Activists protest coal mining
NEW YORK (AP) — American Indian activists from Arizona protested
outside the offices of Lehman Brothers on Monday, saying the firm
has invested in a coal mining company that is destroying their
land.
The group of about 30 called for an end to mining by Peabody Coal
Co., an investment of the Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Fund,
for its mining in Black Mesa, Ariz., through a long-term lease
with the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe.
The mining area is near the homes of some of the protesters, an
offshoot of the Navajo Nation who call themselves Diné,
which means "the people" in their language. The Diné
activists are asking that Black Mesa be declared a National Historic
Preservation Site, and say the mining violates their traditional
beliefs and harms the environment.
"I traveled 3,000 miles to be here and to voice my concern
about what's happening to us out there on the land," protester
Glenna Begay, who is in her late 50s and speaks only Navajo, said
through an interpreter in an interview on Sunday. "I want
the mining to stop."
Peabody Coal is the largest coal company in the world, controlling
9.5 billion tons of coal reserves. According to Peabody's Web
site, the Black Mesa mine provided the Navajo Nation and the Hopi
Tribe with $49 million in royalties, taxes and other payments
last year. The Navajo Nation is currently seeking additional royalties
in a pending lawsuit.
"We have been mining on the Black Mesa for more than three
decades, and we do so in full cooperation and conjunction with
the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Tribe," said Vic Svec, a spokesman
for Peabody Coal. Svec said the company has a successful environmental
record and injects hundreds of millions of dollars into the local
economy, while providing electricity to California, Arizona, and
Nevada.
Merle Pete, a spokesman for the Navajo Nation, said he was not
aware of the protesters' actions, but said a substantial number
of Navajo people disapprove of the mining, which he said has been
a staple of the economy in the area for more than 30 years.
"Of course we've heard the concerns and the effect the mining
has had on certain individuals and families," Pete said.
"We still believe that this is in the best interest of the
(Navajo) government and the people."
The protesters bought a handful of shares in the company in order
to gain admittance to the Lehman Brothers shareholders meeting
scheduled for today.
"We need to hold the owners accountable by letting them know
the hardship we live with every day," said Louise Benally,
a Diné activist.
Bill Ahearn, spokesman for Lehman Brothers, said the protesters
were welcome to speak at the meeting but said the firm would be
unable to help them.
"What they want is more of a dialogue with the Hopi and Navajo
people and the Bureau of Indian Affairs," Ahearn said.
"We're very sympathetic and we feel badly for them, but there's
nothing we can do for them because it's not a problem with us."
Organizer Arlene Hamilton said the protesters want to work with
Lehman Brothers to preserve the land, which has been in dispute
for decades.
"We're going to face the corporation and see what happens
tomorrow," Hamilton said.
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Arizona OKs funds to upgrade roads
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Arizona Transportation Board has awarded two
contracts worth $8.6 million for highway construction in areas of
interest to the Navajo and Hopi Reservations.
One contract is for $5.9 million to Fann Contracting of Prescott to
widen Arizona Route 260 from Pinetop-Lakeside to the junction of Arizona
Route 73 Hon Dah on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
The other is for $2.7 million to FNF Construction of Tempe to resurface
Interstate 40 between the Buffalo Ranch and Two Guns interchanges,
plus rebuild a mile and a half of guardrail between Mile Posts 225
and 230 between Flagstaff and Winslow.
In another matter, an annual report says ADOT spent $26.2 million
last year on highway construction on or near the Navajo and Hopi reservations.
The report said ADOT spent $874 million on new or rebuilt highway
construction in Arizona in the fiscal year, July 1, 1999, through
June 30, 2000. ADOT Director Mary Peters said this was the third annual
increase and the fourth in five years, with an average of $639.1 million
for the past 50 years.
In Apache County the past year's work totaled $18.8 million, with
$11.2 million of that on or near the reservation.
It included $3.7 million to replace the Interstate 40 Querino Wash
bridge, $3 million to resurface about 10 miles of I-40 between the
Pinta and McCarroll interchanges west of Sanders and $4.5 million
to resurface U.S. 191 in the Many Farms area.
Navajo County projects came to $11 million, with $4.8 million of that
on or near the reservation.
This included $1.1 million to improve the I-40 interchange at Holbrook,
$1.7 million to resurface Arizona Route 87 between Winslow and Second
Mesa, and $2 million for more resurfacing on 87 between Winslow and
the Hopi intersection with Arizona Route 264.
In Coconino County, ADOT spent $47.9 million, mostly on the interstate
connecting I-40 to Phoenix, with $10.2 million on reservation routes.
Work on or near the reservation included $6.4 to widen U.S. 89 from
Flagstaff north toward the Navajo boundary, $2.8 million to resurface
U.S. 89 in the Page-LeChee area and $1.8 million to resurface U.S.
160 east of Tuba City.
Of the $874 million for the year, $491.5 million went to the Phoenix
metropolitan area. The next largest amount, $56.3 million, was spent
in Cochise county in the far southeastern corner of the state, with
$52.7 million in Mohave County in the northwestern part of the state.
Anyone wanting a copy of the full report (Progress on the State Highway
System) should telephone Walter Duering at (602) 712-8015.
ADOT also operates a computerized road condition toll-free number,
1-888-411-7623.
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Sky City opens new hotel, conference
site
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Pueblo leaders say they hope the new Acoma Sky City
Hotel and Conference Center will form the foundation for future economic
development, providing educational programs and services for the tribe.
The leaders made their remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sunday.
The 150-room hotel includes 15 suites the suites have balconies, wet
bars and whirlpool tubs and is connected to the main casino by a three-story
atrium that houses the hotel lobby, the gift shop and offices. In
the center of the U-shaped structure is an Acoma pot-shaped swimming
pool.
The conference center has a seating capacity of 200 and can be divided
into three smaller rooms.
Acoma Gov. Cyrus Chino recalled traveling past the current casino
site in a horsedrawn wagon as a child.
Chino said 633 jobs have been created by the facility and the economic
development will provide opportunities for Native Americans as well
as non-Native Americans.
Head Councilman Ron Shutiva said, "Many nights have been spent
discussing the future of our people and especially our young people
....What you see before you is due to the thought and planning of
these (past tribal officials) people." He also acknowledged the
"female side of the village," the women who have served
on committees.
First Lt. Gov. Gregory Ortiz also thanked the traditional elders.
He said the facility is a product of perseverance, collaboration and
prayer, adding, "As we open this facility we welcome you to our
home."
After the ceremony, Ortiz said the tribe wants to become as self-sufficient
as possible and if it can help other communities along the way, that
is good. Eastern Cibola County has very few jobs available and many
residents commute to Albuquerque each day.
Ortiz said gambling has been a catalyst for other economic development.
Since the casino first opened, the tribe has broken ground for a new
Public Safety Building which will house the new fire department. The
tribe has been able to update its antiquated water system and has
broken ground on a 61-unit housing development.
Ortiz said it has been years since any new homes have been built on
the reservation. Plans are under way for a new Head Start.
Ortiz said much of the planning really began about 20 years ago when
the uranium mines closed. He said, "Our young mothers and fathers
when the mines closed they didn't have any jobs."
He said it was sad to see them have to burn old railroad ties because
they didn't have money for wood. At the same time the mines closed,
Ortiz said the federal government began to cut back on services to
the tribes.
Many residents of Cibola County are concerned that economic development
on tribal land, unlike economic development in the rest of the county,
does not benefit the county because the tribe does not pay gross receipts
and construction taxes.
Ortiz acknowledged that was true, but he said Indian families shop
in town for all of their food and supplies and they pay sales tax
then. He believes the casino and hotel will contribute to the greater
good of the area.
Michael Hibbard is the new food and beverage manager and the executive
chef. He was a chef for the John Q. Hammond Hotels and last worked
at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Albuquerque's Pyramid Building before
coming to Acoma in December.
Teegarden said the craftsmanship at the hotel is beautiful. The Acoma
cabinet crew built the furniture in the suites and the handicap rooms.
"The place has Acoma's trademark on it," Teegarden said.
The hotel was fully booked over the weekend.
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Athletes of the Week
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
The Athletes of the Week for the week of March 26-31 are Grants Pirate
Erin Lewis and Kirtland-Central Bronco Cary Moone.
"It's an honor," Lewis about being named the Independent's
Athlete of the Week. "I'm real surprised, I didn't expect it.
It's just good to know that your hard work pays off."
"Track season is going pretty well. My times keep getting faster
and faster every week and I am looking forward to seven weeks from
now at the state competition," the sophomore Pirate standout
said.
Lewis has already qualified for state in the 3200 meter, 1600 meter,
1600 meter medley and the 4 x 100 relay.
"Erin is a perfect athlete," said Lady Pirate coach Theresa
Dominguez. "She is awesome, a hard worker and all-around a nice
kid. No matter what we ask of her is always gives a 110 percent."
At Saturday's Socorro Invitational, Lewis won the 3200 meter and the
800 meter races. She also participated on the winning 4 x 100 relay
team.
Although already qualifying for state in the 3200 meter in her first
meet, Lewis continues to better her times every week. She won the
event in Socorro in a time of 11:53, more than a half a minute faster
than the state qualifying time.
Now that Lewis is qualified for state, she hopes to meet up with Pojoaque's
Jackie Gallegos, whom she lost to at the state cross country meet
in November by only 12 seconds.
Lewis isn't only happy with her individual performance, but her team
as a whole. She feels that they are coming together as a team and
is proud of her teams second place finished in Socorro because they
only lost by 17 points against a 4A school.
"Our team has come a long way this year and we should do really
well at state. We are looking strong and every girl is looking strong
in every event," Lewis said.
The other Athlete of the Week was Lady Bronco Cary Moone.
Moone was honored at the Shiprock Softball Invitation this past weekend,
picking up the tournament MVP and the Big Stick Award after leading
the Lady Broncos to a 2-1 victory.
Moone was the winning pitcher against Shiprock in the championship
game. She allowed only one run on four hits in the victory, striking
out 10 batters. She also hit an RBI single for Kirtland.
Against Window Rock on the second day of the tournament, Moone pitched
a shut out with only two hits, 10 strikeouts and no walks.
Moone walked away with the Big Stick Award going 2-for-3 at the plate
with a single and triple and one RBI against Shiprock. She was 2-for-2
against Window Rock with two singles.
An early dismissal at Kirtland High School Monday afternoon left Moone
unavailable for a photo and interview.
Miller shoots state qualifying round
Albuquerque Academy Invitational
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — The Gallup Bengal golf team opened up their season
Monday at the Albuquerque Academy golf Invitational in Albuquerque,
and the team was not pleased with the outcome.
"The team did pretty poorly," said Gallup head coach Wes
Shank. "Three of our golfers averaged 100, and when you have
a score that high you're doing everything wrong."
The high spot of the day for Gallup was Edison Miller, who had the
team's best score with a 78. Miller earned one leg towards qualifying
for the state tournament, leaving him needing two more legs.
The legs are decided by the course rating plus eight. The golfers
have to score lower than that to get a leg and three legs are needed
to qualify for state. The score needed to earn a leg at the Tanoan
Country Club golf course was 80.
"I think I did reasonable, but not very well," said Miller.
"I think the course was nice and I liked it playing here for
the first time."
The top team was La Cueva with a combined team score of 305. Gallup
finished with a 390. La Cueva also had the top golfer on the day with
Brian Thornburg hitting a 70.
Gallup's three other golfers were Greg Chavez who shot a 98; Thomas
Heredia, 105; and Edward Rodriguez, 109.
"Thomas and Edison have improved a lot from last week,"
said Shank. "They are 10-13 strokes better than they were a few
weeks back."
Shank said that the layoff from spring break may have been one of
the reasons why the team did not do as well as expected. "They
may have been a little rested from spring break," he said. Shank
said that the team will work hard this week and prepare for Saturday,
when they will travel to Snowflake Ariz.
Heredia had only one way to describe what he thought of his 105.
"Bad, very bad," he said.
Heredia said the greens and sand made the course hard and that he
had problems slicing and chipping. "Those were the two big problems,
everything else went okay," he said.
Chavez, echoed those sentiments.
"Horrible, really, really horrible," he said of his 98.
Chavez said he was having problems with chipping and putting, but
that he thought the course was pretty nice. "It is better than
Gallup's," said Chavez of the giant 27-hole course.
Rodriguez said his round of 109 was the worst golf he has ever played.
"My main problems were chipping and putting," he said. Rodriguez
said he knew what to expect because he is a member at the country
club and has played on the course before. "It is a very nice
course. Gallup is very lucky to get to play on it," he said.
Shank said that the team will spend the rest of the week preparing
for this weekend, and that they have a lot of time to lower their
scores.
"We have seven tournaments scheduled for this (season) and they
are all in April so we will be playing plenty of golf in the next
few weeks," he said.
After Snowflake, the Bengal team will travel to Albuquerque where
they will compete at the Ladera course.
In the girls competition Goddard left with top team honors with a
327. Second went to Academy with a distant 363. Alysson Otero of St.
Michaels topped the individual standings with a 78 followed by January
Romero of Academy and Laurie McNiell.
Gallup did not have a girls team compete in the invitational.
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Taylor calls road-repair list unfair
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Not one of the 22 street projects submitted to the state
for highway funds is in Councilor Shirley Taylor's district a fact
which did not go unnoticed by the vocal councilor.
On Monday, she said her district is being "unfairly targeted"
by a hostile City Hall.
"As far as co-op money, we need a master plan of streets to be
repaired and not let the money be used as a political favor or to
punish someone," Taylor said.
"We had no meeting to discuss this and the (street repair) list
was turned into the State Highway and Transportation Department totally
without my knowledge. This lends credibility to the fact that I and
my district are being punished for questioning things at City Hall,"
she said...
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Gambling tops council list again
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Once again a long agenda faces the Navajo Nation
Council including two competing resolutions about the proposed gambling
regulation ordinance when it begins its quarterly session April 16.
In addition to 16 new resolutions to consider, there will be five
other resolutions not considered (mostly because of a lack of time)
at previous sessions of the 88 delegates, along with the regular "State
of the Nation" speeches by President Kelsey A. Begaye, Speaker
Edward T. Begay and Chief Justice Robert Yazzie, and six other reports.
A minimum quorum of five members of the council's Ethics-Rules Committee
on Friday approved the list from Rose Graham's Office of Legislative
Services...
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Tohatchi man dies in rollover
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — A 20-year-old Tohatchi man died Saturday morning
when he was ejected from his pickup truck on U.S. 666 near Tohatchi,
Navajo police report.
Dallas R. Belone landed about a dozen feet east of a guardrail on
a hillside just north of Tohatchi in the 3 a.m. rollover of a Chevrolet
S-10 with a camper shell, according to the Crownpoint Police District
report.
The Navajo Law Enforcement Department report added that there was
a strong alcohol odor, but no bottles or cans were found in the
vehicle or at the crash site at Mile Post 24. He was headed north
at the time and a passing motorist notified police...
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Gonzales skips court hearing
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
MILAN — Accused embezzler Sandra Gonzales was a no-show for
a pretrial conference Monday.
Her attorney said it was not Gonzales's fault so the court set another
date with a promise that if there is a second failure to appear,
Gonzales will be arrested.
The second pretrial conference was set for 10:15 a.m. May 7.
Gonzales is accused of stealing more than $180,000 in public funds
from the Village of Milan from May 23, 1996, until April 28, 2000,
while she was the village clerk...
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Gallup lawyer says car dealer ‘misunderstood’
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Gallup car seller Doug Bishop simply misunderstood
the requirements of being a car dealer, his Albuquerque attorney
said.
"He never intended to do anything wrong," Peter Schoenburg
said. "It was a misunderstanding on his part."
Schoenburg waived Bishop's arraignment Monday in McKinley County
Magistrate Court, where Bishop was to face 60 felony charges of
false evidence of title or registration and three misdemeanor charges
of having no car dealer's license. Bishop hired Schoenburg last
week.
"He's done everything to cooperate with the authorities,"
Schoenburg said...
Miller shoots state qualifying round
Albuquerque Academy Invitational
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — The Gallup Bengal golf team opened up their season
Monday at the Albuquerque Academy golf Invitational in Albuquerque,
and the team was not pleased with the outcome.
"The team did pretty poorly," said Gallup head coach Wes
Shank. "Three of our golfers averaged 100, and when you have
a score that high you're doing everything wrong."
The high spot of the day for Gallup was Edison Miller, who had the
team's best score with a 78. Miller earned one leg towards qualifying
for the state tournament, leaving him needing two more legs.
The legs are decided by the course rating plus eight. The golfers
have to score lower than that to get a leg and three legs are needed
to qualify for state. The score needed to earn a leg at the Tanoan
Country Club golf course was 80...
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Deaths
Maggie G. Peterson
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Services for Maggie Peterson, 73, will
be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 4, at Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament
Catholic Church, Fort Defiance. Father Martan Rademaker will officiate.
Burial will follow at Fort Defiance Veteran's Community Cemetery.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. tonight at Our Lady of Blessed
Sacrament.
Peterson died March 31 in Gallup. She was born April 26, 1927, in
Black Mountain, Ariz.
Peterson was employed with Fort Defiance Indian Hospital, from where
she also retired. She was an active member of the Black Creek Gourd
Society and the Fort Defiance Senior Citizens Center.
Survivors include her sons, Larry Anderson Sr., Augustine Anderson
Jr., Merle Anderson Sr., Melvin Anderson and Jimmy Peterson Jr. of
Fort Defiance, Ariz.; daughters, Roselinda Anderson of Mesa, Ariz.,
Cynthia Wheeler of Many Farms, Ariz., Bernie Francisco and Melinda
West of Fort Defiance; brother, Bennie Begay of Tachee, Ariz.; sister,
Jean Notah of Fort
Defiance; 37 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Peterson was preceded in death by her parents, Fred Begay and Yealth-Na-Bah
Joe; son, Michael Erwin Anderson; and daughter, Matilda Jean Anderson.
Pallbearers will be Michael Warren, Allen West, Adrian Collins, Eldridge
Anderson, Merle Anderson Jr., Dewayne Anderson, Larry Anderson Jr.,
Augustine Anderson III, Kyle Anderson, and Kevin Anderson.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Saint Dominic's Hall, Fort Defiance.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Ila M. Daugherty
HOLBROOK, Ariz. — Services for Ila Daugherty, 93, will be held
at 1 p.m. April 8 at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Holbrook. Elder
Bassham will officiate. Burial will follow at SDA Mission Cemetery,
Holbrook.
Daugherty died March 27 in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Daugherty served in the Artic region for 19 years, doing missionary
work. In June 1949 she did her mission work at SDA Indian Mission
in Holbrook.
Survivors include her son, Frank Neal Daugherty of Port Lavaca, Texas;
seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Daughtery was preceded in death by her husband, Frank J. Daugherty,
and mother, Cora Cable.
Pallbearers will be Donald Daugherty, Joshua Daugherty, Michael Daugherty,
Nicholas Daugherty, Woody Totton and Jonathan Totten.
Vina Mae Peshlakai-Todacheene
SHIPROCK — Services for Vina Peshlakai-Todacheene, 89, were held
10 a.m. today, April 3, at Crystal Navajo Bible Church. The Rev. William
Irving officiated. Burial followed at the Peshlakai family cemetery,
nine miles northwest of Crystal Chapter, east of So'-Sila Mountains.
Todacheene died March 30 in Farmington. She was born Feb. 19, 1922,
in Chinle, Ariz., into the Towering House Clan for the Salt Clan.
Survivors include her husband, Carl L. Todacheene of Shiprock; sons,
Ronald W. Todacheene and Lonnie W. Todacheene, both of Shiprock; daughters,
Gloria M. Todacheene, Carole T. Foster, Yvonne H. Todacheene, Bernadette
Goodluck-Todacheene and Glojean Benson-Todacheene, all of Shiprock;
brother; Ernest Peshlakai of Black Rock Valley; sisters, Sarah
Peshlakai of So'-Sila, Louise P. Kelly of Fort Defiance, Ariz., Emma
Hastings of Gamerco and Mable Peshlakai of So'-Sila;
11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Nathaniel Pete, Douglas Todacheene, Lemmert Todacheene,
Lenny Mordhorst, Matthew Todacheene and
Travis Todacheene.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Juanita M. Turner
PREWITT — Services for Juanita Turner, 55, will be announced
at a later date.
Turner died April 1 in Albuquerque. She was born Nov. 8, 1945.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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