Blaze destroys classrooms
Navajo Elementary School students are 'homeless'
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
NAVAJO — Gallup-McKinley County School District officials are
scrambling today to find someplace to teach fifth graders and special
education students of Navajo Elementary School after a fire Wednesday
night turned their classrooms into charcoal.
The fire gutted that section of the campus on the north side of Cedar
Avenue, collapsing the roofs of the two attached wood and metal structures
as the Navajo Pine Fire and Rescue Department battled successfully
to keep the damage contained and prevented the fire from jumping into
adjacent buildings.
Shocked parents and residents stood across the street and watched
the yellow flames devour the single-story building in about two hours.
At the peak of the conflagration, the flames shot higher than adjacent
trees whose leafless limbs were singed. The fire warmed the night
air as local firefighters arched water from the school hydrant over
the walls or through the windows, ejecting clouds of steam as the
water lowered the temperatures below the ignition point of the boiling
yellow caldron.
The fire's reflection off the roiling columns of tar-fed
black smoke, especially from the roof on which firefighters stepped
gingerly to try to get ahead of the blaze, was visible for several
miles as a halo over the hills to the south and west.
Several departments assisted local firefighters, especially providing
water tanker shuttles as the battlers against the blaze sweated profusely
under their heavy, protective turnout gear. As late as 12:30 this
morning fire trucks from other departments providing mutual aid raced
along the highways into town with their emergency lights flashing.
Wendesday night's fire, reported sometime after 10 p.m., is the second
major blaze to destroy buildings in the community. A fire of suspicious
origin on Jan. 20 destroyed some almost empty structures at the Navajo
Forest Products Industry site a few blocks to the north of the school.
The school fire is believed to have been accidental in nature, possibly
from an electrical short.
| Top |
Gallup teen files suit after strip search
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The strip search and arrest of 18-year-old Gallup High
School senior Emily Ellison after the Magistrate Court mistakenly
assumed she had failed to appear for a speeding ticket has resulted
in a lawsuit.
The lawsuit charges McKinley County commissioners, the company managing
McKinley County Adult Detention Center, District Attorney Mary Helen
Baber and two other prosecutors with the district attorney's office
with violating Ellison's civil rights and for inflicting emotional
distress on her.
The arrest was made on Feb. 10 on an outstanding bench warrant issued
when Ellison failed to attend her Jan. 5 court hearing for tickets
she received for speeding and driving without insurance in September.
Because Ellison knew she would be out of town Jan. 5, she pleaded
not guilty on Dec. 21 to Magistrate Court Judge Karl Gillson. When
a person pleads not guilty, the court date is automatically changed
to a later date when a trial can be arranged.
By an oversight, that change was not made, and when Ellison did not
show on Jan. 5, the bench warrant was issued.
On Feb. 10, Ellison came to Magistrate Court to argue
another speeding ticket she got in November. When she entered the
courtroom, she said, police arrested her.
The police took her to McKinley County Adult Detention Center. Booking
officers stripped her, searched her, put her in an orange jumpsuit
and took her back to court in handcuffs.
Back in court, Ellison explained to Judge John Carey why she had not
appeared in court at the earlier date.
Carey said he arraigned Ellison immediately, released
her and waived the bench warrant fee because it appeared the arrest
was a mistake. It was later found that Ellison had pleaded not guilty
and the bench warrant was issued in error.
Carey said he asked how Ellison would like proceed with
her trial. Ellison replied she wanted to change into her street clothes
and was returned to jail to put them on.
"I went through a lot of humiliation here,"
Ellison said of her experience. "I just hope nobody else has
to go through it."
The jail booking officers treated Ellison no differently
than any other person, said both Michael Sanchez, the case's prosecutor,
and Baber.
Prison Warden Cody Graham said all offenders must be
searched before they are booked to make sure they are not carrying
weapons.
Ellison filed two motions to suppress evidence for the ticket she
received for not having insurance. She said she did so to keep the
tickets off her record and to learn more about the judicial system.
Ellison said she has an interest in law. A friend videotaped
the arrest and Ellison's presentation in the court for a senior class
project.
Sanchez said Ellison looked pleased to be arrested and
was happy to get the event on tape. Ellison said she was scared and
was trying to hide her strong emotions.
Carey said Ellison conducted herself professionally when she gave
her arguments, but he denied both Ellison's motions.
After Ellison showed proof of insurance, that ticket was dismissed.
She decided not to ask for trial for her speeding ticket and pleaded
guilty for a deferred sentence she had to pay court fines and not
incur another speeding ticket for 30 days to erase the ticket from
her record.
Ellison works part-time for private attorney William Stripp from Ramah,
who helped Ellison file the civil rights claim.
Though the arrest was unavoidable, Stripp said, the
strip search was not called for and was an abuse of authority. He
added he thinks the district attorney and her assistant prosecutors
are responsible for the strip search.
"I think this is totally engineered by the DA's office,"
Stripp said. "They don't do that (strip search) to anybody for
a speeding ticket."
Stripp filed the lawsuit against Baber, assistant district attorney
Gerald Byers and Sanchez. The last two attorneys were directly involved
in the arrest that day, and Baber supervises both.
Since the district attorney's office can claim immunity from such
lawsuits, Stripp said the complaint is against the three individuals,
not their office.
Attorneys do not have the authority to request a strip search, Sanchez
said, adding that he could not be responsible for how the security
officers booked Ellison.
| Top |
Panel asks higher interest-rate cap
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo economic development officials say they
will ask the Navajo Nation Council to increase the maximum amount
that area businesses can charge for interest on car, furniture and
other loans.
A survey by the department said Navajo law has hampered Navajo consumers
in their ability to get loans because of the 18 percent cap on annual
interest rates.
Surveyors questioned 23 businesses heavily involved in these types
of loans and found that "under certain conditions, it has a major
negative impact on a person's ability to buy on credit."
The almost two dozen businesses contacted included auto dealers, furniture
dealers, farm equipment dealers, banks, small loan lenders and a recreational
vehicle dealer, the report said.
People with a poor track record are normally charged
a higher interest rate, because they offer a higher risk of not being
able to make their payments. If they can't go to a firm that can legally
charge a higher interest rate, chances are they will not get the loan.
"Interest charged for the use of money has to reflect the risk
of not getting repaid, expense of administration and repossession,
rate of inflation, and the cost of money," the report explained.
Today's prime rate is 8.75 percent. As money goes through the system
each agency tacks on some interest to pay for its share of handling
the funds.
"The higher the rate goes, the fewer Navajo consumers can get
financing because of the 18 percent cap," the report said.
"With the 18 percent cap, car dealers, especially
the larger, more reputable dealers, are no longer able to sell to
customers that have marginal credit."
The survey found used car dealers "surprisingly ... seem to have
little problem with the law." They recoup their cost of obtaining
vehicles by charging the customer that amount for a down payment,
"so that credit histories do not concern these dealers as much,"
the report said.
Other concerns economic development officials want to address include
provisions about requiring contracts to be written in Navajo, the
10-day grace period to return a used motor vehicle and the implied
warranty of 30 days and 1,500 miles for vehicles as opposed to 15
days and 500 miles found in Arizona law, which the Navajo law otherwise
copied virtually word for word.
Allowing customers to return a car within a 10-day grace
period, one dealer said, meant such a deal could be cheaper than renting
a car for a vacation.
The report concluded, "One of the lessons to be learned from
the passage of this law is that sometimes in an attempt to do something
good for the consumer, the government can end up hurting the consumer.
Any proposed law that has potential impact on every citizen should
go out for public hearings. This law did not."
| Top |
Delay game helps Tuba City advance over
Snowflake, 6-57
Arizona state tournament
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Tuba City used an uncharacteristic delay for three
minutes and sank 16-of-19 free throws in the fourth that included
a perfect 10-of-10 in the final minute en route to a 66-57 Class 3A
state quarterfinal win over Snowflake Wednesday morning at the Northern
Arizona University Skydome.
Tuba City, 26-4 overall, advances to the state semifinals for the
second straight year. Last year the Warriors were eliminated by eventual
state champion Coolidge 65-61. The Warriors, who will be trying to
advance to their first state championship finals, will play the East
No. 1 seed Alchesay in their state semifinal at 8:30 p.m. next Friday,
Feb. 25 at the America West Arena. In the other state semifinals No.
1 Winslow, 61-58 winners of Blue Ridge, will take on West's top team
Fountain Hills at 5 p.m. The boys state finals are set for Saturday,
Feb. 26 at 4 p.m.
Tuba City, the No. 2 North seed, held a slim 17-16 lead and increased
that to 31-26 by intermission. The Snowflake Lobos, the No. 4 East
seed, caught Tuba City in the third with the inside play of 6-foot-5
senior post Brett Evans, who led the Lobos with 22 points, producing
11 third-period points. But the Warriors had senior post Nolan Tsingine
tallying seven of his 11 points in the third period including a trey...
| Top |
Gallup girls look for perfect finish
in district
Bengal preview
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
GALLUP — The Gallup Bengal girls look to put the finishing touches
on a perfect district season this weekend.
The No. 2 ranked Lady Bengals (20-1 overall, 8-0 in District 1AAAA)
host the Valley Vikings on Friday night at Gallup High School and
then travel to Farmington on Saturday night to complete the regular
season. The Bengals need just one victory in either of those games
to clinch the district title and the No. 1 seed that goes with it.
Game times are approximately 7:30 p.m....
| Top |
An Enchanted State Tournament
3A Enchantment teams sweep into all-conference Final
Four
Arizona state tournament
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Call the 3A girls state finals, the 3A Enchantment
State Finals.
Tuba City, defending state champion Monument Valley
and Ganado along with last year's state runnerup Winslow made it an
eye-opening clean sweep by the 3A Enchantment Region during Wednesday's
state quarterfinals at the NAU Skydome.
Tuba City, the North's top team, overcame a sluggish start for the
second game in a row and then put Alchesay away in the final period
with an impressive 13-0 run that included three treys in a row.
Monument Valley, the North No. 3 seed, dominated Round Valley leading
by as many as 30 points before settling for a 60-41 win...
| Top |
Mayor calls cops on Ortiz; axes manager
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MILAN — Mayor Elisabeth Lopez-Rael fired the village manager
Wednesday, then had Milan Trustee Tom Ortega arrested at Village Hall
for allegedly driving there while drunk.
Rael said Ortega came to Village Hall three times Wednesday,
twice bringing people to cast early ballots in the March 7 municipal
elections and the last time by himself.
"He reeked of alcohol, and he was so drunk he had to use the
door for support because he couldn't stand up," Rael said...
| Top |
NAPI board OK'd behind closed doors
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — After meeting with Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye
behind closed doors, the tribe's Economic Development Committee has
approved a new board to oversee the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry.
Members of the committee asked for the executive session to talk about
the qualifications of Begaye's recommendations because of concerns
that came from his aides not Begaye.
Begaye, according to a press release issued by his office, stressed
that he was involved in the selection process and that his intention
was to find the most qualified individuals to fill tribal enterprise
boards...
| Top |
Wreck hurts three; police blame liquor
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo police blame alcohol for a one-vehicle wreck
that sent three Tuba City residents to the hospital.
Injured were Phillip Whitesinger, 44; Diane Mae Belone, 47; and Laura
Ann Willie, 23, all of Tuba City.
The three were headed from Tuba City to Navajo Mountain on BIA Route
16 when their truck crashed 2.5 miles south of the Arizona-Utah border
Sunday afternoon. The Kayenta Police District report said no alcohol
was found at the scene, but all three were under the influence of
alcohol...
| Top |
First festival, powwow planned
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Late last year, Norman Roach wondered why students put
on no major powwow in this area.
So Roach, a social studies teacher at Kennedy Middle School and one
of the organizers of Albuquerque's Gathering of Nations Powwow, began
talking the situation over with students and other teachers at the
school.
The result: On Feb. 26, the first annual Gallup area Schools Festival
and Powwow will be held at the school, along with a youth run/walk
and a hip-hop concert...
| Top |
Deaths
Harry Notah Jr.
THOREAU — Services for Harry Notah Jr., 40, will be held at 10
a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at Thoreau First Baptish Church. Pastor Glen
Marshall will officiate. Burial will follow at Thoreau Community Cemetery.
Notah died Feb. 12 in Continental Divide. He was born March 14, 1959,
in Fort Defiance, Ariz., into the Towering House People Clan for the
Edge of the Water People Clan.
Survivors include his son, Travis Notah of Smith Lake; daughters,
Dorothea Notah and Elthea Notah, both of Waterflow; mother, Dorothy
Harry of Thoeau; stepfather, Roy Billy of Thoreau; brother, Marshall
Notah of Thoreau; sisters, Bonnie Harry, Harriett Harry, Lorraine
Notah, Clara Notah-Hunter, all of Thoreau, Marlena King of Albuquerque,
and Priscilla Trujillo of Logan, Utah; and grandmother, Louise Emerson
of Thoreau.
Notah was preceded in death by his father, Harry Notah
Sr.
Pallbearers will be Tracey Benally, Jamison Hoskie,
Alton Larry, Terry Lee, Leslie Notah, Marshall Notah, Milton Thompson
and Bryon Upshaw.
Rollie Mortuary of Gallup is in charge of the arrangements.
Raymond Silver
GALLUP — Services for Raymond Silver, 29, will
be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Pastor
Bob Huber will officiate. Burial will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.
Silver died Feb. 14 in Gallup. He was born Jan. 20, 1971, in Gallup
into the Red Running in tthe Water People Clan for the Edge Water
People Clan.
Silver was a 1992 graduate of Gallup High School. He was employed
with P&M Coal Mine for a year. He was a self-employed silversmith.
His hobbies included playing vollyball, baseball, basketball and riding
dirt bikes.
Survivors include his wife Brenda Wauneka of Fort Defiance, Ariz.;
son, Ray Douglas Silver of Fort Defiance; daughters, Gwendolyn Wauneka
Silver, Raelyn Douglas Silver, Amberlyn Wauneka Silver and Terrilyn
Wauneka Silver, all of Fort Defiance; parents, Nellie Silver and William
Douglas, both of Blackhat; sisters, Louise Bighead, Jean Silver, Grace
Silver, all of Blackhat, and Shirley Skeets of Mentmore.
Pallbearers will be William Douglas, Wilbert Benally, Harvey Tom,
Jeffery Hoskie, Brian Wauneka and Frito Roanhorse.
The family will meet at Tse Ya Toh Chapter House following
the burial.
Cope Memorial Chapel of Gallup is in charge of arrangements...
| Top |
All contents property of the
Gallup Independent.
Any duplication or republication requires consent of the
Gallup
Independent.
Feel free to send any questions or comments to
gallpind@cia-g.com
E-mail the webmaster at
martyr_dom@hotmail.com
