It's never too late



Juanita White, at left, a grandmother, graduated from Gallup Centeral High School's adult education program last month.

Photo by Craig Robinson

 

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Tribe's takeover of IHS would mean jobs

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — Up to 3,300 people will be offered two-year contracts called "Inter-Government Personnel Assignments" to go to work for the Navajo Health Care System Corporation.

The offers will have to be made by July 1, which will probably be before the Navajo Nation Council approves the $433.1 million federal contract to take over the Navajo Area Indian Health Service.

Negotiations between the corporation, its consultants and the Navajo Justice Department, on one hand, and the IHS, on the other, should begin the first or second week of March, Lydia Hubbard-Pourier told the board. She is the chief executive officer of the corporation.

The negotiations are part of the concentrated six-year effort by the Navajo tribe to take over the largest remaining IHS-run medical care system in the country by using a Public Law 93-638 contract.

Once the two parties agree to the proposed contract it will be reviewed by the Navajo Nation Council's Health-Social Services, Budget-Finance and Inter-Government Relations Committees and possibly the Human Services Committee before going to the council floor. The targeted starting date for the contract is Jan. 1, 2002.

The corporation's board, meeting at the Native Resource Development Medical Transport's conference room in Cedar Hills Plaza on Monday, agreed to offer the "IPA" pacts to federal employees who do not hire on directly with the corporation.

About 400 IHS commissioned officers people such as the doctors will work for the corporation under a memorandum of agreement with the IHS.

Also part of the approximately 4,440 people involved are some 400 Navajo Health Division employees and about 300 temporary IHS workers. They could hire on directly with the corporation.

Those who convert to corporate employees will be able to do so with their existing federal benefits or the corporation's benefits.
The NHCSC plans to match or better the federal benefits, according to the application to the IHS that the council approved in January.

To prepare for the takeover, the board approved a $34,000-a-year, three-year, membership in MDB (Medical Doctors Byline) of Dallas after board member David Baltzer, CEO of Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital, said the hospital saved more than $400,000 when it bought a General Electric magnetic resonance imaging machine for less than $1 million.

The immediate purchase on the board's mind is a computer system that will have to be compatible with the existing IHS system at the area office and eight service units.

Board member Thomas Atcitty asked if the federal Government Services Administration purchasing would be ignored. He was told that GSA operates differently from MDB, but that it would still give the board the choice.

The board also elected officers, with Helen Bonnaha of Kayenta continuing as president. Ervin Chavez of Shiprock was named vice president, Sally Ann Dick of Winslow was named secretary and Richard Bowman of Gallup, treasurer.

In selecting those who will serve on the four standing committees, membership was opened to the federal liaisons. Bonnaha also will be an ex-officio member of the four committees, as well as the chair of the executive committee that will act for the board between meetings.

Joining the four officers on the executive committee will be Atcitty, as a voting member, and Dr. Susie John of Chinle as an ex-officio member.

Directors appointed to other committees are:

Finance, audit and investments Bowman, Joe Badonie of Tuba City, Baltzer and Ken Whitehair Jr., plus Bonnaha as an ex-
officio member, as she will be for the other three standing committees.

Risk management Chavez, Whitehair, John and Ursula Knocki-Wilson.

Personnel (with a subcommittee for compensation and benefits) Jeanette Vice of Crownpoint, Dick, Badonie, Chavez, Atcitty, and Erma Marbut.

Performance improvement Cecilia Begaye of Chinle, Ronald Tso of Chinle and Dr. Frank Armao of Winslow.

The board also voted to add $30,000, and amend the contract, of Alexander and Karshmer to help with the IHS "638" negotiations.

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Never too late
Grandma gets high school degree

Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — For years, Juanita S. White's relatives told her that she would miss out on a lot of opportunities because she didn't have a high school diploma.

But White, a Red Rock grandmother with 42 credits of college under her belt, scoffed and said she didn't have the time to get her diploma.

And since she had gone from an aide to a teacher in Head Start, she didn't feel that a high school diploma was that necessary in her life.

But one day early last year she was told that if she went ahead and completed the few credit hours she needed to get a diploma, she would be able to get a higher salary.

She was fortunate that Gallup had recently started an adult education program at Central High. In August, she signed up for night classes to take the social studies and mathematics courses she needed to graduate and in January, she became the first person to graduate from the program.

"Everyone in the family is excited about this," she said, adding that the months of working, taking night courses and studying to midnight and later were worth the effort.

This is the same feeling that many of the 50 or so people now attending night courses at Central High are feeling as they come back to school, some 30 years after they thought their high school career was over.

"The program has been a real success," said Carol Martinson, a counselor at the high school.

The students range in age from 21 to 55 but all have one thing in common an understanding that a high school diploma today is more important than ever, even more important than a GED.

Students can earn a GED by taking a courses and passing a test. In some ways, it is the same as graduating from high school.

But Martinson said that more and more employers are wanting their workers to get that diploma. Even most armed services now are requiring a diploma in order to get accepted and more and more older students are opting to go to night classes to get that last year or two of credits so they can say they have a diploma.

"For many," Martinson said, "it's a matter of self-esteem."

For others, it's a way to show their children and in some cases, their grandchildren that education is important and that they need to get that high school diploma if they want to realize their self-worth and make something of themselves.

She added that it takes a lot of dedication to commit to the night classes, what with the other responsibilities such as family and job.

Some people find it's a little more than they expected and drop out but she expects most of those now attending class to see it through.

While it's a struggle to find the time, many who are taking the courses say that in some ways it's easier because they bring with them their experiences and knowledge that they accumulated over the years.

It's also been a win-win situation for the school district, said Angelo DiPaolo, assistant to the superintendent.

Two years ago, the New Mexico State Legislature passed a bill that guaranteed anyone in the state the right to go back to high school to get enough credits to get that diploma at no cost.

Worried that this may mean that adults would soon be walking the high school hallways with books under their arms attending classes, many school districts in the state, like Gallup, began setting up adult education courses at night.

Not only was it more convenient for the adults to take the courses at night, DiPaolo said, but trying to mix teen-agers and adults in regular high school classes would probably have made both groups uncomfortable, he said.

What's even better is that many of the students in the adult education program are able to progress at their own pace since they are taking classes through a computer network called Nova Net.

They can come in any night from Monday through Thursday, get on the computer and start class, Martinson said.

Anyone who has not completed high school and wants to learn more about the district program can do so by calling Central High School at 863-1936 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.

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Grants refuses to pay inmate costs

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — When Cibola County filed a complaint in district court last month seeking back money from the city of Grants for prisoner costs, no one really knew what action the city would take.

Speculation ended when the city's attorney, Gail Gottlieb, filed a reply this month in district court which states the city's refusal to pay inmate costs for individuals charged with violations of state statutes.

Out-of-control inmate costs being absorbed by Cibola County are forcing tough decisions by county commissioners. One of them was to file court action seeking back money and future money from the city of Grants for city prisoner housing costs up to the time the individual is arraigned or has his first appearance before a Cibola County judge.

County officials are banking on a premise that until the arrested person is seen for the first time by a judge, the prisoner is technically the responsibility of the city.

Last May Cibola County began billing Grants for inmate costs. For seven months the county billed the city and each month the city ignored the bills. By November the total came to $34,992 plus statutory interest. By the time the action was filed the amount came close to $50,000.

Cibola County contracts with Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) to house county inmates at Cibola County Corrections Center in Milan. To get a handle on increasing inmate costs, Cibola County is contemplating building a facility of its own.

Meanwhile, fed up with no communication from the city, Cibola County Commissioners on Jan. 3 filed the court action to force the issue.

County Manager Bob Ortiz said there is no doubt that after the first appearance before a judge the inmate is, in fact, a county responsibility.

As the county's filing states: "(The) City has made a practice of turning those it has arrested or detained, prior to arraignment or first appearance before a magistrate to the CCA for holding. Arrestees and detainees so held are in the care and custody of the City and its peace officers. The city refuses to reimburse the County for the costs of holding its pre-arraignment arrestees and detainees."

Gottlieb states Grants has no obligation to pay the county. "Plaintiff lacks standing to assert claims against the City in this circumstance," she wrote in her answer. "Plaintiff is statutorily obligated to provide for the post-arrest custody of persons charged with a violation of a state statute."

She also wrote that bills have been sent to the city by the county, but that charges related to the custody of persons charged with municipal violations have been paid. "The City denies it has a duty to pay for the costs of pretrial custody or pre-arraignment of persons charged with violation of a state statute," Gottlieb wrote.

The county asked a judge to grant the back payment and for a judgment declaring the rights, status and other legal relationships between the parties with regards to the maintaining of city arrestees and detainees now and in the future.

Grants is asking the judge to dismiss the county's complaint and that the city be awarded its costs and attorney fees.

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Ramah girls headed to state

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

RAMAH — Ramah High School has come accustomed to winning.

From the state runner ups in six man football this year, to the always strong Mustang boys basketball and volleyball programs, very rarely is there a state tournament in the A class that Ramah is not represented in.

This year, for the first time in the school's history, girls basketball will be included. The Ramah girls basketball team finished 15-11 and 6-2 in district this year, good enough for a three way tie for the district championship.

The Mustangs went on to defeat To'hajiilee for the home court advantage in the district playoffs and then defeated the Lady Warriors in the district championship game.

The win gave the Lady Mustangs the district 6A championship and a birth in regionals, where they beat San Jon 66-53 in the first round at Gallup High School. In the regional championship Ramah 60-49 to Tatum, but still got a birth in the New Mexico State tournament this week in Las Cruces.

"They have done better than anyone expected them to do," said Ramah head coach Mike Hyatt. "We were in a tough district, but we pulled through and won."

Hyatt said that going into the season, the Lady Mustang's goal was to have a winning record. One they got into district they set their goals higher, shooting for a district championship.

"We though it would be a lot easier to win district," Hyatt said. "We beat everybody the first time we played them, but lost the second time."

One way that Hyatt said his team was able to focus was by not looking ahead. "We took it one game at a time."

Ramah is led by Sophomore post player Candice Gibbons. Gibbons averages 14.7 points per game and 16.8 rebounds per game, which Hyatt said is one of the best in the state.

Sophomore guard Juanita Antonio adds 12.4 points per game as well as 6.2 assists and 4.8 steals. Senior post Marlena Ghahate averages 9.8 points as well.

Senior guards Dana Pino and Emily Koelbel round out the Lady Mustang starting lineup.

Yolanda Martinez, a senior, comes in as a guard as well as Vanessa Pino, Candace Lewis and Sophia Bee. Other players on the Ramah team include post players Alexiss Peketewa, Lindsey Davis and Dawnee Burson.

If Ramah wants to advance to the second round of the tournament beginning Wednesday, they have their work cut out for them. The Lady Mustangs will face Cliff, currently ranked Number one in A and perfect at 25-0 on the season. The two will meet on Wednesday at 3:30 at Las Cruces High School.

"We played them in a January tournament and they are very disciplined," said Hyatt. "All of them can score and they are very tough."

Hyatt said the Lady Mustangs lost to Cliff by 13, which at the time was the closest game Cliff had been in.

"We had some players get in foul trouble so we lost our aggressiveness," Hyatt said.

Despite going up against the top team in the first round, Hyatt said he thinks his team has a good chance. "The pressure is on them. A lot of our girls have really stepped up and everybody on the team has stepped up their defense recently."

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Tribe's takeover of IHS would mean jobs

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

GALLUP — Up to 3,300 people will be offered two-year contracts called "Inter-Government Personnel Assignments" to go to work for the Navajo Health Care System Corporation.

The offers will have to be made by July 1, which will probably be before the Navajo Nation Council approves the $433.1 million federal contract to take over the Navajo Area Indian Health Service.

Negotiations between the corporation, its consultants and the Navajo Justice Department, on one hand, and the IHS, on the other, should begin the first or second week of March, Lydia Hubbard-Pourier told the board. She is the chief executive officer of the corporation...

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Grants students' Braille project gets recognition

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Patty Black's fifth-grade Mesa View class won honorable mention in a national program for making 15 Braille books for visually impaired students and donating them to a local optometrist's office. The project was part of the national Book It! Program's Make A Difference Day Good Deeds Literacy Contest.

The fifth graders' project was one of 15 chosen for honorable mention out of 1,388 projects submitted by teachers across the nation. The class received $500 to spend on books; a party from Pizza Hut, the sponsor of the contest; a 4-foot tall Arthur doll and his sister D.W.; and 24 books by Mark Brown, author of the Arthur books.

The students voted on how to spend the $500. They purchased 25 Harry Potter books, one for each student to keep; some books
by Beverly Cleary who wrote the Ramona books, and "The Witch of Blackbird Pond." Black said she was not familiar with the last book, but the class thought it looked like a good book and they wanted to read it...

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Deaths

Leone Michner Rollie

ALBUQUERQUE — Services for Leone Rollie, 89, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jeff Symonds will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Garden of Devotion.

Rollie died Feb. 24 in Albuquerque. She was born Sept. 21 in Tulsa, Okla.

Visitation will be at held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Rollie Mortuary.

Rollie attended the University of New Mexico, where she met her husband, Allen B. Rollie. She was a resident of Gallup. She
was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gallup, St. John's Methodist Church of Albuquerque, PEO and
Methodist Women's Group. She help move the Methodist church on Aztec and Third Street to the present location on Red Rock
Drive. She volunteered for the Girl Scouts and Easter Seals.

Survivors include her son, Allen B. Rollie II of Kingston, Ontario, Canada; daughters, Arlene High of Gallup and Karen Head of
Albuquerque; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Rollie was preceded in death by parents, Florence and ML Michner; husband, Allen B. Rollie; and brother, John Gray.

Pallbearers will be Charles High III, Gregory High, Michele Price, Wade Head, Stephanie Head, Adrianne Rollie and Mathew
Rollie.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Arlene and Charles High residence, 1711 S. Cliff Dr.,
Gallup.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Elizabeth O. Harrison

GALLUP — Services for Elizabeth Harrison, 85, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Bethany Christian Reformed
Church, 1110 S. Strong Dr. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 1, at Greenlawn Cemetery, 1606 N. Dustin,
Farmington.

Harrison died Feb. 24 in Gallup. She was born Aug. 28, 1915, in Bluff, Utah, into the Tlaashschi'l Clan for the Naakaii Dine'e Clan.

Harrison retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Toadlena. She attended Indian School at Towaoc, Ignacio, graduated from
Albuquerque Indian School, Fort Lewis College and Highlands University. She was a member of the Methodist Church.

Survivors include her daughters, Janice Freeland of Gallup and Theda Toledo of Albuquerque; brother, Tony Nakai of Bluff,
Utah; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Harrison was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Harrison, and daughter, Carol Allen Harrison.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Ernest Lee

MENTMORE — Services for Ernest Lee, 35, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at St. Francis Catholic Church. Father Ulric Pax will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.

Lee died Feb. 22 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 16, 1965, in Gallup into the Black Streak People for the Meadow People Clan.

Lee attended Gallup High School. He was self-employed. He was a member of the Native American Church. His hobbies
included fishing, drawing, horseback riding, drumming and singing.

Survivors include his mother, Betty O. Lee of Mentmore; brothers, Herman Lee of Tsa Ya Toh and Leroy Lee of Albuquerque; and sisters, Marie Begaye of Mentmore, Rosie Tom of Coyote Canyon, Nora Lee, Elsie Lee and Louise Lee, all of Gallup.

Lee was preceded in death by father, John Lee; sister, Ella Lee; grandparents, Billy and Jans-bah Jack and Mary Billie.

Pallbearers will be Riley Ortiz, Anthony Ashley, Hubert Yazzie, Duane Toledo, Jackson Jack and Manuel Ortiz.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Red Rock Chapter House.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Patrick Lynch

WINDOW ROCK — Services for Patrick Lynch, 75, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Church of the Latter-Day
Saints, Sanders, Ariz. John Lynch will officiate. Burial will be held at McCarroll Cemetery.

Lynch died Feb. 22 in Window Rock. He was born March 17, 1925, in Wide Ruins, Ariz., into the Red House People Clan for
the Salt Clan.

Lynch attended Sanders High School and Bowling Green Business University, Bowling Green, Ky. He served in the United States Army during the Normandy Invasion and Battle of the Bulge in Germany.

He was employed with Bechtel Corporation, Page, Ariz., Joseph City and St. Johns, Ariz.; NTUA and Navajo Tribe and Kerr-McGee Corp., Church Rock Mine. He was a member of VFW Post 6789.

Survivors include his sons, Patrick Daniel Lynch of Albuquerque and Jonathon Lynch; daughter, Teresa Michell Lynch of
Deland, Fla.; brothers, William Lynch Sr. of Sanders, Thomas Lynch Jr. and John Lynch, both of Window Rock, Edward Lynch, Fred Lynch, Justin S. Lynch, all of Farmington; and sisters, Marycona Watman and Grace Monarco, both of
Albuquerque.

Lynch was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Lynch; and grandparents, Hosteen Nez and Alice Woodman.

Pallbearers will be Wayne Lynch, Richard Lynch, Allen Lynch, Jonathan Lynch, Stewart Lynch, Kevin Sangster and Simon
Francisco.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Latter Day Saints Church, Sanders.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Henry "Hank" Walter Jones

GANADO, Ariz. — Services for Henry Jones, 62, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Ganado Presbyterian
Church. Irvinson Jones, Walt Jones and Leo Jones will officiate. Burial will follow on a family plot, Blok'aa'i, Ariz.

Visitation will be at held one hour before services.

Jones died Feb. 23 in Ganado. He was born Sept. 1, 1938, in Ganado into the One Who Walks Around You Clan for the Honey
Combed Rock People Clan.

Jones attended Ganado Day/Mission School, Holbrook High School, and graduated fromWingate High School, where he was vice president of his senior class, and Haskell Institute, Lawrence, Kan. He served in the U.S. Army during the Cuban missile crisis and served two years in the Army Reserves.

He was employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, branch of roads, and held other positions, such as engineering aide, soil tester, surveyor, road inspector, Indian Health Services Maintenance Department, telephone and cable company in Window Rock
and with the Farmington Roads Department.

He was a member of the Ganado Rodeo Club. He was the founder of the Ganado Roadrunners basketball and baseball teams.
As a coach and athlete he won numerous trophies and high school records in basketball and track and field. His hobbies
included basketball, softball, rodeos, cooking and gardening.

Survivors include his son, Virgil R. Jones of San Diego, Calif.; daughters, Henrietta L. Jones of Lower Greasewood, Ariz.,
Valerie J. Jones of Flagstaff, Ariz., and Rachelle J. Cleveland of Albuquerque; brothers, Phil Bluehouse, James Bluehouse, Walt
Jones and Abraham Jones, all of Ganado, Stanley Jones of Steamboat, Ariz., and Leo Jones of Tuba City, Ariz.; sisters, Rosita
Jones, Anna Clairmont, Pat Morgan and Alta Jones, all of Ganado; and three grandchildren.

Jones was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Ann Bluehouse and Ralph Jones Sr. and a brother, Ralph Jones.

Pallbearers will be Royce Jones, Fernando Jones, Darryl Monroe, Orrin Bluehouse, Eric Williams, Wilson Davis Jr., Sam
Todacheenie and Irvin Jones.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Jones-Bluehouse residence, if weather permits, or All
Saints Hall, Ganado.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Elsie Susan Baldwin

TSAYATOH — Services for Elsie Baldwin, 57, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Pastor Ted Farris will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.

Baldwin died Feb. 24 in Gallup. She was born May 27, 1943, in Gallup into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for the Water Edge People Clan.

Survivors include her husband, Everett Baldwin of Gallup; son, Edwin Gene Baldwin of Tsayatoh; daughter, Edwina Eilene Baldwin of Tsayatoh; brothers, Edison Etsitty of Gallup, Hurbert Etsitty of Twin Lakes, Floyd Etsitty Jr., Kenneth Etsitty, Leon Etsitty and Raymond Etsitty, all of Tsayatoh; and sisters, Bertha Concho of Gallup, Jenny Blanchard of Tsayatoh, Nellie Giger of Mesa, Ariz., and Cynthia Perry of Price, Utah.

Baldwin was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Ash-Bah Etsitty, and sisters, Alice Brown and Nasbah Spencer.

Pallbearers will be Robert Concho, Edison Etsitty, Eugene Etsitty, Leon Etsitty, Raymond Etsitty and Gary Giger.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Arthur "Art" E. Gomez

GRANTS — Services for Arthur Gomez, 64, were held at 10 a.m. today, Feb. 27, at St. Vivian's Church. Father Gil Mangampo officiated. Burial followed at Grants Memorial Park.

Gomez died Feb. 24 in Milan. He was born April 20, 1936, in Gallup.

Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Gomez of Milan; son, Jake Gomez of Grants; daughters, Perfelia DuBois of Las Vegas,
Geraldine Aldaz and Anna Marie Gomez, both of Grants, Patricia Gomez and Theresa Sanchez, both of Denver, Colo.; brothers,
Danny Gomez of Albuquerque and Leo Gomez of Temple, Texas; sisters, Geraldine Espinoza and Corrine Adler, both of
Gallup; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Dominic R. Moleres, Derrick Lee Aldaz, Eugene J. Moleres, Jimmy Lee Aldaz, John Paul Moleres, Li'l Joe
Sanchez, Dane DuBois and Victor Lee Aldaz.

Rita Mary Tsosie

GANADO — Services for Rita Tsosie, 67, were held at noon today, Feb. 27, at All Saints Catholic Church, Ganado. Burial was held at Ganado Community Cemetery.

Tsosie died Feb. 24 in Phoenix. She was born April 18, 1933, in Ganado for the Tsinijinnie Nakai Clan .

She was a housewife and a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints.

Survivors include her sons, Jasper Tsosie of Sawmill, Ariz., Timothy Tsosie of Phoenix, Benjamin Tsosie of Tuba City, Ariz.,
Wilburn Tsosie of Rough Rock, Ariz., Ronald Kirk and Willard Tsosie, both of Ganado, Ariz., and 34 grandchildren.

Donations can be made to All Saints Catholic Church, Ganado.

Alma Doris Clark

WIDE RUINS, Ariz. — Services for Alma Clark, 63, will be announced at a later date.

Clark died Feb. 25 in Gallup. She was born Jan. 15, 1938, in Wide Ruins into the Towering House People Clan for the Edge
Water People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Johnny Tom Wilson

MEXICAN SPRINGS — Services for Johnny Wilson, 63, will be announced at a later date.

Wilson died Feb. 23 in Mexican Springs. He was born May 7, 1937.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.