Learning to climb



Edwin Cadman climbs for the first time, Saturday afternoon on the Central High School gymnasium climbing wall. "I thought it was great," said Joe, "I thought I wouldn't be able to do it." The wall was open as a part of the National Indian Youth Leadership Program pot-luck event.

Photo by Craig Robinson



While patroling south Route 602, New Mexico State Police Officer Paul Mendosa calls in to report a motorist clocked on radar driving 70 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone.

Photo by Jerry W. Kelley

 

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Local cop wants to make a difference

Andrea Egger Rider
Staff Writer

GALLUP — He hopes to help alleviate some of the suffering for Gallup residents, especially children who experience domestic violence.

New Mexico State Police Officer Paul Mendoza, 27, originally of Silver City, surprisingly listed domestics to be one of his favorite calls because he wants to make a difference.

Mendoza had a rather "quiet" night at work Saturday, as he stopped several speeders, issuing warnings and tickets south on New Mexico 602, and looked for illegal activity on New Mexico 264.

Domestic violence situations cause immediate danger. "If we can get there in time, one (person) often has to go to jail, and you can make arrangements for the other party to find a safe place to stay," Mendoza said in an interview.

Police officers also can count on a child being involved, either directly abused or indirectly abused from watching parents fight, he said.

"It's your chance to do something positive in a really negative situation," Mendoza said.

Capt. Glenn Thomas chose Mendoza as a subject for an interview Saturday evening because of the "great job" Mendoza is doing and the example he sets. Thomas is proud of his entire crew of officers on duty today.

Besides speeders, Mendoza looked for drunken drivers, which are becoming more prevalent south of Gallup. He also sought two possible drunken drivers, one in a stolen vehicle incidents reported to dispatchers.

Mendoza was raring to go Saturday as he plundered Gallup and McKinley County streets. A lot of the work for state cops comes through calls from dispatchers to locate drunken drivers, domestic calls, stolen vehicles or tackling situations where someone has a gun and is threatening someone or suicide.

In fact, around 5 p.m. Saturday, a semi-rig was parked at the state police office. The driver had already been detained, and officers planned to search the truck for a gun.

"Road rage," Mendoza explained, adding the driver would most likely be arrested for aggravated assault, a felony.

Many of the situations in which Mendoza is involved occur when he's on the streets looking for trouble. Often officers find illegal immigrants this way.

"I'd say there's at least one (carload) a day," Mendoza said. Finding the vehicle is officers' goal.

Interstate 40 is a thoroughfare for drugs or illegal immigrants on their way from Mexico to Albuquerque or other places.

So it's far from just writing tickets for the state police. Mendoza was once involved in resolving a gunfight when a man barricaded himself in his home.

Mendoza's hates tackling car accidents which almost always could have been prevented and usually involved property damage, injury or death.

If the accident turns fatal, "The family has to deal with that. The other driver has to deal with that, if they survived," Mendoza said.

Often the cause of accidents is inattention of the driver, either from being drunk, from fatigue or speeding, often combined. Speed isn't usually the only factor in death, but adding these other factors to the mix often causes accidents.

Mendoza finds his department one of the most shining examples of police officers around. He chose to work for the state police because of its prestige in New Mexico.

If he could change anything about the state police business, it would be to get money to upgrade officers' equipment or introduce new work equipment like "night vision" glasses to officers' repertoire.

"Capt. Thomas is going to laugh I'm always trying to get him to do more grants" for equipment, Mendoza said.

For instance, in a foot chase, "night vision" glasses, which practically turn night into day, would be very helpful in locating the suspect. Mendoza believes every police car should come equipped with them.

While Mendoza found the training he received at the academy to be outstanding, he believes more seminars and other types of training would help. Changes in the law, tactics for tackling situations and methods shown in real life by officers videotaping situations would be great teaching tools, the officer said.

Also a firearms instructor, Mendoza enjoys the fast pace of work at the state police in his first call of duty, Gallup. "I love it here," he said.

He's been here three years.

Before that, he spent four years in the Marines, where he went overseas, and his wife, Sara, spent two years going to school
and working in Hawaii while pregnant with their daughter, Skyler, now 4.

"She puts up with me," laughed Mendoza about his wife. He couldn't be happier in love.

His father, Tony Mendoza, works in Gallup as the city's safety officer. He lives in Gallup during the week and commutes to his Silver City home on weekends to spend quality time with his wife, Aurora.

Aurora Mendoza is the director of human services for Grant County in Silver City. She only has two years to go before she can enjoy retirement.

Being in the military has been a "family tradition since World War I," when Paul Mendoza's great grandfather served in the Army. Since then, there has always been a Mendoza serving the country. Mendoza followed in family footsteps.

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Navajo EDC OKs NAPI report
Assessors critical of management

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation's Economic Development Committee chairman told tribal farm board member George Arthur that he should not have attended Friday's EDC meeting.

The subject of the meeting saw two Mid Kansas Agri Co. farm assessors, executive J.W. Roenbaugh and associate Tim Bennett, give EDC members another now familar analysis of management issues facing the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry. In a round-about turn, EDC members passed the 270-page Mid Kansas report Friday by a 3-0 margin.

Committee Chairman Lawrence Platero (Tohajiilee Chapter) had complained last month that the EDC, which oversees the NAPI board, should have had first crack at reviewing and approving the Mid Kansas report. He made his objections known during the Navajo Nation Council's Feb. 1 special session, followed by the full council's approval of the report.

On Friday, Platero told Arthur that since the Mid Kansas report, which is highly critical of NAPI management practices, was on the table, Arthur should not be there so as to avoid being placed in a "defensive" position as a NAPI board member. Arthur told Platero had he known that, he would have skipped Friday's EDC meeting and been on his way earlier in the day to Denver, site of a weekend powwow celebration, the largest in the United States.

Arthur also said that the six-member NAPI Board of Directors never had a chance to review and approve the Mid Kansas report prior to council action.

On March 9, EDC members approved the extensions of Arthur and fellow NAPI board member Ervin Keeswood Sr. for six more months, through Sept. 9. Both had briefly resigned from the board during the council's Feb. 26 special session,
following criticism from fellow delegates that they had clear conflicts of interest in deliberating a $10 million NAPI bail-out item
on the floor. On March 6, President Kelsey Begaye and Speaker Ed T. Begay endorsed their "interim" returns to the NAPI
board.

The Mid Kansas report supports a complete restructuring of NAPI's Plan of Operation. That means changes above and below the general manager, with the farm enterprise board needing a recommended change. That change entails de-politicizing the board, which has three tribal delegates, and replacing them with farming experts who have proven agronomy success.

Roenbaugh said he didn't want to go as far as to tell EDC members who should sit on such a board.

"Do I think you need people with a certain level of expertise? Yes, I certainly do," he said.

Bennett said the EDC needs to decide if it wants the responsibility of taking a much firmer hand in supervising the NAPI board.
"The (EDC) board has to answer to the owner (of NAPI). You have to decide who the owner is," Bennett said.

"We think it's fair for this committee to look at the farm board and say, 'We expect performance,'" Roenbaugh said.

Bennett and Roenbaugh went over five major areas where NAPI needs restructuring, one in its complete lack of an adequate Information Management System and related software and hardware. NAPI employees were unable in some instances to produce for Mid Kansas information on crop yields and prices.

The tribal farm's marketing manager, Bud Bennally, needs such a precise system to help track quantities along the order of two million bushels of corn.

"His only way of keeping track of it is carrying around a pad in his back pocket," Bennett said.

A toxin was found in grown corn two seasons ago. Samples were taken from "test cuts" in the field. Three weeks later, the bad corn was isolated in bins.

However, information tracking on the corn was not adequate, resulting in toxin-laced corn being "dumped on good corn ...
making it all bad."

A new Information Management System is a high priority and one that can be running in about six months.

"Nobody knows how to get the right information to the right people at the right time," Roenbaugh said.

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Lost sheepherder found after crystal ceremony

Tara Drolma
Staff Writer

GRANTS — A 71 year-old Navajo man from the Baca Chapter House was found in relatively good condition Thursday afternoon after being lost since Tuesday when he became disoriented while herding sheep. A group of search and rescuer volunteers were looking for the man, but it was the result of a crystal ceremony that led family members to his location.

Sgt. Gary Ross of the New Mexico State Police said John Navajo was herding sheep on Tuesday afternoon when he became disoriented and wandered off. He described Navajo as mentally disabled and said he has a history of getting lost. Ross said there have been several search and rescue efforts to find him in the past few years. One time he was found as far away as
Laguna Pueblo and another time officers said he was found in Colorado.

Janet Hudson, who said she is a friend of the family, translated for Nina Garcia, Navajo's brother during an interview with The Independent. Navajo and Garcia live together at the Baca Chapter near Prewitt. Hudson said Garcia told her when Navajo did not come home on Tuesday she thought he had gone to his step daughter's house. Garcia said she found the herd of about thirty
sheep he had been herding, but she did not find her brother.

Navajo is very active and walks several miles each day. About 7:00 a.m. Wednesday Garcia went to the step-daughter's house to look for Navajo. When she couldn't find him, she became concerned. Family and friends looked for him during the day and called the Navajo Police about 2:00 p.m. Wednesday. They arrived about 2:30 p.m. and initiated the search and rescue that was
coordinated by the State Police.

Navajo was wearing heavy construction boots when he was lost and trackers had found his tracks near State Road 142 in a canyon going toward Bluewater Lake. The tracks did not cross the road and they said they went back and forth in the canyon.

Navajo was not always mentally disabled. Hudson said he speaks English, Spanish, and Navajo and has had some education.
However, about five years ago he was hit by lightning. Translating for Garcia, she said police had found Navajo unconscious
by the side of the road after he had been struck. Thinking he was drunk, they took him to jail. After that, Navajo has been
disabled and becomes disoriented easily. Last December he was lost for eight hours after he wandered away from his sheep.

About 1:00 p.m. Thursday, a family member ran into the Baca Chapter House where the command post for the search was
held. He was waving a cap that he said he had found just south of the interstate in the area of the Prewitt Rodeo Grounds. The
rescue teams were quickly informed and several of the teams, along with a helicopter from the Albuquerque Police Department
moved from the area southwest of the chapter house where they had been searching over to the east.

Randy Garcia, Navajo's nephew said it was his son-in-law who had found the cap. About 15 to 20 minutes later the helicopter
crew spotted Navajo and picked him up. He was suffering from hypothermia and friends and family drove him over to the
Crownpoint Hospital.

Ruth Barbone, a cook at the senior center, said Navajo told her he had been herding his sheep when he wandered away from
them. He thought he would find his house, but he wandered so far he didn't know where he was. The first night he slept by a
tree. Then he wandered further east where he found a cliff.

Barbone said he told her he climbed down the face of the steep hill and stayed there all day to warm up in the sun. At night he
slept near a rock that looked like a cave. He was still there when he heard the helicopter and climbed back up the hill to where he
could be seen.

Garcia said he had done a traditional ceremony the night before using crystals and he determined Navajo was still alive and he
knew where to look for him. He said some family members had started looking for Navajo that morning in the area he had
indicated and that was where the cap was found.

Cassandra Calladitto, the supervisor at the senior center said Navajo eats lunch there everyday and they all know and like him.
She said she and her staff have found Navajo twice when he was lost. When the family calls her they form a search team and
look for him on their own. This time he had been gone too long and they called the officers.

Navajo lived 25 years in Borrego Pass before moving to Baca Chapter about nine years ago. Garcia said he has always been a
cowboy and worked as a ranch hand and herded sheep.

On Friday, hospital staff said Navajo's condition was listed as fair and he would be staying at least another day in the hospital.

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Sports briefs

GHS cross country booster club meeting

GALLUP — The Gallup High School cross country booster club will hold a meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the GHS training room.

Peewee tournament

GALLUP — The GHS 12-and-under boys and girls basketball tournament will be held Mar. 23-24.

Entry fee is $100 per team. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, Mar. 21.

For more information contact Robert Dodson at 722-7668.

Open men's and corporate tournament

SHIPROCK — An open men's and men's corporate basketball tournament will be held March 23-25 at the Shiprock "D" gym.

The entry fee is $135 for a 10 player roster. For more information, call (505)368-1385 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and
(505)368-4253 after 5 p.m.

NBA 2-Ball

GALLUP — The City of Gallup Parks and Recreation and the Gallup P.A.L. present NBA 2-Ball 6:30 p.m. Wednesday March
21 at the Old Armory Recreation Center at 700 Montoya St. The event is for 8-9 year olds and 10-11 year olds.

For more information, call (505)863-1296.

Men's open basketball tournament

CHINLE, Ariz. — The volunteers for the Children's Future will sponsor a men's open basketball tournament March 22-25 at the Chinle Community Center. This is a 16-team double-elimination bracket.

The entry fee is $130 per team and a $75 deposit is due today.

For more information, call (520)674-9421/5264.

Corporate shoot-out

KAYENTA, Ariz. — The Kayenta NTUA will hold a corporate shoot-out March 22-25 at the old MVHS gym.

The entry fee is $130 with a 10-player rooster.

For more information, call (520)697-3617 in the evenings or (520)697-3574 during the day.

Fitness run and walk

TUBA CITY, Ariz. — The Tuba City High School Indian Club will hold a Fitness Run and Walk Saturday March 24 at the
Warrior Pavilion Parking Lot. Registration starts at 7:30 p.m. and the race starts at 8 a.m.

Registration fee is $10 per participant.

For more information, call (520)283-6291 ext. 5349/5303.

Tolani Lake shoot out

TOLANI LAKE, Ariz. — The Tolani Lake C.L.U.P. Committee and Chapter will sponsor a men's open basketball tournament March 22-24 at the Tolani Lake Elementary School gym.

The entry fee is $125 and is due before the team's first game.

For more information call, (520)686-6288 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or (520)686-6239 in the evening.

General rodeo meeting

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Dine'land Senior Rodeo Association will hold its annual general meeting at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday March 24 at the Navajo Nation Museum and Library conference room.

For more information, call Delbert Benally at (520)729-2356.

"Old Tree" basketball tournament

PINON, Ariz. — The 4th Annual "Old Tree" basketball tournament will be held March 23-25 at the Pinon High School gym.

For more information, call (520)309-4962/0547.

Spring Break classic

FRUITLAND — The 3rd Annual Nenahnezad Spring Break Classic for 14 & under boys and girls will be held March 23-25 at
the Nenahnezad Community School.

Entry fee is $150 per team and original birth certificates are required.

For more information, call Vernon Johnson at (520)598-6843.

Basketball tournament

SHIPROCK — A double-elimination inter-departmental and a men's 40 & over basketball tournament will be held March 23-25 at the Shiprock "A" gym.

The entry fee is $130 and proof of employment for the inter-department is required.

For more information, call Hoss Walter at (505) 368-5559 after 5 p.m.

3-on-3 basketball tournament

NAVAJO — The Fort Defiance Agency D.Y.C.S. is sponsoring a double elimination high school co-ed 3-on-3 basketball tournament March 27-29 at the Navajo Recreation Center in Navajo.

Teams are limited to a five team roster with a minimum of two females. The entry fee is $20 per team. For more information call
(520)729-4336.

Las Cruces Invitational

Staff report

LAS CRUCES — The Gallup Lady Bengal softball team went 2-2 during the Las Cruces Invitational over the weekend, including battling top-ranked Carlsbad before losing 4-2.

The Bengals regrouped to pound Del Norte 15-3, then lost another close one, 8-7, to Mayfield. They came back and beat Clovis 6-2 in their final game.

"We had a real good showing. It was good for our girls to see that we can play with teams like Carlsbad," Gallup coach Marty Alderete said. "We hit the ball well, we're hoping it was a breakout weekend."

Gallup will play Highland Thursday and Grants Saturday before opening district next Tuesday against Albuquerque High.

Carlsbad 4, Gallup 2

"We came out nervous and gave up three unearned runs in the first inning against Carlsbad," Alderete reported Sunday night.
The Bengals scored a pair of runs in the third inning to pull within 3-2. Carlsbad added an insurance run in the fifth.

Natal Reeder began the third with a double then scored on an RBI single by Melinda Alderete. Carla Paredes sacrificed Alderete to third and she scored on an RBI single by Nicole House.

Reeder led the Bengals six-hit attack with a 2-for-4 performance.

Alderete registered the loss, her first of the season, giving up one earned run on five hits and four walks in seven innings.

The Bengals committed three errors in the loss.

Gallup 15, Del Norte 3

Led by a pair of in-the-park homers by Anna Antonio, the Bengals erupted for 18 hits against the Lady Knights.

Antonio hit the gap and raced home for her first homer with Brandie Olivar on base in the second inning. That opened up a one-run Gallup lead to 5-2. Antonio's second round tripper was another two-run shot in the fourth which also scored Socorro
Herrera.

"The field was pretty big, she put it in the gap both times," Alderete said.

Gallup had taken a 3-2 lead in the first inning on an RBI triples by Reeder and Tiara Sanchez. House added an RBI single.
Antonio finished with a 2-for-3, 4 RBI performance in the game. Reeder was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI and Jennifer Christiansen and
House were each 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.

Alderete registered the pitching victory giving up two earned runs on five hits, three walks and three strike outs in six innings.

"It was probably our best complete game of the year," said coach Alderete.

Mayfield 8, Gallup 7

A last inning Bengal rally fell short as errors proved costly in Gallup's first game Saturday morning.

"We came out flat and came up a little short," said Alderete.

Mayfield jumped out to a 7-1 lead after three innings before Gallup scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Antonio drew a lead-off walk to start the sixth and moved over on a single by Paredes. Both scored on Alderete's double. Reeder added an RBI triple and Sanchez sacrificed her in for the final margin.

The Bengals committed five errors in the loss. A two-out hit which Alderete felt was foul, but said was ruled fair after being touched by third baseman Carla Paredes, was key.

"That call kind of broke our back," he said.

Alderete registered the loss giving up four hits and two walks in two innings. Tiara Sanchez came in and shut down Mayfield giving up one earned run on two walks and four hits in five innings of work.

Alderete was 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and Paredes went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Bengals' offense.

Gallup 6, Clovis 2

The Bengals jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning and never looked back in their final game of the four-game guaranteed tournament.

"We got ahead early and played well enough to win. The defense played well," said Alderete.

Paredes drew a lead off walk and scored on an RBI single by Reeder. Sanchez and Christiansen followed with RBI doubles and
Herrera capped the first inning scoring with an RBI single.

Alderete (4-2) gave up five hits, five walks and striking out eight in the complete game win.

Paredes went 2-for-3 from the plate and Alderete and Sanchez were each 2-for-4 to lead the Bengals' 11-hit attack.

The Bengals committed only two errors.

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Students must retake test
Exam is all 'too familiar' to Kennedy mid-schoolers

Bill Donovan
Staff writer

GALLUP — Students at Kennedy Mid-School will be retaking part of the CTBS today because they may have given them too much help the first time they took it.

A letter sent to parents of students at the school Friday said that a study guide used for the science and social studies segment of the test "too closely reflected some of the actual questions on the assessment test."

The CTBS, which stands for the Comprehensive Test for Basic Skills, is given every year to all students in the district except for seniors and is used by the state and local administrators as a way to assess how students are progressing.

This year's test has already been controversial because of questions over how much it will determine whether students will be promoted or retained at the end of the year...

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Violent crime rises sharplyfor American Indians

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Justice Department study of violent crime among different races shows an alarmingly high rate of violence against American Indians, while crime against other groups has fallen.

Indians were twice as likely to be victims of violent crime than blacks, whites or Asians. Indian women were victimized by their partners more than twice as often as black women but the incidents were reported less often than among blacks, according to the
study, released Sunday by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics.

The study, which looked at statistics for rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault, showed that crime against blacks, whites and Hispanics fell significantly during the study period 1993 through 1998...

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Deaths

Duvie "Eduvijes" Baca

PHOENIX — Services for Duvie Baca, 85, will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 20 at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Father Ulrick Pax will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

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

Baca died March 15 in Phoenix. She was born Oct. 17, 1915 in Gallup.

Baca owned and operated the Discoteca Mexican Restaurant in Gallup.

Survivors include her sons, Aurelia Baca Jr. of Gallup and Allen L. Barraza of Lake Side, Ariz.; daughters, Sandra A. Barraza-
Garcia of Lancaster, Texas and Dianne Barraza-Mooney of Phoenix; brother, Dan Gutierrez of Gallup; 12 grandchildren; 24
great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Baca was preceded in death by her husband, Jesus Barraza and second husband, Aurelio "Nino" Baca Sr.; parents, Dan
"Conejo" and Vicenta Gutierrez; sons, Albert A. Barraza, Lawrence K. Barraza and Louis Barraza; daughter, Irene Barraza-
Garcia; sisters, Augustina Chavez and Tomasita Gutierrez; brothers, Cato Gutierrez, Albert Gutierrez and Simon Gutierrez.

Pallbearers will be Allen Barraza, Joseph R. Garcia, Miguel Garcia, Pete Garcia Jr., Peter Garcia III, Lionel Gutierrez, Miguel
A. Moreno and Thomas W. Mooney.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Catherine W. Boatwright

GALLUP — Services for Catherine W. Boatwright, 87, will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 20 at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Pastor Gene Turk will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.

Boatwright died March 13 in Los Angeles, Calif. She was born Dec. 31, 1913 in Gallup.

Survivors include her daughters, Cheri Katz of Venice, Calif. and Gloria Kay Neiman of Santa Monica, Calif.; four
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Boatwright was preceded in death by husband, Robert Hayes Boatwright; parents, John and Lena Meagher, son, Robert John
Boatwright and sisters, Gloria Milosevich and Ethel Stock.

Pallbearers will be Criag Boatwright, Frank Chavez, Joe Martinelli, Paul McCollum, John Meagher and Joe Milosevich.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Leah Ashley Nez

CHINLE, Ariz. — Services for Leah Nez, infant, were held at 10 a.m., today at Canyon Family Church, Chinle, Ariz. Pastor Ron Rajai officiated. Burial followed in a family plot, Chinle.

Nez died March 15 in Chinle. She was born Jan. 12 in Chinle into the One Who Walks Around You Clan for the Red Bottom
People.

Survivors include her parents, Harrick Nez of Chinle and Monica Todecheenie of Rough Rock; grandparents, Myra
Todecheenie and Evelyn Todecheenie both of Rough Rock and Judy Mitchell of Chinle.

Nez was preceded in death by her great-great-great grandmother, Mary Todecheenie.

Pallbearers will be Travis Anderson, Lyle Bitsoi, Ross Todecheenie and Micheal Todecheenie.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Canyon Family Church.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.