Judge looks for fair hearing
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — A tribal judge, recommended for removal by the
Judiciary Committee, must now depend upon President Kelsey A. Begaye
and the Navajo Nation Council to get what she considers a fair hearing.
Another district court judge, Jennifer D. Benally of Tuba City who
also finished her standard two-year probation received the committee's
recommendation for permanent appointment by a 5-0-1 vote Thursday,
with member J.C. Begay abstaining and Chairman Kenneth Begay voting
only to break a tie.
But Ramah District Court Judge Sharon Johnson told the committee it
was not fair that she didn't get to answer personal charges leveled
against her at a Feb. 20 public hearing. She said she didn't see the
complaint letters until she got to the hearing and asked the committee
to reconsider the decision it was formalizing Thursday.
The committee's legal adviser who authored the resolutions, Tamsen
Holm of the Office of Legislative Counsel, reminded the committee
that hearing rules forbid additional testimony and require approval,
rejection, or tabling up to 20 working days.
Johnson asked for an executive session after the vote, but the committee
refused. She then handed each member a thick booklet of support letters
and explanations about the complaints against her, all stemming from
her ex-husband's family and friends.
Hearing irregularities?
Johnson, whose district serves three satellite reservations, told
Chairman Begay, Vice Chairman Willie Greyeyes, Nelson Gorman, Joe
Dennison, Peter Watchman, J.C. Begay and Lee Begay, "You have
a different perception of the person that I am" because of "irregularities
in the hearing itself." She said she never received a copy of
the hearing rules.
Johnson repeatedly told the committee it is only fair to hear her
replies, not just the charges she never really had an opportunity
to answer.
Council Delegate Samuel Yazzie, who represents Johnson's home chapter
of Tsaile-Wheatfields, told her later that she couldn't do anything
about the committee's decision, but would get another chance when
the president sends his resolution to the full council.
Crownpoint District Judge Irene B. Toledo also spoke for Johnson,
asking the committee to hear her out.
At the public hearing, Chief Justice Robert Yazzie recommended Johnson
for permanent appointment. He said she completed the required training,
had not been found responsible for any ethics violations, had none
pending against her, and had passed his evaluation.
Letters of support
In the booklet, new letters of support came from Shiprock District
Court Judges Marilou B. Begay and Raymond A. Begaye, Crownpoint Judges
Toledo and Loretta Morris, McKinley County Magistrate John J. Carey,
N.M. State Sen. Leonard Tsosie, To' Hajiilee Chapter Environment Safety
Officer Rick Leslie, Alamo Chapter Senior Citizen Center Coordinator
Joe Pino, Albuquerque attorney Ruben Gallegos, Tribal Law and Policy
Institute Director Jerry Gardner, Pasqua Yaqui Tribal Court Associate
Judge Margaret A. Flores, Fort Peck Tribal Court Juvenile Judge Juanita
R. Azure, DNA People's Legal Services Advocate Christina Ellsworth,
Navajo Housing Authority Pine Hill Director Charlotte Rieck, Johnson's
sister Karen R. Dugi, Rev. Meldon Hickey, O.F.M., of St. Michaels
Roman Catholic Church, and Window Rock residents Vanderd and June
Dick Jr.
The authors cited her high moral character, devotion to helping children,
her legal and administrative skills, being impartial and courteous,
and not retaliating against her ex-husband, now in federal prison,
or his family.
The packet specifies, from legal documents, that the objections came
from the family and friends of her ex-husband, Leon Don Johnson, 42.
After a federal jury convicted him on April 4, Leon Johnson was sentenced
on Aug. 14, 2000, in U.S. District Court in Phoenix to 30 years for
aggravated sexual abuse of minors on a reservation (two counts), sexual
abuse by fear (seven counts) and sexual abuse of a minor (one count.)
Ex-FBI agent explains
The packet included a letter from a retired FBI agent who investigated
the case. James G. Brown wrote, "Members of the perpetrator's
family have relentessly attacked and harassed Sharon Johnson and her
family in an attempt to intimdate and falsely discredit them."
Noting the jury convictions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick A.
Battista wrote, "Clearly, the verdicts could not have been obtained
without the presentation of credible evidence." He also wrote
that federal, state and tribal officials, "Not Ms. Johnson, ran
the investigation, (and) presented the case at trial."
On Feb. 3, 2000, Navajo Nation Chief Justice Yazzie notified Deswood
R. Johnson Sr., Leon D. Johnson Sr. and Birdie E.
Johnson, all in Window Rock, that the tribal Judicial Conduct Commission
dismissed their Oct. 7, Nov. 5, and Dec. 10, 1999, complaints.
The commission ruled complaints could not be considered if they happened
before she became a judge on Dec. 11, 1998, nor could it consider
complaints not related to judicial conduct. The rest lacked merit,
the commission determined.
Sen. Tsosie represented her before the commission.
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Native American comedian, reggae singer
to perform
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — Whether Gallup is ready for Drew Lacapa remains to be
seen. But Lacapa, "Apache, Hopi, Tewa and 300 pounds of love,"
is ready for Gallup. The Native American comedian is barreling into
town this weekend, armed with his own brand of off-the-wall humor.
Lacapa will share the stage with Casper, the acclaimed Hopi reggae
singer, in a show at 7 p.m. Saturday at Red Rock State Park. Both
men are two of today's most popular performers in Indian Country.
Casper, known for blending his native culture with reggae music, was
the subject of a front page story in the New York Times last year.
A highly successful singer, Casper also produces his music through
his own company, Third Mesa Music, of Scottsdale, Ariz. Recently,
he was the target of some political criticism (which he shrugged off)
for accepting an invitation to
perform at one of George W. Bush's inaugural balls in January.
And like Casper, Lacapa's popularity has grown phenomenally over just
a few short years. In a telephone interview, Lacapa, 41, talked about
how he stumbled literally into the business of making people laugh.
A big fan of Oneida comedian Charlie Hill, Lacapa was asked to host
a show at Arizona State University featuring Hill.
While on stage, Lacapa fell off a chair and off the stage. But he
kept talking, and the audience kept laughing. From that moment, he
said, he was hooked on performing and hooked on making people laugh.
A self-described physical comedian, Lacapa said he doesn't prepare
comedy routines in advance. Everything is ad-libbed, he said, based
on his perceptions of the local community and the people in the audience.
"I'm a ham," he admitted. "I need an audience. I have
no expectations of what will happen."
Lacapa, who says he's booked through August with comedy gigs, still
lives in Whiteriver, Ariz., on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation
where he was born and raised. His father was Hopi Tewa from Polacca,
Ariz., and his mother was White Mountain Apache and Scotch-Irish.
Lacapa calls himself Heinz 57 sauce.
As a child, Lacapa said, other Apache children called him a Hopi.
Now that he has become a popular comic, he joked, his fellow Apaches
are finally claiming him.
Life at Whiteriver keeps him humble. It doesn't matter where he performs
on the weekends, he said, come Monday morning he'll be back to being
a domestic house husband and father, washing dirty dishes. When he
returns from a show, his family doesn't care where he has performed
or for how many people. Their big question is, "So, what's for
dinner?"
Lacapa's current life is a long way from the days when he toiled at
an Indian Health Service hospital where he was written up for making
patients laugh. And like many comedians, Lacapa has struggled with
his own painful issues of anger, grief, substance abuse and suicide.
He credits his wife for having faith in his talent when he had no
faith of his own.
He is grateful for her emotional support and he is grateful for his
life today. As he talks, it's clear Lacapa is somewhat incredulous
that he gets paid for going on stage and doing what he loves to do
"act like a fool" and make people laugh.
"Every time I go out there," he said, "I count my blessings."
Lacapa is also a diabetic, and he recently used his comedic talents
to make "Rez Robics," a humorous video with a serious health
message about living successfully with diabetes. To portray a character
who had to be coerced into taking an aerobics class, Lacapa asked
the video producers to furnish him with a leopard skin body suit.
The request was made in jest, he said.
However, much to his amazement and delight, the body suit appeared.
Another project Lacapa recently completed was the release of his first
comedy CD, "One Night Stand in Paradise," which is scheduled
to be reviewed in an upcoming issue of Native Peoples. "I'm just
hoping they're gentle," he joked.
Although Lacapa is an equal opportunity comedian who targets everyone
and anyone with his barbs, he said his humor is really dished out
to "edify" and "educate" people. If there is a
message to his comic madness, he said, it is how we need to love and
forgive each other. It's a message that took him some years to apply
to himself, he added.
Tickets for Lacapa and Casper's Saturday evening show are $12 in advance
and $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Gallup's Rex Museum,
300 W. 66, Western Warehouse in the Rio West Mall, Cool Runnings in
Window Rock and Halona Plaza in Zuni.
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Police: Were store break-in, murder linked?
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Police are investigating whether there's a link between
a burglary and vandalism this week at Bowlin's Bluewater Travel Center
and the murder of its manager on Feb. 13.
On Wednesday night, the store was burglarized and all tires on one
employee's vehicle were slashed.
On Feb. 13, the body of manager Chris Pervorse was dumped at the Cross
Roads Motel in Milan after he gave a ride to a stranger. Police are
still investigating the murder and Sgt. Jerry Stephens said he will
have a warrant for the arrest of the suspect soon.
New Mexico State Sgt. Gary Ross said there is a possibility that the
incidents are linked and police will consider that in their investigation.
A store employee said most of the workers thought it was just a coincidence
that so much trouble would come all at once.
About 6 a.m. Wednesday, New Mexico State Police Officer Joe Molinda
and Sgt. Rick Doty were called to the store to investigate a break-in.
Ross said the employees found a broken window when they arrived for
work and the jewelry cases had been smashed. He said turquoise and
silver bracelets, earrings, and silver watches had been taken. The
store is still doing an inventory to determine exactly what was taken.
Ross said the burglar entered the store from the west side by breaking
a window where the Dairy Queen restaurant is located. He said judging
by the size of the footprints, the suspect is male.
Earlier in the evening officers were called to take a report from
an employee who found that all of his tires were slashed on his vehicle.
That incident occurred before the store closed at 10 p.m.
In other incidents:
Jimmie Yazzie, 20, Grants, was arrested Feb. 28 for assault and battery
on a household member, DWI, and having an open container in a vehicle.
Officers were dispatched to a home in Mount Taylor addition to investigate
a domestic violence report.
They found the victim badly beaten. She told police she had been thrown
to the floor and kicked in the face and shoulder. She was taken to
Cibola General Hospital.
Yazzie had left the scene and was later located driving west in Grants.
Pamela Brown, 38, Bluewater Lake was arrested for criminal damage
to property after she smashed several windows in a home. The victim
videotaped the woman committing the crime and officers were able to
apprehend her.
| Top |
Alderete brings work ethic to Bengal
program
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
GALLUP — Marty Alderete has taken several summer youth softball
programs to the state tournament. He is looking to translate that
experience to the Gallup High School softball program.
Alderete takes over the Lady Bengal program which went .500 last year
and finished third in district. Gallup, which returns five starters,
was 11-11 overall, 6-4 in district.
"It's been good," Alderete said about the transition from
assistant to head coach in his second season with the program. "They
know my style of play and know what I expect."
That includes hard work and dedication, two things which Alderete
has been missing from the program in the past several years.
"They need to want to win," Alderete said of his players,
most of whom he has coached for up to eight years. "Hopefully
our work ethic is getting better. I told the girls that's the difference
between them and the upper teams in the state. That and wanting to
do well and not being happy just by being close."
With perennial power Farmington staying in Class AAAA and the Bengals
moving up to AAAAA due to realignment, Alderete may have an easier
task of getting his team to state than in past years.
However, Alderete does see the Bengals in the middle of the district
race right now. He tabs Rio Rancho and Valley, who upset the Lady
Rams in the state quarterfinals last year, as the teams to beat early
in the season.
"Cibola, West Mesa and us are pretty even right now," Alderete
said.
Alderete previewed the Lady Bengals against programs that he feels
are among the state's top five programs last weekend, including LaCueva,
Las Cruces and Santa Fe.
"We were very competitive. Our defense was pretty solid,"
he said.
Alderete also added that the team played against West Mesa, Cibola
and Valley during the summer.
"We played with all of them. The girls know what we need to do,
just play solid softball," Alderete said.
Although Alderete feels the defense is solid at this point, a lack
of practice time on the field will show up in the Bengals' hitting
game early he said. With the cold and wet weather, the Bengals haven't
been able to practice against live pitching very often this spring
.
"Once the weather warms up, our bats will come around,"
he predicted.
Alderete is also comfortable with his pitching staff which is spearheaded
by returning senior starter Melinda Alderete. Also back is sophomore
pitcher/infielder Taira Sanchez. Senior pitcher Crystal Hoskie moves
up for her first year of varsity action.
"We've got decent pitching," Alderete said.
Also back from last year's team are senior centerfielder Nicole House
and senior third baseman Carla Paredes, four-year varsity veterans;
junior outfielder Natalia Reeder, a third-year varsity player; and
sophomore shortstop Jennifer Christensen in her second year on the
varsity squad.
Moving up to join them in the starting lineup are second year varsity
players Brandie Olivar, first base, Ara Green, second base, and Socorro
Herrera, outfielder/third base. All three are seniors.
Other first year players include sophomore infielder/outfielder Anna
Antonio, sophomore infielder/outfielder Toni Marie Hernandez and freshman
Susie Matsutani.
Matsutani has been throwing and running with the team, but is awaiting
full medical clearance after a partial ACL tear suffered during the
soccer season.
Alderete is looking for his team to improve every week which he feels
will lead to the Bengals attaining their goal of qualifying for state.
"If we do the little things and improve every game we go out,
the district season will take care of itself," he said.
The Lady Bengals season home opener tomorrow has been moved to Grants.
Game times are still 11 and 1 p.m., but as of late last night, Alderete
did not know what field the Bengals will be playing at.
Kirtland, Farmington renew San Juan dominance
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
LAS CRUCES — Saturday in the Class AAAA State Championship one
thing is for sure, San Juan County wins.
Kirtland did their part to assure that as the Lady Broncos handed
Espanola Valley an 89-30 loss to advance to the championship. Farmington
beat Los Alamos in the other semifinal at the Pan American Center
in Las Cruces.
It seems that no matter what class Kirtland is in, their biggest rivals
come from right down the road. Last year, and many years before, in
class AAA Shiprock and Kirtland met in district games, championships
and eight times in the state championship.
This year, after Kirtland moved up to AAAA they have found a new rival,
right down the street in the other direction, Farmington.
Farmington and Kirtland Central have met five times with Kirtland
winning three. Two of Kirtland's three losses in their 23-3 season
have come at the hands of the Lady Scorpions.
"We are only eight miles apart, if we had to choose a team to
play in the championship game it would probably be them," said
Kirtland head coach Dan Scroggins. "It has become a little rivalry
in San Juan county. We want to show them we are the better tream from
up there."
Kirtland apparently wanted to end Thursday's game early, using a tough
full court press to cause 18 first half turnovers.
Espanola Valley did not get a shot until four and a half minutes were
left in the game as their first 10 posessions ended in turnovers.
"We wanted to keep playing good defense," said Scroggins.
"Last week we jumped up on Artesia by 30 and let up and they
came back, so we did not want that to happen tonight."
With just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter Espanola
Valley got their first points, a basket by Rachelle Dominguez. The
basket ended a 16-0 run by the Lady Broncos. Nadia Begay led all Kirtland
scorers with seven of the Broncos' first 16 points.
The basket by the Sun Devils started a 9-0 run with Sandra Gonzalez
hitting back-to-back baskets, bringing Espanola within 16-9. Kirtland
ended the Sun Devil run with a three by Jamie Tanner. Kirtland then
scored the last seven points of the quarter to lead 23-16. Tanner
hit another jumper during the run for five of the Lady Broncos points
in the run.
Kirtland started the second quarter like the first, scoring the first
19 points. Tanner scored five and Watanya Nez, Cary Moone and Melanie
Begay each scored three during the run.
Espanola Valley finally broke the streak and got on the board with
2:24 left in the half when Deanna Fernandez hit a three.
Tiffany Charley hit a free throw for Kirtland and Davina Romero hit
a jumper for Espanola Valley, but in the final two minutes neither
team would score. Going into halftime the Broncos held a commanding
43-14 lead.
Lady Bronco Shantel Begay hit a lay-up and free throw to start the
second half, and started an 11-2 run. Begay scored five and Tiffany
Charley added four during the run.
After the Sun Devils reached 20 points Kirtland finished the third
quarter with four points to lead 66-21.
The Lady Broncos outscored Espanola Valley 23-9 to advance to the
big game against Farmington.
"We need to keep playing tough defense," Scroggins said.
"Farmington will step it up. Every time we've played this year
the games were in front of packed houses."
Scroggins said he did not know if this game would have as many fans
because it is so far away, but he did not think either team would
let up any. "This is a new rivalry, it is more intense this year
than before because we are in the same district."
Kirtland was led by Jaime Tanner and Shantel Begay, each with 15.
Nadia Begay and Melanie Bergay each scored 12 and Tiffany Charley
had 10.
Espanola Valley was led by Davina Romero and Rachelle Dominguez, each
with nine.
Kirtland will play Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the Pan American Center
in Las Cruces against Farmington in the AAA state championship. Espanola
Valley will will play this morning at 10:30 a.m. against Los Alamos.
| Top |
Navajo Prep back in title game
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
LAS CRUCES — The Navajo Prep Eagles are in a rematch of last
year's championship game.
The Lady Eagles defeated Ft. Sumner 51-38 in the Class AA semifinals
Thursday morning to advance to the championship game. In the following
game, Texico won to advance to the finals.
Navajo Prep, 21-5 who were the defending state champions last year,
lost to Texico in the championship game. This year, it is the Eagles
who are looking to regain the title and Texico the ones defending
it.
"They are the defending champions and we are the ones looking
to win it back," said Navajo Prep head coach Robert Adams...
| Top |
'Hit list' by teen taken seriously
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A seventh-grade student at Los Alamitos Middle School
was suspended last week after she admitted to school officials she
had made a hit list of fellow students she wanted to see dead.
The story unfolded with two separate incidents that resulted in the
girl's suspension from school for 10 days. The first incident occurred
Feb. 15.
The student was identified from police records as 13-year-old Sandra
Daily. The records show Sgt. Steve Sena was dispatched
to the school Feb. 22 after police received a call from Andrea Archuleta,
who was at the school. She wanted Sena to speak with the principal
and a student. The report says Sena found the student had already
been suspended and was being interviewed by a psychologist...
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Man accused of battering wife, 2 kids
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A Mentmore man was arrested Wednesday after police
said he battered his wife and two children in a drunken rage.
The suspect, Juan Yazzie, 44, was booked into the McKinley County
Adult Detention Center on charges of battery against a household
member, false imprisonment and two counts of abandonment and abuse
of a child.
Police met with the victim at Gallup Indian Medical Center where
she was complaining of pain to her arm and chest.
She told police that she and her husband were returning home from
the casino when their vehicle broke down, which angered Yazzie...
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Polacca needs new post office
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
POLACCA, Ariz. — The community of Polacca recently celebrated
the centennial of its post office. While the residents take pride
in reaching the 100-year mark, their goal is a new building.
Polacca Postmaster Sonja Poocha said more than 100 people attended
the celebration.
"We could see that we have a lot of community support for the
post office," she said. "We've been here 100 years, but
we have no post office building. That's sad."
The post office in Polacca operates out of the First Mesa ConsolidatedVillages'
community building...
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Panel taps woman for court seat
Kayenta judge 'clear choice'
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Judiciary Committee nominated Kayenta District
Court Judge Lorene Ferguson to fill the third seat on the Navajo
Nation Supreme Court.
By a 6-0 vote Thursday the committee placed her at the top of the
list, followed in order by Window Rock District Court Judge Allen
Sloan, and Office of Legislative Counsel attorneys Marcella King-Ben
and Frank Hale.
The committee resolution asks President Kelsey Begaye to send a
similar resolution to the Navajo Nation Council before its spring
session begins April 16. Navajo law gives Begaye 60 days to submit
his nomination...
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Deaths
Joaquin Cunejo
ZUNI — A traditional wake for Joaquin Cunejo, 83, was held Monday,
Feb. 26, at the family residence, Zuni. Private disposition was held
at Quincy Panteah Memorial Cemetery.
Cunejo died Feb. 25. He was born July 17, 1917, in Zuni.
Cunejo was a silversmith, farmer and rancher. He served during World
War II in France with the 263rd Infantry as a 60 mm mortar crewman.
He received European, African, Middle Eastern Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific
Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, and Victory Medal.
Survivors include his wife, Eunice Becenti Cunejo; sons, Emmett Cunejo,
Thaddeus Cunejo of Las Cruces, Leon Cunejo and Edward Cyrs; daughters,
Loretta Cunejo, Marcella Wilson, Corliss Marianito, Natalie Gasper,
Vera Gomez of Taos Pueblo and Jean Quintana; 35 grandchildren and
21 great-grandchildren.
Cunejo was preceded in death by son, Dane Brian Cunejo.
Pallbearers were family members.
Benson Begay Benally
MEXICAN SPRINGS — Services for Benson Benally, 57, will be held
at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Burial will
follow at Gallup City Cemetery.
Benally died Feb. 24 in Albuquerque. He was born March 26, 1943, in
Black Hat area into the Towering House People Clan for the Salt People
Clan.
Benally atttended Inter-Mountain Indian School. He was as a construction
worker and short order cook in Reno, Nev., and a potato mfg. worker
in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Survivors include his wife, Anita Watchman Benally, Mexican Springs;
parents, Alice Kee Clark, Tsayatoh and Frank Begay Benally of Coyote
Canyon; brothers, Kee B. Benally and Francis B. Benally, both of Reno;
Jerry Clark of Gallup;and sisters, Annie B. Arteaga of Reno and Grace
B. Benally and Eunice B. Benally, both of Albuquerque, Julia Escobar
of Tsayatoh and
Susie William of Las Vegas, Nev.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Joe Petranovich
GALLUP — Services for Joe Petranovich, 87, were held at 1 p.m.
Thursday, March 1, at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Father Jim Walker
officiated.
Petranovich died Feb. 24 in Albuquerque. He was born March 13, 1913,
in Gibson.
Petranovich was a member of the Elks Lodge 1540 and the CFU.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Petranovich of Gallup; sons, Steve
Petranovich of Gallup, Joe Petranovich of Albuquerque and Robert Petranovich
of Las Vegas, Nev.; brothers, Marion Petranovich and Thomas Petranovich,
both of Gallup; and five
grandchildren.
Petranovich was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Julia Petranovich;
brothers, Charley Petranovich, Fritz Petranovich,
George Petranovich, Johnny Petranovich, Nick Petranovich and Tony
Petranovich; and sister, Pauline Kezele.
Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Sam Evans
BALAK'A, Ariz. — Services for Sam Evans, 77, will be held at
10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at the Presbyterian Church, Ganado, Ariz.
Pastor Kenneth Coots will officiate. Burial will follow at the Ganado
Community Cemetery.
Evans was born Nov. 15, 1923, in Balak'a, Ariz., into the Tangle People
Clan for the Water People Clan.
Evans retired as a janitor at Ganado Hospital and was a rancher.
Survivors include his wife, Margret Conrad; sons, Angoe Evans of Saint
Michaels, Ariz., and Thomas Evans of Glendale, Ariz.; daughters, Alice
Denney of Gamerco, Mary Clark of Mariano Lake and Elsie McKintosh
of Kansas; sisters, Agnes Noble
and Helen Begay of Balak'a, Ariz.; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Evans was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Begay Evans;
son, Wallace Evans; and daughter, Bessie Evans Yazzie.
Pallbearers will be Donald Denney, Shawn Denney, Scott Clark, Russell
Clark, Jason Yazzie and Tyson Evans.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Ganado Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Nellie E. Clichee
TWO GREY HILLS — Services for Nellie Clichee, 66, will be held
at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at the Assembly of God Church, Newcomb.
Burial will follow at Toadlena Northwest Community Cemetery.
Survivors include her husband, Gilbert Clichee of Two Grey Hills;
sons, Johnny Clichee, Melvin Clichee and Michael Clichee, both of
Navajo, Randall Clichee of Naschitti, Gary Clichee of Farmington and
Ricky Clichee of Two Grey Hills; daughters, Gloria Johnson and Victoria
Davis Clichee, both of Two Grey Hill, and Deanna Clichee of Gallup;
17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Clichee was preceded in death by her parents, John and Bessie Mailman,
sister, Helen Tyler; and brothers, Nelson Mailman and Francis Mailman.
Pallbearers will be Johnny Clichee, Gary Clichee, Ricky Clichee, Michael
Clichee, Jeffery Clichee and Donovan Clinchee.
Ned Begay
FARMINGTON — Services for Ned Begay, 78, were held at 10 a.m,
today, March 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tohatchi. Fr. John
Mittelstadt, OFM, officiated. Burial followed at Naschitti Community
Cemetery.
Begay died Feb. 26 at the Life Care Center in Farmington. He was born
July 6, 1922 in Naschitti.
Survivors include his wife Marie R. Begay of Naschitti; sons, Greg
R. Begay of Naschitti, and Nicholas Begay of Albuquerque; daughters
Susy Thomas of Naschitti, and Nancy Parker of Farmington, brother
John Begay of Naschitti; 17
grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Thomas, Gerald Thomas, Garrett Thomas, Mark
Toledo, and Porter Rio Smith.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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