. She was involved with
her church youth group where she participated in music, drama, puppetry
and children's ministries. She has also been a caregiver to her paternal
grandparents for the past year.
Survivors include her parents, Jerry and Cheri Bertinetti of Gallup;
sister, Sarah June Bertinetti of Gallup; grandparents, Herbert and
June Harper of Camp Verde, Ariz., and Helen D. Bertinetti of Gallup.
Bertinetti was preceded in death by her grandfather, Dominic Bertinetti.
Pallbearers will be Dan Johnson, Nic Montoya, Eddy Jaramillo, Ben
Shirley, Nathan Tafoya and Gerald Harper.
The family will receive relatives and friends after the service in
the fellowship hall of the Gallup Christian Center.
Cope Memorial Chapel of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.
Eleanor J. Raum
GALLUP — Services for Eleanor J. Raum, 59, will be held at 10
a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at St. Isabel Mission in Lukachukai, Ariz.
Father Caron, O.F.M., will officiate. Burial will follow on family
land in Tsaile.
Raum died Feb. 12 in Tse Bonito. She was born Aug. 18, 1940, in Wheatfields,
Ariz., into the Salt People Clan for the Big Water People Clan.
Raum attended Inter-Mountain Indian School. She was a homemaker. Her
hobbies included beadwork.
Survivors include her sons, Frankie Spencer of Wheatfields, Ariz.,
Raymond Spencer of Tse Bonito, and Donald Spencer of Fort Wingate;
daughters, Deborah Bia of Sawmill, Sophia Todecheene of Gallup, and
Francine Spencer of Grants; brothers, Homer K. Brown, Otis K. Brown,
both of Tsaile, Ariz., and Leroy K. Brown of Gallup, Johnny Brown
of Dallas, Texas; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchildren.
Raum was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Raum; daughter, Raymond
Spencer; parents, Tom and Bah Brown.
Pallbearers will be Darryl Todecheene, Raymond Spencer, Donald Spencer,
Roger Whitehair, Leroy Whitehair and Anslem Bia Jr.
The family will receive relatives and friends at the Tsaile/Wheatfield
Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.
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