National eye on reporters
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Today's Washington Post "Media Notes"
column, written each Monday by Post journalist Howard Kurtz, describes
a criminal allegation made by a Navajo Times reporter against
an Independent reporter.
The accusation comes from Navajo Times reporter Marley Shebala,
who has alleged that Independent reporter Jim Maniaci stole her
notes April 12 when both were covering pretrial criminal proceedings
against the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors.
In an Independent story Saturday, Shebala said she pursued Maniaci's
arrest because of an "ethical" issue involving reporters'
needs to demonstrate a high standard of conduct. Maniaci said
that Shebala's notes, which were placed in his satchel, either
could have been "planted" there, or if placed there
by himself, was done accidentally.
In today's "Media Notes" column, Kurtz describes the
event toward the end of his column, under the subheading, "Mistake
or Misdemeanor?" The main headline for the column is "100
Days and a Million Pie Charts," which reflects on President
George W. Bush's first 100 days in office.
Maniaci said Kurtz interviewed him for about 15 to 20 minutes
about the events of April 12. Shebala, who said she has never
before had any trouble of any kind with Maniaci, was also interviewed
by Kurtz. Each was given a one-paragraph series of quotes attributed
to them by Kurtz, with Maniaci going first about Shebala's notes
ending up in his satchel.
Maniaci's quotes and attribution by Kurtz are: "I don't know
whether someone planted it there or I just absent-mindedly, inadvertently
grabbed it," says Maniaci, who is not Indian. "She (Shebala)
wouldn't even give me a chance to talk ... I don't want her notes.
I did apologize. It was obviously an honest mistake. It was in
the outside flap (of the bag) where the whole world could see
it."
Shebala's quotes and attribution by Kurtz are: "Shebala,
a Navajo, has a different view, saying, 'I was upset and I told
him (Maniaci) he was lower than scum. That was really unethical.
Fine, we're in competition, but you don't have to go that far
to steal someone else's material. It took a lot of work to get
that information.'"
Maniaci was arrested and spent two hours in a tribal jail holding
facility following the incident. He said he was not able to get
in a word edge-wise with tribal police while Shebala demanded
his jailing.
Shebala's boss, Navajo Times Managing Editor Duane Beyal, told
the Independent Friday that he does not support Shebala's pursuit
of criminal charges against Maniaci.
Maniaci is facing arraignment in an Apache County, Ariz., court
in Sanders on a misdemeanor theft charge. The tribal police report
on his arrest wasn't made available to the media until early last
week.
An arraignment date has yet to be scheduled.
The issue was not mentioned in Kurtz's weekend media content show
that airs on CNN, "Reliable Sources."
Kurtz's "Media Notes" column can be accessed on the
Internet by first typing in www.washingtonpost.com. When the Post's
main web page appears, toggle to the right side of the screen,
where a search option next to a red "GO" button allows
a subject to be typed. Type "Howard Kurtz," and click
"GO."
A new link will pop up a new screen, with "Media Notes"
at the top, and news articles by Kurtz underneath. Click on "Media
Notes." The next new screen will list columns in chronological
descending order. Click the second option, "100 Days and
a Million Pie Charts."
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Sheriff's canine team to receive medal
of valor
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A deceased police dog and his handler are receiving
the medal of valor from a national association this summer.
McKinley County Sheriff's Department Deputy John Trevor-Smith will
receive the honor for his work and that of his German shepherd dog,
Robo, who died last year, from the North American Police Work Dog
Association in Wisconsin on June 23.
When he heard he was getting the award, Trevor-Smith had mixed emotions.
"It brought back all the emotions and pain I went through when
Robo got poisoned," he said.
The national association is the same one which certified Robo and
Rudy, Trevor-Smith's new dog, as police dogs.
Association master trainer Matt Devaney, who is also canine training
coordinator for the U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso, nominated the team
for the award after he heard about a gritty fight with an intoxicated
man in February 1999.
Trevor-Smith stopped a man who was urinating at the side of the road
on County Road 1 when the man took off in his truck, and a pursuit
ensued. The chase turned into a foot pursuit when the man pulled off
the road.
Trevor-Smith and Robo followed him, and the man, who was hiding behind
a tree, jumped out and fought Trevor-Smith to the ground. Robo bit
him on the left leg, and the man kicked the dog in the ribs.
The man stopped fighting for a moment, and Trevor-Smith bent to handcuff
him. Just then, the man lunged at Robo and grabbed his collar in a
choke hold.
Robo was able to bite the suspect in the neck. Trevor-Smith began
hitting the man with his baton to get him to stop choking Robo.
Finally, the deputy took off Robo's collar. Then the dog bit the man
in the kidney area and ended the fight.
Other deputies finally arrived and helped to subdue the suspect.
"This goes over the top in protecting the handler," Trevor-Smith
quoted Devaney as saying when he heard of the incident.
"It's unbelievable for someone of his caliber to say this is
worthy of the award," Trevor-Smith said of Devaney.
Attacking the suspect showed loyalty of a police dog for his owner,
especially when the dog was being attacked himself. The dog also probably
saved the suspect's life.
"Pulling the suspect off of me prevented me from having to use
my firearm," Trevor-Smith said.
Robo died a year after this incident.
"It hurts just thinking about it," Trevor-Smith said.
Robo was poisoned when police believe a man who had been arrested
for drugs and a warrant for harboring fugitives threw some antifreeze
into Trevor-Smith's yard near Robo's food bowl in October 1999.
The next day, Robo was staggering around and was obviously ill. Trevor-Smith
rushed him to Red Rock Animal Hospital, where Dr. Ken Podkonjak determined
he had ingested antifreeze.
Later, a deputy said they had seen the suspect the day before throw
something over Trevor-Smith's fence. He ran away before he could be
questioned.
Podkonjak kept Robo in the hospital for several days, and he told
Trevor-Smith he was going to have to give the dog a medical retirement.
That's when Trevor-Smith got his new dog, a malinois, named Rudy.
Trevor-Smith kept Robo as a pet, but his health kept deteriorating
until February 2000, when he died of stomach problems while being
rehabilitated in Artesia.
"Robo was my partner. I would've done anything for that dog.
He's one of my kids," Trevor-Smith said.
Capt. Donna Goodrich said she's very happy that the team won the award.
"He did a lot of great work while he was here," she said
of Robo.
Goodrich added that she considered him a "gentleman dog,"
and that he was always very gentle with school children when Trevor-Smith
and Robo did demonstrations at the schools.
"It was a great loss to the department, myself and the other
canine officers when he died," Goodrich said.
Either Goodrich or Sheriff Frank Gonzales will accompany Trevor-Smith
to Wisconsin when he obtains the award June 23, she said.
It was a long time after Robo's death that Trevor-Smith was willing
to talk about it.
"I miss him so much," Trevor-Smith said. "It really
hurts."
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Ruling due May 10 on Ortiz's job
Commission rates manager
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — May 10 will be decision time for Cibola County Commission
members on whether they want to keep Bob Ortiz as county manager and
at what salary.
Ortiz, 50, who has been county manager for about two years, underwent
an evaluation Friday.
On a 20-question scale of 0-100, Commissioner Isaac Padilla rated
Ortiz the highest with 97 points, Commissioner James Meisner rated
him second highest with 94 points, Commissioner Fred Scott gave him
52.5 points, Commissioner Bennie Cohoe was next with 45 points and
Commissioner Arturo Candelaria gave Ortiz the lowest rating with 19.
With the exception of Candelaria, the rest of the commissioners made
comments on some of the questions.
Ordinarily a base-line is established with criteria set for managers
to meet and after a year the individual is evaluated to see how well
he or she meets the objectives.
Ortiz did not overlook the point, saying, "I was rated without
the opportunity to meet criteria."
Ortiz addressed some issues brought up on the evaluations.
One area was employee morale and discipline, under which Candelaria,
Scott and Cohoe rated Ortiz low and Padillia and Meisner gave him
high ratings.
Ortiz said he has direct control over 30 employees and the rest of
county workers are under supervision of other county department heads
and elected officials.
One of Ortiz's first objectives was to make county employees accountable
for their jobs and accountable to the public and taxpayers they serve.
"I believe there are a number of employees not happy because
I made them accountable," Ortiz said, adding that some of the
employees went to individual commissioners to complain and each story
has two sides. "No one (commissioners) has approached me to ask
my side."
Another area of concern by Candelaria, Scott and Cohoe involves financial
management. Ortiz said while department heads stay focused on fiscal
responsibility for individual departments, the county manager must
demonstrate a holistic view of the county encompassing all departments.
He cited an example of a department head cutting the day short on
the day before a holiday last year. Ortiz stopped the employees from
leaving early, saying such a decision was one that should be made
by the commission, not by a department head.
Under the area of communications, Cohoe said Ortiz needs improvement
and the county manager agreed. He suggested he could develop a county
manager's report to be given all commission members on a regular basis.
Handing each commissioner a copy of state statutes concerning duties
of the elected boards, Ortiz said as a body the commission has the
authority to delegate action when in session, but not as individual
commission members.
No 'good old boys'
To that end Ortiz talked about the old patron system, which he also
referred to as the "good old boy" system in which one commission
member holds the ultimate power and dictates to the other commissioners
"how things are going to be," Ortiz said.
The other form of county government is one in which the commission
takes action as a body and the county manager carries out the action.
Addressing the patron system of government, Ortiz said, "As a
society we are moving away from that. I think as a state we are moving
away from it."
Ortiz said the commission could move toward a patron system, but,
he added, "If that's the case, and I'll tell you tonight, then
you do need someone else to manage this county." Because the
commission meets to discuss public business and spend public money,
issues must be done in the open.
Cohoe agreed that the county does not need a patron system of government.
Scott said Ortiz removed "a lot of the power away from us (county
commissioners)." Scott cited the case of an elderly man in his
district who needed to have a hole in his street filled.
Ortiz said he stopped the road department from the action requested
by Scott. "If you do it for him, then you have to be prepared
to do it for everybody," Ortiz said. "Did I tell the road
department not to do it? Sure, because it violates the constitution
of the state."
Candelaria said he gave Ortiz a zero on one of the questions about
open channels of communications because "many times I come to
talk to you and you don't have the time (to discuss matters)."
Ortiz said Candelaria's statement is not an accurate conclusion.
"I have been there a few times and you have kept the door closed,"
Candelaria responded. "That's my comment."
Ortiz said there are times when he is on the telephone and if the
door is closed, then the commissioners should open it.
Meisner and Padilla said they view the evaluation as a "starting
point" to see how well Ortiz performs. County attorney Ted Howden
said the commission needs to make a decision because the county manager's
contract is set to expire soon.
Cohoe said the intent of the commission is to strike a mutual agreement
to run county government and to serve the wishes of the constituents.
The commissioners set the special May 10 meeting, when Oritz will
be offered a new contract or not offered one.
Support for Ortiz
Several county residents at the meeting spoke in behalf of Ortiz.
Gary Martin said the county does not need the "good old boy"
system. He told Scott that it may be fine to fill a street hole for
a constituent, but once he has it done, the requests will keep getting
larger and larger and after a while, "Everyone will want to know
how we got into such a mess filling ditches ... it started very low
with breaking the rules and keep breaking them."
Jamie Holton said she is a citizen who "appreciates Mr. Ortiz
taking care of my tax dollars." She also said, "If I were
one of the commissioners I'd be happy that he (Ortiz) was keeping
me from committing an illegal act."
Grants City Councilor Shirley Taylor said she appreciates Ortiz's
stance on maintaining open records and open meetings.
"As you all know, I am a strong advocate of involving the public
in government and I think you're very lucky to have someone that's
quite talented whose motivation is to follow the law and not find
ways around it," Taylor said.
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Lynx, Mustangs top district field
District 6A Track Meet
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — It was a showdown between Ramah and Rehoboth for the
District 6A title during the district meet at Public School Stadium
on Saturday.
The Lady Lynx took home the girls district championship and the Mustangs
edged out Rehoboth for the boys championship.
Rehoboth picked up the girls title with 105 points, ahead of Ramah
second with 93, Pine Hill third with 45 and Gallup Catholic fourth
with 19. In the boys competition, the district champion was not determined
until the final event as Ramah finished with 106 points, barely beating
second place Rehoboth who finished with 104.5 points. Gallup Catholic
finished third with 45 and Pine Hill came in fourth with 16.5.
"We did pretty good," said Rehoboth head coach Don Tamminga.
"We did pretty much what we have been doing all year long. We
did just as well as we expected to."
Tamminga said that the Lynx competed against Ramah as close as they
have all year in the boys division, and that both teams look ready
for state.
"Looking ahead to next week the teams look very good," he
said. "I don't want to be too optimistic, but I think we are
ready."
The Class A-AA New Mexico State Meet will be held in Albuquerque Friday
and Saturday.
Though the Lynx have not had a chance to go up against most of the
teams that will be at state, Tamminga said that his athletes will
be able to see how they are stacked up against the other athletes
in their class on Monday or Tuesday when the qualifying times from
the district meets are posted on the NMAA website.
"But that doesn't always tell the story," he added.
"A lot of the athletes did a marvelous job," Tamminga added
of some of his athletes at the district meet.
Ramah head coach Irvin Jones said he thinks his teams did very well.
"I am extremely pleased with the boys team," he said. "At
the end I thought we had lost to Rehoboth by a point but then found
d out we won. It was pretty exciting."
Jones said that he has several superb athletes on his teams that participate
in four or five events at every meet.
One athlete, Tucker Simons was mentioned by Jones because he qualified
for state in too many events, and now has to decide which ones he
will compete in. Athletes can only compete in a maximum of five events
at the state meet.
Simons qualified for state in the javelin, the 100 meter dash, the
4 x 100 relay, the 4 x 200 relay and the 4 x 400 relay. He took second
in the triple jump in the district meet to qualify for state. Simons
finished with a 38-3 1/4 jump behind only behind Andy Yazzie of Rehoboth
who jumped 38-4.
One big surprise for Jones at the district meet was in the 4 x 100
girls relay when Juanita Antonio, Emily Koelbel, Ashley Davis and
Dawnee Berson finished first with a time of 57.15. Finishing two seconds
behind was Gallup Catholic.
"We never won that race all year," Jones said. "And
then to go and win it in district was pretty surprising."
Jones said that all of the Mustangs meets this year have been against
area teams, so they have not seen most of the competition they are
up against.
"I have talked to some of the other coaches," Jones said.
He also said that the team took last year's championship times and
compared them with the team's times this year.
"Tucker ran the 100 in 11.36 last week and last year's winning
time was 11.37," Jones said.
Jones said that he predicts a top four finish for the Mustang boys,
and that the girls should finish respectably.
"We have 11 girls in seven events this year. That's more than
last year," he said. Jones said that there are nine boys in 14
different events this year.
Gallup Catholic had coach Phil Duwane said that he thinks his athletes
did very well at the district.
"We are doing very well," he said. "We are peaking
at the right time."
Duwane said that this year's teams had their best finish in district
since the Panthers started a track program since the school reopened.
"Right now we are trying to get the program back together and
all of the athletes are working very hard."
The Panthers were able to qualify five athletes including district
champions Mike Estrada in the high jump (5'10") and Bryan Sparks
in the shotput with a 38-1 throw. Sparks also qualified in the discus,
finishing with a throw of 102-8 1/2 behind Wes Mallery of Ramah, who
threw the discus 120-11.
Pine Hill head coach John Brooks said that he believes his young team
had a good district meet.
"We have a lot of young students out for track this year,"
he said. "It is tough with such a young team, but they have exceeded
my expectations from the first meet on."
Brooks said that this year helped his young athletes gain valuable
experience, and that this is the first time running for several of
them.
"We have a strong base of eighth and ninth graders and that will
only help us in the future," Brooks said. "It gives us a
good foundation for the future."
Brooks said that Shay Raphaelito, a junior, did well qualifying in
five events, including the two hurdle events with second place district
finishes in both. Raphaelito finished with a time of 20.03 in the
100 meter hurdles behind an 18.70 time from Ramah's Juanita Antonio
and then finished with a 56.72 time in the 300 meter hurdles behind
Naomi Kruis' time of 52.72.
Brooks also mentioned that Kaytrina Raphaelito, who qualified for
state in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs is and eighth grader.
"That shows the amount of hard work she put in to qualify in
those two distance events," he said.
| Top |
Bengals place third
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
RIO RANCHO — The Gallup Bengal boys and girls placed both placed
third place out of six schools at the Rio Rancho Invite on Saturday
afternoon.
"It was prom weekend and that is what the kids had on their mind,"said
Bengal coach Sielschott."We had to do with what we had, but it
was also prom for the other schools too so we were all pretty much
equal."
Top finishes for the boys in the running events were Maurice Guilford
taking first in the 400-meter in a time 51.7. In the 3200- and 1600-meter,
C.R. Davis captured victories in both with times of 9:58 and 4:37.
Zack Koerber had first places finishes in the long jump and high jump.
He had a jump o 20'3 in the long jump and 5'10 in the high jump. Brian
Long won the discus with a 135'7 throw...
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Leupp parade honors children
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
LEUPP, Ariz. — Despite extremely windy weather, a recent parade
in Leupp brought out more than 200 people to honor the area's children.
Cora Phillips, supervisory social worker for Navajo Division of Social
Services in Leupp, said the parade proceeded despite the wind because
the youth showed a high level of energy. After the parade, the marchers
were treated to a cookout of hot dogs, mutton, chips and punch.
Supportive residents huddled in their cars along the parade route
to watch the children.
The parade was set up through Leupp public schools. Kent Walker Jr.,
an eighth grader, served as grand marshal after drawing the logo for
the parade...
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Grants qualifies more athletes
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
BELEN — The Grants Pirates boys took the third place at the
Belen Invite and the Wingate boys and girls both finished last place
at the Los Alamos Invite this past weekend.
Grants boys
A depleted Pirate team placed third at the Belen Invite Saturday.
The Pirates placed third with 115 points. Belen took first with
139 and Los Lunas followed with 133 points.
"Overall I am pleased with the third place finished,"
said Pirate coach Vandiver. "We had some boys out with communion,
visiting colleges and other things."
Grants qualified two more athletes for next week's state meet this
weekend adding to its total of six in seven events...
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Tuba City suffers breakdown during finals
3A North Regional Baseball Tournament
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
WINSLOW, Ariz. — Tuba City just had a bad day.
First-year Warrior head coach Herbert Kaye was ejected in the top
of the second inning for protesting a call. Then in the third inning
first baseman Rudy Preston was injured on a play with a possible
dislocated shoulder. And to top it all off, Tuba City pitchers Josh
Allan and Mike Tallsalt had an off day, getting tagged for 14 runs
and 15 hits.
Winslow took advantage of the Tuba City woes and hammered the 3A
North Conference champions and top seed Warriors 14-4 Saturday afternoon
during the 3A North Regionals at Vargas Field.
The Bulldogs will go as the 3A North No. 1 seed for this week's
state tournament that will get underway beginning Friday at the
Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Ariz. All games will be played
at 12 noon Friday. The North No. 1 Winslow will play East No. 4,
North No. 2 Tuba City will play East No. 3, North No. 3 Window Rock
will play East No. 2 and North No. 4 Greyhills will play East No.
1. The second round games for the state quarterfinals will be held
Saturday with the games at 10 a.m. at Peoria Sports Complex...
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Decision delayed in ethics case
Laughter awaits ruling
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Although the Ethics-Rules Committee reached a
decision in the David Laughter case, the former committee member
won't learn his fate until Friday.
During a four-hour hearing Friday, the five committee members announced
that Ron Haven of the Office of Legislative Counsel had to draw
up what the panel wanted as findings of fact and conclusions of
law to support their resolution on the decision.
The committee will vote on the resolution at 10 a.m. Friday, during
its regular meeting.
Laughter is Inscription House Chapter president...
Charges against Bishop dropped
But could be refiled later
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Charges were dismissed last week against Gallup car
seller Doug Bishop so that more investigation can occur before the
case is presented to a grand jury.
That's why Deputy District Attorney Joseph Arite said he dismissed
the charges in Magistrate Court. The case needs more investigation
before it's ready to go in front of a grand jury, he said.
Bishop's attorney, Peter Schoenburg of Albuquerque, couldn't be
reached for comment Friday.
Bishop was to face 60 felony charges of false evidence of title
or registration and three misdemeanor charges of having no automobile
dealer's license. The charges were filed March 15 in Gallup Magistrate
Court...
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Deaths
Abe Yazzie
LOWER GREASEWOOD, Ariz. — Services for Abe Yazzie, 87, will be
held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, at Lower Greasewood Catholic Church.
Father Flann will officiate. Burial will follow at Lower Greasewood
Cemetery.
A rosary will be recited at 5 p.m. tonight at Lower Greasewood Catholic
Church.
Yazzie died April 27 in Ganado, Ariz. He was born Nov. 30, 1915, in
Lower Greasewood into the Red House People Clan for the Honey-Combed
Rock People Clan.
Yazzie attended school in St. Michaels, Ariz. He worked as a carpenter,
a labor construction worker, with El Paso Pipeline and was a medicine
man.
Survivors include his sons, Tony Yazzie and Wilson L. Yazzie; daughters,
Rose R. Yazzie, Susan Edgewater and Mary Ann Yazzie; brothers, Morris
Yazzie and Stanley Yazzie; sister, Alice Yazzie; 28 grandchildren
and 54 great-grandchildren.
Yazzie was preceded in death by sons, Thomas Yazzie, Tom Lee Yazzie
and Paul Yazzie, and daughters, Daisy Y. Curley and Maye L. Billie.
Pallbearers will be family and friends.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Greasewood Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Lester Lee Kelewood
STEAMBOAT, Ariz. — Services for Lester Kelewood, 64, were held
at 10 a.m. today, April 30, at Ganado All Saints Catholic Church.
Burial followed at a family cemetery in Steamboat.
Kelewood died April 25 in Winslow, Ariz. He was born Dec. 3, 1936,
in Steamboat into the Honey Comb People Clan for the Mexican People
Clan.
Survivors include his son, Thomas Kelewood; father, Tom Kelewood;
Kelewood was preceded in death by his mother, Maggie Kelewood, and
grandparents.
Pallbearers were Aldrian M. Tom, Paul Cayatineto, Alvin Tome, and
Ernest Begay Jr.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Refugia Dominguez
ALBUQUERQUE — Services for Refugia "Ray" Dominguez,
90, were held 10 a.m. today, April 30, at the San Rafael Catholic
Church.
Dominguez died April 27.
She was a member of the San Rafael Catholic Church and Sacred Heart
Order of San Rafael. She also was involved with the Senior Center
Board for more than 30 years and the Senior Olympics.
Survivors include sons, Odie Dominguez of Grants, Bernie Dominguez
of Gallup, Eloy Dominguez of Oxnard, Calif., Richard Dominguez of
Grover Beach Calif., Martin Dominguez of Grants and Joe Dominguez
of Grants; daughters, Shirley Gonzales of Grants and Annie Chavez
of Arlington, Texas; sister, Trinne Medina of Grants; 36 grandchildren;
50 great-
grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Guadalupe Dominguez, and
son, Herman Dominguez.
Pallbearers were Frankie Dominguez, Odie Dominguez Jr., Bernie Dominguez
Jr., Christopher Dominguez, Joey Dominguez
Jr., James Gonzales Felicia Dominguez, Angela Chavez, and Kristina
Dominguez.
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