Disabled get a chance
Grants center teaches skills
Roni Polk
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The hours are long, the work is demanding
and sometimes frustrating, and the pay isn't going to make anyone
rich.
Then again, rewards for staff members at Bethphage aren't measured
in tangibles.
"For me, work here brings inner peace and daily spiritual renewal
when I see progress and people pleased by doing small things,"
saidMartha Aragon, director of residential services.
"We make a difference in people's lives."
It goes both ways.
Every day is meaningful at Bethphage, a learning center where differences
are cherished and each individual's growth is celebrated.
The red roofs and stuccoed walls of Bethphage at Lobo Canyon Square
are reminiscent of a small village with a plaza in the center. This
first impression is reinforced by the structure of the organization
that feels more like an extended family business
than a nonprofit organization.
Each staff person at Bethphage obviously has a calling for the work
done with people of all ages. The clients may be different in small
or large ways, and the work requires patience and dedication to facilitate
learning.
As an affiliate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethphage's mission
is advocating for people with disabilities so that they may achieve
their full potential.
Like a traditional village, the Bethphage group endeavor is only as
strong as its weakest link. Shared core values of safety, respect,
personal growth and efficiency ensure the work gets done.
These values are not ideals, rather they are put into practice each
day at Lobo Canyon Square and outward in community involvement through
the various programs provided by Bethphage. Outreach programs include
working with families, pregnant women, and parents of developmentally
delayed infants.
Public relations specialist Wendy Brown explains why she must use
the covered walkway to go from her north wing office to the vocational
activities in the south wing. The organizational safety officer could
ticket another employee for the unsafe practice of jaywalking across
the plaza parking area.
A few extra steps may provide reinforcement of safety practices to
a mentally challenged person observing the routine of a trusted mentor
providing passive instruction.
The suites in the vocational wing are set up in an efficient manner
for teaching the daily life skills most people take for granted for
example choosing appropriate dress.
Anne DiZenzo, vocational coordinator, was particularly excited about
providing sensory integration in the "Kiva Room." The colors,
sounds, textures, light and smells there allow the severely disabled
to decrease anxiety after particularly stressful experiences.
One of these experiences might be the repeated frustration of not
having the physical coordination to raise a spoonful of food to the
mouth. Aragon describes such a person who, after months of trying,
was finally able to feed himself.
"He was so excited and joyful," she said. "Everyone
at the table with him started to applaud and laugh (because) we were
so happy for him."
Aragon and DiZenzo feel staff members learn new things every day from
working with the handicapped.
"I believe that it is very important to get the individuals that
we work with out in the community and involved in as many meaningful
activities as possible," DiZenzo said. "The individuals
with disabilities have so much to add to the community, it is
just heart-warming to see one of their faces light up when they get
their first paycheck."
She has placed Bethphage clients in jobs at Wal-Mart, Sonic, Sky City
Casino, Village of Milan, Good Samaritan's Nursing
Home, Cibola General Hospital Auxilliary and at the Future Foundations
Family Center.
Aragon's residential services program oversees and staffs four group
homes in Grants to give disabled adults supported living.
This type of community integration is an efficient way to promote
respect for exceptional people.
Three disabled people of the same sex live in each group home, and
there is always at least one staff pereson present 24 hours per day,
seven days per week.
"Neighbors' response to our presence was good once they realized
it wasn't going to be a mini-institutional setting," she said.
"Now they tell us they wish there were more (people) in their
neighborhood like our residents."
| Top |
Gamerco petitions ask for annexation
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Gamerco residents are hoping city laws
can make broken-down cars in yards and potholes in roads disappear.
Property owners there are signing a petition asking to be annexed
into the city. City regulations would require better infrastructure
and cleaner lots in the neighborhood. Residents who have complained
about neighbors keeping junk in their yard and their homes in poor
conidtion are looking forward to stricter codes.
"(Gamerco) needs governmental authority. Right now, there is
no control," said Tom Komfala, president of the board of directors
of the Gamerco Water and Sanitation District.
"We have the county and the water board. The water board has
no governmental authority. The county doesn't do anything other than
talk.
"At least they (city officials) have some code enforcement and
regulation enforcement."
In April, the state lost a lawsuit against Gamerco Townsite Partnership
and Elkins Brothers Partnership. The lawsuit alleged the developers
did not pave roads or build the water supply up to McKinley County
standards, and asked for compensation. During the 10-year lawsuit,
Gamerco stayed the same.
The residents still want sidewalks and smooth roads, and some expect
that the city can push Gamerco in that direction. They know Gallup
is not going to pay to pave Gamerco roads, but they hope the city
regulations will initiate the project.
Barney Birch, a property owner in Gamerco, said he hopes the city
will help move along the process for getting the improvements he wants
in his neighborhood. For example, if the roads need paving, the city
can help issue a bond to fund the project and ask for bids, and the
Gamerco residents would pay all the costs.
The main reason Birch signed the petition, though, was, "because
I feel like we're part of Gallup already."
Others feel the same way. Several years ago, city elected officials
and residents of Gamerco were thinking about annexing the area, but
both groups decided to wait until the lawsuit ended, Komfala said.
Gamerco would be asking to be annexed whether they had won the lawsuit
or not, he added.
"The city limits is almost at our door," Komfala said, "we
might as well be annexed."
The petition has about 180 signatures right now and Helen Escamilla,
the manager for the water district office, said she is looking for
80 more. The petition needs 51 percent of more than 450 property owners
to sign.
Once the petition is complete, the city will find what the annexation
would mean. Lisa Baca Diaz, in city planning, said her office would
measure the costs and benefits.
Gallup would have to provide emergency services to Gamerco if it was
annexed. Right now, the McKinley County Sheriff's office responds
to almost all calls in that area.
The city would, at the same time, expand its tax base and collect
more revenue.
For Gamerco residents, that means higher taxes. They would pay about
$6 more per $1,000 of their property's value. For example, people
with a $100,000 house pay about $750 right now, but they will pay
$950 if Gamerco becomes part of Gallup.
Business owners would pay about $9 more per $1,000 of their property's
value.
If Gamerco is annexed and improvements are made to meet city codes,
the value of property may go up, which will in turn increase taxes.
Most residents, however, want their property value to increase, even
if that means higher taxes.
After the impact of annexation is assessed, the Gallup City Council
will vote whether to approve. Komfala said no council person has been
officially contacted about the petition. The elected officials were
out of town this week at a conference.
| Top |
BIA teachers still waiting for pay
Zarana Sanghani
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Almost 1,700 boarding school teachers and a few other
educational employees on the reservation didn't get a paycheck on
their first payday last week.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs Education Division has been playing catch-up
trying to input employment contracts for teachers.
Personnel officers worked all weekend and continue to work to get
the information into the computers, said Kenneth Ross, assistant director
of the division of school support services for BIA.
Ross said he wasn't sure how many contracts still needed to be processed.
Doing one contract takes about one hour.
Many schools submitted their paperwork late this year, so the personnel
office was flooded with contracts in the last few weeks to process
at once, Ross said.
"We did not approve any leave for our personnel officers for
the entire month of July," Ross said. "But the big tidal
wave of actions hit right before school started."
Last year, the office had a similar backlog because officers were
changing their location at the same time that much of the paperwork
came in. Ross said he doesn't have enough staff right now, and Congress
has not approved money to hire more.
Supervisors at the Tuba City Boarding School have written letters
to the teachers' creditors asking them to waive late-payment fees
and forgive bounced checks.
Not getting money is an inconvenience, but not getting information
is an insult for many teachers at boarding schools in the
Western Agency on the Navajo Nation.
Though the teachers said they don't blame their administrators for
the problem, they do want more communication to get answers. Administrators
have told teachers there is a problem in Albuquerque's BIA office,
but haven't said much else.
"We, officially as teachers, haven't been informed on anything,"
said Darcy Marquis, a teacher at Tuba City Boarding School.
"There's a lot of rumors going around."
Teachers at Tuba City Boarding School have been told not to call secretaries
about it because the problem is in Albuquerque, and the office in
Albuquerque will not return calls, so teachers don't have a source
of information.
Marquis said she is worried about talking to the Independent because
she feels she would get reprimanded, but she is tired of the situation.
Her paychecks have been late or incorrect before, but, Marquis said,
the problem has never been on such a large scale.
Some teachers have written to Congressman J. D. Hayworth in Arizona,
whose staff aides have said they would see if they can help make sure
this doesn't happen again.
Cheryl Cain, another teacher in Tuba City, said she is losing her
patience.
"The school's been operating for 100 years, paying people should
be pretty routine," Cain said. "Nobody seems to care."
A few teachers began receiving paychecks this week, but the amounts
have been somewhat arbitrary, ranging from checks for $13 to checks
for $700.
Jackie Drewett, a teacher at Tuba City Boarding School, said she was
paid on Monday, but she received less than she did last year, and
she knows she got a pay raise. She's still worried that her colleagues
haven't gotten a paycheck.
She stressed that she was upset with the school not so much because
of paycheck problems but because of a lack of communication.
"Right now, I'm not blaming anybody because, of course, we have
no idea who to blame," Drewett said. "We want the situation
to be corrected and an assurance that it won't happen again."
| Top |
Sun power may come to Ramah
Chapter seeks energy source
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
RAMAH — After waiting for several years, the Ramah Navajo chapter
finally received the funding and manpower to run power lines 50 miles
to supply some community members.
That was the good news.
The bad news was that some of the residents still had to go without
electricity. The installed power lines had to cross an area thick
with lava beds. The power company refused to drill through the tough
rock, saying it was too expensive and labor
intensive.
Henry Chee Dodge, economic development specialist for the Ramah Navajo
chapter, said he did not know how many residents were affected. But
it bothered him.
Dodge and the chapter officials tried to explore other power options
for the community members who were literally left out in the dark.
Finally, Dodge learned about a project at the Sandia National Laboratory
in Albuquerque. The lab was looking for a Native
American tribe agreeable to testing a solar electricity generating
system designed as a power source for a water pump.
Dodge contacted the lab. Details are still being worked out and everyone
has fingers crossed in the hope Congress will appropriate the money
for the lab to set up the dish on the Ramah Navajo site in early 2001.
If successful, this will be the first solar pumping system erected
on the reservation.
The system is a prototype of the 10 kilowatt Solar Dish/Stirling remote
system, which incorporates the best of the advanced solar technology
developed at the Sandia Labs in recent years. It consists of 500 square
feet of mirror collector panels and an engine that converts energy
from the sun to electricity. The system has been two years in the
works and recently passed more
than 500 hours of extensive testing at Sandia Labs.
A second-generation prototype is also planned. It will be able to
drive a conventional water pump. The version of the solar collector
installed at Ramah Navajo will be used for pumping water, Dodge said,
since the small 10 kilowatt capacity could power fewer than five homes.
Information supplied by Sandia Lab concerning the solar pumps claimed
the pumps had been designed to provide power in remote areas for pumping
water, operating a mill or providing power to a remote village.
"It will be small enough and at a price of $30,000 to $40,000,
affordable enough to be practical," Craig Tyner of Sandia's solar
thermal technology department said.
The solar power system consists of three parts: a power conversion
unit with a Stirling engine, an electric generator and a solar receiver.
The engine is made by a German firm and is widely used in Europe.
Other parts of the system include the solar concentrator, featuring
advanced structural mirrors developed at Sandia. The controls are
fully automated. Without an operator, the system will start each day
at dawn and operate through the day, responding to the clouds and
wind as necessary. At sunset, it automatically shuts off. The system
can be monitored and controlled through the
Internet.
"It needs very little intervention," Sandia researcher Rick
Diver said. "It knows where the sun is at all times. It senses
sunlight and comes on. And it will automatically shut down if something
undesirable happens, like high winds."
To generate electricity, the sun-tracking mirrors concentrate sunlight
onto a receiver that sits on top of a platform extended about
18 feet from the mirrors. The receiver collects and transfers the
sun's heat to the engine.
Helium fills the sealed-system engine. As the helium is heated and
cooled, its pressure rises and falls, causing the engine pistons to
move and produce mechanical power. The mechanical power drives a generator
and produces electricity.
Previous studies by U.S. industry have estimated the markets for this
type of remote system to be as much as several billion dollars per
year. For the Sandia researchers, Diver claimed, the potential market
was not the only motivation for the project.
"The people in the program are really dedicated to making solar
power work," Tyner said. "They see it as a way to improve
the quality of life for people in Third World countries by bringing
them clean power."
The remote power system is being developed as part of the U.S. Department
of Energy's "Concentrating Solar Power Program."
Ramah Navajo employees will be trained by Sandia Labs to maintain
and care for the solar system.
| Top |
Monument Valley beats improved Page team
Jay Muskett
Staff Sports Writer
KAYENTA, Ariz. — The Monument Lady Mustangs survived an improved
Page team 15-1, 16-14 in prep volleyball action
Thursday night."Page is a team that's improving. They gave us
a run for our money in the second game and need to be watched out
for in the future." said Monument Valley coach Lucinda Nash.
Monument Valley played a tough game and slipped past Page 15-1 in
the opening game. Page did put up quite a fight in the next game,
but lost 16-14.
Monument Valley next plays Grey Hills in a conference game...
| Top |
Gallup Catholic passes test
Jay Muskett
Staff Sports Writer
Gallup Catholic was put to the test by Piedra Vista and came up on
top 3-2.
"We played a very good game with few mistakes against a good
team, and we managed to come out on top." said Gallup Catholic
coach Dino Lagraviese.
Michael Estrada had two goals, one of which came off a penalty shot,
in the win. Michael Mason scored the other goal. Carl Georges and
Casey Zecca each contributed an assist...
| Top |
Realignment improves Shiprock's chances
for success
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
SHIPROCK - With the newly aligned districts this season, newcomer
Shiprock may have the inside track in the District 1AAA.
"We're always been on the outside looking in,"said Shiprock
boys cross country head coach Al Madera who is in his eighth year
at Shiprock. "With the reclassification we feel we can now get
into the trophy hunt as we're returning all seven runners from last
year."
This season Shiprock moves to the District 1AAA while its former AAA
district foes Kirtland, Aztec, Bloomfield and Piedra Vista move up
to the AAAA level...
| Top |
Begaye's office takes budget hit
Jim Maniaci
Din Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye won't soon
forget Aug. 31, but the memories won't be pleasant.
The Navajo Nation Council stripped Begaye of his own attorney and
took a large chunk from Begaye's budget.
During Thursday's 13-hour marathon on the fourth day of its annual
budget week, the Office of the President-Vice President
took the biggest hit in the $100-million-plus general fund.
Begaye's office will lose almost $116,000 for fiscal year 2001. The
office will lose about $71,000 in pay and benefits awarded to Attorney
General Levon Henry for his support of legislative lawyers in the
election controversy...
| Top |
Drug user cuts a deal with court
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — A 29-year-old confessed felony narcotics user also charged
with traffic offenses worked a plea bargain deal that resulted in
no additional jail time.
Kevin Jaramillo also is a third-time offender on a charge of aggravated
driving while under the influence of liquor and was caught Feb. 11
driving without a license because it had been suspended or revoked.
Jaramillo was sentenced last month by Thirteenth Judicial District
Judge Joseph Arite, in a plea bargain arrangement arranged by attorney
Gary Fernandez and Assistant District Attorney Michael Calligan...
| Top |
Grants school officials deny favoritism
Roni Polk
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Employees in the Grants-Cibola County school system
are questioning the use of a district car by N.M. Rep. Kenneth Martinez's
wife.
Martinez and school officials deny any wrongdoing or nepotism.
"I didn't even know about this arrangement when it was being
made," Martinez said Thursday. "I had zero to do with it."
He said his wife was distraught about the charges...
| Top |
Deaths
Steven Peterson
SANOSTEE — Services for Steven Peterson, 71, will be held at
10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at Cope Memorial Chapel. Jerry Bodie will
officiate. Burial will follow in Tohatchi.
Peterson died Aug. 30 in Gallup. He was born July 22, 1929 in Mexican
Springs into the Folded Arms People Clan for the Bitter Water People
Clan.
Peterson was a medicine man for many years. He was a member of the
medicince man association and a rancher. He was employed with the
Navajo Nation Police Department as an officer in the late 1950s. He
worked as a security guard with the
Navajo mine in 1970s.
Survivors include his wife, Mae Peterson; son, Nelson Peterson of
Newcomb; daughters, Linda Curley of Pinedale, and
Genevieve Peterson, Virginia Thomas and Jean Yazzie, all of Newcomb;
brother, Jimmy Peterson of Yah-Ta-Hey; sisters, Faye
Peterson of Mexican Springs and Jennie Peterson of Tohatchi; 17 grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.
Peterson was preceded in death by his mother, Marita Tsinijinnie,
father, Gene Pete Peterson,and a brother, Robert Peterson.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Peterson, Monty Charles, Ronald Nez, Anslem
A Bitsoi, James Yazzie and Virgil Curley.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services
at Faye Peterson's residence.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Dollie Romine
GALLUP — A memorial service for Dollie Romine, 91, will be held
at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1900 E.
Mesa in Gallup. Pastor Gary Bickner will officiate.
Romine died Aug. 30 in Albuquerque. She was born April 7, 1909, in
Plunkettville, Okla.
Survivors include sons, Harmon Romine of California and Sidney Romine
of Arkansas; daughters, Juanita Huber, Geneva
Yovanovich and Glendora Orphery, all of Gallup, and Iva Candelaria
of Arkansas; 28 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Romine was preceded in death by husband, Sidney Romine; sons, Noble
Romine and Carmon Romine; parents, James and
Ellen Hopper; six brothers; and two sisters.<cm+bd>Fred Thompson<cm-bd>TOHATCHI
Services for Fred Thompson, 64,
will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday Sept. 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Parish
in Tohatchi. The Rev. John Mittetstadt, O.F.M., will
officiate. Burial will follow at the Lone Pine Cemetery in Mexican
Springs.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Rollie Mortuary.
Thompson died Aug. 30 in Albuquerque. He was born Jan. 10, 1936, in
Tohatchi into the Water Edge People Clan for the Zia
People Clan.
Thompson was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was retired from the Gallup-McKinley
County Schools.
Survivors include his wife, Pauline Thompson of Tohatchi; sons, Frederick
Thompson and Ivan Thompson, both of Tohatchi, and Gales Thompson of
Twin Lakes; brothers, Vicent Edsitty of Prewitt, Edmond Thompson and
Elton Thompson, both of
Mexican Springs, Irvin Thompson of Tohatchi and Paul Thompson of Albuquerque;
sisters, Flora Becenti of Mexican Springs,
Paula Boyd of Santa Fe, Eunice Quandelacy of Gallup, and Anita Sanchez
of Mexican Springs; and nine grandchildren.
Thompson was preceded in death by his parents, Fred Thompson Sr. and
Hazel Edsitty, and daughter, Madeline Thompson.
Pallbearers will be Carlin Becenti, Allen Boyd, David Nolan Eastridge,
Marcus Etsitty, Manuel Nez, Alex Sanchez, Frederick
Thompson and Gales Thompson.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Emily M. Torrez
SAN RAFAEL — Services for Emily M. Torrez, 77, will be held at
10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2 at the San Rafael Catholic Church. The
Rev. Gil Mangampo will officiate. Burial will follow at at the San
Rafael Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at 3:30 p.m. today at the San Rafael Catholic
Church. Rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at the San Rafael Catholic
Church.
Torrez died Aug. 30 in San Rafael. She was born Oct. 26, 1922, in
Ash Fork, Ariz.
Survivors include a son, Jimmy Peak of San Rafael; daughters, Judy
Cruz of Kingman, Ariz., and Emily M. Sanchez of
Grants; brothers, Henry Pena and Raymond Pena, both of San Bernadino,
Calif.; and sister, Mela Pena of San Bernadino,
Calif.; 30 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Torrez was preceded in death by her parents, Jesus and Elvita Pena.
Pallbearers will be Andy Gonzales, Timo Torrez, Junior Torrez, Andrew
Torrez, Rick Scanlon and Chris Torrez.
Paul Chee
VANDERWAGEN — Services for Paul Chee, 66, will be held at 10
a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Pine Tree Mission.
Evangelist Virgil Chee and Pastor Joe M. Lee will officiate. Burial
will follow at the Pine Tree Mission Cemetery.
Chee died Aug. 28 in Vanderwagen. He was born July 29, 1945, in Black
Rock into the Towering Rock People Clan for the Salt Water People
Clan.
Chee was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served during the Vietnam
War.
Survivors include his sons, Fred Chee of Sand Springs, Joseph Chee
of Dallas, Texas, and Paul Chee Jr. of Corralton, Texas; daughters,
Tennille Chee of Grants, Velda Chee of Crownpoint, and Nadia Hudson
of Grants; father, Tom Chee of
Vanderwagen; brothers, Clinton Chee of Dallas, Texas, Leonard Chee
and Virgil Chee, both of Vanderwagen, and Mike Chee of Tohlakai; sisters,
Karen Beaver of Carrolton, Texas, Lynda Chee of Vanderwagen, Mabel
Karis of Chicago, Rita Liston of
Grand Prairie, Texas, and Jennie Chee Yellowfish and Nellie Wood,
both of Dallas, Texas; and nine grandchildren.
Chee was preceded in death by his mother, Mary James Chee, and a brother,
Gabriel Chee.
Pallbearers will be Fred Chee, Joe Chee, Nathan Chee, Paul Chee Jr.,
Ernie Hudson and Gilbert Joe.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Pauletta J. Tsosie
TUBA CITY, Ariz. — Services for Pauletta J. Tsosie, 59, will
be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at the Crownpoint Christian
Reformed Church. Pastor Robert Jipping will officiate. Burial will
follow at the Crownpoint Community Cemetery.
Tsosie died Aug. 28 in Flagstaff, Ariz. She was born March 21, 1941,
in Fort Defiance, Ariz., into the Mexican People Clan for the Mud
People Clan.
Survivors include her sons, Alton Cowboy of Steamboat, Ariz., Darryl
Nez, Farrell Nez, John Willie Nez Jr. and Stewart Nez, all of Tuba
City; daughters, Cynthina Nez, Ferntensia Nez, Shannon Nez, Victoria
Nez, Odell Tsosie and Tallulah Tsosie, all of
Tuba City; parents, Paul H. and Loretta Blatchford, both of Tuba City;
brother, Michael Blatchford of Tuba City; sisters,
Jenevieve Blatchford and Ramona June-Watchman, both of Tuba City,
and Rosita Tippeconnic of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and 22 grandchildren.
Tsosie was preceded in death by her husbands, John W. Nez Sr. and
Peterson Tsosie, and a grandmother, Mary Vicenti.
Pallbearers will be Dayton Crank, Darrell Nez, Farrell Nez, John Nez,
Stewart Nez and Herbert Watson.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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