Olga Hernandez, 5, hugs her sister Maria while waiting outside St. Francis School for their parents to pick them up.

Photo by Nicole Goodhue

---

Delegate wants tribe to grow industrial hemp

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation is thinking about hemp again.

Ervin Keeswood, council delegate for Hogback, is sponsoring legislation to allow industrial hemp to be grown on the reservation.

This comes four years after movie actor Woody Harrelson tried unsuccessfully to get a couple of Navajo chapters to start growing hemp, despite federal laws prohibiting the growing of the plant because it is related to marijuana.

The chapters liked the idea because it would bring income and employment to areas that were economically depressed. But tribal officials, at the urging of the Navajo Department of Justice, would not allow the cultivation of hemp because it is illegal.

Harrelson continues to argue that industrial hemp, which is used to make rope, clothes and a variety of other products, is not likely to be used like marijuana.

In a letter to the Kentucky Hemp Growers Cooperative, a professor at the University of Louisville's School of Medicine, William M. Pierce Jr., explained how much hemp would have to be smoked or eaten to reach an effect similar to marijuana.

This "would require that such a person smoke the equivalent of 10-12 hemp cigarettes, and this would have to be accomplished over a very short period of time. This large volume, high temperature inhalation of vapor, gas and smoke would be difficult for a person to withstand, much less enjoy," Pierce said.

"While a person could choose to use hemp in these ways, it is unlikely that he or she would repeat the behavior, due to the unpleasant side effects," he said.

Keeswood's proposal points out that hemp has long been used in the United States. The first two copies of the Declaration of Independence were written on hemp.

Until the 1820s, 80 percent of America's textiles and other products were made from hemp. During World War II, the United States encouraged farmers to grow hemp, which was used for parachutes, rigging, ropes and fire hoses on ships.

Keeswood's resolution adds that President Clinton issued an executive order on June 7, 1994, naming hemp as a strategic food source.

"During this time of declining Navajo Nation revenues, the Navajo Nation should begin exploring other means of economic development for its members. Researching or allowing the production of industrial hemp may provide economic development to the Navajo Nation," the resolution states.

But federal or state permits are required and states that allow the growing of industrial hemp had to modify their criminal law codes to make it legal.

The resolution says the Navajo Nation Council also will need to alter tribal law to make it legal.

The council's Public Safety Committee is scheduled to consider the proposal during either next week's regular session of the Navajo Nation Council or on April 24. Both the Resources and Economic Development Committees also will consider the proposal.

| Top |

---

NTUA boss tries to reach staff

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The head of Navajo Tribal Utilities Authority has agreed to try to communicate better with employees who have been sharply criticizing his performance.

General Manager Randall Medicine Bear promised Tuesday to spend more time talking to the 540 employees of the tribal enterprise.

"It's a management communications problem on our part that we are working on and will continue to work on," Medicine Bear said in a report to the Navajo Nation Council's Government Services Committee.

Some NTUA staff had lashed out at him through anonymous letters to Navajo Nation Council delegates recently.

The backlash surprised Medicine Bear, he said, because be believed until recently that middle management was discussing with the rank and file the changes he was making in the operation of the organization.

After the letters surfaced last month, Medicine Bear gathered company supervisors together in Gallup.

"I almost fell out of my chair when 70 to 80 percent of them held up their hands and said they hadn't seen the plans (the new personnel policy)," he said.

He said Tuesday afternoon that he would meet again that night with district and division managers to begin to improve communications.

Medicine Bear said long-time management members "are being asked to perform, to give me reports of the growth trends in their districts." This often was the first time they had been asked to do such things, he said.

"Some of the issues have been dormant for years, back to 1993," he said. "They figured, 'We have a new general manager, so I'll try my grievance again.'"

In the past, the utility often bought its way out of a problem, but, "I will stand on principle," he said.

Medicine Bear said he has an open-door policy, and if people will come see him, "I can give them the true scoop."

He denied accusations from some employees that he is out to get rid of some of the long-time employees. One complaint was that non-Navajos were being favored.

"Of the 10 senior line manager positions (general manager, deputy general manager, three division managers and five district managers) seven are Navajo, two are Indian (non-Navajos married to Navajos) and only one is Anglo; of the seven members of the management board, six are Navajo," William Claggett, director of the management board, replied to a series of questions from Kayenta Council Delegate Daniel Peaches.

"Since Mr. Randall Medicine Bear's employment as general manager (April 1999) there have been no non-Navajos hired into any position," Claggett said.

Claggett explained that of the 71 supervisory jobs, including the 10 senior line managers, only five are held by people (non-Navajos, either Anglo or Indian) who do not meet the Navajo preference law standards of being Navajo or married to a Navajo.

"In the past 24 months, seven employees were successfully promoted into supervisory positions" and all met the Navajo preference standards, Claggett said.

| Top |

---

County reps argue over Thoreau site
Mendoza, Shelly spar

Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A request for a county suboffice in Thoreau developed into a public spat between McKinley County Commissioners Ben Shelly and Harry Mendoza at their Tuesday meeting.

Mendoza also asked at the meeting for an investigation of the company that formerly ran the county adult detention center and questioned whether it deserved the $4 million it received to run the facility.

The spat began when Shelly asked to be allowed to open a county suboffice at the Thoreau Chapter House.

Mendoza motioned to table the request. He said he wanted the liability agreement to be clearer and he wanted more information about the cost of the office.

Commissioner Earnest Becenti Sr. and Mendoza voted to table the proposal and Shelly voted against. After the vote, Shelly chastised Becenti.

"I don't know why you (Becenti) do not support your people," Shelly said. "You're manipulated by Mr. Mendoza. We can make it miserable for him for the next two years, but you're not doing it."

Mendoza threw back: "You already tried to and it didn't work. I will make it miserable for you for the next two years or whatever time you've got left."

The Thoreau Chapter House agreed to give office space to Shelly so he can meet with his constituents. The chapter house will not charge rent and it will assume liability.

"I think the people out there the community deserves closer contact to commissioners," Shelly said.

Before the vote, Mendoza said Shelly failed to get permission to take McKinley County computer equipment and to use county staff to install the equipment. Shelly will misuse county funds if he is allowed to open this office, Mendoza added.

"He's going to want a secretary and an assistant to the secretary. This is just the beginning of it. There's going to be no end to this," Mendoza said. "Who's going to reimburse the cost of the equipment, of installation and of the personnel it takes to install it?"

This is not the first time Shelly has fought and lost support for the county suboffice.

When he went to the Navajo Nation Council's Intergovernmental Relations Committee in February, four voted in favor of the suboffice, one opposed and three abstained. One more vote in favor would have passed the resolution.

George Tolth, from the Baca Chapter House, voted against Shelly's proposal to open the county suboffice. Tolth said opening an office in Thoreau would not be central to the county. The office would benefit only Shelly's neighborhood, he added.

The county courthouse does not adequately serve the Native American population of the county, Shelly argued. An office at the Thoreau Chapter House would be a charitable step toward including native people in the county government, he said.

"This McKinley County Commissioners board, since you (Mendoza) became a part of it, hasn't donated anything to the people," Shelly said.

Mendoza replied, "We can't give anything because you've taken all the money and given it to the jail and juvenile center."

Mendoza has said before that he thinks Shelly allowed the county to pay too much to build and run the McKinley County Adult Detention Center in 1997 and Juvenile Detention Center in 1998.

Earlier in the meeting, Mendoza said he would like the district attorney's office to investigate the company, Correctional Services Corp., that operated the jail from its opening in 1997 to the time CSC left this past January.

Mendoza said he suspects CSC misled the people of McKinley County.

CSC modified the jail and brought in out-of-county prisoners but it did not get the county commissioners' permission to do so, though the contract said CSC had to get permission, Mendoza said.

He said CSC may not have operated the jail in accordance with federal standards. CSC may have charged Bernalillo County less than what CSC charged McKinley County for keeping prisoners at the jail, Mendoza added.

"From my rough estimates, CSC made $4 million on a jail that they were not paying a fee for or rent on," Mendoza said. "I think the citizens of McKinley County are entitled to at least half of that."

Douglas Decker, the county's general counsel, and Mary Helen Baber, the district attorney, will look into CSC's history at the jail, Decker said.

The Juvenile Center also presented a report on its budget and operations at the meeting. Sheriff Frank Gonzales said he expects the center to spend about $600,000 this year. That amount is $200,000 less than last year's expenses.

If the Pueblo of Zuni agrees to send its juveniles to McKinley County, the center may make an additional $200,000 this year, Gonzales added.

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department may license the center as a long-term facility, where juveniles can stay for more than a month, Gonzales said. Right now it is a short-term center, where juveniles can only stay about three days.

| Top |

---

Cibola: No road action

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — Gary Dike has been attending Cibola County Commission meetings for years, trying to improve the roads in Candy Kitchen. Nothing was done again Monday, at least not to his satisfaction.

A subdivision developer whom Dike bought land from apparently said the roads in the subdivision would be brought up to county standards. The developer, however, reportedly failed to bring the roads up to standard and Dike wants the county to press the issue in court...

| Top |

---

Martinez brightens day for Bengals
Gallup rallies in seventh; wins it on two-run single

Alan Arthur
Sports Editor

GALLUP — The day was taking on an ugly tone for the Gallup Bengals early Tuesday afternoon.

The Bengals were down to their last at-bats and trailing the Kirtland-Central Broncos 4-2. Yes, this was just a non-district contest, but a loss to a Class AAA team could have detrimental effects emotionally on a Gallup team that was looking for a strong finish down the stretch of the season...

| Top |

---

Prison owes back taxes
Women's facility tab is $2 million

Staff Report

GRANTS — The women's prison in Grants owes exactly $2,089,673.89 in back taxes, and although the prison was never sent an assessment, that does not mean New Mexico state property taxes are not due.

The women's facility is in Grants, not Milan, as reported in Tuesday's Independent. Corrections Corp. of America, a private company, owns a huge men's jail in Milan. There is a state men's prison also located in Grants...

| Top |

---

Officials: Keep cap on interest

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Navajo economic development officials say the tribal interest rate cap should be left alone, at least for the present.

The recommendation comes despite criticism the past few months of the Navajo Nation's interest rate cap of 18 percent.

A task force established by the Navajo Nation Council's Economic Development Committee had agreed the law should be re-examined...

| Top |

---

Group against Mayes' release

Staff Report

WINDOW ROCK — The Ella Johnson Victims Advocacy Coalition is protesting the early release of former Gallup police officer Thomas Mayes Sr., who shot and killed his girlfriend in June, 1991.

The group named after the victim, Ella Johnson will hold a press conference today in Window Rock to discuss the decision.

The coalition's goal is to abolish or alter the New Mexico Adult Parole Board's decision to give Mayes an early release...

| Top |

---

Monument Valley teams pick up victories

KAYENTA, Ariz. - Monument Valley swept Ganado Tuesday afternoon in conference play.

In a single baseball game, Monument Valley rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to pull out a thrilling 9-8 win over Ganado.

In a single softball game, Monument Valley whipped Ganado 13-2 in five innings.

Monument Valley, 5-9 overall, 3-1 in conference, will host Shiprock Thursday before hosting Tuba City next Tuesday...

| Top |

---

City awards contract for waste plant

Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The Gallup City Council awarded Southwest Contracting Inc. Tuesday with the contract for the first construction phase of a wastewater treatment plant.

At last week's work session, Stanley Henderson, the public works director, presented the council with bid results for project. Southwest Contracting was the low bidder at $4.1 million.

The city took out a loan of about $4.5 million from the New Mexico Environment Department to pay for the construction, but an additional $363,000 is needed to award the contract, Henderson said...

| Top |

---

Deaths

Dwayne Brandon Morris

TOHATCHI — Services for Dwayne Brandon Morris, 29, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 13, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tohatchi. The Rev. John Mittelstadt, O.F.M., will officiate. Burial will follow at the Tohatchi Community Cemetery.

A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight, April 12, at Rollie Mortuary.

Morris died April 9 in Gallup. He was born July 28, 1970, in Gallup for the Lone Tree People Clan into the Weaver People Clan.

Morris was a 1988 graduate of Tohatchi High School. He attended New Mexico State University in Las Cruces and ITT in Phoenix. Morris enlisted in the U.S. Navy serving on USS Holland and was stationed in Guam. He received a Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Battle "E" Ribbon and National Defense Service Metal.

Survivors include his father, Rex Morris of Tohatchi; mother, Mildred Morris of Tohatchi; brothers, Angelo Benallie and Ryon Morris, both of Tohatchi; sisters, Dacia Morris, Michele Morris, Rexanna Morris, and Tracy Morris, all of Tohatchi; maternal grandmother, Alice S. Benallie of Tohatchi; and paternal grandfather, Rex Morris Sr. of Naschitti.

Pallbearers will be Thurman "Chip" Bitsie, Rexson Bryant, Phillip James, Bryan Lucero, Darrell Morris and Marlon Sandoval.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at the Tohatchi Chapter House.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Jasmyne Danielle Garcia

GANADO, Ariz. — Services for Jasmyne Danielle Garcia, 8 months, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Presbyterian Church in Ganado. The Rev. Stone will officiate. Burial will follow at the Ganado Community Cemetery.

Visitation will be held one hour before services at the church.

The baby died April 8 in Phoenix. She was born Aug. 18, 1999, in Phoenix into the Bitter Water People Clan for the Towering House People Clan.

Survivors include her parents, Brenda L. James of Ganado and James Garcia of Crownpoint; and grandparents, Carol Mudman of Ganado, and Jimmy Garcia and Etta Garcia, both of Crownpoint.

She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Billy James Jr.

Pallbearers will be Patrick R. James and Billy James III.

The family will receive friends and family after the burial services at Lucille and Julius Smith's residence in Burnside NHA 154-2.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Bertram "Ross" George

PAULDEN, Ariz. — Memorial services for Bertram "Ross" George, 40, were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in Paulden. There was a private disposition at Bradshaw Crematory in Prescott Valley, Ariz.

George died March 29 in Chino Valley, Ariz. He was born April 10, 1959, in Butler, Pa.

George was a painter and laborer, and lived several years in the Thoreau area. He enjoyed riding motorcycles, and helped with the Special Olympics before moving to Paulden.

Survivors include sons, Jeremiah George and Joshua George of Phoenix; parents, Bertrum and Bonnie Lou (Beilstein) George, both of Paulden; brother, Dan George of Paulden; sisters, Sharon Bencic of Chino Valley and Melody Hopkins of Chandler, Ariz.

Ernest Vigil Sr.

GALLUP — Services for Ernest Vigil Sr., 73, are pending.

Vigil died April 10 in Albuquerque. He was born Nov. 11, 1926, in Cimarron, N.M.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.

Florence Navone

GALLUP — Services for Florence Navone, 76, are pending.

Navone died April 7 in Gallup. She was born Jan. 9, 1924, in Gallup.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Terry Joseph Lee

HUNTERS POINT, Ariz. — Services for Terry Joseph Lee, 38, will be held at 1 p.m., Friday April 14 at the St. Michaels Catholic Church. Burial will follow on the family plot in Hunters Point, Ariz.

Lee died April 10 in Winslow, Ariz. He was born Sept. 11, 1961 in Fort Defiance, Ariz.

Lee attended Many Farms High School.

Survivors include his son, Gary Lee of Hunters Point, Ariz.; daughter, Clara Lee of Hunters Point, Ariz.; mother, Clara Lee of Hunters Point, Ariz.; brothers, Jerry Lee Sr., andMilton Thompson Jr., both of Hunters Point, Ariz.; and sisters, Susie Aragon of Phoenix, Stella Lee and Ruby Hubbard, both of Hunters Point, Ariz.

Lee was preceded in death by his brothers Thomas Lee Jr., Phillip Lee, Andy Lee and Norman Thompson.

| Top |