Cockfighting ban upheld

Cockfighting cock breeder Steve Hayden of Raton stands up to leave immediately after hearing the commissioner's decision to keep the 1987 cockfighting ban in place.

Pro-cockfighting Cibola County citizens patiently listen to arguments for and against cockfighting during the County Commissioners meeting Monday night in Grants.

Photos by Nicole Goodhue

 

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Group asks NHA chief to resign
Millions in funds missing

S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Chester Carl, executive director of the Navajo Housing Agency, has come under pressure by 200 disgruntled people amid allegations of misuse of $97 million in federal funds and $90,000 from local coffers.

A meeting at Upper Fruitland Chapter House outlined the charges that have been brewing since 1996 when Carl appointed managers and staff to oversee the daily operation of the start of nonprofit Ojo Amarillo Housing Management.

The community members presented a petition to Carl seeking a formal and independent investigation and audit into the management of NHA, which manages 7,000 homes across the Navajo reservation.

Community members would like to see three things happen, according to the petition:

A full independent investigation launched by an agency other than NHA, preferably through HUD or another agency designated by the Navajo Nation oversight committee or attorney general's office.

Suspension of Carl pending the outcome of the investigation. And,

Allowing residents to set up an escrow account for rent and mortgage payments at a Farmington bank until the investigation is completed.

A representative from U.S. Rep. Tom Udall and several officials from the NHA attended the four-and-a-half hour meeting Friday at Upper Fruitland Chapter House.

According to Pete Valencia, Udall's representative, Carl admitted to mismanagement, pledged to help the people and to hire different bookkeepers. "Carl told the crowd that criminal action will be taken if necessary," Valencia said Monday.

According to Nageezi Chapter President Calvert Garcia, trouble started about four years ago when Carl dictated who would operate the nonprofit management team. Former employees and community members claim the people chosen were incompetent and embezzled about $90,000.

After word about the missing money spread, two employees voluntarily resigned and one was terminated. The names of the individuals accused of the theft have not yet been disclosed.

The shortfall came to light when people claimed they hadn't been credited with rental or home payments. Some customers produced receipts of actual payments but the money had never been posted to acounts. As a result, people received notices stating they were delinquent on payments.

An audit was conducted by NHA but the results were never made available to community members. Alfred Kaye,
Bluffview/Skyview Resident Organization president, said that an agency under scrutiny shouldn't be auditing itself.

Further complicating the situation, in 1996 several communities formed nonprofit residential management organizations through the Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act.

"Some of our people asked NHA if they could buy homes instead of rent. The answer was no. We went to HUD and they said yes. Twenty-seven people bought homes," Garcia said.

The nonprofit groups were designed to take over some of the decision-making for the NHA neighborhoods, including Bluffview and Skyview. They were directly funded through the U.S. Housing and Urban Development.

"The idea was to promote residential participation of our own community members to improve the physical beauty and enhance the quality of our life and to strengthen and empower our neighborhoods through socio-economic factors," Kaye said.

San Juan Community College, Kaye said, helped with educational programs and Navajo Agricultural Products Industry supplied water for lawn and garden beautification projects. Health care providers visited to help elders with insulin injections and other health-related issues. "With the nonprofit status and the close proximity to Farmington, many agencies and educational groups would help our community. But, without that, no one was interested in helping us."

Kaye claims that NHA accused the management nonprofit with mismanagement and embezzlement of the federal funds. With no notice, he claims, NHA officials closed the office and seized all of the office equipment that had been purchased with HUD dollars, not NHA money. An audit was completed, bank accounts scrutinized but no money was missing or inappropriately used, Kaye said.

An attorney has suggested to the association that it may be a case of being shut down without due process.

Another distressing situation for the residents has been the high turnover of personnel at NHA. Kaye claims seven people in key positions have recently been terminated.

Letters were sent to Navajo Nation officials, including President Kelsey Begaye and Navajo Nation Attorney General Levon Henry, notifying them about the shortfalls and problems and inviting them to the Friday night meeting. None of them attended.

"I'm fighting because I was entrusted with the votes of the people in my community and I am standing by our kids," Garcia said.

Another meeting is planned in four weeks.

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No more chicken fights
Cibola upholds ban on cockfights

Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GRANTS — In a bold move Monday, Cibola County Commissioners upheld the county's 13-year-old ban on cockfighting.
Cibola County Commission Chairman Bill Dawson turned to Sheriff Manuel Lujan after the vote. "You understand, this means cockfighting is illegal in Cibola County?" Dawson said.

"Yes sir," Lujan said.

The fights have been allowed to go on openly for years despite a county ban on the sport. Cock breeder and cockpit owner Steve Hayden, along with 50 or so cockfighting supporters. wanted the commission to lift the 1987 ban on cockfighting, but it didn't happen.

Commission members faced a Cibola County Convention Center crowd of cockfighting proponents and those who were against it in a sometimes emotion-packed meeting which even had State Rep. Ken Martinez, D-Grants, get up and say he opposed legalizing cockfighting in Cibola County.

Tammy Small, a cockfighting proponent, began crying and between tears said if it were not for cockfighting, she would not be married today. Her statements came after the commission voted to approve a new animal control ordinance which keeps intact a ban on cockfighting.

Game fowl breeder Hector Sena spoke twice before the commission Monday, once before the vote, saying his Hispanic heritage will be damaged if the commission votes to allow the ban to continue, and after the vote, saying that cockfighting helps to inhibit homosexuality and bestiality.

At issue is the Zuni Mountain Game Club in San Rafael, an establishment that has been having cockfighting events for years, long before the county commission supposedly to shut down pit-bull dog fighting banned all animal fighting, except fighting between human beings.

Hayden invested some $30,000 into the venture his family life savings, in fact and then found out from the Cibola County Sheriff's Department that the event was illegal in Cibola County.

Cockfighting is illegal in nine of the state's counties and it has been outlawed in 27 cities as well.

Dawson opened the floor for discussion.

Kit Morales, a martial arts business owner, told the commission members two types of violence exists: one in which a chicken's head is cut off, the chicken is put in a pot, is cooked and eaten; and the other is unnecessary violence, where fighting chickens are pitted against each other and death occurs.

"What we are doing here is not only teaching the community, but also our children, that it is okay to do violence and violence to animals is a precursor to violence against people," Morales said.

Dawson asked Morales if he has seen a cockfight.

"No," Morales responded to which the crowd on the right side of the large convention hall began to laugh.

Elisabeth Jennings, executive director of Animal Protection of New Mexico Inc., spoke next, saying.

"This is a brutal, violent sport that has no place in a civilized culture," she said, adding that culture, throughout history, has held beliefs such as child labor, subjugation of women and slavery, but all were changed.

Jennings said, "Finally, I would like to say I have never seen a cockfight, nor do I want to. I have never seen rape or murder, but I don't condone those either."

Cecilia Perrow of Grants asked the commission to consider the brutality of the sport. She said she is committed to the future and well-being of Cibola County; however, she said residents cannot allow themselves to regress into a backward county by allowing cockfighting.

Ronnie Pines, a San Rafael resident, said he lives down the road from the game club and that each weekend when there is a fight, his road becomes a littering ground.

Proponents said cockfighting will bring positive economic development to the county. Pines had words about it saying, "About the only economic development I can see, if you are in the business of collecting bottles and cans, you can do very well."

Martinez said he was proud of his heritage, but he was not in favor of cockfighting.

"I think it is unfair that this commission be put in a position that this is a racial issue or cultural issue," he said, referring to remarks made by Sena and Arnold Arvisu, cockfighting proponents, who called it a cultural issue and claiming it was used to help support the Catholic Church.

Martinez said he is a Catholic and he has not seen cockfighting as a measure to support the church and he said it should be pointed out that cockfighting is not accepted in Raton, the town Hayden calls home.

"I do not think it is an appropriate thing for Cibola County," he said.

Asked by Dawson why the legislature allows it, Martinez said the state has not legalized it, merely not banned it. At the same time, Martinez said while the state has not come to the point of banning cockfighting, he added, "I think it will."

"I would ask the commission to uphold the decision that was already made," Martinez said. "There is not one reason to second-guess that decision."

Mention was made that cockfighting is nothing more than a form of gambling, an illegal activity in Cibola County, but done on Native American pueblos in casinos.

Arvisu that a San Juan County judge settled the gambling issue when he said people were not betting on issues, that they were "wagering" and wagering is different from betting.

Pointing to the animal rights activists in the room, Arvisu said, "You're going to tell me people from New York and the East Coast can come here and tell us how to be civilized? You make it illegal and you are going to ostracize the Spanish community."

Hayden, who refused to talk to the press before the meeting, said during the meeting that he can address some of the issues brought up by the anti-forces, such as the trash issue on the highway. He did, though, have just a few words for the opposition
sitting mostly on the left side the of the room. "I will not dignify most of the comments from across the room," he said.

Another person asked the anti-cockfighting forces to stand, which they did and then said, "This is New Mexico. We are New Mexicans. Why should all those white-skinned people tell us what to do?"

Kathy Hollar said cockfighting has been a part of her life for 16 years, and then she began to cry. "I don't feel I am a bad person," she said.

Hollar handed Dawson a petition with more than 400 signatures supporting cockfighting in Cibola County.

Undersheriff Johnny Valdez said that no matter what the commission decides, the sheriff's department will support the decision.

Asked by Dawson if he has ever had any trouble while cockfighting was going on, Valdez said he has not seen any trouble come from the fights.

Several letters were presented to the commission asking the ban be upheld including words from:

Catherine M. Smith, State Board of Education District 6 member.

Jennings with the Animal Protection of New Mexico Inc.

Dennis J. White, southwest region director of The Humane Society of the United States.

Misty Collins, cruelty caseworker for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Ray Powell, commissioner of public lands for the New Mexico State Land Office.

County Manager Bob Ortiz also introduced a letter from the executive director of the New Mexico Association of Counties who said that Cibola would not lose its insurance if it voted to lift the bad. The insurance issue cropped up when an association official said the county could not would lose its liability insurance on tort claims resulting from cockfighting because of a Bernalillo County case.

The idea of a new animal control ordinance was to add some teeth to the existing county animal control ordinance.

Commissioner Jim Meisner motioned to approve the ordinance; however, he closed the door on cockfighting when he said his motion was to keep the ban on cockfighting, not eliminate it.

Commissioner Clara Chicharello said she asked her constituents, mostly Native Americans, about the issue and came to the decision that it is something not needed in Cibola County. "Birds have spirits too,"she said.

The commission voted 5-0 to accept the new ordinance, but to keep the ban on cockfighting. At the same time under the section on birds the word "wild" was inserted into a sentence proclaiming "It is unlawful to willfully kill or maim any bird, or to molest or rob the nest of a wild bird."

The commission inadvertently made it illegal to hunt birds such as quail, ducks, dove and wild turkey.

"We're gonna work on that," county attorney Sherri Thompson said.

Meisner said he hoped she would, because he is a bird hunter.

Commissioner Mark Hiles said it was a shame so much time was spent on cockfighting as an issue in Cibola County when there are so many other "important" issues to be resolved.

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Becenti man in head-on crash

Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — A Farmington man died late Friday when his tractor-trailer truck was hit head-on at 75 m.p.h. by a 37-year-old Becenti man, Navajo police reported.

The investigation of the accident at Mile Post 51.5 on New Mexico Route 371 is being handled by the Farmington office of the New Mexico State Police.

According to the Navajo Criminal Investigations Department, Immell Robert died at the scene. The victim, by himself in a 1999 International semi, was headed south.

The other driver, Frank H. Silversmith Jr. of the Navajo Housing Authority subdivision in Becenti, was alone and northbound in a 1997 Ford Ranger pickup truck. He crossed into the southbound lane and Robert couldn't avoid the collision, the Shiprock Police District report said.

Robert died at the scene of the 11:30 p.m. wreck and the report listed alcohol as being involved.

Crownpoint fight

A juvenile boy may be prosecuted in federal court after being involved in a fight in the North Valley subdivision of Crownpoint early Saturday, Navajo police report.

The youth, whose age and address were not listed in the Criminal Investigations Department report, was jailed at the tribal youth center in Tohatchi on two counts of aggravated battery, disorderly conduct and violation of the youth curfew. Crownpoint detectives turned the case over to the FBI in Gallup.

Shortly after midnight four youths and adults were outside house No. 6 smoking when another group of about a half-dozen youths came by. The jailed youth harassed Alexis Ellsworth, 20, of Crownpoint about beating up a friend, and a fight broke out when four suspects jumped Ellsworth.

The victim was hit with golf club iron on the right chin, then with a golf putter on his shoulder blades before being kicked in the head while down on the ground. A 15-year-old juvenile friend of Ellsworth's tried to break up the fight, but was beaten by the juvenile who was later jailed.

At the Crownpoint Indian Health Service hospital, the intervening youth was treated for three large cuts on the head, plus a depressed fracture on the left side of his head. He also had a blood alcohol count of .238 and was flown to a hospital in Albuquerque for additional treatment.

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Athletes of the week

Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer

The Athletes of the Week for the week of Sept.16-22 are Gallup Catholic Panther Michael Estrada and Wingate Bear Elvina Benally.

"It's kinda suprising," said Estrada. "I did not think our school was recognized because we are too small."

Small or not, Estrada has helped out in a big way, scoring two or more goals every time he goes out to play. Estrada has score 13 goals in the teams last five games, helping his team out to a 9-0 start.

"At the beginning of the season I was a little disappointed at how we were playing, but now we are working real good as a team and I am happy with how the team is doing," Estrada said. The Panthers have mercy ruled most of the teams they have played, defeating teams like Evangeline Christian 10-0, Farmington JV 11-1 and Bloomfield JV 11-1.

Estrada said that the team's real test will come in October, when the team starts district play. "It's a different competition. We have been playing JV and C teams all year and will have to work harder as a team to win the district games."

Estrada scored three goals in wins against Evangeline Christian, Bloomfield JV and Gallup JV, and ha a pair of goals in a game against Farmington JV. He also scored two of the teams three goals in a 3-2 win over Piedra Vista.

Elvina Benally said that her success is due to the good play of her teammates. "I give credit to my teammates for me getting this," she said. "I could not have done it without them."

Benally, a first year transfer from Tohatchi, has been a key to Wingates 9-2, 2-0 in district start. "I like being here," she said of her new school.

Benally said she thinks the Bears have a pretty good team and that they have a good chance to do well in district. "The district is pretty tough, there is a new team in the district this year, (Shiprock) and the district is pretty good."

In the last three matches, Benally has had 74 hits, 55 in a win over Grants. She also had 20 kills in the Grants match, and followed it up with 17 in the district opener against Thoreau. One night after the Thoreau match, Benally faced former school Tohatchi and had 13 kills.

Sports Briefs

Free aerobics

DILCON, Ariz. — Free Aerobics will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Dilcon Chapter House from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Missy Stacey will be the instructor.

For more information contact Mike Winney at (520) 657-8016.

Open co-ed basketball tournament

SHIPROCK — Teams are needed for an open co-ed basketball tournament for the 77th annual Northern Navajo Nation Fair which will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 1. The semifinals will be held Oct. 7.

Entry fee is $135. per team.

For more information contact Herman at (505) 360-2216 after 6 p.m. or leave a message at 368-1197.

Team roping practice

MEXICAN SPRINGS — Team roping practice will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 at Mexican Springs.

Fee is $10. all-you-can rope.

For more information call Valerie at (505) 733-2284.

Saddle roping event

MANUELITO — A #1 and #2 saddle roping event will be held Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at the Arrowhead Team Roping arena in Manuelito. Books open at 9 a.m. with roping scheduled for 10.

AHTRS and USTRC cards will be accepted.

All ropings are $10. a roper, drawpots $10. a draw.

For more information call Mike at (505) 863-3965.

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Homecoming week

Staff Report

GALLUP — Gallup High School's annual homecoming kicks off this week. The Gallup Bengals football team will play againist Belen Friday night at public school stadium.

Thoughout the week students will celebrate each day with different themes up until Friday. The following is a list of themes for each day:

Tuesday is Pajama Day. Students can wear pajamas to school. In the evening street painting will be from 6-8 p.m. Everyone works on the float until 10 p.m.

Wednesday is Class Colors Day. Student show your class colors, to show off your class pride. The class games will begin at 6 p.m. at the public school stadium. All classes can work on their float until 10 p.m...

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Many Farms High School creates mural

Staff Report

MANY FARMS, Ariz. — Many Farms High School Art students, painting under the guidance of visiting artist Ken Wolverton of Cerillos, N.M., recently created a new mural in the school auditorium. The giant 32-foot long painting will hang at the back of the stage as a backdrop for future events.

Working with students throughout America and Europe, Wolverton has guided the creation of hundreds of murals. Three years ago, Wolverton delighted Many Farms High School with a high energy, upbeat performance and painting demonstration on the auditorium stage.

The idea behind this undertaking was to create a mural that would celebrate the local landscape. With students from the school's art classes, Wolverton developed concept sketches.

The sketches were enlarged onto four 8-by-8-feet canvasses using the Squaring Technique, in which the areas were divided into squares and the drawing transferred from the sketch to the canvas while maintaining original proportions...

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Deaths

Floripa Medina-Trujillo Velasquez

DEL NORTE, Colo. — Services for Floripa Medina-Trujillo Velasquez, 73, were held Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Holy Name of Mary Church, Del Norte. Burial was held in Del Norte Cemetery.

Velasquez died Sept. 1 in Del Norte. She was born April, 27, 1927, in Del Norte.

Survivors include husband, Lubin Velasquez; sons, Charlie Velasquez of South Fork, Colo., Michael Velasquez of Windsor, Colo., and John Paul Velasquez of Albuquerque; daughter; Marlyn Maldonado of Gallup; brother, Toby Gallegos; sisters, Bernie Valdez and Rayma Trujillo both of Denver, Colo., Rose Trujillo of Del Norte, Irene Maes and Toby Gallegos, both of Clearfield, Utah, and Pat Melgosa of Arvada, Colo., 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Velasquez was preceded in death by parents, Andres Trujillo and Preceliana Medina; stepfather; and one son.

Pallbears were Micheal Velasquez, Charlie Velasquez, Paul Velasquez, Lubin Maldonado, Charlie Velasquez Jr. and Kenneth Maldonado.

There will be a memorial Mass for Velasquez at 5:15 p.m. Oct. 6 at St. Francis Church, 507 S. Puerco, Gallup.

Ernest Anthony Holigay

GANADO, Ariz. — Services for Ernest Anthony Holigay, 50, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the All Saints Catholic Mission. Father Flann O' Neill, OFM, will officiate. Burial will follow at the Cornfield Community Cemetery.

Holigay died Sept. 22 in Flagstaff, Ariz. He was born Feb. 21, 1950, in Ganado into the One Who Walks Around You People Clan for the Dark Streak in Wood People Clan.

Holigay served in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. He was employed as a welder in the construction industry and also was a driver for the trucking industry. His hobbies included leather working, reading, photography and traveling.

Survivors include his son, Eric Woody; daughters, Ernestine Woody and Erica Woody; mother, Helen H. Davis; brothers, Franklin Holigay, Dulton Davis, and Fredrick Davis; and sisters, Sally R. Thomas and Lenora Davis.

Holigay was preceded in death by Sislas Holigay.

The family will receive friends and family after burial services at the Cornfield Chapter House.

Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Tom Chee

VANDERWAGEN — Services for Tom Chee, 83, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Pine Tree Mission. The Rev. Joe M. Lee will officate. Burial will follow at Pine Tree Mission Cemetery.

Chee died Sept. 23 in Gallup. He was born Oct. 25, 1916, in Vanderwagen into the Salt Water Pople Clan for the Black Streak Wood People Clan. Chee was preceded in death by wife, Mary James Chee; father, Denet Chile; mother, Ann Bah Benally; and sons, Gabriel Chee and Paul Chee.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

David Sleuth Sr.

NASCHITTI — Sevices for David Sleuth Sr., 75, will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Father John Mittlestadt will officiate. Burial will be held at the community cemetery in Naschitti.

Sleuth died Sept. 22 in Albuquerque. He was born Aug. 12, 1925, in Naschitti into the Salt People Clan for the One Who Walks Around People Clan.

Sleuth was a lifetime resident of Naschitti. He was employed on the railroad and was a uranium miner with Kerr McGee. At the time of his death he was a rancher.

Survivors include his wife, Ella Sleuth of Naschitti; sons, Bennie Charley of Naschitti, Ben Sleuth, Herbert Sleuth, David Sleuth Jr., and Robert P. Sleuth, all of Albuquerque; daughters, Ella Rena Sam, Jane Yazzie, Genevieve Sleuth, Emma Sleuth Atencio and Teresa Fister, all of Albuquerque; 21 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Sleuth was preceded in death by parents, Hanagahne and Handesbag Sleuth; brothers, Frank Sleuth, John Sleuth and Michael Sleuth; sisters, Betty Manygoats, Marie Nez and Glenasbah Sleuth.

Pallbearers will be Willis Nez, Toby Charley, Terry Curley and Gary Wolf.

Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Jimmie Martinez

PINE HILL — Services for Jimmie Martinez, 68, will be announced at a later date.

Martinez died Sept. 25 in Blackrock. He was born June 20, 1932, in Ramah into the Laguna Clan for the Salt Water People Clan.

Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.