Gas prices bite into budgets
Reservation families hit hard
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
TOHATCHI — Gasoline prices on the Navajo Reservation, like a
lot of other places, are up way up.
Michael Dennison, a retiree from Buffalo Springs, said his wife has
begun selling burritos in the mornings to earn money to pay for gas.
"We have to pick up our grandson from college in Pueblo, Colo.,"
he said. "With the price of gas, that's the only way we can afford
it."
Dennison said he now spends about $5 per day to tend his cattle and
sheep.
A check of gas prices on the reservation showed regular unleaded gas
was selling at $1.49 to $1.59 a gallon in Kayenta and $1.69 a gallon
in Tuba City. The Navajo Reservation has an 18 cent per gallon excise
tax on gasoline.
Off the reservation, the highest price for regular unleaded gasoline
in Gallup was about $1.59 per gallon. Premium grades can reach as
high as $1.79.
"People are traveling less and may stay on the reservation more,"
said Debbie Kline, operations manager for Navajo Nation Oil and Gas
With gasoline prices increasing and with many Navajos on the reservation
depending on large, gas-guzzling trucks she theorized that travel
into Gallup may be curtailed. Revenue from shopping on the reservation
could increase. That would mean a drop in sales for retailers in Gallup
and other border towns.
Irvin Benally, a Naschitti resident who works in Gallup as a car mechanic,
commutes a minimum of 50 miles per day and says he spends a lot of
money on gas. "All of my work money has been going into my car,"
he said, "instead of food or bills."
Benally said he needs to fill up every work day.
Herbert Harvey of Twin Lakes is a jeweler. He described the price
of gas as "highway robbery." To sell his jewelry, Harvey
said, he travels a minimum of 70 miles per day. Harvey makes 25 pieces
of jewelry each day. Since the price of gas has increased significantly,
he said, he needs to make 10 to 15 extra pieces each week to break
even.
"I used to be able to fill up my gas tank for $10 a week,"
said Clara Brown, who was pumping gas at a station in near Twin Lakes.
"Now I'm putting more (money) in the gas tank than I am (spending)
for food."
Brown drives her children to school every day. She said she was lucky
she had to drive to Gallup only for shopping, since the high price
of gas had made the trip expensive.
"Gas is too high. Maybe we need to think about a bus," Raymond
Becenti said. He and his wife, Grace, commute from Tohatchi to Window
Rock every day for work. "Something's got to be done. It (the
price increase) affects us real bad," he said.
"It used to cost us $80 to $90 a week for gas," Grace Becenti
said. Now it costs a lot more. "Sometimes I skip lunch because
I have to be careful about gas money."
Roughly one-quarter of her income is spent on commuting, Grace Becenti
said.
"Living costs go up, but not the wages," Raymond Becenti
said. "Even if it was a dime a gallon cheaper, it would help."
Robertson Leupp, a customer at a service station in Tohatchi, said
the increase in gas prices hasn't affected him much since he works
at home as a silversmith.
"We've always had a lot of gas customers," said Maretta
Whitehorse, manager of a service station in Tohatchi. "But we
(now) have more because we have a lower price than other places."
Her station offers gas that is 8 cents a gallon cheaper than other
stations in her area.
A sharp-eyed driver sometimes can find cheaper gas, particularly at
smaller community stations. The manager of a small community station,
who asked that her name not be used, said she was glad the owner hadn't
told her to raise prices. "It will be a hardship on my customers,"
she said.
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Two die in crash during police chase
Several hurt; tot 'serious'
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The parents of seven children were killed Monday night
after a drunken driver ran a red light at Historic Route 66 and Boardman
Drive, police said.
Ray Hobb, 36, and his wife, Christine Hobb, unknown age, both of Navajo,
N.M., died at the scene, police said. Their 8-month-old baby, Shasawn,
is listed in serious condition at University of New Mexico Hospital
in Albuquerque.
Police say the accident was caused when Johnny Caballero, 30, sped
up to avoid a traffic stop by the Gallup Police Department for driving
without headlights. The Brimhall man was driving a 1988 GMC pickup
when he ran the red light at the intersection and hit a 1993 Ford
pickup turning right from Boardman Drive onto Route 66, police said.
Police said the force of the impact separated the bed of the Ford
truck, throwing it about 150 feet into the westbound lanes of Route
66. It then hit a third vehicle, a 1993 Pontiac, making a left from
Route 66 onto Boardman.
The driver of the Ford pickup and adult passenger died in the crash,
police said. The driver of the third vehicle, Amanda Hauser, 23, and
her 18-month-old son, Angelo, of Gallup were taken to Rehoboth McKinley
Christian Hospital where they were treated and released.Caballero,
who police say was intoxicated, was traveling with two passengers
Margaret Caballero, 38, of Tohatchi and Carmelita Jojolla, 46, of
Albuquerque.
Johnny Caballero is in the intensive care unit with multiple fractures;
Margaret Caballero is in stable condition; and Jojolla is in stable
condition but sustained multiple facial lacerations and was in surgery
at about 11 a.m. All were treated at RMCH.
There was alcohol involved, New Mexico State Police Capt. Glenn Thomas
said.
Charges are pending against Caballero, who has not been formally charged,
but more than likely will be charged with two counts of vehicular
homicide, he said.
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Kayenta post office finally takes shape
Nancy Watson
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — The new U.S. post office in Kayenta, Ariz., a project
that was bogged down in tribal red tape for 13 years, is finally nearing
completion.
Construction of the cultured-stone building is expected to be finished
in April, thanks to help from the Kayenta Township Commission.
The post office was the first to test the township's leasing ability.
Instead of more meetings, more bureaucracy and more permits, approval
was completed in a few months.
"We were able to cut out all the committee meetings, deal directly
with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and approve the lease," said
Beth Cascadden, a township staff member.
The township began processing the permit in November 1998, and by
last July, ground had been broken.
The building, which was designed by architect Miomira Nikich of Phoenix,
resembles the post office in Fort Defiance.
Kayenta's present post office has only 1,800 postal boxes, but the
new post office will have more than 5,000 boxes. However, a box shortage
may remain.
The new building was designed 10 years ago and was based on Kayenta's
population at the time. During the 10 years the federal government
has been trying to get a lease site approved for the new post office,
the township's population has increased.
The new post office is located within the Kayenta Township
boundaries, which means the township will receive the $6,000 yearly
lease fee from the federal government.
In time, all of the lease fees within the township boundary will go
the township, said George Joe, the township's public relations officer.
When current lease agreements between the tribe and businesses within
the township's boundary expire, the new leases will be processed by
the township.
The new post office will be the first entity to a pay a lease fee
to the township.
The $1.5 million project has employed seven construction workers and
has had an estimated weekly payroll of $7,000.
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Accused cop killer asks delay in trial
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A pretrial hearing for accused cop killer Michael Archuleta,
scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, includes a motion seeking a continuance
of the April 3 trial.
Archuleta is accused of murdering Kelly Clark, 38, a single mother
and Sierra County sheriff's deputy, while she transported him to Western
New Mexico Correctional Facility in Grants on March 4, 1999.
Archuleta allegedly shot her once in the right leg after a brief struggle
for her holstered .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol. Once he had full
control of the pistol, he shot her again, this time behind the right
ear...
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Debate over size of council to hit airways
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — The debate over the perfect size of the Navajo Nation
Council will soon hit radio stations and newspapers as the tribe begins
educating Navajo voters on what options are available.
Johnny R. Thompson, deputy director of the tribe's election office,
said the nation's election board is submitting a request for more
money to the Budget and Finance Committee to educate Navajo voters
about the upcoming referendum on the size of the council.
The referendum, which will be held May 2 along with the primary election
for chapter officials and school board members, will narrow down the
various options...
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Teens' fake IDs not a problem for Gallup
police
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Teen-agers using fake IDs may be a problem
in Albuquerque, where police are beginning a crack down on them, but
they don't seem to be that big a concern in Gallup.
Gallup Police Chief Danny Ross said Monday there were some problems
in the Gallup area about 18 months ago, but city police, with the
help of officials of the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicles,
were able to curtail the problem.
He said at that time there were attempts by some teen-agers to fake
documents, such as birth certificates, to enable them to get a valid
driver's license that showed they were old enough to drink...
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Gas prices bite into budgets
Reservation families hit hard
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
TOHATCHI — Gasoline prices on the Navajo Reservation, like a
lot of other places, are up way up.
Michael Dennison, a retiree from Buffalo Springs, said his wife has
begun selling burritos in the mornings to earn money to pay for gas.
"We have to pick up our grandson from college in Pueblo, Colo.,"
he said. "With the price of gas, that's the only way we can afford
it..."
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Auction at Hubbell promotes native art
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — An auction to raise money for the Hubbell Trading Post
and promote Native American arts will take place on April 29.
"Anytime a rug is sold, something happens for a weaver,"
said Bill Malone, manager of the store at the Hubbell Trading post.
More than $70,000 was raised at the last auction held at the trading
post, he said...
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Jail plan back on table
Mary E. Davis
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Cibola County commissioners plan to have another look
at whether to go back into the prison business.
They are also investigating options for finding money to pay for the
construction of a new jail.
They plan to place the idea on a future agenda...
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Hospital could be open by May
Mary E. Davis
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A Cibola County General Hospital administrator and a
building contractor told county commissioners Monday night they expect
the new hospital to open by mid-May.
Work on demolishing the former medical facility is scheduled to start
either in late May or June, said Joseph Shumate, project manager for
construction of the hospital, and Walter Topp III, the hospital's
general administrator.
The new hospital building, which will replace an older facility nearby
on Roosevelt Street, has been plagued with difficulties since Rampar,
the hospital's former general contractor, walked off the job last
year. Rampar apparently gave up on the job after complaining money
had run out on the project...
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Deaths
Richard W. Marsh
GALLUP — Services for Richard W. Marsh, 71, will be held at 10
a.m. Wednesday, March 15, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Walter
Opalweski will officiate. Burial will follow at the Santa Fe National
Cemetery.
Marsh died March 11 in Gallup. He was born March 26, 1928, in Gibson.
Marsh was a life member of Elks Lodge, North Side Senior Citizens
and past president of the adviser board. He served with the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his wife, Lorriane Marsh of Gallup; son, Rick Marsh
Jr. of Albuquerque; daughters, Debbie Mosely of Rio Rancho, Kathy
Potter of Albuquerque and Sandy Wicketts of Gallup; brother, Albert
Marsh Jr. of Grants; sister, Barbara Munoz of Las Vegas, Nev.; eight
grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Marsh was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Marsh Sr. and Mary
Marsh.
Pallbearers will be Guy Marsh, Vincent Marsh, Brandon Mosely, Raymond
Munoz Jr., Jason Potter and Shawn Wicketts.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Vivian Marie Barstow
WINDOW ROCK — Services for Vivian Marie Barstow, 70, will be
held at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 16 at the St. Michaels Mission Church
in St. Michaels, Ariz. Burial will follow at the Navajo Nation Cemetery
in Fort Defiance, Ariz.
Barstow died March 10 at the Veterans Administration Hospital Care
Hospital in San Jose, Calif. She was born Oct. 10, 1929 into the Tangle
People Clan for the Salt People Clan to Howard Oliver and Ollie Lee.
Barstow served in the Air Force from 1949-1951. She was a member of
the St. Michaels Mission Church. Her hobbies included playing the
piano and organ and sewing.
Survivors include her daughters, Ramona Jalali of Houston, Texas,
Darlene Barstow of Southern Calif. and Rozlind Barstow of San Jose,
Calif.; brothers, Williard Oliver of Lukachukai, Ariz. and Lloyd Oliver
of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters, Helen Lynch and Dorothy Ramirez, both
of Window Rock; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Barstow was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond S. Barstow.
Donations can be made to the St. Michaels Mission Church, P.O. Box
650, St. Michaels, Ariz. 86511.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of local arrangements.
Darrell E. Benally
BECENTI — Services for Darrell E. Benally will be announced at
a later date.
A family meeting will be held at 6 tonight, March 14, at the Becenti
Chapter House.
Edward "Radar" Lopez
GALLUP — Services for Edward " Radar" Lopez, 39, will
be announced at a later date.
Lopez died March 11 in Albuquerque. He was born July 9, 1960, in Gallup.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Josephine "Josie" Olguin
GALLUP — Services for Josephine "Josie" Olguin, 53,
will be announced at a later date.
Olguin died March 12 in Gallup. She was born Oct. 16, 1946, in Gallup.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Franklin D. Tah Sr.
CHURCH ROCK — Services for Franklin D. Tah Sr., 57, will be announced
at a later date.
Tah died March 12 at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup. He
was born Feb. 19, 1943 in Chinle, Ariz.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Frank Anthony Komadina
GALLUP — Services for Frank Anthony Komadina will be announced
at a later date.
Komadina died March 13 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 13, 1914 in Dawson.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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