Plan targets efficiency of council
Performance, not size, is under review
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Stunned in September by the referendum results
about reducing the size of the Navajo Nation Council, tribal legislators
ordered the Government Development Commission to present a reformation
plan.
On Monday the council's Inter-Government Relations Committee approved
another small step in that direction when it gave the
OK to the request for proposal (RFP) package presented by Michelle
Dotson of the Office of Government Development. But the
scope of work stops short of calling for a recommendation on the council's
size or any reorganization of the tribal government.
The last major change took effect in 1990 when non-judicial functions
were divided between the Legislative and Executive
branches. In September more than 22,000 voters favored and more than
9,000 opposed reducing the council's size by three-
fourths. However, since a unique Navajo law requires changes in the
council's size to be approved by at least a majority of all
registered voters, more than 45,000 "yes" votes were needed.
Instead, the consultant will recommend how to improve lawmakers' performance
and effectiveness.
The report will be based on studies of the lawmakers' duties, delegates'
attendance and voting records, and the Plans of
Operations of the standing committees, plus an evaluation of their
time management practices (most committees and the council
are notorious for always starting late, sometimes as much as an hour-and-a-half).
In addition to examining Title 2 of the Navajo Nation code, the consultant
will look at the enforcement responsibilities of the
Office of the Speaker, "as well as the practices of other governments
to achieve accountable time management practices," the
RFP states.
"Additionally, the research analyst shall survey and interview
Navajo Nation Council delegates, legislative advisors, and key
legislative staff to obtain their recommendations on achieving higher
efficiency levels," the RFP says.
Consultants must submit their offers by March 26. Each application
will be scored with up to 5 points for the document's
organization, 25 points for the consultants' qualifications, 50 points
for its approach in handling the project and 20 points for
cost.
As part of its overall effort, the commission and office recently
conducted a traditional governing forum. Earlier plans called for
a second major summit on how the government should be organized to
be held after the traditional gathering.
The IGRC on Monday also approved the resolution raising the number
of tribally registered voters to 93,602, including 13,051
in the Chinle Agency, 21,771 in the Eastern Agency, 24,053 in the
Fort Defiance Agency, 17,625 in the Northern Agency and
17,102 in the Western Agency.
With the new total, the tribe has increased its number of registered
voters by more than 1,300 adults from 92,233 people eligible to cast
ballots in the September chapter-level general election.
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Aneth delegate tired of oil seeps
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — This Sunday's monthly meeting of the Aneth Chapter
in Aneth, Utah, will not include a presentation by Navajo EPA involving
oil spill issues.
But that community meeting may not be too far off, says Delegate Robert
Whitehorse (Aneth/Red Mesa/Mexican Water chapters).
"I need support from my other colleagues, (fellow delegates)
Mark Maryboy and Kenneth Maryboy, to strategize down to the real key
issue," Whitehorse said this week.
The Maryboy brothers were in Washington earlier this week. Kenneth
Maryboy was recently appointed to the council as its newest delegate,
replacing former Delegate David John (Aneth/Red Mesa/Mexican Water
chapters).
About a month ago, Exxon/Mobil's McElmo Creek Unit P-20 well was compromised
by an apparent oil well rupture. The resulting seep is only a quarter-mile
from Whitehorse's Aneth home and hogan.
"I've still got a lot of oil around my house," Whitehorse
said.
The oil seep is near Sweetwater Spring, Whitehorse said. That spring
was close to a water well, and the water was good
enough that Aneth residents including Whitehorse used it as one of
their drinking sources. Now the community must haul water from another
well along the San Juan River.
"It's ruined it now," Whitehorse said. "It's just seeping
out, and what else can we do? The damage has been done, and that's
the bottom line."
Exxon/Mobil officials refused comment this week after repeated attempts
for a response requested by The Independent.
Calvert Curley, Navajo EPA's Air and Toxics Department director, said
Navajo EPA officials were to discuss the issue this week with the
tribal Department of Justice. At issue is the possibility of a future
enforcement action.
Another option is the possibility that Exxon/Mobil could be asked
to provide the Aneth Chapter with one or more Supplemental Environmental
Projects, or SEPs. SEPs are beneficial community projects, such as
creation of water lines and other necessary infrastructure to create
a safe drinking water source for the community. The creation of roads
and power lines is also a
possibility.
Whitehorse said what is so disappointing to him is that oil company
officials met with his in-laws, who live within a short distance,
and guaranteed that a spill compromising clean drinking water "is
not going to happen."
The Sweetwater Spring oil seep adds to the more than 160 oil spill
episodes in the Aneth Oil Field as documented by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency between 1991 and 1999. The spill events are split
about evenly between Exxon/Mobil and Texaco. In the spring of 1998,
U.S. EPA filed two lawsuits, one against each company, seeking injunctive
relief, or cleanup
measures, as well as civil penalties.
The spills are measured in barrels of oil and "produced water,"
which is not drinkable and used in the injection process. The companies
have been cited in the lawsuits for failure to prepare and fully implement
Spill Prevention Control Counter Measures plans, and for not notifying
U.S. EPA of discharge events. These are violations of the U.S. Clean
Water Act.
The oil seep near Whitehorse's home does not involve a current enforcement
action by U.S. EPA or Navajo EPA. Navajo EPA does monitor remedial
actions taken to mitigate environmental damage.
"I live right there in the Aneth field," Whitehorse said.
"People who live similar to the way I do are tired of the violations
that are taking place."
U.S. EPA has also sent Notice of Violations and Finding of Violations
to each company resulting from documented events involving the release
of volatile organic compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide and sulfur
dioxide. The release of such dangerous chemicals results in violations
of the U.S. Clean Air Act.
New Source Performance Standards with tighter restrictions on volatile
compounds were initiated a few years ago, triggered by construction
projects including a new Texaco gas plant.
Carbon dioxide is injected into each well to bring up oil, and "in
some of them, the fumes are coming back out," Whitehorse said.
He said in some areas of Aneth, where the air stands still, "If
you take a nap, you won't get back up."
Two explosions involving release of airborne chemicals have occurred
since 1997, Whitehorse said.
Whitehorse, who is vice chairman of the tribal Resources Committee,
which oversees Navajo EPA, said his preferred option at this juncture
would be asking Exxon/Mobil to provide the Aneth Chapter with a monetary
amount to be used at the chapter's discretion.
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Teen felon gets 9 years
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A 19-year-old felon once on the Grants Police Department's
most wanted list for weeks is in prison today.
Lawrence Lamb Jr. is serving nine years for aggravated burglary with
a deadly weapon, criminal damage to property and receiving stolen
property.
District Court Judge Camille Olguin sentenced Lamb in a plea bargain
arrangement involving 10 other burglaries.
According to the judgment, Lamb burglarized a home Feb. 26 and took
some firearms, which made the crime aggravated burglary with a deadly
weapon, a second-degree felony. Because he broke into the home, he
was charged with criminal damage to property, a fourth-degree felony.
The receiving stolen property stems from an April 14 incident and
is another fourth-degree
felony.
Lamb faced up to 16 years in prison for the crimes, but because of
the plea bargain with the other cases, he was sentenced to nine years.
Lamb had been on the run for several months. Police said he took off
for Farmington in November 2000. There, he broke the law and was sentenced
to three years in prison, which is where police found Lamb serving
his sentence for the Farmington crime.
Grants Police Lt. Steve Bell said officers brought him back to Grants.
Lamb came before Olguin on Feb. 5, after working out the plea bargain
agreement between his attorney, Gary Fernandez, and Assistant District
Attorney Kristina L. Faught-Hollar.
Lamb is no stranger to the judicial system. In 1999 he was convicted
of burglarizing the home of former Grants City Councilor Sybel Cometti
in which several firearms were taken. Cometti and her husband have
since moved to Oklahoma. Lamb was on probation for that crime when
he began his 11-burglary crime spree in Grants and then moved on to
Farmington.
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Grants rallies to beat Espanola
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
GRANTS — The Grants Pirates spotted Espanola Valley five runs
before battling back to win Thursday in the Pirates' home opener.
"Once we were down we fought back," Grants coach Walter
Sarracino said. "Just because we are down a few runs doesn't
mean the game is over. Overall I am pleased with the team's play."
Grants, (1-1) trailed 5-0 going into the third when they finally got
a run. Wade Pynes doubled and scored when the next batter, Vic Patel
doubled to left.
The Sun Devils got the run back in the top of the fourth when Estevan
Gallegos doubled and scored on a Dominic Hererra sacrifice. Espanola
Valley seemed in control, leading 6-1 after they batted in the fourth,
but it would be all Grants the rest of the way.
The Pirates got back in the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring
five runs on three hits, two errors and three walks.
Erik Aguirre started the bottom of the inning grounding out to first,
but the next nine batters would reach first safely. Marty Lujan singled
and advanced on a Boudy Melonas single. Both players advanced when
the Sun Devil shortstop could not handle a Jarred Laurent hit, loading
the bases for George Vigil.
Vigil worked the count full and was able to reach first with a walk,
scoring Lujan. Pynes came up next and hit into a fielder's choice,
but Melonas was able to score. Patel followed and hit the ball into
left-center, scoring Laurent and Vigil to pull the Pirates within
one. On the first pitch Patel took off for second, and after the second
baseman was unable to handle the ball, Patel advanced to third. He
scored on a hit to shallow right by Anthony Garduno to tie the game
at six.
After walking the next two batters, Espanola Valley replaced its pitcher
and Andres Cortez came in, getting the next batter to ground out to
end the inning.
After a quick set out on defense, the Pirates were back up to bat,
taking the lead with two runs in the fifth. Jarred Lauren singled
and scored and Pynes reached first on an error and scored on a Patel
single.
Four batters reached base for Espanola Valley in the top of the sixth,
but three of them were thrown out in fielder's choices.
Grants scored three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Garduno
reached on a throwing error and then scored on a dropped ball and
Jiron and Aguirre both singled and scored to finish the scoring.
"After Tuesday's game we saw what we had to do and we recovered,"
said Sarracino. "We set goals on Wednesday and met those goals
today."
Picking up the win for the Pirates was Vic Patel, going 6 2/3 inning
giving up six runs on 12 hits while striking out two and allowing
four walks. Andres Cortez finished with the loss for Espanola Valley,
going 2 1/3 innings giving up five runs on four hits with two strikeouts
and one walk.
Patel and Garduno each finished the game 3-for-4 with Patel getting
one double. Patel also had four RBIs, followed by George Vigil with
three and Pynes with two. Estevan Gallegos led the way for Espanola
Valley, going 3-for-4 wit an RBI and a double. Dominic Hererra went
1-for-3 but had a pair of RBIs for the Sun Devils.
Grants will play on Thursday in a tournament in Aztec against Piedra
Vista at 5:30. They were originally scheduled to play at 10 a.m. but
it was changed to 5:30 p.m.
Sarracino said that the basketball players that recently finished
their season should be joining the team on Monday.
Kirtland boys back in finals after 23 years
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — With University of Utah-bound 7-foot center Chris
Jackson sitting on the bench with his fifth foul, Kirtland Central
stormed into its first state finals in 23 years.
The Broncos (21-4) knocked off top-ranked and defending state champion
Los Alamos 66-64 in overtime during the Class AAAA state semifinals
Thursday morning at UNM Arena.
Kirtland faces Albuquerque Academy (22-4), 44-39 winners over Farmington,
Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in its first state finals matchup
since the Broncos captured the Class AAA state title in 1978. The
Broncos were the state runnerups twice in 1972 and again in 1974 in
the Class AA.
"We control our own destiny," Kirtland Central coach Steve
Scott said. "It's been a while since we've been in the state
finals. It hurt Los Alamos when (Chris) Jackson fouled out. He has
such a huge presence on the court."
Jackson exited the game with 8.8 seconds left in regulation after
fouling senior forward Dax Crum who was driving to the hoop for a
shot. Crum sank both of his free throws that tied the game for fifth
time at 56-all that forced the game into the four-minute overtime
period.
Playing in its second straight overtime game after rallying to stun
Artesia 74-71 during the regional finals in Hobbs last weekend, Kirtland
Central broke the tie on a bank shot by freshman forward Devon Manning.
The Hilltoppers (18-8) abandoned their 2-3 zone and went man in the
overtime period after the Broncos forced it with a spread offense.
Crum was fouled by Tim Johnson with 2:21 left in overtime. This time
Crum sank the first of a 1-and-1 for a three-point Bronco advantage
but senior forward Kenny Smith grabbed the rebound on the missed free
throw before senior guard Pat Crawford was fouled by Johnson. However
Crawford missed both of his free throws with Johnson snatching the
rebound
before being fouled by Smith. Johnson made it a two-point game after
converting one of the two free throws.
Kirtland again went to its spread offense to run some time off the
clock. But Crum, who has a deformed right hand from birth but dribbles
and shoots with his left hand, turned the ball over but Los Alamos's
Johnson missed a key layup. The Broncos came down and Crum was again
fouled. Crum missed his first free throw but canned the second one
for a three-point lead.
Johnson again failed to connect on a baseline drive for the Toppers.
"We went to a spread offense and tried to work it," Scott
said. "We felt we could take them on the dribble with Jackson
gone."
Smith grabbed the rebound and passed the ball off to Manning who scored
on a layup as Kirtland secured a five-point cushion with 44 seconds
left.
But the Toppers stopped the clock when Johnson was fouled by Crawford
with under 40 seconds remaining. Johnson's first shot hit the front
of the rim but the second free throw found its mark that sliced the
Bronco lead to four points, 62-58.
Kirtland again suffered a crucial turnover as senior forward Tarren
Wethington turned the ball over when the ball hit the back of his
foot and went out-of-bounds.
This time Los Alamos capitalized as Brandon Rich buried a three-pointer
for a one-point game. But the Broncos came right back as Wethington
passed the ball off to Crawford for a score off a fastbreak that made
it a 64-61 game.
The Hilltoppers again had a key turnover when Antonio Vigil dribbled
but the ball also hit his foot and sailed out-of-bounds with 10.7
seconds.
With 9.4 seconds remaining, Los Alamos stopped the clock when Wethington
was fouled by Jason Grimes. This time Wethington calmly sank both
of his free throws to push the score to 66-61.
With time running out, the Toppers got a final trey by Antonio Vigil
with one second left as Kirtland Central advanced into the state championship
game with a two-point win, 66-64.
Los Alamos had a 16-9 first period after Vigil lofted a half court
buzzer beater that banked off the glass for a stunning score.
After a pair of slam dunks by Jackson, the Hilltoppers pushed their
lead to 26-19 but Kirtland battled back to trail by three points after
Wethington scored on a putback and then drilled a trey from the corner.
The Broncos stormed into the lead for the first time since the beginning
of the game after Crum came up with a steal, was fouled and then canned
both free throws.
Los Alamos' Vigil got his second incredible shot when he tried to
lob a high-arching pass to Jackson but the ball instead went right
into the net for an unexpected score.
Los Alamos held a four-point cushion, 56-52, with 27 seconds left
in regulation.
However with 19 seconds left Crum got his own missed shot and put
the ball back in for a score. Then with 15.2 seconds on the clock,
Rich was fouled by Crum. However Rich did not convert on the 1-and-1.
Smith grabbed the rebound on the missed free throw before passing
the ball off to Crum who sank both free throws for the tie after being
fouled on the play by Jackson,
who left the game with his fifth foul that opened the door wide open
for the Broncos in overtime.
Kirtland struggled from the field, shooting 35 percent (23-of-65)
while Los Alamos fared a bit better, thanks to its inside game, with
46 percent shooting (24-of-52). The Broncos shot 19 percent from long
range, 4-of-21, with the Toppers 7-of-18 for 39
percent. However the Broncos enjoyed an advantage at the charity stripe,
sinking 16-of-22 free throws for 73 percent while the
Hilltoppers sank 9-of-12 for 64 percent.
With 7-0 senior center Jackson, 6-5 senior guard Brandon Rich, 6-6
senior post Tim Johnson, 6-3 senior forward Scott
Willerton, the Hilltoppers had a slight rebounding edge over the shorter
Broncos, 35 to 29. Jackson pulled down 15 rebounds
before fouling out late in regulation. 6-5 senior forward Kenny Smith
led the Broncos with 12 rebounds.
| Top |
Vehicles hit, kill area man
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Once again drivers were not able to avoid a drunken
pedestrian, resulting in the 12th traffic fatality of the year in
Navajoland.
The Navajo Law Enforcement Department reported Oscar Redhouse, 43,
of Navajo, N.M., died at the Gallup Indian Medical Center with a blood
alcohol level of .495. He was hit around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Mile
Post 9 on New Mexico Route 264, about six miles west of Yah-Ta-Hey
in the Wildcat neighborhood.
Window Rock Police District officers said a driver was eastbound in
a Dodge Neon. She tried to steer around Redhouse as he attempted to
cross the divided highway from the south to the north side, but could
not avoid hitting him. Then an unidentified truck hit him and left
the scene...
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Panthers' title-run ends
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — Gallup Catholic battled back from a huge 22-point
deficit to within seven points late in the game before losing 76-62
to top-ranked and defending state champion Melrose Thursday night
during the Class A state semifinals at Rio Grande.
"We gave them (Melrose) too big of a lead," Gallup Catholic
coach Vince Lonetree said. "We outplayed them the rest of the
game. We hung with one of the best teams in the state. The kids showed
a lot of poise. We just started our comeback a little too late. But
Melrose has a great team and they played like a champion."
The Gallup Catholic Panthers (23-2) will most likely be without the
services of senior forward Marshall LeMoine who crashed to the floor
while going up for an off-balanced layup with a minute remaining in
the game...
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Lockdown drill sparks GHS rumors
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A lockdown drill at Gallup High School on Thursday
has resulted in a wave of reports of possible violence occurring
in and around the school throughout the evening.
Officials at the Gallup-McKinley County School District stressed
today that although all of these reports are under investigation,
there has been no proof of any possible criminal activity or violence
actually occurring.
Gallup police were saying the same thing today a lot of rumors and
allegations but so far no substance.
Angelo DiPaolo, assistant superintendent for the district, said
the reports may come from concerns by parents stemming from recent
reports of violence at other schools across the country. He said
other districts across the state are also experiencing increased
rumors...
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Bomb book taken from Grants teen
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A book on how to build a bomb was confiscated from a
student at the Grants High School Progressive Learning Center, an
alternative high school.
Carol Owensby, community liaison for the Grants/Cibola County School
District, said the student showed the book to the teacher who notified
Assistant Principal Olivia Langendoerfer. Owensby said she believed
the boy said he had purchased the book at a newsstand.
She said, "I was told he bought it on his own."
Langendoerfer notified Grants Police Officer Mark Ewell, who is the
high school security officer. He met with the student's mother, who
allowed him to inspect the child's room. The district press release
said the officer did not find any evidence of bomb-making activity
in the student's room...
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Hopi teachers get $1,000-a-year pay raises
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
POLACCA, Ariz. — The Hopi Junior/Senior High School governing
board voted unanimously this week to raise its teacher salaries
$1,000 across the board for the next school year.
Paul Reynolds, superintendent of Hopi Junior/Senior High School,
said the raise will keep Hopi High competitive with area schools.
Public schools are anticipating giving teachers raises because of
Proposition 301, which state voters passed in November. That funding
mechanism will allocate millions of dollars toward public schools
with 40 percent going toward teacher raises.
A starting teacher at a BIA school can make as much as $27,425 per
year. The starting salary of a teacher at Hopi High was $25,456
this past year and will jump to $26,456 next year. Teachers also
receive annual increases in salary based on their years of experience
and their degrees...
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Deaths
Bertie Feeney
GALLUP — Bertie Fenney, 96, died March 5. She was born May 14,
1904, in Switzerland.
At her request, there will be no services.
Fenney was peceded in death by her husband, Richard.
Erne "ET" Terrazas
TEMPE, Ariz. — A memorial service for Erne Terrazas, 75, will
be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 10, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Burial
will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
Terrazas died Feb. 21. He was born Feb. 6, 1926, in Gallup.
Terrazas served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was also
an entrepreneur.
Survivors include his wife, Larrylyn Terrazas; children, Erna Scott
of Gallup, Margaret South of Chandler, Deanne (Dee Dee) Terrazas of
Los Angeles, Denise Jeschke of Phoenix, and Darlene Maynard of Long
Beach; and John Richitelli of Gilbert; six grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
Terrazas was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Candelaria
Terrazas; brothers, Manuel Jr., C.D., and Nick; and
sisters, Ophelia Quinones, Charlotte Bartholio, Josephine Sanchez,
Lucille Blea, and Margaret Theophilos.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Margueritta "Margie" Eppinger
GRANTS — Margueritta Eppinger, 88, died March 7 in Grants.
She was born on Nov. 17, 1912, in Clifton, Ariz. She was a homemaker.
Survivors include her brothers, Kenneth Stacey of Clifton, Ariz.,
George Stacy of Duncan, Ariz., and Jim Stacy of York,
Ariz.; one grandchild and one great-grandchildren.
Eppinger was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Eppinger; son,
Fred A. Eppinger; and daughter, Vickie Dobbs.
No services are planned at this time.
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