Crashes kill infant, two adults
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Three people, including a 6-week-old boy, died
in two traffic accidents Thursday and Monday, Navajo police said.
The latest fatality was Michael C. Begay, 31, of Shiprock who
allegedly ran in front of a driver trying to avoid him on a slight
curve near Mile Post 17 on Bureau of Indian Affairs Route 36 in
the Fruitland area south of the San Juan River around 1:30 a.m.
Monday.
Shiprock Criminal Investigations District detectives believe James
Brown, 43, of Arizona City, Ariz., was headed west in a 1993 Ford
pickup when he saw Begay standing in the westbound lane. The driver
moved into the eastbound lane to avoid the pedestrian, slowed
down, and braked.
But Begay ran in front of him, holding up his arms as if to try
to stop him, the report said, and Brown couldn't avoid colliding
with and running over Begay.
Detectives believe Begay also had been assaulted before coming
to the scene and that alcohol was involved, the report adds.
Driver, baby die
A two-vehicle collision Thursday night two miles west of Red Mesa
cost a 24-year-old Dennehotso man his life, as well as the life
of a 6-week-old boy riding in his car with four other children
and a mother.
The baby died from head injuries, according to the Shiprock district
detective's report.
Amos Yellowhair died of apparently internal injuries, with an
autopsy pending, according to the report. He was headed west in
a 1989 Pontiac sedan, but in the eastbound lane, and was drunk,
the detective's report said.
Yellowhair was just west of Mile Post 445 on U.S. 160 shortly
before 7 p.m. when Walter Belin, 39, of Shiprock was headed east
in a 2001 Pontiac van. Belin skidded sideways, while Yellowhair's
car spun three times before the vehicles collided.
All eight people stayed inside their vehicles, the report indicated,
and no one was ejected.
Belin, the only one in the van, was taken to the Shiprock Indian
Health Service hospital then flown to the University of New Mexico
hospital in Albuquerque in stable condition with broken legs.
The only adult passenger in Yellowhair's car, Lucy Steve, 46,
of Dennehotso was taken to the Farmington hospital in serious
condition, the report said.
Three girls, ages 10, 5 and 3, and a boy, 6 months old, all were
taken to the Shiprock IHS hospital. The boy and two younger girls
were treated and released. The oldest girl was released the next
day. All had minor injuries, the report said.
The oldest and youngest girls and the boy had hitched a ride with
their uncle, the report said.
Car hits girl
A 24-year-old Many Farms driver couldn't avoid the last of three
girls running across the highway in Chinle about 15 minutes before
curfew June 26.
The 11-year-old girl lives about a quarter of a mile southwest
of Tseyi Oil Co. in Chinle. She and two sisters, ages 12 and 13
who live at 182 Valley Bridge in Chinle, tried to run across BIA
Route 7 the highway into the Canyon De Chelly National Monument
around 9:45 p.m. near Baldwin's Mini-Mart, according to the Chinle
Law Enforcement District report.
The driver, Dalvena Harvey, who lives about 7 miles north of the
Many Farms Conoco store, was headed west toward U.S.
191 in a 2001 four-door Chevrolet sedan when the trio ran in front
of her, the report said.
She braked and tried to dodge the girls, but hit the last one.
The officer's report did not indicate the girl's injuries or if
she was taken to the Chinle IHS hospital.
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Holiday brings closings, fireworks
Staff Report
GALLUP — All city, county, state and federal government offices
will be closed Wednesday in observance of Independence Day.
The U.S. Postal Service will continue to move express mail Wednesday,
but the window and all other delivery services will shut down for
the day.
Most area banks will also be closed for the Fourth of July. The only
bank reporting to be open is the Western Bank inside Wal-Mart.
The Independent will not be printed Wednesday but will resume publication
Thursday.
Gallup's events
The second annual Party in the Park will begin at noon Wednesday at
the Sports Complex.
Party in the Park is a joint effort of KGAK, Comcast Cable and the
City of Gallup.
Nine bands will provide musical entertainment, which starts at noon.
The park will be divided into more than 100 15-foot plots for food
vendors to fill. There will be food from almost every ethnic group
in Gallup.
Contests of all types fill the afternoon but the big showcase will
be the fireworks display that begins promptly at 9:30 p.m.
They will be launched from a higher elevation this year and should
be seen by skywatchers as far as 20 miles away. The 45-minute spectacular
includes 613 rockets choreographed to a unique array of music.
Twice as many musicians will perform this year thanks to a new innovation.
Instead of using one stage, the bands will play on
one of two 40-foot flatbed trailers. While one group is setting up
or tearing down equipment, another will be performing.
For more information, call KGAK at (505) 863-4444.
Navajo Nation events
The annual Navajo Nation American Independence Day celebration will
be a week-long event with a huge amount of youth activities added
to the schedule.
The 15th annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women's
Professional Rodeo Association-sanctioned competitions will be held
Wednesday through Saturday.
There also will be two nights of spectacular fireworks around 9 p.m.
Wednesday and 9 p.m. Saturday from the Dean C. Jackson Memorial Rodeo
Arena.
The Youth Fair, based at the Peterson Zah-Navajo Nation Museum, Library
and Visitors Center, started Monday with workshops.
At 6 tonight, there will be a free-admission fashion show in the Sports
Center, with models from Phoenix showing the latest in modern fashions
and traditional Navajo wear.
Wednesday at 8 a.m. will be a youth office-sponsored five kilometer
and two-mile "Road Race" starting at the Navajo Nation Veterans
Memorial Park under the "window rock." At 10 a.m. the youth
powwow will begin in the Powwow Arena west of the Sports Center.
Thursday at 9 a.m. in the Sports Center will be a pee wee basketball
clinic, in preparation for Friday and Saturday's tournament. The same
location will be used for a Pre-School Fun Day. That also will be
the starting time for the outdoor activities at the Horse Shoe Pitching
Course for the special needs students.
Saturday, a two-day co-ed softball tournament will begin at 8 a.m.
at the diamonds of the Navajo Youth Capital League, located behind
the car wash and restaurant in Fort Defiance.
There also will be four days of song and dance in the Song and Dance
Arena west of the Sports Center at the fairgrounds, starting at 1
p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.
For more information: Telephone the fair office at (928) 871-6478,
the tribal agency youth office at (928) 729-4336, -4337 or -4338,
or go to the fair's Website at www.navajonationfair.com.
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Drugs, guns found in home
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Grants Police in conjunction with the Region II Narcotics
Enforcement Task Force arrested a Grants man after they found methamphetamine
and stolen firearms in his mobile home.
Joe Walker, 31, of Grants was arrested on June 20 for possession of
methamphetemine, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of stolen
firearms. Officers found the drugs and firearms when they executed
a search warrant at the trailer.
In another incident, a Grants woman was arrested and charged with
aggravated residential burglary after she broke into another woman's
apartment and bit her in the face to keep her quiet.
Police found Lashanda Andans, 18, of Grants, also known Tenika Conway,
sitting on her victim in the woman's apartment.
Andans entered the home by breaking a window. The sound alerted the
resident, whose name was not available, and she called 911. Andans
dragged the woman from her bed by her hair and took her downstairs
to the living room where she demanded $50 in cash.
The victim told officers Andans bit her on the cheek in order to keep
her quiet when police rang the doorbell.
On June 12, Steven Ray Gallegos fled on his motorcycle when police
approached him at Wells Park. Officers chased him through Grants and
onto the eastbound lane of I-40. Two officers attempted to box him
in to stop him, but Gallegos passed them on the shoulder. At the 102
exit Laguna and Acoma patrol units joined the chase.
They boxed Gallegos in while the Grants officer went in front of him
to slow him down. They forced him onto the 108 exit and the chase
ended when Gallegos hit another vehicle with his motorcycle. He was
taken to Cibola General Hospital, treated and released. He was arrested
for DWI.
Other incidents:
Elmer C. Molina, 44, of Grants, was arrested June 29 for aggravated
DWI.
Ron Martinez, 21, of Prewitt, was arrested June 29 for DWI.
On June 28, Billy William Saavedra, 46, of Grants was arrested for
possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers found the
paraphernalia when they arrested him for an outstanding warrant.
On June 28, Daniel Reich, 43, of Grants was arrested for battery on
a household member.
On June 24, Daisy Ortiz, 32, of Grants, was arrested for shoplifting.
Calvin Ray Boss was arrested for aggravated DWI on June 23.
David Chavez, 30, of Grants was arrested for aggravated assault with
intent to commit a felony after he pulled a knife on a bartender.
On June 19, three people were arrested for shoplifting at the Allsup's
Convenience Store on Nimitz Street. Arrested were:
Virginia Ann Salazar, 46, Milan; Sylvia Saavedra, 42, Grants; and
Billy William, 47, Grants.
Ryan Platero, 26, Crownpoint, was arrested on June 19 for battery
on a household member.
On June 16, Danny McKinnon, 37, Rio Rancho, was arrested at the Sailfish
Lounge for aggravated battery.
George Olveda, 22, San Mateo, was arrested June 15 for eluding officers.
He ran a stop sign on Washington Street and then fled when the officer
attempted to stop him. He was arrested when he got out at a home on
Jelso Street. He was driving with a
suspended licenses, an expired registration, and had no proof of insurance.
Proudy Eriacho, 35, and Charles French, 31, of Grants were arrested
June 15 in Roosevelt Park after they began arguing.
French had a laceration over his right eye. He told officers Eriacho
hit him with a beer can and accused him of taking money from her.
On June 14, Anthony Sanchez, 28, of Bluewater was arrested for battery.
Jaure Darren Lawrence, 34, Grants, was arrested for DWI on June 10.
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Local teens to compete at World Games
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — On July 14th and 15 the United States will be represented
by four local teens in the World Martial Arts Games 2001.
Cody Yazzie, 16, Josh Diaz, 18, Tabitha Fishgrab, 18 and Shylo Jones,
12, will travel to Tillarney, Ireland to compete in the games. The
four have been taught by Tony Sanchez at the Tony Sanchez Acadaemy
of Karate in Gallup.
"This is the only school and these are the only students in the
area to do this," said Sanchez, who has been teaching and competing
for 35 years. "This is the only school in the area that has competed
for world titles."
Sanchez said that only four people from the Gallup area have competed
for world titles. Sanchez himself, former student Matt Haynes, Yazzie
and Fishgrab have all competed for world titles. Diaz and Jones will
be the fifth and sixth.
"I don't know of any others (from this area) that have competed
out of the country," said Sanchez.
Sanchez said that he believes his academy is a school of champions,
because they have won medals in all of their world competitions that
they have competed in so far. He said that Fishgrab and Yazzie have
already attended the World Martial Arts Games the past years in several
different countries. The two competed in Sidney, Australia, Mazatlan,
Mexico, Jamaica and in the Dominican Republic. Next year the competition
is scheduled to be held in Maui, Hawaii. Sanchez said that in all
of the international competition his students have never lost, placing
at least a bronze in each country.
Sanchez will be competing next year in Venezuela as a member of Team
USA. The four that will be traveling to Ireland will be competing
for Team America. Sanchez said that both organizations represent the
United States, but that they are different organizations.
To qualify for the World Martial Arts Games Sanchez said that each
person must compete and place as a grand champion or in the top three
spots in certain competition. This year Diaz and Jones both qualified
by placing in Farmington earlier this year.
Sanchez said that his students train year-round and go to competitions
in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada. "We get invitations
from all over the country but we only can afford to go to certain
ones," he said.
Sanchez said that the students start raising money to go to the international
events as soon as they get back from the previous ones, and that it
is very expensive to go overseas to compete.
"In most countries the government supports the competitors, but
in the U.S. they do not. To go you have to pay for it with personal
money, fund-raisers or donations."
Cody Yazzie, who has been training under Sanchez for nine years, is
a first-degree black belt. He will be competing in regular, musical,
wood weapons, metal weapons and fighting in Ireland.
Tabitha Fishgrab, in training for five years, will be competing in
regular, wooden and metal weapons. She is a first-degree brown belt.
Josh Diaz, a first-degree black belt, will compete in regular, weapons,
form and musical form. He has been training for nine years.
Shylo Jones will compete in weapons, form and fighting. She will be
competing in the 12-year-old beginners division. She is a green tip
and has been training for three years.
"I feel excited," said Jones about getting the chance to
represent the U.S. in Ireland. "I was surprised when I found
out I qualified to go to the competition."
Jones said that she started Martial Arts because her mom put her in
it for discipline. "I started to go to small tournaments and
then found out about this competition and thought I would give it
a try."
Jones said that she thinks she is pretty fast on her feet, and that
she is better at fighting than any of the other categories. "But
I like them all," she said.
Diaz said that he also is excited about going to Ireland. "I
want to see the other countries and their styles," he said. "I
never thought I would make it this far."
"We are going to have hard fights," said Sanchez. "We
don't know who we are going up against in the first round, we could
face any country. If we win, we go on to the next round."
Sanchez said that all four of his students have worked very hard to
get as far as they have, and that winning is not the most important
part of the trip.
"Win, lose or draw, I want them to have fun and do the best they
can," he said.
About 100 competitors will be attending the world games from the United
States. There will be 22 different countries represented at the competitions.
In a recent competition, eight students from the Sanchez Academy competed
in Cortez, Colo. and won 17 trophies in all of the different divisions.
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Top names expected for Window Rock PRCA
rodeo
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Defending bull riding world champion Cody
Hancock is one of the top name National Finals Rodeo cowboys expected
to compete during the 15th Annual Navajo Nation 4th of July Professional
Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo.
Hancock, of Taylor, Ariz. has confirmed that he will be competing
in Window Rock, Ariz. for the 4th of July PRCA Rodeo that's set for
Wednesday through Saturday, July 4-7 at the Dean C. Jackson Memorial
Arena. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. nightly. Hancock, who barely
qualified for the NFR during the final weekend of the season last
year, pocketed winnings totalling $139,583. Last year Hancock became
only the second cowboy to jump from 15th place to first place after
the NFR in Las Vegas, Nevada...
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Local volunteer gets 'Hero Award'
Staff Report
GALLUP — Henry Madey has been given the first Hero Award for
his nonstop volunteer service.
This is the first year for the Hero Award, given in honor of volunteer
Robert Miller, who died June 1, 2000. Miller also was a survivor of
the Bataan Death March.
The award was presented recently at the RSVP/SCP (Retired Senior Volunteer
Program/Senior Companion Program) banquet, attended by 150 volunteers.
This is the International Year of Volunteers.
The award was started by Rico Motors, Rio West Mall, and Rachel Sanchez,
director of RSVP, to honor a volunteer who exemplifies the giving
spirit of Miller...
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Gwitchin tribe, wildlife are at risk in Alaska
James Staley
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Near the top of the world, where daylight and darkness
last months instead of hours, lies the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. Located in northeast Alaska, it is the largest of more than
500 nature sanctuaries in America's National Wildlife Refuge system.
The dancing neon glow of the Northern Lights illuminates the jagged
frozen peaks of the Brooks mountain range, the dominant feature
of this polar haven. Eighteen major rivers flow from the mountain's
crests to the grassy tundra at the Arctic Ocean's coast. The complete
arctic ecosystem has no roads, trails or developments.
"It's the purest wilderness I've ever seen and I'm a wilderness
nut," says Lenny Kohm, a former photojournalist who covered
the refuge...
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Last election case decided
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — District Court Judge T.J. Holgate again sided
with the prosecution in dismissing without prejudice charges against
the last of the eight Navajo Board of Election Supervisors in a
highly controversial case.
Holgate ruled Monday that the defense didn't provide enough evidence
to warrant a dismissal with prejudice for misconduct by prosecutors,
or that there was double jeopardy with two charges for the same
act, or making sure key prosecution witnesses (the board's attorneys)
would testify. Attorneys Frank Seanez and Lucy Simpson of the Office
of Legislative Counsel invoked
the attorney-client privilege when subpoenaed.
In again backing Chief Prosecutor Donovan Brown and his team, the
judge left open the opportunity for charges to be refiled by July
31, 2003...
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Hopeful in Hopi race sets goals
This is first in a series about candidates for the Hopi chairman
and vice chairman races.
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. — Better use of resources, water preservation
and stopping factionalism are the three major goals for Eljean Joshevama.
Joshevama, 60, is the first announced candidate for vice chairman
of the Hopi Tribe. Vice Chairman Phillip Quochytewa Sr. has not
announced whether he will seek re-election.
The deadline for chairman and vice chairman candidates to file is
Oct. 23. The primary election will be held Nov. 7 with the general
election Nov. 21.
Joshevama, a native of Old Oraibi and who now lives with his wife
in Kykotsmovi, said the use of human and natural resources is his
No. 1 priority. He said children need more attention both at home
and school...
Brother, sister hurt in shooting
Police looking for gunman
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A 36-year-old man is in serious condition at University
of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque after being shot once in the
chest Saturday by an unknown assailant.
The victim's sister was also shot, but in the back. The sister and
brother were in front of an apartment complex at 609 Jackson St.
when shooting broke out.
Details are very sketchy. Police are still interviewing witnesses
and apparently there were several.
"We don't know why they (the victims) were shot at this time,"
Grants Police Lt. Steve Bell said Monday. "We don't have the
shooter ... yet..."
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Deaths
Dorothy M. Johnston
GALLUP — Services for Dorothy Johnston, 96, will be held at 11
a.m. Saturday, July 7, at Pollock-Randall Funeral Home in Port Huron,
Mich. Paul David Johnston will officiate. Burial will follow at Lake
Side Cemetery, Port Huron, Mich.
Johnston died June 29 in Gallup. She was born Dec. 13, 1904, in Pendelton,
Ontario, Canada.
Survivors include her son, Michael Johnston of Albuquerque; daughters,
Paula Garcia of Gallup and Marion Sari of Winston Salem, N.C.; eight
grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Johnston was preceded in death by her husband, Dwight Johnston; parents,
Herbert and Matilda Shane; son, David Johnston;
brothers, Howard Shane, Keith Shane and Lindsey Shane; and sister,
Marion Smith.
Lora Elizabeth Nunneley Fitting
POWAY, Calif. — Services for Lora Fitting, 89, will be held at
noon Wednesday, July 4, at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 1334 Country
Club Drive, Gallup.
Fitting died on July 2 in Poway, Calif. She was born in Portland,
Mich., on May 17, 1912.
Survivors include two sons, James E. Fitting of Gallup and Victor
K. Fitting of Okemos, Mich.; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Fitting was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Florence
Klotz Nunneley; brother, John Nunly; and husband, Edward
A. Fitting.
Edison Platero
CROWNPOINT — Services for Edison Platero, 39, will be announced
at a later date.
Platero died June 30 in Crownpoint.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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