Traffic mishaps kept cops busy
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Wednesday's heavy snowfall did not strike Gallup and
McKinley County quite as hard as Grants, but area road conditions
were severe enough to keep police busy with numerous accidents and
slideoffs.
New Mexico State Police reported 11 accidents, one of which involved
a rear-end collision between two semitrailers about 6 a.m. on the
Interstate 40 interchange at exit 26. The parties involved were not
seriously injured, he said.
Capt. Glenn Thomas said the situation was not really that bad compared
to the last big snowstorm, which caused about 34 accidents over a
six-hour period. Thomas said he believes the five-hour closing of
I-40 reduced the number of accidents.
Captain Donna Goodrich said the McKinley County Sheriff's Department
mostly responded to minor incidents of vehicles sliding off the roads
but not sustaining damage.
More so than the snow, she said, she expects motorists to have problems
with mud on many of the county's unpaved roads. Hopefully, she said,
everything will dry up within a couple of days.
County and state police received no reports of power outages, and
Thomas said road conditions are fine now.
The storm was heading out of the state today, allowing warmer, drier
weather Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
Temperatures are expected to increase to near or a little above average
by Saturday, when afternoon wind should kick up. Some mid- and high-level
clouds will roll across the state Saturday.
The next Pacific storm system will drop into Arizona from the northwest
by Sunday. It will become windy across New Mexico Sunday with increasing
cloudiness.
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Water line feasible for $400 million
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — After years of debate and delays, the proposed Navajo-Gallup
water pipeline is "doable," even at a proposed cost of $400
million, federal officials said.
The statement came last week in what is being called by City Manager
David Ruiz a "historic meeting" in which representatives
of the Navajo Nation, the city and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
sat down to determine the status of the project.
Ruiz said rumors that nothing is happening with the water project
are untrue.
There are still some hurdles that have to be faced, including what
the city's and tribe's share of the project will be, what route it
will take and the source of the water.
While these are some of the same questions that dogged the project
as far back as the early 1970s, Ruiz said, the parties are close to
making a determination on these and other issues, which would allow
the project to finally get congressional approval by fiscal year 2001.
As for the source of the water, he said a number of sources have been
identified, including the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation.
Although many aspects of the project still need to be worked out,
the various parties have arrived at a price of around $400 million
for the project.
That's about four times the projected cost of when the pipeline was
first proposed.
"There's been a lot of talk locally that $160 million is all
(U.S. Sen. Pete) Domenici will look at," Ruiz said. "And
if the price is above that, well, then, everybody in this project
is not looking realistically at it.
"I find that to be totally, at this point, a conjecture because
we can direct our congressional delegation and also Congress to the
fact that identical-type projects have been approved in the Dakotas
and also in Colorado for projects either as expensive or more expensive
than our proposed project," he said.
Ruiz said the $160 million figure was a rough estimate supplied years
ago, back when particulars such as the size of the pipeline and number
of pumps required had not been worked out.
Those details are being worked on in the technical memorandum, he
said, as will the alternative routes of the pipeline into Gallup.
In one scenario, the pipeline would extend through Navajo Agricultural
Products Industry south of Farmington.
An alternative route for the pipeline would stretch
out further west through Shiprock, tying into the Navajo Nation's
regional water plant.
Now that stakeholders have reviewed the status of the project, its
cost must be justified to the New Mexico congressional delegation.
In a letter to Domenici, the city and tribe requested $450,000 for
FY2001 to complete a number of actions that would move the project
forward. Examples include developing a final planning report, completing
consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and identifying
where the water would come from.
For 2001, Ruiz said, the various parties are looking at taking the
project to Congress.
"If this project does not go, of course we'll have to look at
other alternatives," he said. "But a lot of time and effort
has gone into this project, so we'd love to see this come to completion."
Ruiz said this project was at a standstill from 1996 to 1998 because
the issue was not a critical item on anyone's agenda and there was
lack of communication between the city and the Navajo leadership.
"This project was a dead project; it was in the ashes,"
he said. "And you can kind of equate this to the phoenix of lore.
We rose out of the ashes, and it rose out of the ashes via the efforts
our Mayor John Pena and the efforts of our Navajo President Kelsey
Begaye."
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Rodeo's new twist: Scholarships
Bill Donovan
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — For the past two years, buying a ticket to the professional
rodeo at the Navajo Nation Fourth of July celebration gave the ticket
holder a chance to go home with a new vehicle.
But for this year's celebration, new vehicles are out and scholarships
are in.
"We thought that since this is a youth fair, we should support
youth needs, and giving away college scholarships would be better,"
said Gloria Moore, the coordinator for the 2000 celebration, which
will be held at the Window Rock Fairgrounds July 1-4.
The vehicle raffles, which were co-sponsored by Corley's Auto Sales
Inc., were hugely popular with people attending the celebration, resulting
in standing room only at many of the rodeo performances.
But Moore said cutbacks by the Navajo Nation Council this year made
it impossible for the tribal fair office to come up with its share
of the cost of the vehicle. The celebration budget has been cut back
between 10 and 15 percent each of the past three years.
Moore said the rodeo, which is sponsored by the Professional Rodeo
Cowboy's Association, will still get high attendance even without
the vehicle giveaway.
Switching to scholarship giveaways, she said, should prove popular
with the young people who come to the celebration by the thousands
to participate in basketball competitions, junior rodeos and skateboarding
contests. Other events at the celebration include fireworks, song
and dance contests, a youth powwow and youth exhibits.
Cal Corley, manager of the Gallup auto dealership, said he had no
problem switching from giving away vehicles to giving away scholarships.
"I can do it either way," he said, adding that he has been
a regular sponsor of the celebration for many years. Moore said the
coordinators of the celebration are still working out details, such
as how many scholarships will be given away, what amount they will
be for and how people will qualify.
The celebration has become one of the biggest events of the summer
in this area, drawing as many as 100,000 spectators during the four
days it is held.
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New AIA rule makes transfer of athletes
tougher
Santiago Ramosù
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — Bristol Olomua, Lawrence Yazzie, Lamoni Yazzie, Josh
Allan and Verlaine Kescoli.
There are names of some of the area's talented athletes that were
able to transfer from one school to another under Form 600 that was
recently defeated, 36-3, during the Arizona Interscholastic Association
Legislative Council meeting.
Under a new rule, Arizona prep athletes who change schools
without changing residence will have to sit out a year before being
elligible to play at the new school...
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Class transforms welfare to work
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Dorraine Hoskie at age 34 is in the process of getting
off welfare. She had been on welfare for several years and spent most
of her time taking care of her three sons. She thought she would do
little else.
"I'm both mom and dad to my boys, and I used to think all I could
be is that," Hoskie said. "This class has taught me ...
just because you have kids doesn't mean that your dreams stop."
Hoskie was speaking about her Success Skills Training class, part
of the McKinley Works program, which opened Nov. 30...
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Pregnant teen hurt in beating
Mary E. Davis
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A pregnant woman received possible internal injuries
to her uterus, bruises and bite marks after her 18-year-old boyfriend
allegedly beat her at their residence in the 1000 block of Bonita.
Audrey Nata, 18, of Grants, who is seven months pregnant, was transferred
to Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque after doctors examined her
at Acoma, Canoncito and Laguna Hospital at Acoma Pueblo. Doctors at
the ACL Hospital decided to send her to another facility because of
her injuries, according to a Grants Police Department officer's report.
A registered nurse at ACL called police around 11:16 p.m. March 13
to report the beating. The woman told the officer by telephone from
her hospital bed that the man she's been living with for about a year,
Jeremy K. Condon, began cursing at her after he had been drinking
at the apartment they share. She said Condon is the father of her
child...
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Blackfeet official suggests starting
banks in schools
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — If the Navajos want to have their own successful
banking operation, one Native American banking official thinks they
should consider establishing minibanks in schools.
Minibanks in the schools in Browning, Mont., home of the first Indian-owned
and operated bank in the United States, have been a success, according
to Eloise Corbell, chairman of the Blackfeet National Bank.
"Education is so important if you want to be a player in the
financial world, so we started our minibanks in the schools,"
she said during the Navajo Nation Banking Summit Tuesday...
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Tribe projects $10 million extra in fund
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation will have about $10 million more
for its general fund this coming fiscal year, relieving any fear of
layoffs in October.
But tribal financial officials say the reprieve may last only a year.
Navajo Controller Bobby White estimated this week that projected revenues
for FY2001, which begins Oct. 1, will be $103.4 million compared to
$92.5 million this year. But White predicts the net income will drop
back to about $98.8 million for FY 2002, which could mean layoffs...
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Speaker: No give-away tribal bank
Summit lists merits, risks
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Edward T. Begay, speaker of the Navajo Nation Council,
said Wednesday he has nothing against the Navajos setting up their
own bank as long as it doesn't become a give-away program.
"I am not discouraging any excitement about establishing a bank,"
he said at the closing day of the Navajo Summit on Banking.
"I merely want to point out that we all need to be realistic
in understanding what circumstances currently exist in regards to
the banking needs of Navajos," he said...
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Grants area regrouping after storm
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — High winds and snow ripped through Cibola County early
Wednesday leaving havoc behind.
The storm was heading out of the state today, allowing warmer, drier
weather Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service said. The
next Pacific storm system will drop into Arizona from the northwest
by Sunday.
Before the snow left, however, it disrupted routine life in Grants.
Power lines snapped under the weight of heavy snow, killing power
to most of Grants, San Rafael, Canoncito, Highland Meadows, Bluewater,
Prewitt, Milan, Plano Colorado, Laguna and Acoma. The outage affected
10,000 customers, starting at 5 a.m...
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Deaths
Donald Serna Sr.
GALLUP — Services for Donald Serna Sr., 68, will be held at 10
a.m. Friday, March 24, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Father
Ulric Pax, O.F.M., will officiate. Burial will follow at the Hillcrest
Cemetery in Gallup.
Rosary will be recited at 7 tonight, March 23, at the Rollie Mortuary
Palm Chapel.
Serna died March 20 in Albuquerque. He was born July 2, 1931, in Gallup.
Serna was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the DAV and the
PVA.
Survivors include his wife, Lilia Serna of Gallup; son, Donaldo Serna
Jr. of Gallup; daughter, Erlinda Torres of Gallup; brother, Tom Serna
of Gallup; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.
Serna was preceded in death by his parents, Amadito and Clofas Serna;
brother, Alfonso Serna; and sisters, Alice Saucedo and Nellie Serna.
Pallbearers will be Richard Bond, Alfonso Cordova Sr., Alfonso Cordova
Jr., John Anthony Salaz, Amadito Serna and Tony
Serna.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Tom Herbert Grey Jr.
MARIANO LAKE — Services for Tom Herbert Grey Jr., 51, will be
held at noon Friday, March 24, at the Berian Mission. Pastor Jones
Dehiya will officiate. Burial will follow at the private family cemetery
in Mariano Lake.
Grey died March 20 in Gallup. He was born Dec. 18, 1948, in Crownpoint
into the Towering House People Clan for the Mexican People Clan.
Survivors include his mother, Bessie H. Grey of Mariano Lake; brothers,
Ellison Grey of Church Rock, Leo H. Grey of Gallup, Raymond H. Grey
of San Antonio, Texas, Sam H. Grey of Shiprock, and Tommy Grey of
Phoenix; and sisters, Nellie Billie of Fort Wingate, Ella Mae Garlits
of Hawaii, and Virginia B. Snyder and Arlene Thode, both of Hosta
Butte.
Grey was preceded in death by his father, Tom H. Grey Sr.
Pallbearers will be Merle Billie, Edward Christian, Leo Grey, Nathaniel
Grey, Raymond Grey and Roy Snyder.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
William Leport
GALLUP — Memorial services for William "Bill" Leport,
65, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the East Aztec Baptist
Church.
Leport died March 3 in Gallup. He was born March 20, 1934, in New
York.
Leport was known as "Uncle Charlie" to some in Gallup. He
worked as an accountant all his adult life, with last 10 years in
Gallup. He graduated from Sussex High School in Sussex, N.J., in 1952
and from Bloomfield College in Bloomfield, N.J., in 1956.
Survivors include his brother, Charles Leport.
Donations can be made to the University of New Mexico-Gallup branch
for scholarships.
Burnell Hubbard Jr.
GANADO — Services for Bernell Hubbard Jr., will be announced
at a later date.
Hubbard died Tuesday, March 21 in Phoenix. He was born Oct. 23, 1957.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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