Cut-up horse found
Cult, gang suspected
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
BREAD SPRINGS — Sections of a mutilated horse were found lying
along two county roads, apparently tossed from a vehicle sometime
Sunday afternoon.
McKinley County Deputy Sheriff John Yearley, who investigates crime
resulting from cult rituals or gang initiations, said after examining
the remains of the horse, it is no coincidence the only incident of
reported animal mutilation occurred on a weekend of an equinox.
Yearley investigates crimes resulting from cult rituals or gang initiations.
Times of equinox or solstice, hallmarks for the changing of the seasons,
are often associated with satanic rituals involving animal sacrifice.
"This is clearly not a case of a poaching or someone butchering
the horse for eating," he said. "There is too much waste.
"I believe that this is an isolated incident."
The horse, most likely a yearling, was reddish brown, or chestnut,
with a white star on its forehead.
There have been no arrests. The investigation continues.
Some of the cut-up horse appeared along Blue Medicine Well Road late
Sunday afternoon.
Vanessa Begay-Lee, a member of the local land board, got a call from
a distressed neighbor, asking her to do something about it. Lee said
the resident who discovered the horse remains had called the sheriff's
office but received no response.
The resident then reported the incident to the Navajo Nation police.
An officer drove to the scene and filed a report.
But, Lee said, the resident was not satisfied because no attempt was
made to determine ownership of the horse or the identity of
the perpetrator. So, the resident called her. Since she had been a
law enforcement officer at one time, she went to the site.
The horse had been mutilated with a saw or very sharp knife. The head
had been dismembered at the neck, the legs were missing and the tail
had been hacked off through the bone. The rib cage and the heart were
still intact, Lee said. The blood was fresh and still wet, indicating
it had been a recent kill. Part of the anus had also removed.
"Someone must've had hatred in their heart to do something like
this," she said, mentioning the numerous complaints she hears
as a land board member regarding land and livestock disputes. Several
hours later, Lee received another phone call this time, from a different
resident on the other side of the community.
His son had been out riding a bike in the late afternoon and discovered
a horse's head off to the side of the road.
Lee drove to the site. The horse's head had been severed from the
body at the neck, but left intact. It was part of the same animal
she had seen earlier in the day.
As Yearley looked over the scene Monday morning, he did not believe
this to be part of a dispute. Instead, he had seen something similar
about five years ago and in the same general neighborhood.
By early Monday morning, any evidence or clues leading to a suspect
had been destroyed by curious community members or predatory animals.
There was enough remains, however, for Yearley to conclude that the
horse had fallen prey to someone looking for an easy mark for a sacrifice.
The horse's head was found only a few miles from a site known to have
been previously used as a site of animal mutilations and satanic rituals.
"This doesn't happen much, but when it does, it's always associated
with this site," he said.
In both cases, the horse had not been killed where the body parts
were found. Yearley will continue to investigate to determine the
exact site of the killing.
Yearley talked about animal mutilations from a few years ago. In that
case, satanic symbols had been smeared on a tree at a site where four
dogs all the same color as the horse were killed. Each dog had been
buried to face a different ordinal direction. Only small parts of
the dogs had been dismembered.
Anyone missing a horse or having information is asked to contact the
sheriff's office.
| Top |
UNM breaks ground at Zuni
S.J. Ludescher
Staff Writer
ZUNI — The crowd was small but the enthusiasm huge at the groundbreaking
of the much-anticipated branch of the University of New Mexico here
Tuesday.
The south campus is expected to open in spring of 2002 or maybe fall
2001, "if we run into some luck," said UNM Executive Director
Robert Carlson.
"It's been a long process but we received state approval about
three weeks ago," Carlson said. " We awarded a contract
and now it's beginning."
J.R.Thompson, chairman of the Zuni school board, said the seeds for
this project had been planted in 1984. "Today," he said,
"we see them take sprout and grow."
The $3.6 million 25,000-square-foot facility will serve area-wide
scholars, not just Zuni tribal students. Through an agreement with
the Pueblo of Zuni, students who are not members of the Pueblo of
Zuni will have open access and will be encouraged to attend the new
location.
"We have a mission to serve beyond the tribal lands," Carlson
said. Access is guaranteed through a 99-year lease among the Pueblo
of Zuni, UNM and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The branch will not be as large as the branch in Gallup but will feature
state-of-the-art technology in the technology courses. "Basically,
it's the same size as the new library addition at the Gallup branch,"
Carlson said.
Construction technology and the arts will be heavily emphasized.
The plan calls for a 1,600-square-foot art complex, which will allow
for classes in both two- and three-dimensional work; two science labs;
and four general classrooms, including a business lab and a multi-purpose
room.
"Some students will still have the 80-mile daily round trip to
Gallup for some classes, but it will give a lot of students a better
option," Carlson said.
"Eventually, we are looking at offering telecommunications courses
to expand the curriculum offerings."
The branch is being built next to the new Zuni High School, which
is expected to open next fall. The high school and UNM will share
space. UNM students will use the high school cafeteria, daycare and
library.
"Since the average age of our students is 32, most of our classes
are in the evening to accommodate work schedules," Carlson said.
"That's perfect since the heaviest use of the high school is
during the day."
While several more jobs will be created with the new building, most
of the staff is already in place and operate out of the site at Twin
Buttes High School.
"We promised the community that if we passed the bond, we would
build a school down here," he said.
| Top |
Grants seeks funds for pool
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — The Cibola County Commission has approved the Grants
swimming pool proposal as the county's choice for the Community Development
Block Grant program.
The next step is to submit the grant application to the state, which
administers CDBG money for the federal government. The state will
decide if the project meets the criteria and will award grants accordingly.
County commissioners selected one of four project proposals. During
a Sept. 11 meeting, County Manager Bob Ortiz explained that only one
project could be listed on the grant application.
The Bluewater Acres Project sought $400,000 to build a water storage
tank to supply firefighting water to fire hydrants in the process
of being installed in Bluewater Acres Subdivsion.
The Future Foundations Family Center requested $400,000 to start the
process to build a new swimming pool to replace the run-down one owned
by the city of Grants. Proponents of the project do not know how much
the total costs will be to build the swimming pool; however, the first
$400,000 will be used to demolish the existing pool, design the new
one, add infrastructure and build some structural development.
Cibola Counseling Center requested $400,000 to expand facilities for
additional counseling office space, room for a day treatment program,
Americans with Disabilities Act-approved bathrooms for the day program
and for the counseling office, storage space and parking space for
clients and staff members.
The Cubero Center for Arts & Culture requested $400,000 for phase
one design, construction, furnishing and equipping a center in Cubero
for arts and culture. The center will be a multicultural educational
center dedicated to the arts and to cultures.
Commissioner Fred Scott made a motion to approve the Bluewater project
because lives and property depend on adequate water pressure to fight
fires, but his motion died on the floor for lack of a second.
Commissioner James Meisner then motioned to approve the Future Foundations
Family Center request for a swimming pool project; commissioner Mark
Hiles seconded the motion and commissioners Clara Chicharello, William
Dawson, Hiles and Meisner voted to approve it. Scott voted against
the project.
The commissioners approved 5-0 a request for CDBG funds for a planning
grant for the Cebolleta Land Grant. If the state approves the grant
the funds will be used to build a $25,000 master plan for sewage treatment,
water, roads, housing, a fire station and expanded community center,
and parks and recreation for the Cebolleta Land Grant area east of
Grants.
In other matters the commission:
Approved 5-0 a budget adjustment for the DWI Fund.
Approved 5-0 a budget adjustment for the Enhanced 911 Fund.
Approved 5-0 the setting of tax rates for the 2000 tax year.
Approved 5-0 a resolution seeking a $150,000 interim loan for the
Alco Building until the state sells Severance Tax Bonds and
gives the county $150,000 from the sale of the bonds. The $150,000
will then be applied to the loan amount. Cibola
Foundation will be responsible for any interest owed the state for
the state loan.
Approved 5-0 the interim loan agreement.
| Top |
Ganado dispatches Pinon easily
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
GANADO, Ariz. — It was an easy day at the office for the Ganado
Lady Hornets.
Ganado crushed Pinon 15-2 in the opening game and then put its subs
in the second game for a 15-10 win to complete the conference sweep
Tuesday night.
"Tonight I wanted to play the subs because sometimes they don't
get to play much," Ganado first year coach Jerome Burns said.
"But every year Pinon is getting tougher and tougher. They seem
to be getting better."
Ganado, 26-4 overall, 5-0 in conference play, will travel to Monument
Valley Thursday night in a major 3A North Enchantment Region showdown
with the defending state champions.
"I told the girls not to peak right away," Burns said. "I
told them we want to peak at the end (of the season). But I like the
way we're playing."
Pinon, 3-11 overall, 0-3 in conference, will play at Greyhills Thursday
before hosting Monument Valley Friday night in a conference doubleheader.
The Lady Eagles will then travel to Winslow Saturday night for another
conference twinbill.
"We definitely didn't play up to our potential, the girls just
weren't there for the first game," Pinon coach Joy Jojola said.
"They picked up the pace for the second game."
In the opening game, Ganado hardly broke a sweat as
they dominated Pinon.
After an ace by senior middle hitter Candice Kirk, the Lady Hornets
gradually nursed their lead. With junior right side outside hitter
Mary Shirley at the line, Ganado fashioned a commanding 9-1 lead.
Sophomore middle hitter Melissa Peterson put away a pair of kills
as Pinon also had three hits that sailed out of bounds,
The Lady Hornets claimed the opening game without having to go through
a whole rotation.
Junior defensive hitter Jessica Ludlam served for the final five points
which included a pair of aces along with a dink kill by Jolene Benally
and a stuff block by Kirk for the final point, 15-2.
With Ganado going to its bench for the second game, Pinon was able
to put more points on the scoreboard.
The Lady Eagles grabbed the early lead at 3-0 with a kill by Shannon
KeCine. But the Lady Hornets fought back with an ace by junior middle
hitter Lindsey Young and a kill by junior left side outside hitter
Rachael Nez for a 4-3 lead.
Pinon tied the game at 4-all when Andrea Ashkie put away a nice dink
kill.
With Nez serving, the Lady Hornets surged ahead 11-4 on a pair of
aces by Nez. But the Lady Eagles bounced back with five straight points
with Shantel Muzzie at the line. Ashkie put away a pair of successive
kills along with a stuff block by Andrea Ashkie to draw to within
two points, 11-9, before Ganado got the sideout on a kill by senior
Jolaine Roanhorse.
Ganado opened up a 14-10 cushion on a pair of Roanhorse kills sandwiched
around an ace by Tawna Kee. The Lady Hornets claimed the match on
an ace by Shirley for a 15-10 win.
Ganado was led by junior Mary Shirley who served for eight points
, junior Rachael Nez with seven service points and junior Jessica
Ludlam with six service points.
In limited playing, senior Jolaine Roanhorse led in the hitting department
with four kills with Nez with three kills . Junior Jolene Benally
added a pair of kills along with one dink kill.
Pinon's leading players were Shantel Muzzie who served for eight points
and Andrea Ashkie with three kills, one block and one dink kill.
Ganado won a close JV match, 16-14, 15-13.
Panthers tie with Piedra Vista
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — One of Gallup Catholic's victims in it's 9-0 start was
the Piedra Vista JV. They weren't going to be the Panthers' tenth
straight.
Piedra Vista played the Panthers to a 4-4 tie at the Gallup Soccer
Complex Tuesday afternoon.
In a match marred by the ejection of Gallup Catholic's leading scorer,
Michael Estrada, Piedra Vista held on despite losing a two-goal advantage.
After the Panthers fell behind 4-2, Estrada, one of the team's leading
scorers, received a yellow card for a tripping violation then was
ejected after receiving a red card for arguing with the official about
the call.
The Panthers played the rest of the half with a one player disadvantage,
but scored two goals to tie the game.
"The game could have gone in our favor," said Panther head
coach Dino Lagravinese. "But with an ejectioon it is hard playing
catch up."
Lagravinese added that coming from two goals behind with a man down
shows that the team can compete.
Piedra Vista gave the Gallup Catholic Panthers their toughest competition
of the season, leading in the second half of both matches they have
played against each other. The last time the two teams met Gallup
Catholic had to come from a 2-1 deficit at the half and escaped with
a 3-2 victory.
Tuesday, the Panthers scored first as Michael Estrada put it in off
a pass from Casey Zecca. Piedra Vista tied the game right before the
half on a Jake Androsovsky shot.
Gallup Catholic took the lead in the second half early, scoring on
a Michael Mason shot. Down 2-1, Piedra Vista scored the next three
goals, two by Androsovsky and one by Josh Jolly.
The Panthers' rally began when D.J. Biava scored on a corner kick
by Mason. James Kezele scored the tying goal with just under two minutes
to play.
Gallup Catholic took 22 shots on goal and Piedra Vista took 21.
The Panthers, 9-0-1, will play host to the Farmington JV Thursday.
| Top |
Clerk says Taylor has seen records
Harassment charge denied
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Grants City Clerk Tara Salisbury denies she is harassing
or denying a councilor access to city records.
At a recent city council meeting, Councilor Shirley Taylor complained
about harassment tactics by Salisbury in issues concerning open records.
Salisbury said she is not going to get into a "mudslinging"
match with Taylor. "I'll put myself above that," she said
in a written statement. Salisbury would not consent to an interview.
Taylor said that Salisbury's continuing hostility and lack of cooperation
violates the responsibility of the city clerk's office as well as
the city charter and state statutes...
| Top |
Kayenta man burns to death
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — A 20-year-old Kayenta man burned to death in his
car last week and Navajo police are trying to find out what caused
the fire.
Milton James Cly and his brother Travis, 22, had been out drinking
Friday, then drove around for a while. When they noticed their engine
overheating, they headed home, parked their two-door Mercury Cougar,
but stayed inside the vehicle with the engine running, according to
the Kayenta Criminal Investigations Department report.
When the passenger compartment filled with smoke, Milton shoved his
brother, who was using crutches, out the door. For some undetermined
reason, however, Milton did not leave the vehicle when it burst into
flames, the Kayenta Police District report said.
An unidentified passing Kayenta Fire Department firefighter happened
by the scene, and tried to knock down the flames with a garden hose.
This apparently allowed the young men's father, James, time to come
out from the house, break a window and remove Milton...
| Top |
Lawyer: Clinic lease is OK
Tanya Brazil
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The attorney hired to review the city of Gallup's
lease with the company operating the Northside Clinic told council
members Tuesday that the company has not defaulted on its lease
agreement.
Attorney Lynn Isaacson said the lease requires the tenant perform
certain responsibilities, such as providing comprehensive health
care, conducting pre-employment and employment physicals for the
city employees and making rental or maintenance payments not to
exceed $3,000 per year.
Patients from the clinic recently brought before the council their
concerns about the clinic's alleged lack of continuity in care,
hospital privileges or community board with local representation.
But Isaacson said the company Presbyterian Medical Services/Western
New Mexico Medical Group cannot be found to have defaulted on the
lease based on allegations it did not provide "comprehensive
medical care" because the lease provides no definition of that
clause and does not give the city the right to determine its meaning...
| Top |
Protests over election nixed
This is the first of two stories looking at candidates'
grievances in the Navajo election.
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — While many tribal election grievances were decided
before the Sept. 5 Navajo general election, two are left to be decided,
along with most of the 21 filed afterward.
While hearing officers Dave Womochil and Karen Kingen Etcitty continue
to work on the decisions, almost all their rulings so far have been
dismissals.
The hearing officers also decided 12 grievances about candidate qualifications,
the date of the election and photos of write-in candidates on the
ballot before the election. Two more decisions remain pending.
One of the two remaining pre-election grievances, by Helen Webster
of the Tuba City Chapter, will be heard at 9 a.m. Thursday. This leaves
one more, by Gloria Ann Tree of Dennehotso Chapter, to be decided...
| Top |
Cockfight ban shoots down game hunting
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — In its zeal to get the controversial cockfighting
issue out of the way through a new animal control ordinance, Cibola
County Commissioners also banned upland bird, waterfowl and turkey
hunting in Cibola County.
Although cockfighting was the focus at Monday's special Cibola County
Commission meeting, it was but a small part of the new animal control
ordinance that the county discussed. So was the sentence that bans
bird hunting.
The ordinance adds teeth and clarity to the original animal control
ordinance approved by the county commission in 1987. That ordinance
was taken word-for-word from the city of Grants' animal control
ordinance, said Sherry Thompson, county attorney and assistant district
attorney.
The new ordinance, to be voted on at the Oct. 9 Cibola County Commission
meeting, also would outlaw bird hunting for such animals as quail,
ducks, geese, turkey and doves in Cibola County...
Deaths
Frank Silversmith Jr.
BECENTI — Services for Frank Silversmith Jr., 37, will be held
at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Navajo Baptist Church in Crownpoint.
Pastor George Jim will officiate. Burial will follow at the Crownpoint
Community Cemetery.
Visitation will be held 1-5 p.m. today at Cope Memorial Chapel.
Silversmith died Sept. 22 in Lake Valley. He was born March 10, 1963,
in Fort Defiance, Ariz., into the Big Water People Clan for the Tangle
People Clan.
Silversmith attended Job Corps in Albuquerque, Chinle High School
and Chinle Boarding School. He was employed by NECA of Shiprock as
a carpenter, Navajo Housing Authority, Becenti Chapter and Bashas'
in Crownpoint. His hobbies included tour guiding in Canyon de Chelly,
riding horses and playing basketball.
Survivors include his wife, Melissa Silversmith; son, Donovan Silversmith;
brother, Henry Silversmith Jr. of Chinle, Ariz.; sisters, Mary Silversmith
and Eva Silversmith, both of Spider Rock, Ariz.; and grandmother,
Anesdebah Bia of Spider Rock.
Silversmith was preceded in death by his mother, Louise Bia, and father,
Frank H. Silversmith Sr.
Pallbearers will be Sterling Morgan, Ralph Morgan, William R. Bruce
Jr., Waylon James, Floyd James and Leland Jim.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services
at the Becenit Chapter House.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmie Martinez
PINEHILL — Services for Jimmie Martinez, 68, will be held at
10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Pinehill Church of God. Pastor A.J.
Williams will officate. Burial will follow at a private family cemetery.
Martinez died Sept. 25 in Blackrock. He was born June 20, 1932, in
Los Norrias into the Laguna for the Salt Water People Clan.
Survivors include wife, Amelia Martinez of Pinehill; daughters, Bertha
Jean Martine, Floria Martine, Loretta Martine, and Linda
Jean Martinez, all of Pinehill; sons, Peterson J. Martinez and Phibert
Jim Martinez, both of Pinehill, and Raymond Martinez of
Fredonia, Ariz.; sisters, Betty Beaver, Julia Beaver, Genieve Coho,
Anna Rita Martine, Debbie Martine, Doreen Martine, Mae
Martine, Lousie Pino, and Minnie Martine, all of Pinehill; brothers,
Mark Martine, David Martinez Sr., John Lewis Martinez,
and Leonard Martinez, all of Pinehill, and Amos Martine of Boston,
Mass., and 21 grandchildren.
Martinez was preceded in death by father, Antionio Martinez; mother,
Luta Palamino; and brothers, Paddy Calvin Sr., Albert
Eriacho and Charlie Martinez Sr.
Pallbears will Bob Beaver, Lester Beaver, Terry Coho, Robert Martine,
John Martinez, and Zebedee Martinez.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
David Tully Thomas
GREASEWOOD SPRINGS, Ariz. — Graveside services with military
honors will be held for David Tully Thomas, 57, at 10
a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Holbrook Cemetery.
Thomas died Sept. 16 in Holbrook, Ariz. He was born Oct. 15, 1942,
in Greasewood Springs.
Thomas served in the U. S. Army in the Vietnam War where he received
the National Defense Service Medal with two Bronze Stars and a Purple
Heart.
Survivors include his son, Darrell Thomas of Crownpoint; parents,
Wilson Thompson Sr. and Daisy Thompson, both of
Greasewood Springs; brother, Wilson Thompson Jr. of Cornfields, Ariz.;
and sisters, Bernice Henry of Farmington, Ruth
Thomas of Holbrook, Louise Thompson of Crownpoint and Iris Thompson
of Greasewood Springs.
Donna Marie Marinsek
PEARLAND, Texas Services for Donna Marie Marinsek, 61, were held Thursday
Sept. 21, at South Park Funeral Home. Burial was held in South Park
Cemetery, Texas.
Marinsek died Sept. 16 in Pearland. She was born Sept. 7, 1939, in
Galveston, Texas.
Survivors include son, Thomas Marinsek; daughter, Marisa Hausenfleck;
parents, Richard and Naydean Arbuckle, both of
Pearland; and four grandchildren.
Robert Acothley
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Services for Robert Acothley, 40, will be held
at 11 a.m. DST Thursday Sept. 28 at the Teesto Church of the Nazarene
in Teesto, Ariz. The Reverend Johnny Nells will officiate. Burial
will follow on family plot in White Grass Ranch.
Acothley died Sept. 23 in Phoenix, Ariz. He was born May 29, 1960
in Tuba City, Ariz. into the Manygoats People Clan for the Towering
House People Clan.
Acothley was a graduate of Tuba City High School. He was a member
of the carpenters union for 25 years. He was a resident of Phoenix
for 20 years.
Survivors include his wife, Yvonne Acothley of Fort Defiance, Ariz.;
son, Ryan Robert Acothley of Fort Defiance, Ariz.; daughters, Robin
Danielle Acothley of Fort Defiance, Ariz.; parents, John Acothley
and Ruby Acothley, both of Tuba City, Ariz.; brother, Melvin Acothley
of Tuba City, Ariz. and Raymond Acothley and Fred Acothley, both of
Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters,
Cara Bia and Rose Ann Scott, both of Tuba City, Ariz.; and grandmother,
Katie Huskon of Tuba City, Ariz.
Acothley was preceded in death by his brothers, Larry Acothley and
Tom Acothley; and a great-grandmother, Lena Saganitso.
Pallbearers will be Fred Acothley, Melvin Acothley, Raymond Acothley,
Andrew Bia, Johnny Johnson and Floyd Huskon.
The family will receive friends and family after the burial services
at the John and Ruby Acothley's residence in Tuba City,
Ariz.
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