Police nab 2 robbers after chase
Staff Report
GALLUP — Gallup police, state police and the sheriff's department
worked together early Thursday to catch armed robbers.
Around 3 a.m. a man entered Giant Service Station, 1730 S. Second
St., according to Gallup Police. The man pushed something, believed
to be a weapon, into the clerk's back and demanded cash from the
register.
After the clerk turned over some cash, the man left the store.
A patron of Giant followed a black pickup truck with an extended
cab and camper shell to Giant Travel Center on Interstate 40,
where the patron pulled off and reported the make and model of
the vehicle and the license plate number.
The truck was traveling on I-40 eastbound. A McKinley County Sheriff's
Department deputy began a pursuit east of Thoreau.
The deputy spotted the vehicle in that area and began following.
After the deputy engaged lights and siren, the truck driver increased
speed to about 90 mph, and a high-speed chase began.
New Mexico State Police officers joined in the pursuit near the
Prewitt exit. The pursuit continued until state police put up
a roadblock at the first Grants/Milan exit.
The truck approached the roadblock and the driver lost control
of the vehicle. The truck continued on the shoulder of the road
and down an embankment where it rolled onto its right side around
3:40 a.m.
Driver Deidre Delgado, 35, of Gallup, and Robert Salazar, age
unavailable, of Gallup, were taken into custody and charged with
robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, both felonies, and evading
or eluding police, a misdemeanor. Delgado also was charged with
driving while intoxicated.
During the arrest, some blood from Delgado's injuries got onto
State Police Officer Scott Merrill.
Delgado reported to police that she is hepatitis-C positive. Since
Merrill was exposed to her blood, he will have to be screened
for hepatitis and undergo continuous screening for HIV, Capt.
Glenn Thomas said.
State police found a pouch with an undisclosed amount of cash
in it in the truck. They took the money as evidence.
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Shiprock facility gets rave reviews
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
SHIPROCK — Navajo tribal officials and others who have toured
the nearly completed Bureau of Indian Affairs replacement facility
on U.S. 666 in Shiprock are giving it rave reviews.
"It looks really good inside," said Sally Begay, a business
development specialist with Shiprock's Regional Business Development
Office.
The two-story $4.5 million structure, next to the Senior Center and
close to City Market, has a highly modern, oblong shape. From above
it resembles a thinnish football.
The centerpiece is the two-story, northeast-facing front entrance.
Its use of special glass to beckon sunlight is slightly offset by
an unusual sharp-angle overhang with a large, round hole. They instantly
garner any visitor's attention. Five-by-5-foot glass panels throughout
the building lend to the modern look.
Perhaps even more impressive than the grand entrance is that when
one walks inside the 34,500-square-foot facility, greeting the visitor
is a southwest-facing atrium that runs the entire length of the building.
Walk to the end of it, look straight ahead, and gather a breathtaking
view of the Shiprock Pinnacle, what the Navajos call "tse bit'
a' i," or "rock with wings."
Better yet, the second floor's southwest end allows access to an observation
deck, a great place for future employees and visitors to take in all
of Shiprock.
"Don't forget to mention that you can see the new Diné
College campus," said Jerry Silver, assistant superintendent
for the Chuska-Sahara project team.
He referred to the fact that workers employed by Silver State Construction
Co., owned by Shiprock's own Viviene Tallbull, is laying the excavation
work for the first two phases of a new campus. It will eventually
see construction of a 30,000-square-foot plus building containing
15 classrooms, a library and administrative offices.
Just beyond the new campus construction lies Shiprock High School,
and just past it, Eva B. Stokely Elementary School.
Silver, who's from Tohatchi, said he's proud of the fact that the
BIA replacement facility is on budget, and not too far off its construction
schedule. Completion was scheduled for December. Still, the project
is proceeding at a rapid clip, and those pulling into the paved parking
area immediately notice a large number of construction workers who
are Diné. The same holds true for those working on the new
college campus.
The BIA replacement facility is an example of what positive results
can occur when the federal government works jointly with the Navajo
Nation, project managers have said.
Nelson Johns, project manager for Navajo Nation Design and Engineering
Services, recently said, "The people are tired of seeing square-type
buildings, which represents the BIA."
The current BIA offices complex, which sits behind Wells Fargo Bank,
consists of square structures dating back to the 1930s. The complex
served as Shiprock's first hospital. The main building was condemned
by federal safety inspectors in 1994.
The lower floor of the replacement facility will consist of tribal
offices, including Shiprock Criminal Investigations and the Office
of Vital Statistics. Providing a recent tour, Silver noted that when
one first enters the building, a tucked-away hall to the right offers
a conference room with a three-fold partition.
Visitors will immediately notice the new Criminal Investigations offices
on the right (north-facing) side.
"Let me show you the interrogation rooms," Silver said,
which contain double-sided glass so detainees cannot see their observers.
Other tribal offices on the first floor will be the Department of
Social Services and the Higher Education Scholarship Program.
The second-floor BIA offices will house general education, special
education and facility management offices on the Indian Education
side, and on the Indian program side, offices for natural resources,
real estate and safety.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement facility was on March
3, 2000. Silver said the ribbon cutting has yet to be announced. The
overall site is on 10 acres.
The facility is part of an overall 36-acre site in south Shiprock
eventually slated to contain an identical "mirror image"
tribal complex, a new fire station and a large, $10-million plus multipurpose
recreational facility for at-risk youths, complete with soccer and
softball fields.
The replacement facility is a combined effort of the BIA and the Navajo
Nation. The construction team includes Navajo Nation Design and Engineering
Services, the DLR Group of Farmington, which is the project architect,
Chuska Development, and Sahara Inc. of Salt Lake City, the construction
manager. A number of construction firms were also hired as subcontractors.
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Cibola plans big blowout for birthday
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — In 1981 Valencia County became too big for its britches
and so, on June 19, the huge county split into two smaller counties
Valencia and Cibola.
Beginning June 16 this year, county officials will kick off a two-day
20th birthday blowout.
Andrea Brito, county administrative assistant, is coordinating the
birthday bash which she hopes people will remember. The bash is still
in the planning stages, so anyone with ideas should call Brito at
the main county telephone number, 287-9431, or drop by the county
complex at 515 W. High St. and ask for directions to the county manager's
office.
Cibola's roots date to 1541 when a Spanish map referred to the area
as "la Ciudad de Cibola."
The county was created after efforts of then-State Rep. Walter Martinez,
D-Valencia/McKinley counties, introduced the Cibola County legislation
into the 35th Legislature while Bruce King was governor. Martinez
guided the legislation through the New Mexico House of Representatives
while Sen. Joseph Fidel, D-Valencia/Socorro counties, guided it through
the Senate.
Legislation created Cibola County on June 19, 1981, and on July 3,
1981, dedication ceremonies were held in the then-Grants High School
stadium. At the time Mitch Wells was Grants mayor and he served as
the master of ceremonies.
Guests included not only King, but Eddie Jaramillo, Milan mayor; Ray
Concho, Acoma Pueblo governor; Victor Sarracino, first lieutenant
governor of the Laguna Pueblo; Benny Cohoe, president of the Ramah
Band Navajo Tribe; Robert Armijo, president of the Seboyeta Land Grant;
and Alex Gonzales, president of the Cubero Land Grant.
George Marquez served as the first Cibola County clerk, W.R. Bill
Driggers served as the first county sheriff, Jackie Fisher was the
first county assessor, Bruce Latham was the first probate judge and
Jerry Killough was the first county treasurer.
Clovis Baca, Frank McClure and Bonifacio (Bonny) Chavez served as
the first county commission, which changed to a five-commissioner
format in the 1990s and today, Cohoe is a county commissioner.
Brito said the celebration will begin Friday in the county complex
with a reception honoring the first commissioners and county officials,
a banquet and dance.
At 9 a.m. Sunday, there will be a fun run starting in front of the
complex and organized by the Family Center, Brito said.
Persons interested in the fun run should contact the family center
for additional information and sign-up.
Brito also plans a "battle of the bands" for any band whose
members would like to donate an hour or so of their time. She said
the convention center will be the site of Cibola County "time-line"
featuring items from the past.
There will be games for the kids and everything will come to an end
at 4 p.m. June 17, Brito said.
The plans are subject to change depending on the participation of
the citizens.
Brito said the entire event will be funded through ticket sales and
donations from businesses and individuals. No county money will be
spent on this event, she said.
What Brito needs are people with fresh ideas for the celebration,
bands, items from Cibola County's past (items can be picked up after
the event ends) and volunteers to help with the event, she said.
People who might like to purchase tickets for the dance and banquet
on June 16 should contact the Chamber of Commerce.
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Price pitches Many Farms to two wins
Staff report
MANY FARMS, Ariz. — Junior righthander Lonnie Price hurled a
pair of shutouts, fanning a total of 22 batters in nine combined innings
in leading Many Farms to a 15-0, 23-0 baseball sweep over Rough Rock
Thursday in non-conference action.
"I was pleased with my pitching and the contact we made,"
Many Farms coach Mike Lamothe said.
Many Farms, 5-5 overall, 2-0 in conference, will host St. Johns Tuesday
in a 2A North Conference doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m. St. Johns beat
defending state champion Willcox during the Thatcher Invitational
earlier.
In the opening game, Many Farms blanked Rough Rock 15-0 in five innings.
Price allowed no runs on three hits, fanning 11 and walking two in
five innings.
Rough Rock starting pitcher Johansen Towne lasted two innings and
gave up seven runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Fernando Tsosie finished the game and allowed eight runs on nine hits.
He fanned two and walked two.
Pacing the Many Farms Lobos were senior centerfielder Edwin Bahe 2-for-4
with two doubles; sophomore catcher Leland Wagoner 3-for-3 with two
singles, a double and one RBI; sophomore centerfielder Jerwin Bahe
2-for-3 with a single, a double and two RBI; junior second baseman
Larsen Nez 2-for-2 with a two-run inside-the park home run and three
RBI; and junior rightfielder Colin Tsosie 3-for-3 with three singles.
In the second game, Price hurled Many Farms with a four-inning no-hitter
during a 23-0 blowout that was called due to a sandstorm.
Price picked up his second win of the day, going four innings and
allowing no runs on no hits. He fanned 11 in four innings and walked
four.
Taking the loss for Rough Rock was Fernando Tsosie who lasted two-thirds
of an inning and allowed 11 runs on 10 hits. He struck out two and
walked four. Towne finished the game and allowed 12 runs on 14 hits.
He fanned four and walked one.
Many Farms was led by Edwin Bahe 3-for-3 with two singles, a double
and one RBI; Brian Smith 4-for-4 with three singles, a double and
three RBI; Leland Wagoner 3-for-4 with three singles; TR Begay 2-for-4
with two singles and one RBI; Lonnie Price 2-for-5 with a single,
a double, and two RBI; Lebert Byjoe 2-for-3 with a single, a double
and one RBI; Jerwin Bahe 2-for-3 with a double and an inside-the-park
home run and two RBI; and Larsen Nez 2-for-3 with a single, a double
and two RBI.
Tuba City 2, Ganado 0
Tuba City swept Ganado 15-5 and 15-0 in 3A North conference play Thursday
afternoon.
Tuba City, 12-3 overall, 3-0 in conference, will play at No. 5 ranked
Winslow Tuesday in a crucial conference showdown at 4:30 p.m. DST
before hosting Williams Wednesday in a doubleheader.
"We're sitting real good in the conference," Tuba City coach
Herbert Kaye said. "We're strong right now. Ganado gave us a
run for our money in the first game when they were within one run.
We had to scratch and claw to get a cushion back."
In the opening game, Tuba City starting and winning pitcher Aaron
Norris lasted three innings and allowed five runs on four hits. He
struck out four and did not walk a batter. Michael Tallsalt finished
the game and allowed no runs on no hits. He fanned five and did not
walk a batter.
Norris led the Warriors by going 3-for-3 with a pair of singles, a
two-run home run and three RBI; and Josh Allan 2-for-3 with a single
and a triple.
In the second game, Tuba City blanked Ganado 15-0 in a three inning-shorten
game that was called due to bad weather.
Michael Tallsalt was the winning pitcher for Tuba City, allowing no
runs on no hits. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Tuba City's leading hitters were Michael Tallsalt with a first inning
grand slam home run along with a single, a sacrifice fly and six RBI;
James Justice 2-for-2 with a pair of singles; Aaron Norris 2-for-3
with a single and a double; David Greeson 2-for-3 with two singles
and Roy Dallas with a two-run inside-the-park home run.
Rock Point at Pinon cancelled
The scheduled doubleheader between Rock Point and Pinon was cancelled
as Rock Point was unable to field a team.
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Audience supports RMCH at public meeting
But county, newspaper take hits
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The McKinley County Commission as well as the Gallup
Independent should stop saying bad things about those who are running
the Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital.
That was the opinion of many hospital officials who spoke out at a
public meeting to answer questions about the operation of the hospital.
Among the subjects discussed were those controversial bonuses, spending
policies and the general subject of county officials spreading inaccurate
information about the hospital.
Most of the people who attended the meeting were associated in one
way or another with the hospital, but almost all of those from the
public sector seemed to agree that the hospital and especially its
administrator, David Baltzer, had not been treated fairly by either
the county commission or the newspaper...
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Skrelunas told to make choice
Job or family?
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — By Monday it will be known whether Tony Skrelunas
will choose his family over his job.
The Economic Development Division director has received an order from
Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye to either return to Window Rock
five days a week as division director or, as Chief of Staff Derrick
Watchman put it, "choose to move on to other opportunities."
On Thursday Watchman filled in for the president in a brief executive
session report to the Economic Development Committee during which
Begaye's edict was relayed to the Legislative Branch's oversight panel.
After the 10-minute closed-door session Watchman said the decision
could be relayed to the committee Monday.
Begaye was in New York City about the tribe's two-year $3 million
grant to open 10 new Boys and Girls Clubs on the reservation...
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Laguna firm gets contract
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Laguna Industries (LII) has been awarded a $30 million
government contract to build a sophisticated communications unit
for the Department of Defense.
John "Chris" Ahmie, the company's chief executive officer,
said the contract is for $30 million, if all options are exercised,
which will be awarded over three to five years. LII is a subcontractor
to General Dynamics Communication Systems, formerly known as GTE.
Ahmie said the company is already under contract for 129 units over
the next couple of years.
LII opened about 14 years ago after the pueblo-owned uranium mine
closed. The company specializes in the manufacture of sophisticated
mobile communications units for the Department of Defense. Ahmie
said the company currently manufactures four different types of
units for the Army...
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Navajo film gets world screening
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — First Northern Arizona University, then
South Africa for Bennie Klain's documentary film, "Return of
Navajo Boy."
The one-hour documentary, funded by Native American Public Telecommunications
(NAPT), will be shown at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the DuBois Center
Ballroom at Northern Arizona University. The screening is free.
"Return of Navajo Boy" has also been selected for screening
at the prestigious INPUT Conference in Cape Town, South Africa,
April 29-May 5. This is an annual showcase of the best in public
television programming from throughout the world.
"The Return of Navajo Boy" chronicles an extraordinary
chain of events in the life of a Navajo family, the Clys. It begins
with the reappearance of a reel of film shot in the 1950s in which
this family is featured. The film traces the saga of how the rediscovered
1950s film reel led to the emotional return of a long-lost brother
to his Navajo family...
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Navajos on Hopi land face ouster
High court upholds suit
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear
an appeal of a 13-year-old lawsuit that used religious grounds to
challenge the pending relocation of about 100 Navajos living on
Hopi tribal land.
Hopi leaders praised the high court's decision Monday in the Jenny
Manybeads lawsuit, saying Navajos who have not signed lease agreements
with the Hopis now face "imminent eviction."
"This is an historic and hopefully healing day for the Hopi
Tribe," Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Lodge declined to comment on the
Hopi call for immediate evictions. He said the legal process paving
the way for evictions has been under way since last year and will
take time...
Pinon punishes Rock Point, 36-1
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
ROCK POINT, Ariz. — High winds didn't keep the Pinon Lady Eagles
from punishing Rock Point in one game, 36-1.
Both teams played only one game in the doubleheader due to the conditions
of the weather.
The Lady Eagles scored more than half of their runs in the first
inning alone, with 20 runs before the third out was finally made
by Rock Point.
"We didn't hit real good against Winslow,"said Pinon coach
Mark Hall."So I told the girls this wasn't a conference game
so I wanted them to come in swing."
"I think this was a real confidence booster for them in hitting,"Hall
added...
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Deaths
Cody Riley Lee
TSAYATOH — Funeral services for Cody Riley Lee, 7, will be held
at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 7, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Burial
will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at 4 p.m. today, April 7. A rosary will be
recited at Cope Memorial Chapel.
Lee died in San Antonio, Texas. He was born Dec. 11, 1993, in Rehoboth
into the Red Running into the Water for the Blacksheep Clan.
Lee was a first grader at Turpen Elementary. He was a cowboy at heart,
enjoying basketball, rodeos, football, riding horses, and was good
helping at chores.
Survivors include his parents, Paul Lee Jr., and Anita Marinez; brother,
Shane Marinez; sisters, Pamela Martinez and Cheyenne Lee; grandparents,
Louise Long, and Josephine andPaul L. Lee Sr.
Lee was preceded in death by his grandfather, Robert Long Sr.
Pallbearers will be Robert Long Jr., Peterson Long, Jayson Long, Thomas
Long Sr., Paul Long Sr., and Jay W. Long.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Tsayatoh Chapter House.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mabel Coho
PINEHILL — Services for Mabel Coho, 92, will be held at 10 a.m.
Saturday, April 7, at Sand Mountain Church of the Nazarene. Pastor
Herman Nells will officiate. Burial will follow on private family
land, Pinehill.
Coho died April 3 in Albuquerque. She was born March 10, 1909, in
Ramah into the Apache Green Meadow Clan for the Bitter Water People
Clan.
Coho was a rancher, sheep herder, farmer, rug weaver and horse trainer.
Survivors include her son, Ken Martine of Gallup; daughter, Edna Henio
of Pinehill; brother, Kee Tso Coho of Pinehill; sisters, Zonnie Chattto,
Katie C. Henio and Elizabeth Martine, all of Pinehill; 19 grandchildren
and 28 great-grandchildren.
Coho was preceded in death by parents, Patricio and Yichi'ni bah Pino
Coho; son, Jim Martine; and brothers, Chavez P.
Coho, Fred Coho and Jack Coho.
Pallbearers will be Randall Chapo, Calvin Henio, Dennison Henio, Dewayne
Martine, Furlin Martine and Gary Martine.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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