Tribe looks to state for park money
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation is now looking to the state of
Arizona for the funds needed to complete the Veterans Memorial Park
here.
Rep. Sylvia Laughter, R-Kayenta, and Rep. Tom Gordon, R-Peach Springs,
are preparing to introduce legislation to provide the $500,000 or
so that is needed to complete the project, said Leo Chischilly, director
of the Department of Navajo Veterans Affairs.
Chischilly received a directive from Navajo Nation President
Kelsey Begaye to find the money to complete the park by Nov. 11.
Laughter and Gordon, whose district covers the Arizona portion of
the Navajo Reservation, have less than two months to shepherd the
appropriation bill through the Arizona legislative maze and win the
approval of the other 58 representatives and 30 senators.
Sen. Jack Jackson, D-Window Rock, introduced the initial
bill, co-sponsored by Laughter, House Speaker Jeff Groscott, R-Mesa,
and Rep. Debra Brimhall, R-Snowflake, of a neighboring district.
The Navajo Nation has been working on the three-acre park located
under the landmark that gives Window Rock its name for the past several
years.
Already completed is a big circle with intersecting sidewalks running
north-south and east-west "in a blending of Diné philosophy
and U.S. military traditions, honoring the Navajo veteran," according
to a history of the project.
In the middle of the circle, as in a hogan, the traditional
Diné home, an eternal flame burns. To the west is a hogan.
To the east, 16 angled steel poles hold glass-fronted
monuments reminiscent of the Vietnam Memorial's black granite wall
in Washington, D.C. with the names of Navajo veterans.
The tribal veterans' office has so far identified 160 Navajos who
have been killed in action and two that are missing in action
With the additional funds, the parking and picnic areas to the south
will be upgraded, thus completing the third and fourth phases.
Chischilly said he will soon send letters to foundations, corporations
and casinos asking for donations. A few years ago, the park received
$100,000 from a former 101st Airborne ranger from New York.
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Student's wish comes true
Computer surprises teen
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — In a room full of wide smiles and anxious hearts, 30
or so friends and family suspended their lively chatter a moment to
greet Paul E. Lovato.
As he walked in, they exclaimed in unison "Your
wish has come true!"
The 17-year-old wished for a new computer in October
and Wednesday night his wish was granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation,
a volunteer organization that fulfills the wishes of children with
serious diseases.
Lovato suffers from a skin disease he has had since birth called dystrophic
epidermolysis bullosa. He was born without the top layer of his skin,
so he blisters if his skin is irritated and easily gets bruised.
Lovato came to his grandmother's house for his great-grandmother's
birthday party, but found out the party was for him. He knew he was
going to get a computer from Make-A-Wish, but the organization told
him it would not arrive until March.
When he walked into the house, he could not say anything.
(Later he said when he saw the surprise he was "freaked out.")
Lovato's mother Charlotte Lovato was quiet herself, explaining later
she was just, "happy shaking."
His grandfather, Ed Martinez, joked, "That's the first time I've
seen him speechless."
Afterward, Martinez elaborated: "He knows when
to talk. He's so intelligent. He knows so much, it's amazing."
In a voice muffled under tears, he added, "The
look on his face when he walked in that's all I needed. It brought
the joy out of me."
Martinez explained that Paul Lovato has suffered all
his life.
When he was a baby, the doctors in Gallup did not know
how to handle his delicate skin. They would put bandages on his body
to protect the skin, but when they removed the bandages, his skin
would come off with them.
Charlotte Lovato said her son takes care of himself well except when
it comes to playing football.
Paul Lovato said he, his friends, brothers and relatives
play the game carefully, making sure not to play rough.
He said others probably think about his disease more than he does.
His grandmother, Evelyn Martinez, said parents and young children
sometimes get scared when they see Lovato's skin, because they worry
about catching the disease.
Lovato said that kind of attention does not bother him; he simply
explains his noncontagious condition.
When Lovato was younger, inquisitive stares were disconcerting, Evelyn
Martinez said.
"Now if people look at him, he just smiles,"
said Ryan Luna, Lovato's cousin.
Though his condition is the same, he has learned to do many things
his peers take for granted.
For example, he uses a three-wheeled motored chair to move around
instead of putting strain on the skin of his feet and legs, but he
can walk more now.
Chronic blistering and scarring caused his skin to grow
and join his fingers together, so that only his two thumbs are free.
However, Lovato enjoys painting with watercolors and said he manipulates
the brush easily with his thumbs.
Though Lovato misses classes when he suffers excessive
blistering or bruising, he does well at school. He is a senior at
Gallup High School. For his Gifted And Talented Education class project,
he is a teaching assistant in a computer lab there.
He will graduate this year. He said he wants to attend the University
of New Mexico at Gallup for a year and then go to UNM at Albuquerque
after his brother, Marcus Lovato, graduates from GHS.
Marcus Lovato, 16, has helped his brother keep his head
up while dealing with his disease, Ed Martinez said.
Paul Lovato always has to remember his skin condition,
but Wednesday night his mind was focused on setting up his new computer.
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Pot haul nabbed outside Gallup
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Two Texans were arrested Thursday morning after a traffic
stop led police to find 505 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated
quarter to half million dollars.
Reginald Linack, 49, and Doris Newby, 51, both of Austin,
were arraigned Thursday and charged with felony possession of marijuana
with intent to distribute. They are both being held at McKinley County
Adult Detention center on $500,000 bond each.
McKinley County Sheriff's Deputy George Justice said
he pulled over an eastbound 1999 GMC Safari Minivan with New Mexico
license plates around 1:30 a.m. at the 35.5 Mile Marker on Interstate
40.
Justice said the driver, Linack, was stopped about eight
miles outside of Gallup for traveling way under the speed limit and
was cited for minimum speed/impeding traffic.
Linack appeared to be shaking nervously and had trouble rolling down
the passenger-side window, police said. But once rolled down, the
K-9 officer detected a strong odor of marijuana, which gave him and
his German shepherd partner, Voy, reason to search the outside of
the van.
The officer asked for and was given consent to have
a drug-sniffing dog search the outside of the vehicle. Justice said
his dog alerted him to the right side rear area of the van where police
later found seven large U-Haul boxes full of marijuana after obtaining
a search warrant.
During a police interview, Linack told Justice that
a "significant quantity of marijuana in the vehicle was to be
delivered to others." Police said rental papers found in the
van indicate Linack rented the vehicle in Phoenix Monday and expected
to drop it off in Detroit, Mich. on Friday.
| Top |
Tasco hires lobbyists for power plant
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Officials from a company that wants Gallup to build
its own power plant met with prominent citizens Wednesday to ask their
support.
Gary Tassainer, a managing member of Tasco-Gen Systems, along with
George and Anne Galanis, spoke to a group of 12 residents interested
in learning about the project at an impromptu gathering. Residents
included such people as Patricia Lundstrom, executive director of
the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, and Dan Gutierrez,
former Gallup City Council member.
Because the city council has not held open meetings on the subject,
the company has hired the Galanises to inform the public about the
proposed power plant. The couple have been paid $2,500 for their public
information services...
| Top |
Grants, Milan hopefuls cite future plans
13 seek seats in government
Mary E. Davis
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Seven of the 13 candidates seeking seats
on the Grants City Council and the village of Milan Board of Trustees
were no shows Wednesday at a municipal candidates' forum sponsored
by the Cibola County League of Women Voters.
But those candidates who did make the meeting Kathy
Chavez, Cecil Brown, Robert Michael Ulibarri, Vivian L. Brumbelow,
Warren H. Mathers and Mary Lundstrom emphasized their qualifications,
platforms and future plans if elected.
Grants, District 1
Ulibarri, a Grants native who is running for the Grants City Council
District 1 seat, said he wants to bring unity to the community, attract
businesses to town, upgrade the water and sewer services and provide
additional training for the police and fire departments...
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Fighting, drugs top indictments
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Illegal drugs and fighting again top the list of reasons
the Thirteenth Judicial District Grand Jury has handed down indictments.
Benito Rodriguez, 23, of Milan, was indicted on charges of possession
of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and tampering
with evidence.
On Feb. 7, Rodriguez was contacted by a Cibola County Sheriff's Department
deputy, who found methamphetamines near Rodriguez. Possession of a
controlled substance with the intent to distribute is a third-degree
felony...
| Top |
Lady Pirates end season at Socorro
District 5AAA tournament
Robert Arrietta
Staff Sports Writer
SOCORRO — In the first round of the District 5AAA tournament,
the Pirates fell to the Socorro Warriors 34-24.
Despite the loss, coach Al Torske said the game reflected
the improvement his team has been showing over the season.
"I liked what I saw out there," Torske said.
"We have some players that have really improved over the year.
I know the year's just over but I'm excited about getting back to
work. We were able to stay in this game tonight because we're finally
getting the program back to where it used to be and our girls our
getting hungry to win. It looks good for our gals in the future..."
| Top |
Monument Valley, Winslow meet in rematch
Arizona girls state tournament
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
PHOENIX, Ariz. - It's a rematch of last year's Class 3A girls state
finals.
Defending state champion Monument Valley and state runnerup Winslow
will clash once again - this time in one of two state semifinal matchups
Friday at 6:45 p.m. at America West Arena. In the other state semifinals
at 3:15 p.m., Tuba City will go up against Ganado in what is an impressive
all 3A Enchantment (North) Region State Final Four. The two semifinal
winners will play for the state title Saturday at 2 p.m.
Monument Valley (23-7) will be looking to post its first victory over
Winslow (22-7) in four meetings this year. In the first game, Winslow
posted a 48-43 conference win by sinking 17-of-27 free throws. Monument
Valley struggled at the line, sinking only 5-of-15 free throws. In
the second meeting, Winslow again prevailed, this time 55-48...
| Top |
Rollover kills area woman
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo police said an alcohol-related vehicle rollover
claimed the life of a 42-year-old Crownpoint woman Monday night.
Lorraine Hannah Mariano rolled her car shortly before 10 p.m. while
traveling at a high rate of speed on a curve on BIA Route 9, about
150 yards south of the junction with New Mexico Route 509 near Pueblo
Pintado.
The force of the impact sent the car into the air, and Mariano was
ejected from it...
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Tohatchi starters respond, beat Eagles
District 6AAA tournament
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
TOHATCHI — Tohatchi coach Fern Spencer sent a message to her
starters and it was well received.
The Cougar starters returned after sitting out most of the third quarter
to outscore the Crownpoint Eagles 22-6 in the fourth period to give
Tohatchi a come-from-behind 58-46 victory in their District 6AAA quarterfinal
game Wednesday night.
"That's what we should play like," Tohatchi head coach Spencer
said of her team's finish against Crownpoint. "That's what team
play is all about..."
| Top |
Deaths
Deloris Mae Francis
WINDOW ROCK — Services for Deloris Mae Francis, 44, will be held
at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the United Methodist Church. Pastor
Roger E. Tsosie will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Michaels,
Ariz.
Visitation will be held at 7 tonight, Feb. 24 at Cope Memorial Chapel.
Francis died Feb. 20 in Phoenix. She was born Feb. 5, 1956, in Fort
Defiance, Ariz., into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for
the Walk Around People Clan.
Francis graduated from Window Rock High School in 1974 and attended
school in Phoenix. She worked with the Navajo Nation's design and
engineering department and for Allied Forces in Phoenix.
Survivors include her husband, Larry Metteba of Phoenix; son, Yoshimo
Yazzie of Phoenix; daughters, Lukina Yazzie and Luketta Browning,
both of Phoenix; brothers, John Francis Jr. of Fort Defiance, Ariz.,
Wilson Nez of Espanola, and Larry Johns of Gallup; sisters, Virginia
Francis of Fort Defiance, Ariz., Verna Joe of Glendale, Ariz., Joann
Francis of Phoenix, Elvira Begaye of Window Rock, and Ethel Rhead
of Golden, Colo.; five grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Obediah Jones, Lydell Begaye, Donavan Joe, Nemiah
Joe, Clancy Joe and Odith Nez.
Cope Memorial Chapel of Gallup is in charge of arrangements.
Lorraine A. Hannah
CROWNPOINT — Services for Lorraine A. Hannah, 42, will be held
at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the Latter Day Saints Church. Brother
Hammons will officiate. Burial will follow at Crownpoint Community
Cemetery.
Hannah died Feb. 21 in rural New Mexico. She was born June 22, 1957,
in Rehoboth into the Redhouse People Clan for the Red Bottom People
Clan.
Survivors include her son, Casey JP Mariano of Crownpoint; daughter,
Natasha H. Chee of Fort Bragg, NC; parents, Henry and Caroline P.
Hannah of Crownpoint; sisters, Celia Hannah of Crownpoint and Gloria
H. Morgan of Farmington; brothers, Marvin Hannah of Tacoma, Wash.,
and Richard S. Hannah of Standing Rock; and one grandchild.
Hannah was preceded in death by her brother, Eugene Hannah, and grandparents,
Gliz Bah Hannah, Mark Hannah, Jim Perry and Nellie Perry.
Pallbearers will be DeWayne Curley, Adley Hannah, Jeremiah Hannah,
Mark Hannah, Richard Hannah, Rick Hannah, Larry Jim and Corey Smith.
Rollie Mortuary of Gallup is in charge of the arrangements.
Lawrence E. Wilson
GALLUP — Services for Lawrence E. Wilson, 57, will be held at
10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the East Aztec Baptist Church. Pastor
Gene Turk will officiate. Burial will follow on private family land.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, Feb. 24, at
Rollie Mortuary.
Wilson died Feb. 21 in Gallup. He was born Sept. 12, 1942, in Gallup.
Wilson was a member of the Elks Lodge, a collector of Southwest art,
chairman of the golf commission for a number of years and founder
of the Rock Springs Ranch Western Art Show. He was employed with the
McKinley County Sheriff's Department for 15 years.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley Wilson of Gallup; daughter, Valerie
Worthen; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Wilson was preceded in death by his parents, L.E. "Bobcat"
Wilson and Leah Wilson.
Pallbearers will be Joe Atkinson, John Kozeliski, Bronson Springstead,
Derek Wilhelm, Everett Wilhelm and Heath Wilhelm.
The family will receive friends and relatives at the Wilson residence
immediately following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association.
Rollie Mortuary of Gallup is in charge of the arrangements.
Jesse P. King
GRANTS — Services for Jesse P. King, 82, will be held at 2 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25, at the Grace Baptist Church. The Rev. Dale Thatcher
will officiate. Burial will follow at the Grants Memorial Park.
Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the Grace Baptist
Church.
King died Feb. 22 in Golden Acres. He was born Sept. 5, 1917, in Deming.
King worked for the Anaconda Mill for 27 years and retired in 1982.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie "Mickey" King of Golden
Acres; daughters, Tanya King Smith of Sterling City, Texas, and Jessie
Gene Miller of Stratford, Okla.; brothers, John King, Jimmie King
and Billie King; sisters, Hilda McAfee, Viola Stall and Lorene Pebworth;
seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
King was preceded in death by his daughter, Jonnie Louise King Forrester.
Pallbearers will be Tommy Simpson, Don Day, Allen Moore, Dave Hardway,
John Hite and Bob Moore.
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