City police call laptops time-savers
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Gallup Police hope getting laptop computers in their
patrol cars will help officers have more time to spend in the
neighborhoods doing community policing.
Lt. Marty Esquibel applied for a $250,000 "Cops More 2001"
grant from the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington for the
laptops. Esquibel said he believes computers will cut report writing
time in half and allow police more time to prevent crime.
Currently, officers spend about two hours per report. Esquibel
believes he can cut that time in half since it's generally faster
to type than handwrite, which is what officers do now, Esquibel
said.
Officers now turn in handwritten reports to supervisors, who read
them and return the reports to officers for corrections if errors
are found. Then the supervisors sign the corrected versions.
Sometimes correcting errors mean an officer will have to completely
rewrite the report to fix any factual errors. That causes more
time to be lost.
With computers, these changes can be made on the computer before
the report is printed.
Computers mean officers and supervisors will have to be trained
in typing and general computer skills. Supervisors will have to
be trained on how to edit the reports on the computer.
But the amount of time saved in computerized reports will be worth
the amount of time needed in training, Esquibel said.
The computers will also have Spellcheck and Grammar Check, which
will help in the clarity of reports, he said.
From July 1999 to July 2000, police generated 14,201 reports.
With double that amount spent in writing the reports by hand,
Esquibel said computers will leave an incredible amount of time
open to prevent and fight crime, as well as allow community members
to get to know police officers.
"If they're used right, it'll save a whole lot of time,"
Esquibel said.
The population of Gallup, growing from about 21,000 during the
week to at least 80,000 on the weekend, is one of the factors
that will help Gallup get the grant.
"That'll give officers more time out in the neighborhoods
on calls," he said.
With more neighborhood associations popping up in the city, this
will allow officers to attend meetings and help citizens work
out criminal problems in their areas.
He added citizens have told him they see police on Highway 66
or the business district but not often in the neighborhoods.
"We're more reactive than proactive. We find out about crime
way too late. We want to prevent things from happening,"
Esquibel said.
By working with neighborhood associations and spending more time
patrolling the districts, preventive measures will be easier.
Esquibel expects the city will get the grant for the laptops because
of its unusual population increases and the amount of crimes reported.
Esquibel said he should hear from the Department of Justice as
to whether they got the grant by June.
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Grants fiesta turnout 'fair'
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Paul Milan, chairman for Grants' Seventh Annual Fiesta
de Colores, said the turnout was fair, given the weather.
In the morning Milan said he thought the Boxing Invitational might
have to be canceled because of the chilly weather.
However, Alfredo Lucero, organizer for the tournament, set his homemade
ring up in the armory gymnasium. Sixty-two contestants participated
in 32 three-round fights.
The youths, who came from all over New Mexico and several Texas communities,
competed in the Olympic-style boxing for points that they hope will
qualify them for state and regional competitions.
Justin Maestas, 13, of Grants and Adrian Vigil, 10, both won their
fights. Maestas won the state championship last week and was voted
outstanding boxer of the state. Lucero said he will take Maestas to
the regional in Pueblo, Colo., in two weeks. He said 9-year-old Andrew
Sandoval fought very well even though he did not win.
The 22nd annual Grants USA Wrestling Tournament was held at the high
school. Coach Rusty Davidson said Ramon Marquez was named outstanding
wrestler for the 11- and 12-year-old category and he is the current
state leader in his division. Sean Smith received a medal in the young
14 and under division. Davidson said Smith and Kyle Ashbaugh, who
is in the old
14 and under division, are both current leaders in their division.
Like the boxers, the wrestlers earn points that can lead them to the
state and regional competitions. Both the USA Boxing and the USA Wrestling
fall under the guidelines of the national governing body for the Olympics
for the sports. Matthew
Esquibel, 14, of Albuquerque who is ranked fourth in the nation by
the Silver Gloves Association, boxed Saturday. The boxers ranged in
age from 9 to 25.
The first-place winner in the parade was the float sponsored by Potter's
House. Cubero Elementary won first place in the youth division and
the Laguna/Acoma ROTC was given first place for a marching group.
Art dealers and aficionados travel to Grants for the Hispanic Art
Show that is held in conjunction with the fiesta each year.
Arlene Cisneros Sena, last year's winner in the Hispanic Art Show,
said the artists enjoy coming to Grants, adding, "We are very
close and we look forward to the small shows, because we can socialize."
She said when she sells out at the Winter Hispanic Market, she tells
many customers she will be in Grants and they can purchase here.
In New Mexico, Sena said Charles Carrillo is considered the "father"
of the santeros, or saint-makers as they are called.
Carrillo, whose traditional santos were exhibited at the show, has
taught many of the santeros the traditional methods of gathering the
clays that are used to make the paints and making the varnish from
the resin of the pinon pine.
Margarito Mondragon, a santero from Las Vegas, said five years ago
when he became interested in the art, Carrillo gave him the recipes
for the materials. Clay soil provides material for many of the colors
and the santeros share the location of the clay deposits with one
another.
Mondragon teaches a one-week class in santos making at Richardson
High School in Las Vegas each December.
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Afflicted youths inspire others
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Two youths who don't know one another but who have both
had cerebral palsy since birth provided inspiration to many visitors
to the Fiesta de Colores celebration Saturday in Grants.
Rusty Davidson, coach for the Grants Wrestling Team, said J. C. McMasters,
17, from Robertson High School in Las Vegas, is an inspiration to
all of the wrestlers in New Mexico.
Arturo Montano, an artist from Abiquiu, said it was his love for his
daughter, 12-year-old Gabriella Montano, also a victim of cerebral
palsy, that inspired his artwork.
McMasters and Montano, who have both had cerebral palsy since birth,
are described by friends and family as happy and they have inspired
those around them.
An avid wrestler, McMasters competes each weekend. Although he has
fully developed upper body strength, McMasters has limited mobility
in his legs which is a disadvantage in wrestling. Davidson said McMasters
doesn't let that bother him.
"J.C. is everybody's hero because he is so happy," Davidson
said. "Everyone in wrestling who knows him loves him and respects
him and we all wish we could be more like him."
Before each match, McMasters says a prayer asking that everyone competes
well and no one gets hurt. On Saturday he was wearing a guardian angel
pin, which he said his mother had given him for good luck. He joked
about not winning very many matches.
McMasters was voted outstanding wrestler for his age group Saturday
by his peers, coaches and the officials. The USA Wrestling Tournament
is an affiliate of the Olympic wrestling committee and the program
is a feeder program to the Olympics. Davidson said it takes more than
just being a skillful athlete to be an Olympian. The wrestlers must
be good students and the coaches stress sportsmanship.
Winning artwork
Montano, a paint contractor, said he had never thought of himself
as an artist, but he had noticed a deer's antlers looked like a natural
crown of thorns and he had the idea of carving the face of Christ
from a horn.
Montano said his wife sent him into his shed to make some Christmas
gifts in December of last year and he ended up creating large crosses
made from scavenged pieces of wood and tin and featuring a figure
of Christ carved from deer antlers.
Montano showed his work to Arlene Cisneros Sena, last year's winner,
and she got him into the show, which is the first show he has entered.
Montano said the crosses were inspired by his daughter and he wants
everyone to know her name.
Darlene Montano said their daughter, Gabriella, was born a twin, but
her twin died shortly after birth. Doctors thought Gabriella might
die too and they encouraged the family to take her off life support,
but they didn't. Gabriella is quadriplegic, but her mother says she
is a natural born clown, she is happy, and she doesn't suffer.
Montano said her daughter does not have the ability to express herself,
but she understands alot, including at times when her grandmother
speaks in Spanish.
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Gallup, Grants netters qualify for state
tourney
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
ALBUQUERQUE — Erika Foutz is the reason the Gallup Lady Bengals
are going to state.
Foutz beat the top players from Rio Rancho and Albuquerque High during
the regular district season which was the deciding factor after the
three teams finished 3-2 in the final standings.
During this past weekend's district tournament, however, Gallup was
unable to qualify any singles or doubles teams for this week's state
tournament.
At the District 3A-AAA tournament, the Grants doubles team of Bethany
Bibo and Marcie Malaj won the doubles title to qualify for the state
tournament.
They will compete beginning Wednesday in doubles competition at the
Jerry Cline courts. The Lady Pirates, who won the regular season district
title, will also compete at state beginning Friday along with Gallup.
Matches will be played at Albuquerque Academy, the Albuquerque Tennis
Complex, the Jerry Cline courts and at the Lobo Club.
District 1AAAAA
The Bengals' No. 1 doubles team of Adrienne Nye and Holly Escudero
was seeded fourth in the tournament and advanced into the semifinals
where they lost to the Albuquerque High team of Hinds-Fischer 6-2,
6-3.
Nye-Escudero received a first round bye then beat Chavez-Chavez of
Rio Rancho 6-3, 6-2.
The No. 2 doubles team of Marcie Witmer-Sara Mowrer won their opening
round match beating Weber-Sauters of Valley 6-0. 6-3, but were eliminated
6-2, 7-6 by Cibola's team of Huss-King.
In singles competition, Erika Foutz who was seeded second, drew a
first round bye then beat Rio Rancho's Kristina White 6-1, 6-3. She
lost to unseeded Vanessa Sanchez of Cibola 7-6, 7-6.
No. 2 singles player Christina Kolb lost her opener 6-0, 6-4 to Brit
Nelson of Rio Rancho. In No. 3 singles, Ashley Hren beat West Mesa's
Gregorila Quintana 6-0, 6-1 then was eliminated 6-4, 6-1 by Valley's
Hannah Taylor-Noren.
In the boys tournament, only the No. 2 doubles team of Collin McKenzie
and David Klesert scored a win for the Bengals.
They beat Paul Sedillo-Bradley Morgan of Valley 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in a
match that was started on Friday and was postponed to Saturday because
of rain. McKenzie-Klesert were eliminated with a 6-4, 2-6, 1-6 loss
to Cibola in the next round.
In the other doubles match, Brian Tanner and Sean McKenzie lost to
Micheal Fenley and Kyle Woolridge of Valley 6-2, 6-3 after their opening
round bye.
In singles competiton, Bryant Isaacson lost to Eric Alvarado of West
mesa 7-5, 6-4; Jason Parrish lost to Rio Rancho's Chris White 6-3,
6-1 and Thomas Vigil lost to Steven Andrade of West Mesa 6-0, 6-0.
"We had a pretty good season, we had some really good matches,
our boys didn't back down from anybody," Gallup coach Charles
Stewart said. "In my seven years, this is the best bunch I've
ever coached."
District 3A-AAA
After receiving an opening round bye, Bibo-Malaj beat Cobre's team
of Elizabeth Olguin-Anna Dominguez 6-0, 6-1 to capture the district
title.
The other doubles team, Alicia Ratliff and Monica Kewanwytewa lost
to Olguin-Dominguez 4-6, 5-7 in the opening round.
Grants' top singles player Lisa Mitchell worked her way into the semifinals
despite suffering from stomach flu. She beat Cobre's Lena Hausermann
6-3, 6-1 and Santa Theresa's Gesa Foefhner 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, then led
one set to none in the semifinals against Gracie Villalobos when she
defaulted trailing 0-1 after getting sick.
In singles competition, Grants' No. 2 player Regina Siegmann lost
to Foefhner 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 and No. 3 Reena Garcia lost to Villalobos
1-6, 2-6.
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Street repairs concern stores
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — City Manager David Ruiz again last week had to reassure
several business owners in Gallup that the city was aware of their
concerns surrounding future construction in their area.
Ruiz met Thursday with the owners of several businesses on North sdThird
Street between Coal and Aztec and explained the status of construction
plans to repair deterioration of a concrete culvert under that section
of the city.
This culvert is sometimes referred to by old-timers as the Third Street
bridge, in part because in the 1940s and 1950s, it was used by young
people in the area as a tunnel underneath the downtown section of
Gallup to the Puerco.
But over the years, this culvert has deteriorated to the point where
city officials now say if something is not done, there is a good chance
that sometime in the future no one knows when the buildings and street
in that area stand a chance of collapsing into the culvert...
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Ceremonial auction this weekend
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Area residents will get a chance Saturday to get a good
buy on local artwork as well as help the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian
Ceremonial pay off some of its debt.
The Ceremonial Association is holding an auction and poster celebration
beginning at 7 p.m. at the El Rancho Hotel.
Kevin W. Smith, the 2001 Ceremonial poster artist, will be there to
sign copies of this year's poster. Gallup historian Sally Noes will
be selling and signing her book on Gallup.
Entertainment will also be provided by Elden K. Owens, a young local
powwow dancer.
The big event of the night, however, will center around the auction,
which will consist of around 30 pieces of quality artwork and crafts,
including baskets, pottery and jewelry...
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BLM to sell some land
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The Bureau of Land Management last week made local
governments an offer that most will not be able to refuse.
The BLM held a meeting with local officials last week offering to
sell them at fair market value any BLM land in this area.
City Manager David Ruiz said that a look at a map shows that there
are only a few scattered pieces of BLM land in and around Gallup.
The Farmington area, however, is loaded with BLM acreage and the
same offer is being made to officials in that area.
There are some restrictions on the sale, which is being made available
under the 1994 Recreation and Public Purposes Act. The act restricts
what the land can be used for and once the government signifies
what the land will be used for, the government is prohibited from
using it for anything else...
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Navajo court gets 3rd jurist
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Praise and advice flowed freely Friday as Marcella
King-Ben took her oath of office as the newest Navajo Nation Supreme
Court associate justice.
She is the first woman to hold one of the three seats on the tribe's
highest tribunal and fills the vacancy from Wayne Cadman's retirement.
With Chief Justice Robert Yazzie, and her mentor, Associate Justice
Raymond Austin, she will decide appeals from the seven court districts,
plus administrative hearings.
Her appointment also means that for the first time all three justices
are law school graduates, Austin said.
King-Ben took her oath from Austin, for whom she clerked in 1993,
and who kept after her to apply, which she did just before the deadline.
"I did this because I have great respect for Justice Austin,"
she said...
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Families claim students abused at Tohatchi
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The Tohatchi Chapter has passed a resolution asking
for removal of certain personnel at the local public middle and
high schools.
The chapter, by a vote of 34-0, said that several teachers and administrators
at the schools have either verbally or physically abused students.
On Friday, officials at the Tohatchi Chapter said that the resolution,
which was originally drafted on March 18, still had not been signed
and that it may have to go before the chapter members again for
a vote.
Copies of minutes from the March 18 meeting showed that the chapter
heard complaints that administrators at the schools used bad language
in front of students and called them stupid...
Funding for Shiprock center uncertain
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
SHIPROCK — The fate of a nearly $50 million Diné College-Shiprock
campus scientific research center may not get off the ground for
the first phase of its funding. That funding is to be requested
from Congress for the coming 2002 fiscal year.
As was the case late last year when the project became a late-budget
year emergency appropriations measure for New Mexico that did not
make it out of congressional committee the project may again see
differences emerge between Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Sen.
Pete Domenici, R-N.M.
While Bingaman has said the project should go through the Senate's
Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, which Domenici chairs,
Domenici views the proposal as an Interior Department project, not
a Department of Energy project, his spokeswoman said late last week.
During the Navajo Nation Council's recently completed spring session,
delegates voted 62-0 to approve a resolution asking Congress to
appropriate more than $20 million in first-year funding for the
proposed scientific center...
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Deaths
John Blackgoat
OLD COAL MINE — Services for John Blackgoat, 75, were held at
10 a.m. today, May 7, at Good Shepherd Mission, Fort Defiance, Ariz.
Bishop Steven T. Plummer Sr. officiated. Burial followed at Old Coal
Mine.
Blackgoat died May 3 in Gallup. He was born March 8, 1926, in Old
Coal Mine into the Red Bottom People Clan for the Zia Clan.
Blackgoat retired from the UMWA-Local 1332. He was a member of the
planning board with the Fort Defiance Chapter and the NAC. He was
a rancher.
Survivors include his wife, Annie Blackgoat; sons, Edison Blackgoat,
Manson Blackgoat, Nelson Blackgoat, Davidson Blackgoat, and John Plummer,
all of Coal Mine, Jefferson Plummer of Hunter Point, Ariz., and Ramson
Plummer of Mexican Springs; daughters, Arlene Blackgoat, Erma M. Watchman,
Imogene Tabaha, all of Coal Mine, and Ruth Ann Begay of Whiteriver,
Ariz.; brother, Hoskie Blackgoat of Coal Mine; sister, Mary Ann Dean
of Coal Mine; 39 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Blackgoat was preceded in death by his parents, John Billie and Benjesbah
Chee; daughter, Evelyn Blackgoat; and sons, Emerson Blackgoat and
Peterson Plummer.
Pallbearers were Edison Blackgoat, Nelson Blackgoat, Manson Blackgoat,
Davidson Blackgoat, Jefferson Plummer, Ramson Plummer and John Plummer.
Tse Bonito Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Peter Michael Begay
SUNDANCE — Services for Peter Michael Begay, 57, will be held
at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Pastor Gladstone
W. Simmons will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
Begay died May 4 in Albuquerque. He was born Aug. 18, 1943, in Fort
Wingate into the Meadow People Clan for the Folded Arms People Clan.
Survivors include his wife, Christine LaRose Begay of Sundance; sons,
Clinton Begay, Peter Begay and Vincent Begay, all of Rehoboth, and
Patrick Begay of Farmington; daughters, Sheryl Billy of Farmington
and Jennifer Hood of Rehoboth; brothers, Andrew Begay of Tohlakai,
Leslie Tex Begay of Brimhall and Stanley Begay of Jamestown; sisters,
Bessie Tom of Sundance and Mary Ann Yazzie of Coyote Canyon; and nine
grandchildren.
Begay was preceded in death by his parents, Chischilly and Mary Ann
Begay; and brother, Leo C. Begay Sr.
Pallbearers will be Clinton Begay, Patrick Begay, Peter Begay Jr.,
Vincent Begay Sr. and Arthur Tom.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Leroy Torrez
GALLUP — Services for Leroy Torrez, 37, will be held at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, May 8, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Pat Universal will
officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park.
Torrez died May 3 in Gallup. He was born Dec. 14, 1963, in Gallup.
Visitation will be held at noon today at Rollie Mortuary. A rosary
will be recited at 7 tonight at Rollie Mortuary.
Survivors include his son, Issac Torrez of Gallup; daughter, Angelic
Torrez of Gallup; mother, Lorretta Martha of Gallup; brothers, David
Torrez and Peter Torrez, both of Gallup; and sisters, Sandra Evans
of Jamestown, Cecilia Macias of Grants, and Ruby Hightehew and Tina
Torrez, both of Gallup.
Torrez was preceded in death by his father, Porfillio Torrez.
Pallbearers will be BoBo Anderson, Neil Baker, Dino Mares, Tommy Saucedo,
Moses Trujillo and Billy Valley.
Donations can be made to Christain Child Care Center, 220 W. Jefferson,
Gallup.Rollie Mortuary is in charge of
arrangements.
Regina Ruth Sanchez
BELEN — Services for Regina Sanchez, 41, will be announced at
a later date.
Sanchez died May 5 in Belen. She was born June 18, 1959, in Gallup
into the Two Who Came to the Water People Clan for the Red Running
into the Water People Clan.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Wyatt Roanhorse
MEXICAN SPRINGS — Services for Wyatt Roanhorse, 3, will be announced
at a later date.
He died May 5 in Gamerco. He was born June 8, 1997, in Gallup into
the Blackstreak People Clan for the Zuni Red Streak People Clan.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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