Navajo Pride potatoes



Boxes of Navajo Pride brand potatoes sit stacked and ready for market Thursday while in the background, employees fill bags with russet potatoes at the NAPI potato processing plant near Farmington.




A self-propelled, pivoting sprinkler sits ready to begin irrigating NAPI farm lands Thursday near Farmington. The sprinklers are anchored to a pivot point and create giant circles of irrigated land.

Photo by Jeff Jones

 

 



Begaye losing top officials
Herb Clah latest to resign


Jim Maniaci
Dine' Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo President Kelsey A. Begaye on Friday announced the appointment of Law Enforcement Department Chief Dorothy Fulton as acting Public Safety Division director after Herb Clah Jr. resigned to be closer to his family in Shiprock.

Clah recently named Fulton as the head of his largest department.

He is the fifth division head to leave the top post in the Begaye-McKenzie administration three departed voluntarily and two were terminated. However, he will stay with the tribe.

In addition to Clah, those who resigned have been Teresa Hopkins of the General Services Division and Lester Tsosie of the Management and Budget Office. Both left to return to private industry.

Begaye removed Estelle Bowman as Washington, D.C., Office director and Marlene Jasperse as Health Division director.

He and Vice President Dr. Taylor McKenzie also lost three other top executives Larry Foster, Tom Ranger and Sharon Noel.
Foster is a consultant and often seen around the tribal capital. Ranger returned to his previous career as management trainer.
Noel joined the state of New Mexico's Office of Indian Affairs. Derrick Watchman recently replaced her as Chief of Staff.
When Noel moved up to Chief of Staff from presidential legal advisor, he named Michelle Brown to fill the spot, then transferred her to head up the Washington, D.C., Office. Karen Bernally replaced Brown, moving across the street from bein
g the Government Services Committee advisor.

In his memo to the Public Safety Committee, which is the Legislative Branch oversight panel of the Executive Branch division, Clah noted his departure was not due to any conflict or disappointment either from himself or the administration, according to
presidential press officer Merle Pete.

Clah will stay with the tribal government, becoming Local Governance Support Center Northern Agency Director in Ben Jones'
Community Development Division. He will work with chapters.

"The administration is truly saddened by Mr. Clah's departure. The vice president and I, however, support his decision to leave
as his family will benefit most. Mr. Clah is a hard worker, a true professional," Begaye said.

Clah, of the Hogback Chapter, earned both a bachelor's and master's degree from Brigham Young University plus 45 hours at
the BYU law school.

He also is one of the few people to have been Navajo DPS director twice, serving from 1993-95.

Before being tabbed as the head of the 700-plus employee division with a current year's budget totaling $73.2 million, the 52-
year-old executive was with the Community Services Department of the Legislative Branch. That department was transferred
and merged with a similar Executive Branch department and is now known as the Local Governance Support Center, with an
office in each of the five agencies.

Clah also has been Dean of Instruction at Navajo Community (now Dine') College, Utah Navajo Development Council director,
and the first director of the tribal Youth Development Program.

He previously was an area director for the seminary (school) of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And Clah
assisted in establishing Shiprock Alternative High School.

Among the accomplishments cited during his latest two-year stint as the NDPS director are working with the oversight
committee, obtaining an additional $5 million of outside funds to hire and equip officers, improved training, and introducing a
community policing philosophy. Another achievement was the completion of the yet-to-open juvenile hall in Chinle.

Clah also cited the U.S. presidential visit in April to Shiprock, what he considers a successful coordination of public safety
during the tribal fair and continuing work on obtaining a mega-prison.

He and his wife Sandy have four children, three boys and a girl.

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Water pumping station is huge

Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — The mammoth, $40 million Gallegos Pumping Station on NAPI, when operational in late summer, will see the Bureau of Indian Affairs activate one of the great engineering feats it has ever provided to the Navajo tribal farm.

"When we started, we dug a 60-foot hole. There's a heck of a lot of concrete in here," said Bob Krakow, the BIA's Navajo Indian Irrigation Project manager.

"This is sort of the observation deck. These are the motors that run the water pumps," he gestured, looking downward at eight giant engines. Five are capable of pumping water with the force of 8,000 horsepower, and three at 3,000 horsepower.

Together, the motors and the water pumps under them can pump 800 cubic feet per second of San Juan River water, fed by way of Navajo Lake. The discharge lines run up to 10 feet in diameter.

"Essentially, with all eight pumps running at once, we could dry up the San Juan River today," Krakow said.

That will happen in about a week, when the soon-to-be discharged farm irrigation waters stored at Navajo Lake will greatly increase San Juan River flows.

The Gallegos plant's discharge lines will send NIIP water three miles up a mesa, an entire elevation of 300 feet. The final destination will be the Burnham lateral, one of the water delivery feeds supplying 56,000 acres of fields currently under production within the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry.

Though the Gallegos Pumping station won't be functional until around August, NIIP has about 80 smaller water pumping
operations to keep the tribal farm well irrigated until then. Navajo Lake water for the just-started 2001 NAPI growing season
should be released between Monday and April 1.

Currently, NAPI's round fields are a combination verdant green and tan. Green are the winter wheat fields, which will be
harvested in July. Also sprouting is the less colorful alfalfa. After the dam water is released into NAPI's main canal, the next
crops for planting will be potatoes, beans, corn and specialty crops, such as pumpkins and mint. NAPI also has orchards for
the harvesting of cherries, apples and other tree-bearing fruit.

Like other endeavors provided by the U.S. government to the tribal farm, Gallegos Pumping Station will function as part of a
Public Law 93-638 contract with the Navajo Nation. That means the feds pay for all aspects of NIIP, while the tribe takes over
operations and maintenance and must meet certain standards for those operations.

Without the Gallegos project, the BIA was paying $4 million yearly into the NIIP operations and maintenance contract.

"With this project, it will cost us considerably more," Krakow said.

But Krakow, who has worked for NIIP since 1979, said the tribal farm will ultimately function best as a tribally owned and
operated entity. That comes despite the fact that NAPI lost about $2 million per year between 1995 and 1999, with a bigger than
$2 million loss expected for the recently completed 2000 crop year.

The BIA's $25.5 million yearly NIIP budget also pays for the Bureau of Reclamation arm of NIIP, which constructs all
projects.

NAPI simply could not survive without NIIP and the 370,000 acre-feet of annual San Juan River water reserved for the farm
through a 40-year agreement with the Interior Department. That agreement began in 1976 and can be renewed by the tribe.

NIIP is part of the U.S. government's repayment to the Navajos under a treaty obligation, Krakow said. NIIP is also partial
repayment to the tribe for 110,000 acre-feet per year diverted to the San Juan-Chama diversion project.

BIA gives much to NAPI

According to the Mid Kansas Agri Co. assessment, NAPI's value without NIIP is $1 billion. When NIIP and its elaborate water delivery system is included, NAPI's value increases more than 400 percent to $5.2 billion. That delivery system consists of all of the canals, pumping stations, laterals, and sprinkler apparatus including up to 1,800 foot-long center pivots necessary to deliver that water.

Krakow said his goal has always been to ensure that the tribal farm operates efficiently enough in tandem with the BIA so as to earn a profit. Sometimes, political differences of the past between the Navajos and the U.S. government must be set aside for the good of the farm. The BIA is negotiating a new memorandum of agreement with NAPI on the roles and responsibilities for each.

"In order to make this thing work, we have to develop a partnership," he said. "I don't know how else to do it. You have to disclose where you are, what your positions are."

The federal government has spent $500 million since 1976 building NIIP's water delivery system in blocks. The Gallegos
Pumping Station is what will become Block 9 in a yet-to-be-constructed Region 3. Within the next four years, more than $200
million above an authorized "ceiling" of $600 million will be needed through a congressional reauthorization though "not all at
once," Krakow said to construct Blocks 9 through 11. Block 8 is nearly complete.

In addition to free water and water delivery, the BIA provides NAPI with an Agricultural Testing and Research Laboratory. The
lab checks water, fertilizer, soil and plant tissue samples. New Mexico State University operates an experimental station for
NAPI, conducting research such as what varieties of crops grow best in the NAPI environment.

Inside the agriculture lab, a fiber-optic system under development will eventually allow all pumps and pivots to be operated by
remote control. This will reduce fluctuation in the main NIIP canal.

Al Nakai, the lab's Global Information Systems coordinator, engineers maps that can tell farm managers what was planted in
each field, each year, and the precise location of items on each map within one foot of variance. These advances are part of
NAPI's Management Information System.

"I like to brag on Al," Krakow said. "When we started this thing, he didn't have a whole lot of experience.'

A lab of scientific luxury

"There are universities that would just croak to have what we've got," said Blake Onkan, the ag lab chemist. He works with plant pathologist John Keenan.

The lab has enough state-of-the-art equipment to satisfy Frito-Lay technicians when they visit the lab to run tests.

Proper analysis of fertilizer involves weekly adjustments of how much nitrogen is placed into planted crops, Onkan said.
Fertilizer mainly consists of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Soil samples are finely ground before study.

Crops are "fertigated," which means in addition to spreading fertilizer the traditional farm way, some fertilizer is also dripped
through center pivots during the sprinkling process.

"What we want to know is how much (fertilizer) the plant can get to," Onkan said.

All plants, such as corn, beans and potatoes, are examined for their nutrient values. Alfalfa, as one example, is measured for its
fiber, protein and moisture content.

"Any alfalfa below 25 percent fiber is premium-grade hay," Onkan said.

Taters a NAPI mainstay

Well-cultivated potatoes produce high-value crops that are prized by NAPI. The tribal enterprise and BIA are currently examining three sites for a proposed potato processing plant, which will manufacture french fries, tater tots and other fast-food faire.

The most expensive potato crop comes from "chipper potatoes," which, as one example, are those from which potato chips come from. Samples of potato chips are cooked before they are transported by truck to such areas as Casa Grande, Ariz., where
Frito Lay warehouses are located.

The best potato chip "chippers" depend on two main factors: when the potatoes are picked, and how well they were stored.
Potatoes must be picked promptly when ready, and stored at the ideal cool temperature, or will contain too much starchy sugar.

Holding one plastic bag of ideal, nearly white potato chips in one hand, and looking at a less desirable bag of "carmelized"
brown chips in his other hand, Onkan said, "That's what Frito Lay doesn't like."

The carmelization is caused by a high sugar content, and produces a burnt-like effect.

At the NAPI potato warehouse, where russets and other brands are bagged and boxed under the "Navajo Pride" label, it's hard
to tell that the potato market has bottomed out in recent years. Navajo laborers were busy hoisting the finished product onto plastic-wrapped pallets.

The price of the potatoes once sold is what is hurting NAPI and other potato buyers. One 100-pound bag of russets sells for $3.
The happy home cook wants an 8-ounce tater that fits nicely "in the palm of your wife's hand," said NAPI potato processing manager Aaron Benally.

Benally is definitely someone who is waiting with anxious concern for the potato market to bounce back.

That size we're running now, it's perfect," he said proudly.

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Public relations, public education and the naked truth

Walter Howerton Jr.
Managing Editor

I was reading a book last week by a writer who couldn't resist including some Bill Clinton jokes. They were jokes about Clinton the president, not Clinton the ex.

That book and those jokes left me thinking about the Gallup-McKinley County Schools. Especially after I found out this week that Superintendent Robert Gomez wants to hire a public relations specialist.

It was a book about murder, but it really was about how the story of a murder or anything else gets told, how information is revealed and hidden, who knows what, where the truth is, all of those things the best books are about. And some of the jokes were funny, too.

One joke had to do with Clinton showing up at the gate of the White House with a plump pink pig under his arm. "I got it for Hillary," the smiling president says to the guard at the gate. "Good trade, sir," the guard leans over and whispers as the president walks by.

Now, try to tell me you didn't laugh at that one.

It is a joke written by a certified Clinton hater. Nothing sophisticated. Just mean-spirited and crude on a level anyone can laugh at, even those of us who go on trying to like Bill Clinton and his wife the senator.

Then there is the one about Bill Clinton and Jesus and the press. It goes this way:

It seems that Clinton and Jesus are out fishing and Jesus's favorite fishing hat blows off and floats away. Jesus starts to hop over the side and go get his hat, but Clinton won't have any of it. "I'll do it," he says. Clinton hops over the side, walks across the water, picks up the hat and brings it back and plops it on Jesus' head.

"That was amazing," Jesus says.

"Sure," Clinton says. "But you know what the headlines in the newspaper will say tomorrow? 'Clinton Can't Swim.'"

Who wrote this one? A Clinton lover or a Clinton hater?

Probably neither. Too much room for questions. Why are Clinton and Jesus out fishing (don't ask)? Ever see Jesus wearing a hat (a fishing hat, don't ask)? Is it a shaggy Bill joke or a shaggy Jesus joke? What kind of a punch line is "Clinton can't swim"?

Are we laughing yet? Why not?

It is a calculated joke, a joke with an agenda. In fact, it's a joke that is all agenda and no emotion. There is no love or hate in it.
That's why it is not as funny as the pig joke.

It is a joke written by someone trying to help Bill Clinton blame his problems on somebody else. (The press. Who else?)
A public relations specialist probably wrote it because that is what public relations specialists do. For a price they will make it seem like Bill Clinton or anyone else can walk on water.

No wonder Gomez thinks that would be a good investment.

There is no doubt that Gomez has had some good ideas in his years here well, selective testing might not be such a good idea
and according to state Rep. Leo Watchman Jr. there are a fair number of Navajos who aren't too happy with some of Gomez's ideas either and he just might have some good ideas left in him yet, but this is not one of them.

Hire a public relations expert. That'll learn 'em. Right, Bob?

Wrong.

When someone (i.e. Gomez at the last school board meeting) starts talking about how the newspaper never prints anything good about the schools (untrue), or how the newspaper concentrates on "gossip and rumors" rather than factual information (also
untrue) and that someone (Gomez) brings those things up while talking about hiring a public relations person to feed stories to
the press (Gomez said stories had been "fed" to the press; the press is hungry, but it never likes to be fed), it smacks of
controlling information, not providing it.

Gomez contends that we of the press have not bothered to report that schools in the district have shown improvement. We have.
In fact, a year ago, I personally met with Gomez, the principals of several troubled schools and other officials at their request. I reported what they had to say at length in this newspaper.

But problems have persisted, the list of troubled schools has grown and too many of our children still are not being prepared to compete where it counts in the world away from Gallup.

We are entitled to ask some questions and expect some answers. And I think we are entitled to answers from someone other than a public relations specialist.

Do we really want to pay someone $30,000 or more to ask us if we've heard the one about Robert Gomez and Jesus going fishing? And Jesus's favorite hat blows off. And well, you know the rest.

We don't want to hear about how Robert Gomez walks on water. We don't expect him to do that. We don't even care whether he can swim or not. We just want some real answers about our children's educations and some real measurable results where they count.

And we shouldn't need some public relations person to dress any of this up. We already have heard the one about the emperor's new clothes, too.

The only thing that leads to real progress is the naked truth.

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Thoreau Invitational

Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer

THOREAU — The Shiprock boys and girls track teams made it look easy as they cruised to their respective team titles during
Friday night's Thoreau Invitational.

The Shiprock boys racked up 130 points to walk off with the team title with Ramah a distant second with 69.5 points while Rehoboth was third with 66 points. Host Thoreau placed fourth with 56.5 points followed by Crownpoint 39, Newcomb 33.5, Tohatchi 26.5, Gallup JV 25 and Navajo Pine 14.

The Shiprock girls nearly matched the boys total with 125 points for top team honors. This time Rehoboth slipped into second place with 82 points followed by Crownpoint with 77. Thoreau was next with 49.5 points, followed by Ramah 38, Gallup JV 28, Wingate 23, Navajo Pine 17.5, Newcomb 13 and Tohatchi 3.

Shiprock head coach Al Madera said when he returned back to the track program several years ago he had a plan.

"I wanted to concentrate on the sophomores when I knew we were going into realignment in a couple of years," Madera said. "Now they're seniors. We're trying to get them into events that they'll be competitive in."

Shiprock will be off next week for spring break before hosting its own meet in two weeks with 13 teams expected to compete. The teams scheduled to compete are Tohatchi, Thoreau, Zuni, Newcomb, Navajo Prep, Window Rock, Ganado, Delores,
Colo., Pagosa Springs, Norwood, Dove Creek and Bayfield.

For top individual honors, Shiprock's Benson Billy was the high point male athlete with 24 1/4 points with Thoreau's Michael Lambson a close second with 23 points. Billy posted firsts in the long jump and triple jump, second in the javelin, fourth in the
400 and ran on the winning 800-meter relay. Lambson won the 100, 200 and 400 and ran on the second place 800-meter relay
team. In the girls competition, Thoreau's Cassandra Ping was impressive racking up 30 points, winning the long jump, triple
jump and 400 and finishing second in the 200 and third in the 100.

Shiprock's Billy finished first in the triple jump with a winning effort of 39-7 3/4. Jace Blea of Ramah trailed in second at 37-1.

Billy easily topped the field in the long jump, leaping 18-5 5/8 as Ramah's Austin Clawson finished second at 17-2 1/2.

Billy said he was pleased with his first high point athlete honor this season.

"I hope to do well in two weeks at our meet at home," said the 5-foot-9, 170-pound standout who is still nursing a shoulder
injury.

Billy, who was the District Player of the Year in basletball, also excels as a tailback and linebackler in football.

Thoreau's Lambson swept all of the short sprints, winning the 100, 200 and 400 meters.

Lambson was clocked in 11.42 seconds in taking the 100 with Ramah's Tucker Simons second at 11.94. Lambson also took

the 200 with a first place time of 23.88. Teammate Phillip Elkins finished second with a 24.30. Lambson ran away in the 400

with a fast time of 55.09. Crownpoint's Michael Norton finished back in second with a 56.55.

Shiprock claimed two of the five relays, winning the 800 and 3200-meter relays.

Shiprock posted a winning time of 1:38.82 in the 800-meter relay, beating Thoreau with a 1:40.63. Shiprock breezed to a 9:00.58 in winning the 3200-meter relay. Rehoboth was over 40 seconds back with a 9:42.70.

Rehoboth claimed the 1600-meter relay and 1600-meter medley.

The Lynx turned in a 3:49.46 in the 1600-meter relay with Shiprock right behind in second with a 4:00.99. It was the same in the 1600-meter medley with Rehoboth taking first with a 3:57.87 with Shiprock a distant second at 4:15.90.

Newcomb claimed the 400-meter relay with a first place time of 47.17. Ramah finished second at 47.57.

Shiprock swept both hurdle events, winning the 110-meter high hurdles and also claiming the 300-meter hurdles.

Shiprock's Orlando Walter won the 110-meter high hurdles, turning in a 17.30, beating teammate Terrance Yesslith with an 18.32. But Yesslith came back and claimed the 300-meter hurdles with a 45.06. Newcomb's Jared Yazzie placed second with a 46.88.

Shiprock's Sheldon Benally won the 3200 meters with a first place clocking of 10:44.69, just edging out Rehoboth's Lloyd Yazzie at the tape with a 10:44.77.

Fabian Talley of Shiprock took the shot put competition with a winning toss of 42-0 on his first attempt. Gallup JV's Brian Long placed second at 40-3 3/4.

Rehoboth's Andy Yazzie won the 1600 with a 4:44.04, beating Shiprock's Yesslith who turned in a 4:53.45.

Crownpoint's Michael Norton topped the 800-meter field with a first place time of 2:08.65. Rehoboth's Tim Tamminga finished a close second at 2:09.62.

In the field events, Newcomb's Jerald Yazzie won the javelin with a 157-4 effort with Shiprock's Billy second at 150-4.

Gallup's Long tossed the discus 119-9 1/2 for first place. Shiprock's Talley took second at 117-10 1/2.

Ramah's Jace Blea won the high jump, clearing 5-8 with teammate Austin Clawson second at 5-6.

Thoreau's Cassandra Ping, only a sophomore, picked up three firsts in winning the 400, long jump and triple jump.

Ping, who was taken ill before the meet was over, easily beat the 400-meter field with a 1:05.35, Shiprock's Cita Yesslith trailed in second with a 1:10.26.

Ping also claimed the long jump, leaping 14-8 1/8 with Shiprock's Crystal Frazier second at 14 1/4.

Ping added another first in taking the triple jump with a 30-11 1/2 effort. Shiprock's Evita Martin took second with a 30-6 1/2.
Shiprock won the 3200-meter relay with a winning time of 11:26.71. Crownpoint placed second at 11:34.13.

Crownpoint took the 400-meter relay with a winning time of 57.06. Shiprock was a close second at 58.0.

Rehoboth won the 800-meter relay with a first place clocking of 1:57.66 with Crownpoint trailing with a 2:00.04.

Crownpoint won the 1600-meter relay with a 4:37.33 with Rehoboth second at 4:49.41.

Rehoboth's Jessie Hale scored a double, winning the 1600 and 3200 meters.

Hale battled Wingate's Cateka Tsosie in the 1600 meters before finally prevailing, 5:50.53 to 5:51.59. Hale coasted to another
win in the 3200 with a winning time of 12:37.05, with Gallup's Candace Natachu a full minute back at 13:37.38.

Shiprock's Nicole Rockwell claimed the 100-meter hurdles with an 18.25 with teamate Evita Martin second at 18.44.

Shiprock's Jamie Begay won the javelin with a winning effort of 96-4. Teammate Debbie Phillips finished second at 92-1.

Shiprock's Natasha Dick won the shot put with a winning toss of 29-11. Teammate Tana Roanhorse finished second with a 29-1 1/2 effort.

Roanhorse of Shiprock took the discus with a 94-0 toss. Crownpoint's Melina Manuelito finished second at 83-5 1/2.
Rehoboth's Jenelle Hartog posted a double in the 100 and 200.

Hartog won the 100 with a 13.41 with teammate Millie Charles second at 13.69. Hartog bolted to a 28.20 in winning the 200 with Thoreau's Ping second at 29.06.

Rehoboth's Tara Kamps took the high jump, clearing 4-10 with Crownpoint's Stephanie Powell second at 4-2.

Rehoboth's Naomi Kruis won the 300-meter hurdles with a 53.43 with Shiprock's Nicole Rockwell second at 55.17.

Wingate's Cateka Tsosie won the 800 with a 2:44.41 with Navajo Pine's N. Lewis second at 2:45.09.

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Area in brief

Open house

IYANBITO — The Iyanbito Save the Children will be open during Spring Break and a open house will be held at 4-7 p.m.,
Sunday at the Information: (505) 488-5223 after 3 p.m. or 786-7376.

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Charges stacking up against local auto seller

Andrea Egger Rider
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Court will be held April 2 against a Gallup car seller who is accused of 60 felony charges relating to false evidence of title or registration.

Doug Bishop of Gallup will have to face a magistrate in McKinley County that morning concerning those charges and three
misdemeanor charges of selling vehicles without a dealer's license, according to a criminal complaint filed in Magistrate Court.
Bishop also has to appear at District Court in Santa Fe on another date regarding a restraining order issued to prevent him from selling cars in the future.

New Mexico State Police Criminal Agent Henrietta Soland of Gallup served Bishop the restraining order and the criminal complaint Thursday at Bishop Cars, behind Bishop Optical, 1500 S. Second St. Bishop could not be reached for comment Friday...

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Student suspended after threatening classmate


CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — A fourth-grade student has been suspended from Sunset Elementary School here after threatening to use a gun against classmates.

The threat apparently followed a school lockdown drill Wednesday.

School officials said the student did not have a gun and was not sincere in the treats.

"Sometimes, when we talk to students about something like this, inappropriate comments will follow," said Principal Rita McCracken. "Naturally, though, we take all such comments very seriously..."

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Sports Briefs

GHS booster club meeting

GALLUP — There will be a Gallup High School Quarterback Club meeting Monday, Mar. 26 at 6 p.m. at the Route 66 Doughnut Shop.

For more information call 863-6210.

2-Ball Shootout results

GALLUP — The team of Gabriel Edison and Codi Leslie captured the 10-and-11 NBA 2-Ball Shoot Out title that was
sponsored by the NM PAL, McKinley Co. Sheriff's Office and the City of Gallup Recreation Dept.

Other age division winners were Courtney Cowboy and Rebecca Ortega in the 10-and-11 girls division; John-Paul Fitzjerrell and Eddie Taylor in the boys 8-9 year old division; and Rebecca Malic and Justin James in the 8-and-9 division.

Becenti captures national title


GALLUP — Gallup Bengal Jr. Wrestler Bryon Becenti captured the Rocky Mountain Nationals in Denver last weekend.
Becenti, seeded number two, decisioned top-seeded Leroy Vigil, of Adams City, Colo., 12-0 to win the 10-and-under super
heavyweight division. Becenti reached the title match with a 2-0 decision over Bobby Holguin of Colorado in the semifinals.
Becenti had drawn a first round bye...

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California men wanted in Shonto assault

Jim Maniaci
Dine' Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Two California men face a series of charges in Navajo County Superior Court after an aggravated assault incident March 17 in Shonto, according to the Navajo Nation Criminal Investigations Department.

Art Paz, 24, and Alexander Valera, 24, of Brawley, Imperial County, California face criminal damage, drunk driving and
disorderly conduct charges in state court because they are non-Indians, a Criminal Investigations Department spokesman said.
The department's report did not indicate what happened to a 17-year-old Shonto Navajo boy who also was listed as a suspect.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. at the new Navajo Housing Authority subdivision and Shonto Community School's subdivision. It began when the Kayenta Police District station received a call around 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, of a possible hostage situation there...

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Deaths

Juanita Nez Billy


STANDING ROCK — Graveside services for Juanita Billy, 77, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, March 26 on private family burial site. Pastor Wilson Morgan will officiate.

Visitation will be at held from 1-3 p.m., today at Cope Memorial Chapel.

Billy died March 21 in Grants. She was born June 6, 1923 in White Rock into the Red House Clan for the Sleeping Rock
People Clan.

Billy was employed with Lake Valley School, Crownpoint Boarding School, Standing Rock Chapter, teaching basket weaving and sash belt weaving. She received teaching awards from the BIA Schools. Her hobbies included rug weaving and sewing.

Survivors include her sons, Roy Billy of Thoreau, Ray Billy and Raymond Billy both of Standing Rock; daughters, Janice
Jarvison of Mescalero and Janet Yazzie of Coyote Canyon; brothers, Frank Nez Begay and John Nez Begay of White Rock;
sisters, Bessie Smith, Erma Yazzie both of Shiprock, Lolita Nez Begay of Whiterock, Lois Nez Begay of Denver, and Martha
Alman of San Antonio, Texas; 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Billy was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Billy and parents, Betoniey N. and Mary Manuelito Begay; brother, Ned
Nez Begay and sister, Rita Bailey and son, Frank Billy Jr.

Pallbearers will be Arvil Billy, Emery Billy, Jonah Ray Billy, Marvin Tso, Michael Tso and Watson Billie.

The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services at Standing Rock Chapter.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Gladys Ellison


ALBQUERQUE — Services for Gladys Ellison, 90, will be held 1 p.m., Monday, March 26 at French Mortuary Chapel, University Blvd., 1111 University Blvd. NE. Pastor Lemuel M. Boyles will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE.

Ellison died March 21 in Albuquerque.

Ellison owned and operated Mode O'Day Dress Shop in Gallup. She was a member of Del Norte Baptist Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Patsy Fisher of Albuquerque; sister, Eola Garner of Utah and two grandchildren.

Ellison was preceded in death by her husband, William Laudy Ellison and son, Donald Ellison.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Fisher, Michael Fisher and Tom Fisher.

Don Bryant

APACHE JUNCTION — Memorial services and private disposition for Don Duncan Bryant, 88, were held today, March 24 in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Bryant died March 14 in Arizona. He was born March 5, 1913 in Salida, Colo.

Bryant was an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad for 46 years. He lived in Gallup from 1939 to 1980.

Survivors include his sons James L. Bryant and "Eddie" Don Bryant; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceeded in death by his wife Ruby Bryant.



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