Zuni group attacks DWIs
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
ZUNI — Week after week this newspaper carries stories and police
reports involving intoxicated drivers. But one local group, believing
the public has grown too accustomed to such news, wants to put the
brakes on local DWI drivers and also to public apathy.
And the group, centered in Zuni Pueblo, is looking to Mothers Against
Drunk Driving (MADD) to help it achieve its goals.
Three of the organizers met recently to discuss their hopes for the
local MADD chapter. Vurlene Bowekaty is an educator with the tribe's
Teen Health Center, Peter G. Tasso is an Albuquerque attorney who
works for the Pueblo advising the tribal police department and prosecuting
criminal cases, and Nan Gile is the program director for the tribe's
New Beginnings Domestic Violence Program.
The general public has some misconceptions about MADD, Tasso said,
such as believing it is an organization only for mothers or that it
has an anti-alcohol stance. Instead, MADD is open to anyone and is
not a crusade against alcohol use, he said. It is,
however, strongly opposed to irresponsible or illegal alcohol use.
Tasso believes MADD provides a good community forum to discuss the
issues and educate the public.
"The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk
driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage
drinking," MADD's literature states.
The group is seeking to use the organization of a MADD chapter, Gile
said, as a vehicle for positive social change in the community. Although
the group originates out of Zuni, it is looking to add members from
Gallup, Pine Hill, Ramah and perhaps all of McKinley County.
Community wellness
The idea to form a local chapter of MADD originated in a grant application
to the U.S. Department of Justice by the Zuni Recovery Center. When
the grant was approved, Tasso said, the tribe looked to his law firm
to help get the chapter organized.
Bowekaty said she joined the effort because in the nine years she
has worked at the health center, she has seen an increase of local
kids abusing drugs and alcohol, and she has seen younger and younger
children abuse substances.
"It's getting down to the elementary school level," she
said.
Gile supports the organization of MADD because it fits under the community
wellness umbrella, just like recovery programs or those that address
domestic violence.
All three organizers agreed that preventing underage teen-age drinking
is a high priority for the group. A common practice in Zuni was for
parents to purchase alcohol for their teen-age children and host underage
drinking parties, they said. This practice is particularly common
during the high school graduation season, Gile said.
Parents need to be educated as to the legal liabilities of such behavior,
Tasso said, and they also need to realize they are putting the lives
of children in danger.
The three are particularly interested in helping support the formation
of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) groups in local high
schools. And according to its literature, MADD has also developed
a number of educational programs for students, from elementary to
high school.
Bowekaty believes such programs will reinforce healthy decision making
among students and teach them ways to make positive contributions
to their community.
In addition to pursuing MADD's national goals of stopping drunken
driving, supporting victims and preventing underage drinking, Tasso
said, the group is looking at addressing some other issues such as
reviewing local drinking laws, judicial sentences and treatment plans.
It plans to also assess the economic and social impact of border town
liquor sales and the Pueblo's prohibition of liquor on the reservation.
No accidents
The Zuni group has already been visited by the executive director
of New Mexico MADD and also by Nadine Milford, the outspoken MADD
member who lost her daughter and three granddaughters in the 1992
Christmas Eve automobile collision involving Gordon House of McKinley
County.
In its literature, MADD is quick to point out that drunken driving
collisions are not "accidental" but rather are caused by
individuals who make choices to drink and drive.
The New Mexico MADD organization recently approved the group's initial
chapter application, and according to documents from New Mexico MADD,
the group must now complete the "Research Phase" of the
organizational process. That involves enlisting more members from
the community and gathering information about drunken driving issues
and related community attitudes.
The group is looking for community members to come forward, tell their
stories of how drunken driving has affected their lives and "help
put a human face" on the MADD program, Tasso said.
The people who have experienced the issues first hand have the best
ideas for solutions. "Their input is vital," Gile said.
The group will publicize future organizational meetings. Bowekaty
can be reached at (505) 782-4975 and Gile can be reached at (505)
782-4600.
The national MADD website is www.madd.org and the SADD website
is www.saddonline.com.
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Young missionaries smoked out
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A Monday morning fire at the Super 8 Motel emptied rooms
quickly and sent 14 young adults to their knees in prayer.
It was not that the fire was so bad, but they are so devout.
Several members of the Master's Commission, a troupe of young men
and women who travel ministering and proselytizing, awakened about
8 a.m. to a room filled with no flames but billowing smoke.
When the women learned the men's room had no smoke or flames, they
decided to continue getting showered and dressed.
They closed off vents and heaters. Finally, after showers, the smoke
didn't seem any better and they decided to report the problem to the
maid.
She called the manager who called emergency services around 11:30
a.m. Fire crews discovered a short in a heat lamp in a ground level
room had ignited insulation between the floors.
Motel guests were asked to vacate the rooms. About 30 people stood
in the parking lot watching as the firefighters climbed on to the
roof investigating the extent of the blaze. Flames never were visible
from the parking lot, however.
Three rooms sustained damage from smoke. Insulation pulled down from
the ceiling tiles and minor water damage were the only traces of the
morning mishap.
City authorities, however, closed the motel until a full investigation
of the motel's wiring, heating and plumbing can be completed.
Motel owners Tarangilka and Amit Thaker helped the young people move
into nearby motels.
This was not the missionaries' first mishap during their trip from
their home in Missouri to the west coast.
Earlier, the 22 members had been divided equally into two vans. But
while in Los Angeles, one of the vans broke down, requiring eight
of the missionaries to stay behind with the vehicle until it was fixed.
The remaining 14 continued to Phoenix.
After working with ministers and teens for several days, they decided
to continue the journey back to their home base in Springfield, Mo.
Around 6 or 7 a.m. Saturday, the group entered New Mexico on Interstate
40 and swerved off the road. "The car just missed a cliff,"
Rebecca Armenta, a manager of the touring group, said. "Below
the cliff is a train track where the train had just gone by. If we
had gone over the cliff, we'd have been hit by the train.
"We must have a powerful mission for God here that someone or
something doesn't want to see us accomplish," she said.
State police assisted the group with the van and had it towed to Gallup
for repairs. After conferring with the leaders back home, the 14 decided
to wait in Gallup until the other van with the remaining eight members
could join them to caravan home together within a few days.
That's when they registered at Super 8.
As enthusiastic as the missionaries are, all said they were anxious
to return to their homes after their adventures.
The Master's Commission is a Protestant mission project based on the
two-year missionary program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints. The Master's Commission is meant to give young people
a foundation for the rest of their lives, Amenta said.
The youth, ages 18 to 22, commit a minimum of one year to religious
study and crusading work. Evangelizing to children and teens is the
focus of the group with street outreach is an important component.
As terms of their discipleship, the youth are prohibited from dating
during the year and pay a $3,500 tuition for the first year.
"It's not just a one-time thing," Midge Glavin, 18, said,
"Many have sold cars and given up good paying jobs to be here.
When I heard about it, I knew this was what I was supposed to do.
God really wanted to have a chance to work through me."
Although many of the team members have plans to become full-time ministers
the Assembly of God is a core supporter for the project some of the
members devote only a year and then return to college.
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Jury indicts Milan man for murder
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The Cibola County grand jury has indicted Arcy Martinez
for one count of murder in the shooting death of Anthony Vallejos
and one count of aggravated battery for wounding Ralph Gonzales.
Martinez, 63, has admitted shooting Vallejos, 33, while he was visiting
with Martinez at his home on San Jose Street in Milan on Feb. 5. Gonzales,
41, of Grants was shot in the stomach and required surgery for his
wounds.
Martinez has been held without bond since the shooting.
Vallejos and Martinez had been neighbors and good friends for many
years, according to Vallejos' family members.
After the shooting, Martinez called 911. Vallejos was pronounced dead
at the scene and Gonzales was taken to Cibola General Hospital.
In a statement to Milan police, Martinez admitted shooting Vallejos.
He described the shooting as self-defense. He said Vallejos had threatened
his life before, when he had been drinking, but things had always
been OK later. On the day of the shooting the situation allegedly
did not calm down as it had in the past.
It was the first murder in Milan since 1979, when there were two homicides
in one week.
Second murder
On Feb. 13, eight days after Martinez shot Vallejos, Chris Pervorse
was murdered when he helped a stranger by giving him a ride.
Pervorse apparently was shot in the side while he was driving into
Milan from Bluewater with the suspect in the passenger seat. He pulled
into the Cross Roads motel. The suspect then dumped his body onto
the ground and drove off in Pervorse's new Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Milan Police Sgt. Jerry Stephens said police have developed some leads
and "we're going to follow those up." He said the suspect's
vehicle, which had been left at Bowlin's in Bluewater, was processed
by New Mexico State Police crime scene technicians last Thursday.
Pervorse was the manager at Bowlin's. The suspect allegedly stopped
there, bought some gas and then had trouble getting his car started.
Pervorse, who was known to be a good Samaritan, helped the man try
to get his car started. When the car wouldn't start, witnesses said
the man asked Pervorse to give him a ride into Milan to a motel.
Stephens said Milan police are working with the Cibola County Sheriff's
Department and the New Mexico State Police to locate the suspect.
Other investigations
Stephens also said he has a new lead in the Post Office burglary case.
The other case that he is working on is the Thanksgiving Day 2000
robbery of the Mustang Gas Station. Stephens said he has sent the
store's videotape to the FBI for processing and he will know more
when he receives the results of the analysis.
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Gallup's season ends
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — The Gallup Bengals could not get much going early
and had to play catch up the rest of the game, as Cibola picked up
a 61-34 victory in the first round of the District 1AAAAA tournament
Monday evening.
"We needed to come out of the gate and play well from the start,
but we fell behind early and (Cibola) is too good of a team to play
catch up with," said Gallup head coach Earl Diddle.
Gallup fell behind 5-0 early in the first quarter and Cibola continued
to push the lead, extending it to 14-4 with two minutes left in the
first.
Gallup got three points off free throws but Cibola scored ther final
four points of the quarter, leading 18-7 going into the second quarter.
The Cougars pushed the score to 23-7 before Gallup got a small run
together. The Bengals scored six straight points, with three baskets
by Drew Money.
With the Cibola lead cut to 23-15, Gallup only got one morre basket
the rest of the half, as Cibola went on a 10-2 run. Gallup's only
points came from Jarred Montano as Gallup trailed 33-15 at the half.
Cibola continured to push their score up in the third quarter, scoring
the first nine points after the break.
Behind 42-15, Gallup finally got a basket to fall when BJ Begay hit
a jumper. Begay scored again on Gallup's next posession, but the Bengals
would only get two more baskets the rest of the quarter. Cibola would
extend their lead to 51-23 going into the final period.
Money got a basket right away for Gallup, and Fermin Gallegos followed
with one of his own. Money added a pair of freethrows and Nathan Nakai
a basket as Gallup made the score 55-31.
Ben Miles and Jude Roybal hit three pointers for Cibola's final points,
and Montano hit a free throw for Gallup. Nakai put in a basket in
the final minute to score the last points of the game.
Gallup outscored Cibola 11-10 in the fourth quarter, with Nakai and
Money each pitching in four points.
"I thought we did some things well,"said Diddle. "I
thought Drew Money had a very good game."
Money led the Bengals with 12 points. Cibola was led by Mikal Monette
with 18. Jude Roybal added 12 and Chris Lange had 11 for the Cougars.
Diddle said he was pleased with the Bengals this year, and though
the team ended 4-19, he still thinks the team did well.
"We did well on defense and had a lot of positive things this
year," he said. "We had some problems on offense, this was
not a team that could score a lot of points."
He said that there were some things that can be used as building blocks
for next year, including commitment and dedication.
"The future looks good for the kids," he said. "I had
no problems with the kids. They were a great group of kids.
"The seniors gave great commitment, and worked very hard. I think
the team played as good as they could."
Gallup will graduate five seniors: BJ Begay, Chris Vicenti, Drew Money,
Maurice Guliford and EJ Patterson.
In closing, Diddle said that despite the losing record, he was happy
with the four wins and he thinks the future looks good.
Two Bengals did not play Monday because of an altercation before the
game. Diddle said the two players are suspended
indefintely from the team until the altercation is cleared up.
| Top |
Tuba City classes urge students to abstain
from sex
Pamela G. Dempsey
Special to the Independent
TUBA CITY, Ariz. — "Abstinence: Make the choice, not a child."
"Sex Can Wait." "Sex Doesn't Equal Love."
Those are some of the entries in the 2001 Abstinence Only Creative
Contest recently published by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Geri Bahe-Hernandez, director of Community Health Services at the
Tuba City Indian Medical Center, poses the same question to her 12
classes of fifth and sixth graders at the Tuba City public schools
and the Tuba City Boarding School each semester...
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Roadless plan has little effect on area
forests
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MOUNT TAYLOR — When former President Bill Clinton announced adoption
of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule on Jan. 4, it sent waves of
concern through many who use national forests, including Cibola National
Forest.
The announcement affects 58.5 million acres of national forest land
in 39 states, including 9.3 million acres in New Mexico, and more
specifically, about 32,000 acres of the Mount Taylor District in Cibola
National Forest.
The regulations would impose what Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., calls
sweeping and strict restrictions on roads and timber harvesting on
federal forest lands.
In essence, the rule would generally prohibit new road construction
or reconstruction in "unroaded" portions of inventoried
roadless areas in the national forest system...
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New Hopi tribal councilor urges openness
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
BACAVI, Ariz. — Clifford Qotsaquaha, formerly known as Clifford
Balenquah, has won a seat on the Hopi Tribal Council, representing
Bacavi.
Qotsaquaha, a former vice chairman for the Hopi Tribe, said his
top goals are improving communication, financial integrity and confidence
building.
Qotsaquaha said the council hasn't done a good job of publicizing
its actions until after they've been taken. He added that everybody
is capable of communication, but not everyone makes the attempt.
"I want some kind of reporting," he said. "We've
started a newsletter in Bacavi and we're on the verge of testing
how the tribal council should get the word out. I would like to
see that people are more informed and better educated on the issues..."
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Ex-election board gears up for trial
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — A capacity crowd is expected to fill the
Window Rock District Court's main courtroom March 5 and 7 when eight
Navajo Board of Election Supervisors are arraigned on charges they
broke the law by not holding the chapter-level general election Aug.
1.
The White Collar Crime Unit of the Chief Prosecutor's Office of the
Attorney General's Department of Justice filed criminal charges against
the eight supervisors present on July 31 when the board canceled the
election to protect Navajo voters' rights to a full absentee ballot
period of 30 days. The election board also believed that the council
was tardy in appropriating money for the election's referendum question
on chopping the council's size down by three-fourths.
Chairwoman Eunice Begay, Vice Chairwoman LeNora (Fulton) Johnson and
member Jackie Burbank defended their board's actions at a meeting
Monday of the Diné for Better Government...
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NHA tries to bridge gap with Kayenta Township
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The executive director of Navajo Housing Authority
attended a meeting Monday afternoon in the Kayenta Township office,
telling township representatives to play nice with their housing
developer.
NHA Executive Director Chester Carl had become concerned with a
growing dispute between Kayenta Township and Fort Defiance Housing
Corp. The dispute concerns $1.87 in infrastructure improvements
within the massive and still under-construction Teeh-in-Deeh Estates
subdivision.
The township expressed in writing last week its opposition to giving
the housing corporation any more draw-downs on infrastructure funds
for roads, curbing, sidewalks, water/sewer, and electric work until
the housing developer released all construction records of its work
to date.
The township acts as the subgrantee for the $1.87 million infrastructure
grant from the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act,
or NAHASDA...
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Deaths
Cameron J. LaPrade
GALLUP — Services for Cameron J. LaPrade, 68, will be held at
11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Jim
Walker will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Feb. 20, at Rollie
Mortuary.
LaPrade died Feb. 12 in Gallup. He was born Sept. 10, 1932, in Gallup.
LaPrade was a member of the Elks Lodge and Senior State Golf Association.
Survivors include his brother, Vernon LaPrade of Barstow, Calif.
LaPrade was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Claude and Olympia
"Ollie" LaPrade; and sister, Eleanor LaPrade.
Pallbearers will be Jim Baumgardner, Terry Bortot, Pete Chiapetti,
Vic Fattor, John Matte and Tom Matte.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Jane Pete-Benally
STEAMBOAT, Ariz. — Services for Jane Pete-Benally, 93, will be
held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Saint Anne's Catholic Mission,
Ganado, Ariz. Father Flann O' Neill will officiate. Burial will follow
at Ganado community cemetery.
A rosary will be recited 5-7 p.m. tonight, Feb. 20, at Tse Bonito
Morturay.
Pete-Benally died Feb. 19 in Gallup. She was born Feb. 5, 1908, in
Steamboat into the Red House People Clan for the Big Water People
Clan.
Pete-Benally was a resident of Steamboat. She was employed as a foster
grandparent, worked at Toyei School, Lower Greasewood School, special
education, St. Michaels, Keams Canyon Indian Medical Center and Little
Miss Muffet Day Care, Fort Defiance. Her hobbies included weaving,
ranching and teaching culture and tradition.
Survivors include her sons, Edward Pete of Toyei and Thomas Pete Sr.
of Window Rock; daughters, Elizabeth Edison and Alice Arviso, both
of Steamboat, and Lena Yazzie of Fort Defiance; sister, Mary Brown
of Albuquerque; 46 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Pete-Benally was preceded in death by husband, James Pete-Benally;
parents, Hosteen and Adzan Bearspring; and sisters, Perry Cadman and
Harry Begay.
Pallbearers will be Brian J. Morgan, Michael Arviso, Carlos Shirley,
Darrell Begay, Nathaniel Guy and Yolando Begay.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Michael Howard Bia Jr.
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Services for Michael Bia Jr., 32, will
be announced at a later date.
Bia died Feb. 17 in Phoenix. He was born Sept. 17, 1968, in Fort Defiance.
There will be a family meeting at 6 tonight at Lula Bia residence,
new teachers housing, Window Rock.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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