Voters to decide takeover of IHS
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Within two months Navajo Nation voters will
go to the polls for a referendum about the proposed takeover by
a tribal corporation of the huge Navajo Area Indian Health Service.
But in its vote around 9 p.m. Friday, the Navajo Nation Council
left intact the standard approval level needed for a referendum
to pass something that has never happened. Unless changed by the
council when it adopts a referendum resolution, that standard
is a majority of all the tribal registered voters.
Until the upcoming purge of the voting rolls is done in about
a week, there are more than 92,000 people eligible to vote, which
means more than 46,000 must vote yes for a measure to be adopted.
(Those who didn't vote in the 1998 or 2000 general elections must
renew their voting privilege by contacting the Navajo Election
Administration by 5 p.m. April 26.)
After hours of debate, the council voted 32-18-3 to adopt an amended
resolution, as written by Chief Legislative Counsel Steve Boos,
from the Dineh B' Healthcare Referendum Committee.
Boos and Attorney General Levon Henry agreed that the tribal code
allows only legislative acts to be on a referendum ballot.
The committee's resolution simply said, "Shall the Navajo
Nation contract the provision of health care services for the
Navajo people pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education
Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638)? Yes No."
As they did last summer in the council reduction referendum ballot
wording, the tribe's two top attorneys put it in lawyer language:
"Shall the following statute be added to Title 13 Section
4401 of the Navajo Nation Code: The Navajo Nation is prohibited
from contracting health care services for the Navajo people pursuant
to P.L. 93-638. This provision shall become effective May 1, 2001.
Yes No."
Also added was a resolution section ordering the Navajo Election
Administration to identify and make available the necessary funds.
Boos pointed out to the council that the code requires the election
to be held 30 to 60 days after the council's action. The resolution
must still go to President Kelsey A. Begaye, who has 10 days to
indicate his veto or non-veto. (Under Navajo law, the president
does not approve legislation, such as a state governor or the
American president does.)
As the debate in the council chambers raged back and forth, Chairman
Pro Tem Larry Noble repeatedly had to send a Navajo police officer
into the lounge to chase delegates back to the floor to maintain
a quorum of 45 of the 88 delegates.
Resolution proponents also forced Speaker Edward T. Begay to give
up the chair and vote from the floor because he is on the tribe's
negotiating team for the proposed $443.1 million contract with
the Indian Health Service.
Repeated attempts to amend the resolution were outvoted by small
margins as delegates rejected attempts by Ervin Keeswood to include
Boos' language.
Finally Young Jeff Tom reintroduced Boos' language and it passed
by a two-vote margin, 28-22, since 26 votes were needed. He then
easily won a cease debate motion, 44-8, that forced an immediate
vote on the main motion by Bill Yazzie, with a second by Samuel
Yazzie, to approve the altered Dineh' Bi resolution.
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Local search on for chief
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The city plans to conduct its search for a new police
chief primarily in the Southwest.
City Manager David Ruiz said Friday that it makes sense to conduct
the search for a replacement for Danny Ross locally and regionally
at least in the first go-around instead of nationally because of the
unique aspects of the area.
He pointed out that the multi-cultural makeup of the area as well
as the fact that the police department fields some 40,000 calls annually
requires someone who understands the region.
"We have different types of problems here than someone would
face in Eastern cities," he said.
Ross, who has been with the police department in various capacities
for the past 28 years, announced this week his plans to resign June
30 to move with his family to Las Cruces, where his wife has accepted
a job.
The police chief position within the city government is on the same
level as a department director and normally these positions are filled
by the city manager and/or mayor without going first to the city council.
But Ruiz said that it's obvious that the police chief position is
something more than just a department head so he plans to narrow the
list of applicants to three to five names and turn these over to city
council delegates so they can participate in the final interviews
and make the decision.
One problem the city may have in finding a qualified candidate, he
said, is the salary being paid to the police chief. Currently, that's
in the range of $58,000 to $60,000.
"That may not be enough," Ruiz said. "We have to take
a hard look at what we can offer in that area."
He said he hopes that someone can be found to take over by June 30
but if not, the department has two capable captains who can run the
department on an interim basis.
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Irate man loses fight with deputy
Staff Report
GALLUP — A deputy had a gritty battle with an uncooperative drunken
person the deputy was only trying to help.
A dog, handcuffs, pepper spray and a friendly citizen all cooperated
to bring a disorderly man into custody around 4 p.m. Wednesday, according
to a McKinley County Sheriff's Department report.
Deputy Wayne Robertson was sent to the Tropics Bar in Gamerco to talk
to some intoxicated people who were causing trouble. Near the Navajo
Shopping Center, Robertson spotted two men arguing in the road.
Robertson called to them to come to his police car. One man walked
away in the nearby field.
The other man, later identified as Ricky Maniemer, 33, of Tonalea,
Ariz., approached Robertson. Robertson noted the man was intoxicated
and asked him what was going on.
When Robertson asked him for his identification, the man became enraged
and cursed at the deputy. Robertson told him there was no need for
that kind of language, that he was just trying to help keep the man
from getting run over.
The man continued cursing at Robertson. The deputy asked the man to
put his hands on the police car and asked if the man had a weapon.
"Enough to kill you," the man responded.
The man tried to pull away but Robertson put his hands back on the
police car and patted him down. He found a folding knife in the man's
pocket.
He told the man he would get his knife back but that Robertson was
going to hang onto it for safekeeping. Maniemer became very upset
and pushed away from the police car and went into a "fighting
stance."
Robertson grabbed his left hand and twisted it around Maniemer's back.
Maniemer continued fighting, so Robertson took him to the ground.
Robertson got a handcuff on his left hand, but the man continued fighting.
He jumped up and began slinging the cuff around.
In the heavy wind, Robertson waited until he was upwind of the man
and he sprayed him with pepper spray. Maniemer continued fighting,
and Robertson released his patrol dog from the car.
"I'm not afraid of you or your dog. I'm going to kill you both,"
Maniemer said.
Robertson told him twice to get on the ground, but the man continued
jumping around. Robertson released his dog.
Maniemer advanced on the dog and hit him. The dog bit the man's forearm.
Robertson again told the man to get on the ground. He released the
dog.
Maniemer kept advancing on the dog until Robertson tripped him and
the man fell to the ground. At this point, a motorist drove up and
asked the deputy if he needed help.
The motorist held Maniemer down while Robertson put handcuffs on the
right wrist.
After putting Maniemer in the police car, Robertson called for Medstar
and told them his prisoner had a dog bite and had been sprayed by
pepper spray.
An ambulance arrived and took Maniemer to Gallup Indian Medical Center
for treatment. Later, at the jail, the man became irate again, and
jail staff put him in a holding cell to calm down.
Robertson's good Samaritan motorist left before he could be interviewed.
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Bengals turn tables on Mustangs
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — The Gallup Bengals turned the tables on West Mesa, edging
the Mustangs 5-4 Friday for their first district victory.
"I think this time we competed and came through," said Bengal
coach Robert Erp. "The last time we played West Mesa we lost
the game in the bottom of seventh, but we hung on."
In the first innings, the Bengal defense pulled them out of innings.
Bengal pitcher Ricky Luna sat down Mustang Jason Chavez swinging and
Richard Nicasio grounded out to first base.
Mustang Mark Aranda got on base with the ball hitting the first basemen's
glove to get on base, but the Bengals grabbed the last out with Isaac
Gueule flying out to centerfield.
With the Bengals at the plate in the first inning, Luna got hit in
the helmet with the first pitch to get on base. However, Luna leading
off first, was thrown out by the pitcher Gueule for the first out.
Bengal Shane Hargrove doubled down the third base line. A hit between
third and shortstop got Jared Montano on base with an RBI single to
bring in Hargrove.
Andrew Christianson flew out to right field for the second out and
Justin Munoz hit a single. But with Montano overrunning third, the
Bengals came out with only a 1-0 lead when he was trapped in by the
catcher and third baseman for the third out.
The Bengals held West Mesa scoreless in the second and added two more
runs to their lead in the bottom of the inning.
Will Silva led off with a single, Jeremy Lewis advanced Silva on a
bunt and Trevor Thomas struck out looking. An RBI double by Bubba
Saucedo brought Silva in to score and Luna advanced Saucedo on a single.
A triple to right field by Hargrove had Luna attempting to score,
but a throw by right fielder Nicasio threw Luna out at home for the
third out, but the Bengals led 3-0.
Errors in the third inning helped the Mustangs take a 4-3 lead.
Steven Sarracino led off for West Mesa with a hit to third base. Sarracino
was called safe at first when officials ruled that Munoz's foot wasn't
on the base.
Chavez then hit right back to third with Thomas bobbling the ball
to advance Sarracino and Chavez reaching first. Nicasio then loaded
the bases with a fielder's choice bunt that was thrown late to third
base.
An RBI double was hit by Aranda to center field to bring in Sarracino
and Chavez. Gueule then grounded out to shortstop but brought in Nicasio
and David Morales hit in Aranda on an error by shortstop.
The Bengals recovered with Christianson throwing Aranda out at first
and and Willie Lucero got caught looking at a third strike for the
third out.
The Bengals came back and tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the
third.
Montano led off with a single and worked his way to third. He scored
on a two-out single by Silva. Lewis advanced Silva with a single,
but both baserunners were left stranded when Thomas struck out looking
for the second time.
Gallup held West Mesa in the fourth when Dominguez got on base on
a single and Eric Morales grounded out to third on a play at first.
Dominguez then tried to advance to third, but Munoz made the double
play at third for the second out and Sarracino struck out looking.
Saucedo led off for Gallup in the fourth with a single. Luna then
followed and took the first pitch with a single down the third base
line and advanced Saucedo to third.
A sacrifice hit to center brought in Saucedo for a 5-4 lead before
Montano and Christianson grounded out on plays to first for the last
two outs.
Both teams held each other in the fifth inning and Munoz relieved
Luna at the top of the sixth with the Bengal defense holding the Mustangs
and West Mesa's defense retaining Gallup at the plate as well.
Luna was the winning pitcher with three strikeouts, no walks, nine
hits and four runs. Munoz relieved Luna in the sixth, pitching two
strikeouts, no walks, one hit and no runs.
Coach Erp was proud of the way his defense played and how they recovered
from the errors in the third inning.
"We are going to make mistakes and that is just the way we are.
We just have to find a way to overcome them and today luckily we did,"
Erp said.
Offensively, coach Erp felt his team made the right adjustments to
the high winds for some good base hits and line drives.
Gallup (1-6 in district) will finish the season next week against
Rio Rancho on Monday in a doubleheader and Valley on Friday with both
games at home.
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Gallup baseball merger off to promising
start
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
GALLUP — The Gallup Boys and Girls Club has managed to do what
many in Gallup have talked about for several years:
merge the summer youth baseball and softball programs under one organization.
Although the baseball league will run under the AABC affiliation and
the girls softball teams will play based on ASA rules, the city league
program will be headed by the Girls and Boys Club. The change came
about after the rivalry between the two former leagues came to a head
last summer.
"We were approached by community members, coaches from both leagues,
and people that were just interested in doing something different
with the baseball and softball programs here," Bill Hodebeck
of the Girls and Boys Club said. "The Boys and Girls Club is
kid-centered so we're really, really excited about this."
In the past, Gallup's baseball program was split into Little League
and Gallup Amateur Baseball Congress (GABC) with the two leagues competing
for players and fields. Last year, Little League was given the lower
age groups (12-and-under) while GABC ran the upper age divisions...
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AZ lawmakers consider $1M for Hopis
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
POLACCA, Ariz. — Help is on the way for Hopi people, especially
for college-bound Hopi students.
Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. said bills that would appropriate more
than $1 million for Hopi projects are making their way through the
Arizona State Legislature. He also announced that the Hopi Tribe has
established an educational endowment fund that will start paying for
the college education of Hopi students in the fall.
The chairman offered his comments during the National Honor Society
and National Junior Honor Society induction dinner.
Taylor said the appropriation bills for Hopi have passed the House
and await the vote of the state Senate, but he has been assured that
theywill pass. The $1 million includes funding for senior citizens'
centers, Hopiradio and welfare reform.
The chairman praised the Hopi Junior/Senior High School governing
board and administration for running a school that encourages students
to excel academically...
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'Party in the Park' returns for July 4
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — KGAK and the city of Gallup are now beginning to make
plans for the second annual "July Fourth Party in the Park."
"This one is going to be bigger and better than last year,"
said Don Gonzales, manager of the Gallup radio station.
Last year, the radio station decided to put on the event four days
before the July 4 holidays when station personnel discovered that
the city's only plans to celebrate the holiday was to have fireworks
at the Sports Complex.
Gonzales, using the model that its sister stations in Farmington
KNDN and KWYK do there, managed to round up some bands and convince
a number of vendors to come to the sports complex to have an all-day
celebration...
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Window Rock recall begins
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
ST. MICHAELS, Ariz. — Another effort to recall members of the
Window Rock Unified School District Board of Education has begun.
Recall drive members met Thursday night, and then again most of
Friday morning and afternoon in St. Michaels. The leaders of the
effort are businessman Romero Brown, Larry Jim, Connie Silversmith
and Wallace Hanley.
The group's main issues with the four-member board, with a fifth
board position still unfilled, is that it is unresponsive to parents'
needs. Several teachers have joined the effort who are supporters
of Assistant Superintendent Gloria Hale-Showalter. A 23-year district
employee in charge of curriculum and instruction, she was informed
a little more than a week ago that her contract will not be renewed.
In a message left at the Independent, Brown said he supports removal
of the board, consisting of Harold Wauneka, Lorraine Nelson, Floyd
Ashley and President Theresa Galvan. The fifth board member, Pauline
Begay, resigned in January...
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Homicide suspect found
YOUNG, Ariz. (AP) — Law enforcement authorities kept watch
early today outside a series of caves in which they believe a man
wanted in the deaths of his wife and children was bottled up.
About 50 officers gathered at Red Lake Cave in Hell's Gate Wilderness
Area about 15 miles northeast of Young after tips from residents
enabled a helicopter pilot to spot Robert Fisher's sports utility
vehicle Friday afternoon.
Officers confirmed it was Fisher's through the license plate. They
then disabled it. Fisher's dog, Blue, was found circling the SUV,
which was parked about 100 yards from the caves, authorities said.
Fisher had been identified earlier as a suspect in the slayings
of his 38-year-old wife, Mary, and their two children Brittney,
13, and Robert Jr., 10. Their bodies were found in their burned-out
Scottsdale home April 10 following an explosion and fire...
Gallup Invite
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
GRANTS — Long distance standouts C.R. Davis of Gallup and Erin
Lewis of Grants placed first in their respective 3200-meter finals
Friday evening during the first day of the Gallup Invitational which
was held at Grants High School.
Davis won the boys' 3200-meters finals over a runner from West Mesa.
Grants' Gary Louis finished third with a time of 10:21.
Lewis captured top honors in winning the girls 3200-meter finals.
Gallup's Felicia Guliford, who has already qualified for state in
the 800, 1600 and 3200, skipped the 3200-meter race. Guliford will
be running today in the 800, 1600 and running the anchor leg in
the 1600-meter relay today.
Gallup's Brian Long won the discus with a state qualifying toss
of 163 feet while Bengal Crystal Richardson took first in the javelin
with a state qualifying throw of 106 feet...
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Deaths
Lorraine J. Thompson
YAH TA HEY — Services for Lorraine Thompson, will be held at
11 a.m. Monday, April 23, at the First United Methodist Church. Bobby
Boyd will officiate.
Thompson died April 19 in Gallup. She was born in Fort Defiance, Ariz.,
into the Near the Water for the Bitter Water.
Thompson graduated from Gallup High School and Draugten Business School
in Dallas. She was a legislative adviser for the Health and Social
Services Committee of the Navajo Nation Council and was employed with
the Navajo Nation for 33 years, receiving awards for outstanding service.
Her hobbies included cooking, sewing, visiting with family and friends,
watching classic movies and taking nature walks.
Survivors include her husband, Fred Thompson Jr. of Gallup; son, Lance
Thompson of Glendale, Ariz.; daughter, Sherribeth Jameson of Gilbert,
Ariz.; parents, Leonard and Mary Havens of Toh-la-kai; brothers, Vernon
Havens of Dulce and Alvin Havens of Toh-la-kai; sisters, L. Carole
Havens of Casa Blanca and Alberta Lawrence of Phoenix; and one grandchild.
She was preceded in death by brother, Rudy Havens, and grandparents,
Claude and Clara Havens.
Pallbearers will be Darrel Dennison, Ivan Thompson, Alvin Thompson,
Virgil Thompson, Dr. Greg Mikasta, and Jim
Jameson.
The family will receive relatives and friends after the service at
the First United Methodist Church.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Molly Morgan-Yazzie
DALTON PASS, N.M. — Services are pending for Molly Morgan-Yazzie,
94, of Dalton Pass.
She died April 20 in Crownpoint. She was born Sept. 6, 1906, into
the Towering House People Clan for the Salt People Clan.
A family meeting will be held at 5 p.m. today.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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