Questions need to be answered on IHS 638
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
GALLUP — After two days of presentations about the proposed
contract for a tribal non-profit corporation to take over the
largest IHS operation in the country, Navajo Nation Council delegates
left with as many, if not more, questions as when they arrived.
The Navajo Health Care System Corporation has until the council
votes to approve or reject the contract to answer the questions
and concerns. Delegates will be in their regular quarterly session
Jan. 28-Feb. 1.
Federal law requires a tribe's governing body to give its approval
before the 1975 Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance
Act contract can go into effect.
Speaker Ed T. Begay and the Navajo Health Care System Corporation
enlarged Thursday and Friday's agenda to include Doo' Da IHS 638
opponents of the Public Law 93-638 proposed $277 million contract.
The Doo' Da team spoke first Friday morning.
Two other non-profit corporations currently provide medical care
independent of the IHS on the reservation. The Utah Navajo Health
Corporation and Sage Memorial Hospital in Ganado gave presentations,
then tribal lawyers went behind closed doors with delegates.
Also present were officials from Laborers International Union
of North America and LIUNA Local 1368, which has represented Navajo
Area IHS employees since 1975. The local's executive board came
out against the deal, based on the June 19 referendum that didn't
count despite a 4-1 margin against the contract which Navajo Area
Director John Hubbard spoke in favor of strongly on Friday.
The union held a lunch Friday to present its concerns; the corporation
hosted Thursday's lunch.
75 of the 88 delegates attended the meetings at the Gallup Holiday
Inn Convention Center on western Route 66.
Thursday participants heard opening remarks from five supporters
— the speaker, former president Albert Hale, Navajo Health
Division former director Roslyn Curtis, corporation board member
Ursula Knoki-Wilson, and the council's Health-Social Services
Committee Chairman Jerry Freddie.
Then delegates rotated among sessions on the business plan and
funding; personnel, compensation and benefits; conceptual design
and services; and legal issues. Most of the questions came up
in those sessions with proponents able to answer some of them
immediately.
Delegates received different answers from different groups, especially
about legal issues such as how much control the central government
would have over the non-profit corporation and how much tribal
liability there will be.
As negotiated from April to October, based on an application the
council approved last January, the proposed contract calls for
a phased-in approach by which the existing IHS service units form
subsidiary non-profit corporations to provide direct medical services.
A year after the U.S. Congress amended P.L. 93-638 in 1994 to
make it more favorable to tribes wanting to take over programs
operated by federal agencies, the Navajo government launched its
effort. When it became clear voters didn't want it to become a
tribal department, the design committee settled on the tribally
chartered non-profit umbrella corporation.
The umbrella corporation would act much like the present Navajo
Area IHS office in St. Michaels while the subsidiary corporations
— the umbrella corporation calls them"regional affiliates"
— would act much like the present service units. The affiliates,
also being non-profit corporations, would have their own boards
of directors.
The initial five-year application was for $443.1 million, including
$60 million in contract support costs, which is what the U.S.
government would pay the corporation to administer the contract.
The negotiated five-year contract is for $277 million, including
$20 million in contract support costs.
Most of the difference is some $130 million in third party reimbursements
from Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance.
Hubbard said basic allocations from Congress cover only about
half the cost of operation, so successful units are those such
as Tuba City, Chinle and Gallup that aggressively pursue the third-party
money.
Proponents believe they can raise more money — $5.5 million
to $8 million per service unit — to expand the quantity and
quality of service because the corporation would receive a proportion
of IHS national headquarters and Navajo Area central office funds
(called "tribal shares"), plus contract support cost
funds, plus interest that the IHS can't get. Outside grants available
only to non-profit groups also could be pursued.
Corporation Chief Executive Officer Lydia Hubbard-Pourier said
in a recent interview an additional $37 million can be raised
in the first year.
Proponents point out that Congress will probably not provide enough
money to match the national average spent on each patient. They
also point to the growing population being served by the same
amount of money, concluding something has to be done.
They listed 13 new services that could be provided within three
years.
Opponents believe the federal government is required to provide
medical care, thus the tribe doesn't have to; that people do not
believe they will receive better service with the referendum a
strong expression of this belief; that the stability of federal
funds remain questionable; and that the corporation will shaft
the now federal employees.
The corporate board agreed to offer all permanent full-time employees
proposed inter-agency personnel agreements called "IPAs."
But delegates were told those are not contracts and require all
three parties to sign to be renewed. The corporation's board pointedly
has committed only to a single two-year IPA. The agreements cover
non-commissioned workers since memoranda of agreements are used
for the commissioned corps of doctors, nurses and similar professionals.
| Top |
Carlson is leaving UNM-G in spring
Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Robert Carlson will leave UNM-Gallup early this spring
after six-and-a-half years as the school's executive director to assume
the presidency of Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., he announced
Wednesday.
"As a large urban college, Chabot will provide many new challenges,"
offered Carlson as one of the major reasons for heading to the school
of 15,000 students. Citing his discussions with Chabot staff and faculty,
Carlson also looks forward to working on expanding many of the school's
programs, including the college's library and distance learning initiative,
issues he also addressed at UNM-G.
Carlson arrived in Gallup on an annual contract in September of 1995
from the San Diego Community College District, where he served as
director of economic development during the last of his 13 years there.
Over the years he has held a variety of teaching and administrative
positions with such institutions as Miramar College and City College,
both in San Diego, Southern West Virginia Community College and the
Illinois Department of Education.
Carlson earned his doctorate in education and business administration
from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg,
Va., as well as a master's in community college education and a bachelor's
in technical education both from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale,
Ill. He also earned an associate degree at South Illinois' School
of Technical Careers in automotive technology.
"[UNM-G] was in bad condition in many ways when I arrived,"
said Carlson. Improving community involvement with the school through
personal contacts and enhanced board activity stands out for Carlson
as among his most valuable contributions to the campus. He also draws
pride from having overseen "the nearly doubling of the school's
floor space," which has included construction of the Zollinger
library and the Health Career Center, as well as additions to the
physical education complex and Calvin Hall.
Today, Carlson feels the school has reached a "transitional point,"
where it would be "good for someone else with new perspectives
to pick up and carry it forward."
The search for that someone, said UNM provost Brian Foster, will focus
on the Gallup branch. The process of finding a permanent replacement
for Carlson will begin in the spring with open-forum search committees.
Because faculty, unavailable for most of the summer, play an essential
role in the process, Foster does not foresee having a new director
in place any sooner than next fall. Until then, Foster will consult
with the local board to appoint an interim director.
"We are a lot further along than when he arrived," said
assistant professor Carolyn Milligan, the faculty senate president,
of Carlson's contributions. "One of the most important changes
to his credit," she added, "has been bringing the campus
back into the digital age. He understood how important that was for
an institution as remote as we are." These efforts included providing
all faculty with computers and internet access and exploring the potentials
of a distance learning program.
Before Carlson's arrival, Milligan also noted that most instructors
at the campus were not on tenure track, meaning they were not on a
defined path of career advancement. By placing all faculty on tenure
track, a process that involves publishing research in one's field,
she said Carlson has made the faculty more active in their given subject
areas and as a result more valuable resources to their students.
Other teachers at the school hint at a less active impression of the
departing director. Dale Mason, assistant professor of behavioral
and social sciences, insisted that "he didn't share information.
A prime example is the nursing program." The nursing program
at UNM-G shut down after losing its accreditation in 2000. "I'll
never forget the day we found out, the campus was dumbfounded."
"There was a lot of disgruntlement and dissatisfaction,"
said Mason, referring in part to what some described as Carlson's
"hands-off" administrative approach.
Although the nursing program is approved to reopen in the spring,
Carlson admits "it was a trial for us."
Even so, he said his experience at UNM-G has been "almost all
enjoyable," and has valued working with "a great group of
people, some of who will be friends for a long time."
Speaking on behalf of the faculty, Milligan said they wish Carlson
well, and that this turnover "gives us a chance to think of our
future and where we are headed."
| Top
|
Girl kills brother in brutal death
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — A teenage girl was arrested on a tribal charge
of child endangerment after allegedly killing her brother Wednesday
night inside the family home.
Timarie Morris, believed to be 18, who who lives with her family six
miles east of the Tolani Lake Chapter House, was arrested by Navajo
police. Their reports say she told her mother that she "cut my
brother's throat." Her brother brother Loren Morris, 19, was
pronounced dead at the scene by an emergency medical team. The alcohol-related
incident started about 9 p.m.
Wednesday with arguing outside the front door of the home. The mother,
Rena Morris, told police that said she asked Timarie and Loren to
come inside, where a fight started.
Rena Morris fled the house with Timarie's 1-1/2 year-old daughter
to the nearby home of Joe Benally. Timarie arrived 20 minutes later,
the police report said, and told her mother that she had cut her brother's
throat.
Rena Morris went back to her home and found Loren "in a pool
of blood," she said, but still moving. The report said Rena Morris
then walked six miles to the Tolani Lake Navajo Housing Authority
complex and sought the aid of Benny Nelson, who helped her contact
tribal police.
The two went back to the Morris house, with Nelson entering the home,
finding Loren lying on the floor covered in blood.
They covered him with a blanket and left the home. The incident was
reported to police at 11:09 p.m. Wednesday.
Emergency medical personnel checked Loren Morris for vital signs,
and finding none pronounced him dead at the scene.
Also arrested Wednesday night on an outstanding warrant was Alton
N. Yazzie, 23, also of the Tolani Lake area. Both were being held
in the Tuba City Detention Center pending a hearing.
Burnham rollover fatal
A driver who fled the scene near Burnham New Year's
afternoon was after his truck rolled three times, ejecting his passenger,
who was later pronounced dead at the scene.
A Navajo police officer was driving on his way to Burnham on another
call when a motorist stopped him and relayed information about the
black 1999 Silverado driven by an apparently drunken driver. The officer
continued on his way to Burnham before spotting, then stopping the
truck, driven by Maalgeney R. Denetclaw, 26, address undetermined.
Denetclaw was with one passenger, Jefferson Yazzie, 56, of Sheepsprings.
Maalgeney was pulled over about one mile west of the Burnham Chapter
House. He rolled down his driver's side window only a few inches,
the report said, providing his identification. The officer asked him
to turn off his engine, hand over the keys and open the door.
Maalgeney instead sped away and was chased by police along Route 5080,
a dirt road. Denetclaw lost control of the truck and ran off the road
about 2.8 miles southeast of the chapter house. The vehicle rolled
over three times and ejected Yazzie, who was later pronounced dead
at the scene. The incident occurred at 2:32 p.m. Maalgeney was airlifted
to San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington. Injuries were not
specified. Police charges against him were not mentioned in the report.
Rollover kills pedestrian
A pedestrian was killed Dec. 31 in a one-vehicle rollover
4.3 miles southwest of the Crossroad store on Route 16 in Inscription
House, Ariz.
Police reports say a medical unit came to the scene of the accident,
reported at 5:12 p.m. Dec. 31 and were told that a person hit by a
vehicle had died. The team continued another quarter-mile southwest
to the spot where a white Chevrolet S-10 had rolled over.
Several witnesses said to Navajo police that they saw two teenage
males fighting in the area where the victim, Johnathan Yazzie, 27,
address unknown, was struck by the vehicle and killed. They also said
the two teens ended up dragging Yazzie a distance.
Alcohol was apparently involved in the accident. Also a suspect in
the incident is Randy Yazzie, 31, who lives three miles northwest
of Cowspring. The two teens fled and are being sought by police.
| Top |
Area sports
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
GALLUP — The Gallup Bengal boys basketball team found itself
in a hole and couldn't climb out, while Kirtland Central coach Steve
Scott hopes his team is out of its rut.
Both teams dropped their semifinal match-ups of the 58th Annual Gallup
Invitational at Gallup High School Friday night. The Bengals lost
to Santa Fe Capital 74-60 and defending Class 4A state champion Kirtland
was beaten for the first time this season by Los Lunas, 71-64.
In the afternoon consolation bracket, Grants beat Shiprock 56-44,
but the fourth area team in the field, Window Rock, lost to Moriarty
65-53.
Today's pairings pit Shiprock against Window Rock for seventh place
at 1 p.m.; Grants (6-4) against Moriarty (3-7) for fifth place at
2:30 p.m.; and Gallup (6-4) and Kirtland (9-1) will play for third
at 6:30 p.m. Capital will take on Los Lunas (8-5) for the championship
at 8 p.m.
A quicker and bigger Capital team advanced to defend its tournament
title by picking apart Gallup's fullcourt man-to-man defense early.
Behind their 6-foot-4 duo, Terence Mirabal and Marcus Martinez who
combined for 33 points, the Jaguars took a comfortable 26-14 lead
and were able to stay ahead the rest of the way. Mirabel scored 9
of his 17 points in the opening period, while Martinez poured in half
his 16-point total.
"I made some bad decisions, I'll take full responsibility for
that," Gallup coach Ryan Cordova said bluntly. "I'm not
making any excuses, but it's just a decision I made. Hopefully next
time, I'll learn from this and move on."
Gallup went back to a halfcourt man defense in an attempt to contain
the Jaguars. A strong three-point shooting performance enabled the
Bengals to play with Santa Fe Capital the rest of the game, however,
the early 12-point spread proved to be too much for Gallup to overcome.
"We took the lead and were able to hold it, but they were coming
back with those threes," Capital coach Al Armendariz said.
Gallup made 6-of-14 three-point attempts throughout the game. Jeremy
Lewis sank three for nine of his 15 points and Dominic Romero added
a pair and finished with 11 points.
The strong perimeter game also helped open things up inside for 6-4
junior post Robb Erickson. Erickson turned in a strong performance,
scoring a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Four of those points came at the end of the third quarter and beginning
of the fourth which keyed a 7-0 run by Gallup that cut Capital's biggest
lead, 62-44, to 11 points.
An offensive rebound by Lewis set up Romero's second three-point shot
of the game which made it a 62-51 contest with 5:27 still left.
Lewis then came back from a time-out, stole the ball and took it in
for a layup. However, he missed the layup, Capital came up with the
rebound and eventually went back up by 14 points.
Both coaches agreed that series was pivotal.
"We had a chance to cut it to nine and missed a wide open layup,"
lamented Cordova who felt had the shot been made, it may have sparked
a successful rally particularly with the partisan crowd.
"I think the break we had there on those (missed) layups was
the difference," Armendariz said.
"I thought the fans helped us get back into the game," credited
Cordova. "It was a pretty big crowd, too bad we didn't walk outta
here with a win."
Los Lunas 71, Kirtland 64
Los Lunas stunned the defending 4A New Mexico state
champions and Scott, who had harangued his team's performance in the
opening round, wasn't too surprised.
"We've been playing on cruise control the last five ballgames,"
Scott said characterizing an inconsistent effort by the previously
unbeaten Bronco team that returns only two seasoned veterans from
last year's squad. "I thought Los Lunas played very well, but
I know we didn't bring them the type of game we have to bring in order
to be competitive."
Los Lunas coach Hamilton Doyle, a native of Indiana whose home state
is synonymous with great basketball, felt the same way.
"Not good because we never focus on who we play, but how we play,"
Doyle replied when asked how he felt about handing the Broncos their
first loss. "We had low energy, low intensity, bad decision-making.
Yeah we got the win, but we could've beat them more than (the final)
score."
Kirtland did play well enough to stay close throughout the game, but
only sporadically.
The Broncos had just taken a 23-21 lead in the second quarter with
a 6-2 run keyed by a couple of steals by Dax Crum and Devon Manning,
the only two returning players with significant experience.
Both players were limited by foul trouble and Crum fouled out of the
game with 6:13 still left. Still, both led Kirtland in scoring with
Manning pouring in 18 and Crum contributing 11. Deriek Woody also
scored 11 points.
Despite giving up a wide open three-point shot, Kirtland was still
tied at 28-28 after a three-point play from Crum with 4:29 still left
in the second quarter.
The Tigers then outscored the Broncos 11-4 the rest of the period
to build a 39-32 half-time advantage.
A 5-0 spurt by the Broncos, who displayed good interior passing resulting
in high percentage shots, brought Kirtland within two points, 48-46,
with 2 1/2 minutes still left in the third period.
Los Lunas' lead had dwindled to 53-50 heading into the final quarter.
There the Tigers regained a ten-point cushion that was enough to withstand
one final surge by Kirtland.
Matthew Benally came off the bench and sank a pair of threes that
made the final score closer than Doyle was comfortable with.
Joshua Hessinger topped all scorers with 25 points.
Doyle admitted that Friday's tournament coverage in the Independent
made the Tigers feel overlooked.
"The school has never had a tradition of being a winner so we're
the underdog, we've been the underdog all year and we've been in with
some pretty good competition," said Doyle, pointing out the Tigers
have beaten Albuquerque High, Highland, Del Norte, Los Alamos, Belen,
Gallup, Window Rock and Kirtland, while playing Rio Grande and Hobbs
close. "We like being the underdogs."
Grants 56, Shiprock 44
RoShaun McKinney led a 29-point opening period, scoring
nine points in the period as the Pirates took control early.
Shiprock, only scoring eight points in the first period, turned the
tables in the second quarter to close the gap to 36-25 at half-time.
Hendricks Begay's ten-points keyed the comeback. The Chieftains made
it a 45-36 game, but they would get no closer
and Grants advanced to the consolation championship.
Begay finished with 18 points to top all scorers, but he was the lone
Chieftain player in double figures.
Grants had three led by Melonas' 16. McKinney finished with 13 and
Marcus Corley contributed 10.
Moriarty 65, Window Rock 53
Moriarty capitalized on 13-of-23 free throw shooting
and a strong third quarter to break open a three-point game.
The Pintos clung to a 27-24 half-time advantage, but outscored the
Scouts 25 to 19 in the third period then pulled away.
David Dorcey led Moriarty with 15 points. J.J. Ortiz scored 12 and
Chris Garcia 11.
Scout Terdell Dawes led all scorers with a 20-point effort. However,
after Brian Yazzie's 11 and Justin Antone's 8, only one other player
scored more than two points.
| Top
|
Quick action nets robbery suspect
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Patrolman Michael Mitchell had just gotten on Interstate
40, heading west, at the Munoz entrance around 2:25 a.m. Friday when
he heard an armed robber had just gotten on I-40 near the west truck
stops.
Mitchell continued west until he saw a white Dodge Caravan, heading
east, according to his police report. A dispatcher had reported that
the robber left Travelodge, 3275 W. Highway 66, in a white Dodge Caravan.
Mitchell crossed the median and began following the Caravan, which
maintained the speed limit. When the driver pulled off at the Munoz
exit, Mitchell turned on his emergency lights and siren. The driver
pulled over...
| Top |
Diné grassroots group may affect next election
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — A never-before-seen, growing list of Dine grassroots
groups continues to evolve into one large coalition that may sway
the coming election of delegates on the Navajo Nation.
One of the coalition's messages is "Together, there is unity;
separately, the council listens but not seriously enough."
Coalition members, who have been meeting since Dec. 1, come principally
from three strong grassroots groups — Dine for Better Government,
known for its opposition to Navajo council delegates giving themselves
$10,000 pay raises; the Doo Da 638 IHS Committee, which opposes
council approval of a Navajo corporation-run Indian Health Service
management system; and the Dine Sovereignty Defense Association,
whose members want tribal Department of Justice to pursue Navajo
water rights much more aggressively. There are other groups in the
coalition, as well — the Dine Rights Association, whose members
have long endorsed a Navajo tribal constitution, the National Native
American Youth Coalition, and others...
| Top |
AZ offers untitled vehicle amnesty
Diné Bureau
PHOENIX — People who bought vehicles and failed to transfer
ownership within the required time will receive amnesty until March
31, under the Omnibus Budget Bill passed by the Arizona Legislature
and signed by Gov. Jane Dee Hull.
Without the amnesty, penalty fees for untitled-unregistered vehicles
would be $8 for the first month, plus $4 for each additional month,
up to $100, the state Transportation Department said. This would
be in addition to the actual fees, which are based on vehicle value.
The department's Motor Vehicle Division Director Stacey K. Stanton
said it would be difficult to estimated the eligible number of owners
involved...
| Top |
Gambling problem? Now there's help
Support group meets weekly
Gaye Brown de Alvarez
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Karen realized she had a gambling problem when she
gambled away her car payment at Sky City Casino.
"I said, 'Gee, I've never done that before,' and I was really
surprised"
Karen (not her real name) told the story of her plunge into the
depths of compulsive gambling at the Thursday meeting of Gamblers
Anonymous in Gallup.
It started innocently enough, she recalled. About five years ago,
her and her husband were on their way to AA camp near Show Low and
they stopped at a casino...
| Top |
Deaths
Michael Anthony Montano Jr.
GALLUP — Services for Michael Montano Jr., infant, were held
at 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 7 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Father Diego Mazon officiated. Burial followed at Sunset Memorial
Park.
Montano Jr. died Dec. 31 in Denver. He was born Feb. 28, 2001 at
Gallup.
Survivors include his parents, Susan Palacios and Michael Anthony
Montano Sr. both of Gallup; grandparents, Steve Palacios of San
Jose, Calif. Gilbert Montano and Christine Montano both of Gallup,
Robert Cunninghan and Rosanne Palacios both of Reno, Nev., and great-grandparents,
Juan Lucero and Lupe Martinez both of Gallup.
Montano was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Julia Archuleta
and Juanito Martinez, Adelaida Montano, Alfredo Montano, Margaret
Palacios and Victor Palacios.
Pallbearers were Robert Cunningham, Frankie Flores, Gilbert Montano
Sr., Robert Montano, Ray Palacios Sr. and Steve Palacios Sr.
Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Edna Marie Howlett
GALLUP — Services for Edna Howlett, 73 were held at 11 a.m.,
Monday, Jan. 7 at Rollie Mortuary. Rev. Beth Gingrich officiated.
Howlett died Jan. 3 in Gallup. She was born on Dec. 19, 1928 in
Tishomingo, Okla.
Howlett worked for Navajo Shopping Center, California Supermarket,
DanDee's, Little Bear's Market and was an Avon representative.
Survivors include her husband, Heavy B. Howlett of Farmington; son,
Johnny Howlett of Gallup; daughters, Karen Howlett of Bayfield,
Colo. and LaVern Mraz of Gallup; mother, Kate Beavan of Gallup;
sister, Geraldine Reed of Arroyo Grande, Calif.; six grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.
Howlett was preceded in death by her father, Robert McGaha and Joe
Beavan.
Memorial contributions can be made to RMCH Hospice, 650 Vandenbosch
Dr., Gallup, NM 87301.
Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Elizabeth Rudeau
GALLUP — Services for Mary Rudeau, 73, were held at 1 p.m.,
Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Pastor Dennis Gardner
will officiate. Burial followed at Sunset Memorial Park.
Rudeau died Jan. 2 in Gallup. She was born May 2, 1928 in Springerville,
Ariz.
Survivors include her daughter, Diane Bonaguidi of Gallup; sisters,
Janet Fiala of Madras, Ore. and Beulah McQuade of Gallup; brother,
Richard Rudd of Las Cruces and three grandchildren.
Rudeau was preceded in death by her husband, August Rudeau; parents,
Richard and Mary Rudd; son, Peter Rudeau; brothers, Ralph Rudd and
Ray Rudd and sisters, Nedra Fife and Mildred Simpson.
Memorial contributions can be made to American Cancer Society, 5800
Lomas NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
The family received friends and relatives after the burial services
at 509 McKee, Gallup.
Rollie Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Jesbert Sam
CHINLE, Ariz. — Services for Jesbert Sam, 30, were held at
11 a.m., today at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Chinle. Blaine
Grein will officiate. Burial will follow at Chinle Communtiy Cemetery.
Sam died Nov. 3 in Round Rock, Ariz. He was born Feb. 12, 1971 in
Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Coyote Pass Jemez Clan for the Bitterwater
Clan.
Sam graduated from Chinle High School. He participated in bullriding,
team roping and calf roping. He was a member of the CNRA, and the
Navajo Nation Bullriders. He was a CNRA top ten finalist, an Arizona
and Navajo Nation Fair Finalist. He was employed with the Navajo
Housing Authority, as an electrician.
Survivors include his son, Josh Sam of Phoenix; daughter, Shanado
Sam of Phoenix; parents, Danny and Sally P. Sam of Chinle; brothers,
Lorenzo Sam, Bennie Sam and Benjamin Sam all of Chinle; sisters,
Genevieve James and Geraldine Henry both of Chinle.
Sam was preceded in death by his grandparents, Harry and Sophie
Price and Mrs. Gli'hazbah and Lewis Gorman.
Pallbearers were Albert Smith, Manuel Silas, Calvin Benallie, Newton
Yazzie, Bennie Sam, Herbert James and Randy Bia.
The family received friends and relatives after the burial services
at Chinle Catholic Hall.
Tse Bonito Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Betty Ortiz Lee
MENTMORE — Services for Betty Lee, 73, were held at 11 a.m.,
Monday, Jan. 7 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Father Diego officiated.
Visitation and a rosary wereheld on Jan. 6 at Cope Memorial.
Lee died Jan. 1 in Gallup. She was born March 15, 1928 in Mentmore
into the Black Streak People for the Tower House People.
Lee was a homemaker and rugweaver. She was a member of the Native
American Church. Her hobbies included cooking, sewing, weaving and
crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her sons, Herman Lee of Tse Ya Toh and Leroy Lee
of Albuquerque; daughters, Marie Begaye of Mentmore, Rosie Tom of
Coyote Canyon, Nora Lee and Elsie Lee both of Gallup; brothers,
Francis Ortiz, Robert Ortiz and John Jack all of Mentmore; sister,
Peggy Chichirello of Mentmore; 26 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Lee was preceded in death by her parents; Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ortiz;
husband, John Lee; daughters, Ella Lee and Louise Lee and son, Ernest
Lee.
Pallbearers were Leroy Lee, Dewayne Lee, Douglass Cooeyate, Hubert
Yazzie and Patrick Azua.
The family received friends and relatives after the burial services
at Red Rock Chapter.
Cope Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
David Kee Begay
BURNT CORN VALLEY, Ariz. — Services for David Begay, 47, wereheld
on Monday, Jan. 7 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
Pinon, Ariz. Burial followed on family plot, Burnt Corn Valley.
Begay was born July 7, 1954 in Keams Canyon, Ariz. into the Bitter
Water People Clan for the Towering House Clan.
Begay was employed with the Union Pacific Railroad. He was a member
of the Native American Church, he was a fire chief, drummer and
singer. He was a rancher and farmer.
Survivors include his son, Douglas Kee Begay of Pinon; daughter,
Eugenia Begay of Pinon; sisters, Lucy Kay of Pinon, Susie B. Joe
of Burnt Corn Valley and Marjorie R. Yazzie of Sheepsprings, Ariz.
and 14 grandchildren.
Begay was preceded in death by his parents, Hosteen and Marie D.
Begay; and brother, Burt Charley Begay.
Pallbearers were Danny Woody Kaye, Bobby Y. Kaye, Woody Kaye Jr.,
Larry Kaye, Marvin Kaye and Robert H. Joe Jr.
The family received friends and relatives after the burial services
at the family home, Burnt Corn Valley.
Tse Bonito Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
| Top
|
Contact the Gallup Independent
Please send the Gallup Independent feedback on
this website and the paper in general.
E-mail: gallpind@cia-g.com
By mail:
The Independent
PO Box 1210 Gallup, NM 87305
500 N. 9th Gallup, NM 87301
All contents property of the Gallup
Independent.
Any duplication or republication requires consent of the Gallup
Independent.
Feel free to send any questions or comments to gallpind@cia-g.com
E-mail the webmaster at martyr_dom@hotmail.com
for problems concerning the website ONLY.
|
