Chilchinbeto rejoices over return of rug
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The world-famous gigantic Chilchinbeto rug known
as "Little Sister" is back home in the hands of a joyous
Navajo community.
The 400-pound 28-by-26-foot rug has been waiting for nearly two years
in Sotheby's warehouse in New York for a ride home.
Charlie C. Billy, the Navajo Nation Council delegate who represents
the Chilchinbeto Chapter, said Tuesday that the chapter held a celebration
dinner last week, calling it "a very emotional and moving experience.
It was inspiring to see the community in a united effort and rejoicing
on the return of the rug."
Many prayers were offered, he said. In addition to his own, Chapter
President Joe Lee, Vice President Roy Laughter, Secretary-Treasurer
Phyllis Redhouse and District Grazing Committee Member Thomas Bradley
all offered thanksgivings, he said.
The delegate praised the Navajo Department of Justice team led by
Assistant Attorney General Tom Christie and Attorney General Levon
Henry in getting the rug back to its reservation home.
He also expressed appreciation to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors
for its financial assistance in paying for the transpiration from
back east. The cost was more than $3,200, he said.
"Little Sister" was offered in an auction at Sothebys in
May 1998 to raise money for the health clinic which at the time was
losing funding and discontinuing some of its services.
The people of Chilchinbeto hoped the rug would bring $3.5 million,
which would be used to start an endowment that would bring in $350,000
annually for the clinic.
But no one bid on the rug which, in the end, was offered at between
$250,000 and $350,000. The rug had been stored in the warehouse since
then.
"Little Sister" was created by 12 weavers over a period
of 10 months and it is one of two of the largest hand-woven Navajo
rugs ever created. Big Brother, the largest of the two, is 36-by-26
feet and is protected from sale by a chapter resolution.
Both rugs are woven of hand-processed wool. The colors used in Little
Sister are black, gray, yellow, blue, and rust. The rugs were woven
on a single loom which has since been destroyed in a fire.
Little Sister's weaving warp is more than 45 miles long and it took
30,600 hours to complete the rug. It would have taken a single weaver
about 15 years to complete.
The elaborate and complex pattern is composed of 25 individual but
interlaced weaving frames.
In the design in the center of the rug depicts a healing ceremony
and a rainbow guardian framing a nightscape. They are surrounded by
regional rug designs, including Two Gray Hills and Storm Patterns.
Little Sister was woven by Helen Charlie, Kate Lee Charlie, Jane H.
Charlie, Bessie Red Moustache, Helen Begaye, Rose Austin, Joann Singer,
Susie Young, Lillie Yazzie, and Lita Kith. Two of the weavers are
deceased.
Funding for the creation of the rugs was supplied by the Joint Partnership
Training Act of the office of Navajo Economic Opportunity.
The chapter is located about 15 miles southeast of Kayenta, at the
northeastern foot of Black Mesa.
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Marlins make it into championship
Onawa Lacy
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — The Marlins continued their comeback through the consolation
bracket to force the undeafeated Cubs into an 'if' championship game
of the Pee Wee Little League Tournament Wednesday evening at Stafie
Memorial Park.
The tournament champion will be determined tonight at 7 p.m.
The Cubs, coached by Chris Romero and Chris Perez, were undeafeated
until they met up with the Marlins. The Marlins set the outlook for
the game, scoring two runs while the cubs trailed, scoreless. The
first inning ended with the Marlins on top, 2-0.
The second inning played much the same for the two teams, but in the
opposite manner. The Cubs went on to score two runs, by Cory Romero
and Jordan Alexander, while the Marlins fell behind, to tie up the
ame, 2-2.
The third inning was the hot one, with Chris Burger at the plate for
the Marlins, Burger knocked a single into shallow centerfield. Burger
was then brought in by Vitt Sells, who also had a single. Each of
the Marlins nine batters had single hits with six of them coming home.
The Cubs, however, could not match up to the Marlins scoring spree.
Coming up one run shy of the Marlin's six runs, the Cubs came out
of the inning with two big doubles by Anthony Baldanado and Justin
Bennally. At the end of the third, the Marlins led, 8-7.
Momentum continued to favor the Marlins in the fourth.
Burger, once again at the plate, led the inning with a double, going
on to score. Burger was followed by Steven Summy, Paul Meese and Victor
Lujan coming in to score.
The Cubs stayed behind the Marlins shadow, once again coming up short.
Erik Perez started things out for the cubs with a single. Perez was
brought in by Justin Benally, with a double. Benally and Romero went
on to score for the Cubs bringing the score to 12-10.
The Cubs managed to tie the game in the fifth with two runs by Perez
and Baldonado.
The Marlins went two better, topping the Cubs' two runs with four
of their own to take the lead once again, 16-12.
The Cubs were given one more chance to take the game and the championship.
However, it was three up, three down for the Cubs, and that was the
ball game.
Marlins coach Scott Summy said, "The guys played a good game
against a good opponent. I'm very proud of them."
Summy is assisted by John and Priscilla Laurent and his wife Dora
Summy.
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Turpen-coached South sweeps North in
three
Onawa Lacy
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — The best of the best, including five area players,
were brought to West Mesa High School Tuesday evening to battle it
out in the North vs. South All Star Volleyball match.
But it was a former area coach which came away the big winner as the
teams from the South swept the series.
Former Thoreau coach Marsha Turpen, now coaching at Hot Springs, headed
the South team which defeated the North in three straight sets, 16-14,
15-7, 15-11.
"It's sweet to win when you're not expecting it," she said
after the victory. "They overlooked the South. There's a lot
of talent down there. We played really well, I'm very proud of them."
Turpen coached against the North team which included Tohatchi setter
Tamara Yonnie and Shiprock defensive specialist Poonam Aspaas.
Zuni standout Kristy Kercher, a 5'7" outside hitter, Melodie
Gibbons, a 5'8" ouside hitter from Ramah and Navajo Prep's Ramerna
Martinez were part of the North team which was swept by the South
in three games, 15-2, 15-6, 16-14.
North South All-Star week continues tonight with the boys basketball
contests. Ramah's Lee Martinez and Jovian Henio of Pine Hill will
play in the A/AA game which begins at 6 p.m. at University Arena.
Tohatchi coach Albert Jim will coach the North AAA/AAAA squad. Davis
Harwood, Jr. of Kirtland is on the team.
At halftime during the A/AA game, a presentation will be made to the
All-Harrier Cross Country Teams which includes XX area runners.
Gallup's Vanessa Chicharello and Wingate's Shannon Platero were named
to the AAA/AAAA team. Darvin Valdo of Grants was the only senior boy
named to the boys team.
Area runners dominated the North A/AA squad with Greg Concho, Ryan
Aragon and Aaron Pino from Laguna-Acoma heading the list. Zuni placed
two runners, Robbie Yatsattie and Anthony Wyaco while Jordan Hale
of Rehoboth completed the near-sweep. Renee Kylestewa from Rehoboth
and Jocelyn Tsethlikai of Zuni were named to the A/AA girls squad.
Gallup's Eric Herrera will play for the North in Friday night's AAA/AAAA
football game. He joins three Kirtland players, Mileh Newman, Pet
Bitsui and Fabian Medina.
The first game of Tuesday's AAA/AAAA best-of-five match was a battle,
as the North and South did not give up. The game stayed tied up until
game point. The ball was sided out numerous times, before the South
took the game, 16-14 due to a passing error by Sante Fe's Cheyenne
Hawkins.
The first game seemed to set the pace for the match, as both teams
were up again, for game number two. Once again, they were playing
a best out of five, so the North had two more chances to come back.
That wouldn't be so, as the North seemed to suffer from blocking and
hitting errors, and unsuccessful defnsive strategies. Back corners
were left open for the kills which contributed to the North's loss
in game two, 15-7.
It was the North's final chance to make a comeback, and reclaim their
past victory's and add a new win to their record which was 13-3 going
into the match. Both teams took the floor with the same fire as before,
but it was evident that the South was outplaying the North. in the
final points of the game, Diaz was brought in for the South, to put
the North away. With the help
of her teammates, Diaz and the South took game number three and the
match to be named the 2000-All-Star champs.
No trophies were awarded, but medalions were given to the players
who were all recent high school graduates with a 3.0 or higher. A
majority of the players, both north and south, are headed to Universities
on volleyball scholarships.
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Senator's daughter accused of fraud
Feds claim insurance scams net $2 million
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The daughter of New Mexico power broker Sen. Joseph
A. Fidel is believed to have ripped off more than $2 million in insurance
scams through her company since 1995.
Donna Smith and her company, First Western Insurance and Real Estate,
are named as key figures in the theft of millions of dollars from
Imperial American International Credit Corporation (AI Credit) by
using what the Federal Bureau of Investigation has described as fraudulent
premium finance agreements. Many of them deal with state and local
government
entities and agencies dealing with government.
She had not been charged or indicted as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The case is being kept under close wraps by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney
in Albuquerque. Neither agency would say anything about it other than
that the case is still under investigation, meaning more alleged crimes
may be uncovered as the investigation unfolds.
Fidel, in a short telephone interview on Monday, said he had no comment
about the matter other than that he "thought" his daughter
owned the company. He is believed to have sold the company to Smith
several years ago. Smith was unavailable for comment Wednesday night.
Fidel is the qualified real estate broker for First Western and apparently
keeps an office in the building.
AI is based in New Hampshire and is owned by American International
Group Inc., an insurance services corporation in New York City.
FBI agents raided First Western Insurance Thursday seizing boxes of
files, records, bank records, computer disks and typewriters.
While the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office would say little, a search
warrant affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court of New Mexico in
Albuquerque had plenty of information. The affidavit was written by
Special Agent Mark E. Smith, assigned to the Gallup FBI office.
Premium finance agreements are used to finance insurance for both
commercial and government entities and AI Credit lends money to commercial
and government entities to pay for the insurance coverage.
Ordinarily an entity will provide 20 percent of the insurance costs
as a down payment and the remaining amount is borrowed from companies
such as AI Credit, which sends the balance of the premium to the brokerage
agent, such as Smith, who takes a commission from the balance and
sends the rest to the insurance carrier. Also in ordinary cases the
entity insured will get monthly or quarterly invoices from the lending
company.
According to the affidavit, based on statements from AI Credit officials,
by March 1993 the business relationship between AI Credit and First
Western developed to the point that a wire transfer of AI Credit funds
was established for First Western customers wanting premium finance
agreements.
The affidavit states that from 1995 to 1999 AI Credit financed some
$16 million in premium finance agreements, all signed off on by Smith
on behalf of First Western.
The affidavit states:
"AI Credit eventually became suspicious of Donna Smith and First
Western Inc. after one of AI Credit's representatives noticed that
AI Credit was sending invoices to identical billing addresses for
a number of different entities that First Western Inc. had identified
as insureds in different premium finance agreements.
"AIG (American International Group) later discovered that millions
of dollars worth of the funds that AI Credit had wire transferred
to First Western Inc. were never remitted to an insurance carrier
because the policies AI Credit had believed it was financing were
non-existent."
Along the same lines the FBI found out that some entities did not
want to take out a loan and paid the full insurance
premium, yet First Western Inc. still got AI Credit loans without
telling anyone that the policies were already funded. Also, some entities
were double insured.
On Dec. 31, 1999, AI Credit filed a civil suit against Smith and First
Western Inc., in state court in the Second Judicial District Court
in Bernalillo County for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary
duty.
It was about that time that the FBI began investigating and found
that Smith got invoices for loan payments in two post office boxes
and also at her home address for up to 11 different insured entities
identified as Bernalillo County, Bernalillo County Independent Fire
Districts, Dona Ana County, Dona Ana County Independent Fire Districts,
New Mexico Association of Counties, New Mexico Insurance Authority,
New Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority,
New Mexico Self-Insureds Fund, Central Solid Waste Authority and the
McKinley County Volunteer Fire Department.
The affidavit states that ordinarily the entities would receive the
invoices, not Smith.
As part of an internal investigation William J. McDonald, a company
supervisor of audits, and others in the company contacted the New
Mexico Municipal League, New Mexico Self-Insured's Fund and the New
Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority.
According to the affidavit:
"Representatives from these three organizations denied any knowledge
of the financed insurance policies that McDonald and his associates
asked about. These three entities appear to be among 11 different
entities identified to date for which Donna Smith and First Western
Inc. appear to have falsely procured insurance financing from AI Credit."
The affidavit states that once the scam was started it became part
of a "lapping scheme."
Such schemes are started to keep the ruse going. It is the same as
robbing Peter to pay Paul to make the loan payments. The affidavit
states about a lapping scheme, "To make those payments, and to
promote the scheme, additional fraudulent loans continually have to
be obtained, particularly if the perpetrator is spending the proceeds
of the unlawful activity elsewhere. To avoid detection by the falsely
named insured, arrangements would have to be made such as the false
billing addresses apparently employed by Donna Smith and First Western
Inc. in this case to assure that the named insured was never contacted
by the lender to discuss either the premium finance agreement or any
outstanding loan amount.
In other words, a good portion of the money allegedly ripped off from
AI Credit had to be plowed back into the company to keep its officials
from getting suspicious.
The affidavit discusses possible charges. Based on the investigation
to date, "There is probable cause to believe that Donna Smith,
President of First Western Inc., is involved in activities consisting
of insurance fraud, fraud by wire and fraud by mail...."
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Gallup All-Stars fall short at state
Alan Arthur
Sports Editor
For two Gallup All-Star softball teams on Wednesday, the first inning
was the beginning of the end.
In Silver City, the host All-Stars scored five first
inning runs on their way to a 6-1 victory and winning the state championship
over the Gallup Junior All-Stars.
In Albuquerque, Eastdale jumped out to a 4-0 lead on their way to
a 24-0 victory in the semifinals of that tournament, knocking out
the Gallup Major All-Stars.
Still, it was not a bad finish for the local teams with the Gallup
Juniors ending up as the second place team in the state and the Gallup
Majors finishing with third place honors...
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Wildfires lay waste to tribal ceremonial
areas
Catherine Coolwind Feher
Special to the Independent
BLACK SANDS, Ariz. — Lightning-sparked fires are blazing over
more than 1,000 acres of Hopi and Navajo ceremonial lands.
On Tuesday, lightning strikes ignited pinon and juniper forests in
the Winona-Doney Park area west of Leupp. The same afternoon, lightning
strikes created blazes west of the San Francisco Peaks, three miles
south of U.S. Highway 180 and two miles north of the Navajo Army Depot.
Both areas are traditional collection sites for native ceremonial
and curative herbs.
"We do not know when the fires will be under control," Coconino
National Forest Information Specialist Joan Inglos said...
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40 laid off at Dancing Eagle
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The area's newest casino, Dancing Eagle on the Laguna
Pueblo, is downsizing.
James McDermott, casino manager, said a 40-person "reduction
in force" has just taken place, leaving a casino staff of about
210.
The reduction took in all facets of the casino operation, he said.
"We've been open 150 days and we took a look at the staffing
and made some adjustments," he said, adding that this normal
in the casino business...
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Tribal officer recuperating from crash
injuries
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation police officer seriously injured
in a two-vehicle collision Friday is improving, a hospital spokeswoman
said Wednesday.
Matthew Duran was listed in good condition at Flagstaff Medical Center,
recuperating from back, pelvic, knee and leg injuries, she said.
As is standard procedure, the Navajo Division of Public Safety turned
the case over to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
According to Arizona DPS Officer Bernie Stephaniak's
report, the driver and passenger of the other vehicle in the 5:10
p.m. wreck, Ezra Gene, 19, of Pinon, and Julita Williams, 21, were
treated at the Chinle Indian Health Service hospital and released...
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Zunis say they don't feel Japanese
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Centuries ago, Japanese priests traveled over the Pacific
Ocean and through the desert to the Zuni Pueblo, settled there and
influenced the tribe's culture, according to Nancy Yaw Davis' new
book The Zuni Enigma.
Some Zuni people have found the suggestion to be laughable and a little
irritating. Others think it could be something to discuss further.
"It's a far-fetched story," said Eldred Bowekaty, a Zuni
councilman.
The story begins in 13th century Japan, where, Davis writes, a group
of Japanese priests set sail to find the center of the earth described
in Buddhism...
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THE NEXT SHOT...
Is the most important shot in golf!
By Alex Alvarez
PGA Golf Professional
Hole in One
Randy Radcliff was playing his usual round with friends last week
when they came to the last hole of their round, the dog-leg 335 yard
par 4 #18. After all the presses were recorded, Randy decided he needed
to go over the hill to try to get close for an easier birdie. Well,
his game paid off, he got better than a birdie, actually better than
an eagle, when he recorded the first hole-in-one on this par four
since 1982. He skinned his brother Danny, Randy Slaughter, Scott Hamilton
and Clarence Peterson. Congratulations!
Juniors
Anya Alvarez from Gallup has continued to add to her golf accomplishments
by coming up from 11 shots back to win the PGA Sun Country Junior
Championship.
Eleven-year-old Alvarez, competing in the 12-13 year old flight, played
the last seven holes in only two over par to complete a 10-over par
round of 84 at the difficult Santa Fe Country Club. To her surprise,
she won in a playoff against Jeannel Martinez from Santa Fe...
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Deaths
Cecilia Begay Parker
PINEDALE — Services for Cecilia Begay Parker, 42, will be held
at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 28, at the Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel in
Gallup. Pastor Lewis B. Yazzie will officiate. Burial will follow
at a private family cemetery in Pinedale.
Parker died July 20 in Gallup. She was born Oct. 5, 1957, in Crownpoint
into Towering House People Clan for the Mountain Dove People Clan.
Survivors include sons, Nathaniel Francisco of Pinedale and Vernon
Francisco of Boston, Mass.; daughters, Charlene Francisco of Pinedale
and Carlene Parker of Santa Fe; mother, Jennie Begay of Pinedale;
brother, Jones P. Begay of Pinedale; sister, Bernice Tsosie of Pinedale;
and four grandchildren.
Parker was preceded in death by husband, Vernon Parker; father, Joe
Pinto; and brother, Tony Johnson.
Pallbearers will be Jones P. Begay, Curtis Coho, Nathaniel Martin
Francisco, Oral Francisco, Vernon Martin Francisco Jr., and Shaniel
Largo.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Addington Juan
MILAN — Services for Addington Juan, 47, will be held at 10 a.m.
Friday, July 28, at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel in Gallup. Pastor
Garland Moore will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.
Juan died July 23 in Milan. He was born Jan. 28, 1953, in Heart Butte
into the Black Streak of the Wood People Clan for the Towering House
People Clan.
Survivors include wife, Martha Juan of Milan; sons, Marvin Begay,
Melvin Begay, Anthony Juan, all of Milan, Addington Juan Jr. of Gallup,
Harrison Juan of Manuelito and Parrison Juan of Casamero Lake; daughters,
Vera Begay, Brenda Juan, Freda Juan, and Wanda Juan, all of Milan,
Darlene Juan of Thoreau, and LaWanda Juan and Rhonda Juan, both of
Casamero Lake; brothers, Herman Juan of Wyoming, Lorenzo Juan of Gallup,
and Norman Juan of Prewitt; sisters, Louise Begay and Pauline Jones,
both of Heart Butte, Lucille Gaddy of Gallup, Irene Juan of Bluewater
Village, and Christine Marino of Thoreau; and 16 grandchildren.
Juan was preceded in death by parents, Walter and Annie Juan.
Pallbearers will be Marvin Begay, Melvin Begay, Harrison Juan, Jeffery
Juan, Nathaniel Juan and Wilbert Largo.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Popplewell
BLUEWATER — Services for Charles Fredrick Popplewell, 76, will
be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Grant Mortuary Chapel.
Burial will follow at Grants Memorial Park.
Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, July 28, at the Grants Mortuary
Chapel.
Popplewell was born April 5, 1924, in Leatherwood Creek, Ark., to
John and Florence Parks Popplewell.
Popplewell was a well-known Indian jewelry retailer and wholesaler
in the area for many years.
Survivors include former wife, Sandra Popplewell; sons, Gary Popplewell
of Oregon, Tom Sanford of Amarillo, Texas, and Byron Popplewell of
Bluewater Lake; daughters, Julie Popplewell of Albuquerque and Anita
Popplewell Lopez of Gallup; brothers, Edward Popplewell and Joseph
Popplewell, both of Farmington, Paul Popplewell of Bakersfield, Calif.,
Richard Popplewell of Visisalia, Calif. and Gene Popplewell of Bakersfield,
Calif.; sister, Margaret Tessener of Bakersfield, Calif.; two grandchildren;
and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Joe Sanchez, Greg Gonzales, Roy Mark Elkins and
Jerry Elkins.
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