School board clashes with Gomez
Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer
GALLUP — "We're killing our children with assessments;
we're killing our children with tests!" protested district
school board member Annie Descheny against the prospects of introducing
a new reading assessment in Gallup-McKinley schools.
Director of Research, Evaluation and Assessment Edward Monaghan
introduced the New Mexico Reading Assessment at Tuesday's school
board meeting as another means of evaluating the district's students.
Without the money to hire substitute teachers to fill in for
staff while they administer the one-on-one assessments, said
Monaghan, schools need to alter their schedules to accommodate
the new testing. He acknowledged that none of the alternatives
would be ideal, which might include disrupting regular classes
for up to three weeks to taking students out of school for a
few days.
Monaghan asked the board to decide whether or not to let each
school manage its individual accommodation of the assessment,
noting the considerable disparity schools expressed in how they
wanted to handle the possible change.
Uncertainty about the testing company's ability to ultimately
furnish its product, however, added Monaghan, meant that the
date of the assessment's arrival — and its very arrival
in fact — remain tentative.
Before voting on the measure, Descheny wanted to hear from state
Department of Education officials on the success of current assessments
before deciding to burden district students with yet more testing.
With no motion from board members, they tabled the decision without
a vote. Board member Manuel Shirleson was absent.
Monaghan presented the board with his analysis of the district's
middle school CTBS-5 assessment scores from last spring.
The state released the scores only recently because of Gallup-McKinley
Superintendent Robert Gomez's decision to temporarily withhold
the scores of those students the district had designated English
language learners.
The study found a large drop in scores between grades 5 and 6 — when
students transition from elementary to middle school — followed
by improved scores when those same students moved on to the seventh
grade, but dropped again slightly as they moved on to the eighth
grade. At graduation, then, students were scoring only slightly
higher than when they left elementary school. Also, nearly all
grades remained below the magic 40th percentile earmarked by
that state.
After Monaghan presented options the district may use to turn
those dips around, between grades 5 and 6 and again between grades
7 and 8, board President Johnny Thompson called teachers the "common
denominator" among reasons for the declining scores. "We've
got to turn those teachers around," he said.
"Our kids need quality teachers," he added. When asked to explain the
basis for his view, Thompson replied, "That's my statement. Don't question
it, just write it down."
Tom Payton, president of the Gallup-McKinley Federation of United
School Employees, found the blanket statement unfair.
"The administration and school board both have to provide better support
for teachers if they're serious about improving scores," he said, citing
such needed improvements as helping teachers with discipline problems in the
classroom, scaling back paperwork and giving elementary school teachers more
time to prepare for their classes.
"When (teachers are) on the front line and (the board and administration)
are in the back field, it's easy for them to play arm-chair quarterback," said
Payton.
Descheny commented on the disparity she has noticed between Monaghan's
rising bar graphs and her day-to-day interaction with McKinley
students who "can't even fill out a job application," she
said.
Magnet school
idea
Gomez asked the board's permission to begin talking with Church
Rock Elementary School staff and administrators about turning
the school into a "magnet school," which he said means "we
can turn it into anything we want it to be." The request
comes as a final effort to save the under-achieving school from
state takeover.
"This is really an opportunity for us," said the superintendent. "If
we sit there and do the things we've done, we'll get the same results.
"Let's see what will it take to make this an outstanding school, and that's
what we're after."
As one option for improving the assessment scores on which the
state keeps its eye, Gomez gave the example of a school in a
similar situation transformed into a specialty art school. Other
options he ran through included longer days, a longer school
year, increased teacher training, mandated community involvement
and much smaller classes.
With Descheny calling on the administration to pull the community
into the discussion, the board unanimously approved the motion
to begin dialogue with the school. Gomez told the board he hoped
to return with a proposal by April, giving those at Church Rock
time to leave to other schools if they chose not to be a part
of the changes.
Districtwide
disagreement
The meeting proceeded with Gomez presenting the board a $2 million
project list of the most urgent repairs and replacements throughout
the district. Seven of the 31 items did not specify which schools
or departments the funds were going to, with only "District
Wide" beside the given figure.
"I don't like the words 'District Wide,'" said Descheny, who demanded
to know exactly where the funds were going before voting to approve their allocation; "I
hear more people saying 'Gallup schools are about nepotism.'"
The board agreed to postpone voting on the districtwide funds
until the administration could specify their destinations and
approved the revised list unanimously.
Descheny continued to protest against the superintendent's requests
to approve unspecified funds when Gomez introduced a proposal
to co-fund the maintenance of baseball diamonds with the City
of Gallup instead of renovating those at particular schools.
To his request, Descheny replied, "more and more I'm thinking
I'm just a rubber stamp."
Although Gomez assured her the district "will not spend
one cent without a contract" with the city, Descheny proved
herself no rubber stamp by voting against the rest of the board
which approved the motion. "I'm not gonna say 'Yes' without
seeing everything," she said.
Descheny also voted against the rest of her fellow board members
by refusing to approve a salary schedule for the new parent teacher
positions. She agreed with the rest of the board in the value
of the positions, which would be responsible for teaching parents
of birth-to-5-year-old children improved parenting techniques
to better prepare children for entering school.
Descheny considered approving their salaries futile, however,
when the annual renewal of the funds from which some of those
salaries would flow are uncertain. She said she did not want
to hire these parent teachers knowing that there was a good chance
they would have to be fired for lack of money within a year.
Board member Bill Bright, on the other hand, voiced concerns
about losing the people they had already hired if finalizing
the positions were postponed much longer. Board President Thompson
and member Bruce Tempest agreed by voting with Bright to approve
the salary schedule.
At the meeting, Gomez also told the board that, with Gov. Gary
Johnson sitting on next year's budget, the district is unlikely
to see the federal funds with which it planned to build new teacherages
it hoped would attract more teachers to its rural schools.
He went on to announce more bad news with the New Mexico Insurance
Authority's refusal to release the district from a part of its
health insurance policy. The district wanted to find alternative
dental and vision providers after finding many local doctors
unwilling to accept the current policy. A bill for the release
passed the Senate but died when stonewalled in the House.
Judging from his conversations with other state superintendents,
Gomez said he sensed "widespread frustration" with
the state's insurance provider.
Fueling the
feud
Board members listened to the superintendent's prepared letter
to the state Board of Education protesting its proposal for a
statewide curriculum. In the letter, Gomez argued for local control
of curricula to meet local needs, that the state plan does not
match standards, that such state control devalues the districts,
and accused the state board of being "concerned more with
control than assistance."
Unable to judge the appropriateness of the letter to a state
proposal the board had not been given to read, said Bright, he
wondered if the superintendent's response was not excessive.
Bright said the letter seemed to him yet another episode in an
ongoing "feud" between the district and the state.
Gomez called Bright's remark unfair in light of a state board
he feels is constantly trying to "do away with local school
boards."
Without a motion to bring the letter to a vote, the board postponed
the decision until it had more information about the state policy.
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Yikes! Triplets!
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A young Gallup couple who had triplets in December
are delighting in the joys, and putting up with the lack of sleep,
that such precious new lives can bring.
Tami Chavez, 25, and Lorenzo Arredondo Jr., 27, of Corley Street,
proudly held the little bundles of sleepy babies, Angelo, Alicia
and Aaliyah, while they told their story Wednesday. They were living
in Albuquerque until the babies became too much for them and they
came back to Gallup to live with her parents.
Nearby sat their son, Lorenzo Arredondo III, who turns a year old
next week. The toddler-to- be suddenly had to learn how to handle
not just one new brother or sister, but two sisters and a brother.
"He feels jealous and left out," his father said. "He stands in
his crib and puts his arms up to be picked up."
But often, the nearest parent is having to tackle the demanding needs
of one, sometimes two, babies. Chavez and Arredondo make sure to
give him special attention when they can.
While the parents alternately held the tiny babies, they talked to
the toddler.
"Love your brother," Chavez said when her son looked wide-eyed at the
tiny face of the sleeping baby.
The couple got an early Christmas present as the babies were born
Dec. 24 at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque.
They had their first son on Feb. 28, 2001, definitely a surprise,
but the young parents had always talked about marriage and children,
and they loved their little son.
They first learned her second pregnancy contained more than one child
when Chavez began bleeding vaginally and they thought she was having
a miscarriage. They went to the hospital to have an ultrasound done.
"I hear two heartbeats. You've got two babies," the doctor said.
Angelo, who's not in the least shy now, was hiding behind the other
babies at that time.
In October, when Chavez went for her next regular ultrasound appointment,"we
saw three little heads on the ultrasound," Chavez said.
With triplets, doctors at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque decided
Chavez would have to have a Cesarean Section because it was too risky
with all the umbilical cords floating around. "We didn't want
to take that chance of wrapping them around somebody's neck," Arredondo
said.
During Chavez's pregnancy, the physician in Albuquerque told her
she'd have to come in three times a week. The family couldn't drive
to Albuquerque three times a week, so they moved temporarily to Albuquerque.
Her pregnancy was considered high-risk because her uterus hadn't
properly healed from having their first son. Arredondo got a job
in Albuquerque at a cellular phone company, and they found an apartment.
Her abdomen hurt as the skin stretched beyond belief and she had
little kicks from not one baby, but three. Chavez said she could
feel when each baby shifted positions.
"There were kids everywhere," Chavez said of the babies.
Aaliyah and Alicia developed in the same sack and are identical,
while Angelo grew in his own sack. Chavez said the doctor told them
her egg must have split.
After the birth, the doctors ordered bed rest for six weeks. Not
possible for Chavez, who had to care for all three babies, plus their
other son, while Arredondo worked.
They finally decided to move back to Gallup and live with her parents,
Louie and Cynthia Chavez, until they could get on their feet financially
and emotionally. Their family and friends just came to the home and
dropped off items for the babies.
"Everyone's been so helpful, we haven't had to buy diapers yet," Chavez
said.
Her parents give her breaks from the babies so she can take naps,
she said. "Sometimes you just want to find a corner and hide," she
said. "A good cry usually takes care of it."
The parents said the babies all have different personalities. Angelo
has a demanding cry that can't be ignored.
"When he starts crying, you have to get away from the other two," Arredondo
said."He starts making faces, and you know he's going to wake up everybody."
Her parents love helping them with the babies. Chavez described her
father sitting on the couch picking up each baby in turn.
"Oh, I love them," Louie Chavez said after holding each grandchild.
Twins run in both Chavez's and Arredondo's families. "I guess
now triplets do," he said. Chavez stressed that she wasn't on
any fertility pills. She wasn't even ready to be pregnant again when
she learned that she was.
The babies gave the family quite a scare shortly after arriving in
Gallup. Angelo and Alicia got bronchitis and had to stay at Rehoboth
McKinley Christian Hospital for a few days.
Aaliyah, however, had strep pneumonia and had to remain hospitalized
for 15 days. It was hard to be without her.
"They don't have the cells yet to fight off viruses and it just took over
her system," Arredondo said.
But the babies came through their illnesses and continue to bring
love to the extended family.
Chavez and Arredondo have been together for two years and had planned
marriage and a family, but not a family of four within one year.
It's been a scary endeavor for both.
But Chavez has no regrets. "They're all worth it and I think
I'm blessed. Not everyone can have triplets, and especially carry
them like I did," she said.
Arredondo wishes he could have had a house for the family and possibly
a minivan.
"As far as the future, we take it one day at a time," Chavez said.
The couple have a strong faith in God and believe he will protect
the children.
"Everything happened pretty fast for us, but it's worth it," Chavez
said.
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Hopis hope for Bashas
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
POLACCA, ARIZ. — Bashas' grocery store is a bit closer to becoming
a reality on the Hopi Reservation.
Approximately 100 community leaders, tribal councilmen, village leaders
and educators came together at Hopi Junior/Senior High School to
talk about bringing the grocery store into the community.
Ivan Sidney, community service administrator at Polacca and president
of the Hopi Junior/Senior High School Governing Board, reported that
Eddie Basha has committed to bringing the grocery store to Hopi.
The next step is having the Hopi Tribal Council agree to the plan
and the council will hear the plan on March 1. If the council gives
it the go-ahead on that date then the store design will be drawn
up during the next six months. Design approval could be given in
September 2002.
Construction bids would go out at that time and take one month. Construction
would begin at that time and take 12 months.
Construction could be completed by 2003.
The plans, drawn up Kitchell Architects, calls for Bashas to anchor
a shopping center that would include shops, offices and a post office.
A gas station, a fast-food restaurant and a full-service restaurant
would follow later.
The shopping center would be located in Polacca on the south side
of Route 264.
Brad Gabel, spokesman for Kitchell, guaranteed the project would
not cost more than $12.3 million. First Mesa Consolidated Villages
is planning on seeing the project through. FMCV may ask the tribe
to loan the village the funds, or the funds could come through various
loans or grants.
The Hopi community has been discussing getting a Bashas' here for
16 years. The locals emphasize the need for more food selection at
a better price than the local stores provide. They also look forward
tothe jobs that a local Bashas' shopping center would bring.
It is estimated that Bashas' would hire 80 employees to start.
While some remained skeptical after waiting more than 15 years, no
one opposed bringing Bashas' into the community.
Sidney said he recently attended the opening of a Bashas' on the
San Carlos Reservation, which is where Basha stated that he looks
forward to the next Bashas'store dedication being on Hopi.
Sidney said Bashas' would help Hopi High School and Hopi Medical
Center retain professional staff who currently must drive at least
80 miles to Winslow to get to the closest grocery store. Most drive
more than 100 miles to shop for groceries in Flagstaff.
Hopi Councilman Wallace Youvella Sr. said more professionals are
needed on the Hopi Reservation.
"We want to make life enjoyable for those who comehere," he said. "This
is important for everything that will take place here the next two to five years.
We're doing this for ourselves and our friends who come to Hopi."
Sidney noted that he lost family members to a car accident when they
were on their way to Flagstaff. He added that many elderly are not
in the good health that it takes to drive to one of the bordertowns
for groceries.
"My son Paul told me that he'll be too busy to take me to town when I'm
too old to see," he joked.
He added that it would bring more economic opportunities to the reservation
as it would keep more money here and the tribe could also raise more
revenueby taxing businesses.
Hopi Chairman Wayne Taylor Jr. also endorsed the planof bringing
Bashas' to Hopi.
"No one can deny the need," he said. Chairman Taylor said it would
be smart placing the Bashas' shopping center by Hopi Junior/Senior High School,
Northland Pioneer College, Hopi Health Care Center and the Hopi law enforcement
complex. He added that it has been hard to develop business along Route 264 and
this should be the impetus for that.
"Outside business will not come out here if the infrastructure is not in
place," he said.
Taylor noted that the tribe's main revenue source is Peabody Coal,
and it's not known how long that will last. He emphasized that the
tribe has been investing in off-reservation properties — purchasing
two shopping centers in Flagstaff, a hotel in Sedona and the purchase
of Holbrook Truck Stop is in the works. He said this has been necessary
because local investments wouldn't have such a quick return on the
money.
Taylor said in March he will be submitting a plan to the tribal council
on how to help the villages and Hopi entrepreneurs economically.
Taylor said the tribe has $30 million from a land settlement with
the Navajo Tribe. He said a team is looking at how this money should
be invested.
"We need to focus on what we can do for the villages,"' he said.
He said problems with wastewater and dilapidated housing in the villages
needs to be addressed.
Sidney said those wanting more information about the proposed Bashas'
can telephone him at 928-737-2670.
| Top |
Area sports
Carrie Loretto
Sports Editor
GRANTS — Better late than never.
It took the Grants Lady Pirates 23 minutes before they asserted themselves
against the Cobre Indians at Grants High School Friday night. Once
they did, they were able to pull away for a 40-25 victory which earned
Grants its' first district championship berth since 1976.
"A lot of it was just pressure," first-year coach Joe Hernandez said. "They
haven't been part of a district championship in 26 years. We finally started
playing with some energy on defense, that was the turnaround in the ballgame."
Hernandez admitted his team will have to perform more consistently
in tonight's District 3AAA final at Socorro.
"It's going to be tough, but if we show up and play like we can, we can
upset them," he feels. "The key is to control the tempo, play our type
of game, working for the high percentage shot every time."
Poor shooting and turnovers kept the Lady Pirates from putting away
the Indians early. Grants (13-10) led by just one point, 8-7, at
the end of the opening period. The Pirates managed to go up 19-13
at halftime, but it wasn't until late after getting a three-point
play from Antonia Dominguez with 1:45 remaining.
After forcing a turnover, Brook Metzger added a basket which put
Grants up by six at halftime.
Grants began the third quarter with five straight turnovers and only
attempted three shots through all but the final minute and a half
of the period. On one of those attempts, Val Rochlitz was fouled,
but made just one of her two free throw attempts for the only point
in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the quarter.
The Lady Pirates then turned it over on five of their next six possessions
and didn't score again until Rochlitz sank two free
throws with 1:24 left in the third.
Cobre matched all three free throws to stay within six, but a tip
in off an inbounds pass byMetzger and a steal resulting in a layup
by Rochlitz in the final minute put Grants up by ten, 26-16.
Grants continued its defensive intensity into the fourth quarter
and the Pirates caused a pair of turnovers which they converted into
four more points — a pair of free throws from Rochlitz and a
basket by Metzger — as they opened up a 30-16 advantage.
That 8-0 run provided enough of a cushion for Grants to secure a
berth into next week's regional tournament.
"It feels good," Hernandez said of the feat. "The program is headed
in the right direction. I'm proud of the seniors for laying a solid foundation
for something in Grants that's going to be very special."
Hernandez added that Grants' lackluster performance could also be
attributed to the loss of starting post Berna Frigerio who tore her
ACL last week against Socorro. The Pirates led by eight points when
Frigerio, part of a three-post offense, was injured and ended up
losing for the second time by ten points.
Grants appeared tentative to get the ball inside particularly after
post player Metzger got into foul trouble. The guards were able to
penetrate and either score or draw a foul, but again, didn't do that
consistently enough.
Metzger still led Grants' scoring with 11 points despite spending
time on the bench in foul trouble. Rochlitz finished with 10 and
point guard Dominguez added eight.
The Pirates held all of Cobre's scorers under ten points. Robin Lovato
led the Indians with eight.
| Top |
Symphony coming back this year
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — Music lovers are in for their annual treat - the New
Mexico Symphony Orchestra will be performing at 7 p.m. on Tuesday
at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The concert, which is free to the
public, is sponsored by the El Rancho Hotel, the Sacred Heart Cathedral,
and The Independent.
Roger Melone, the Resident Conductor of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra
(NMSO) and the Orchestra's Choral Director, will be the conductor.
Melone conceived and developed the Orchestra's highly successful
chamber orchestra series and has conducted subscription, pops, and
children's concerts. He continues to develop the talents of the NMSO
Chorus and is nationally respected as one of the leading conductors
in the choral/orchestral field.
Melone talked about the upcoming concert in a telephone interview.
Melone said he is bringing a slightly larger orchestra this year,
with the addition of ten to 12 musicians...
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Powerball winner claims $32 million
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The winner of Wednesday's $32 million
Powerball lottery jackpot finally came forward Friday, saying she
missed the announcement of the winning numbers because she was
asleep.
The winning ticket was sold in Las Cruces to Isabell Delgado, 47,
who says she used the birthdays of her children and grandchildren
as the numbers that turned out to be the winners. The ticket had
the numbers eight, nine, 19, 22 and 25 plus the Powerball 11.
Delgado, a clerk-typist for the city of Las Cruces, says she initially
missed the announcement of Wednesday's winning numbers, so she
didn't show up with her winning ticket until Friday...
| Top |
Colleen Maloof wealthiest Albuquerque resident
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Albuquerque's wealthiest family has a net
worth of about $1 billion, according to Worth magazine.
And the head of that family, Colleen Maloof, is the city's wealthiest
resident, the New York-based magazine said.
The magazine identified the richest person in each of the nation's
100 largest metropolitan areas in its March issue.
The family traces its wealth to Joe Maloof, who parlayed several
beer distributorships in the closing days of Prohibition into a
liquor conglomerate, a trucking company and a bank, the magazine
said...
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Begaye will seek re-election
Editor's note: This is the first of three stories from a Feb. 20
interview with Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye.
Jim Maniaci
Dine' Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation President Kelsey Begaye plans
to announce his re-election bid on Saturday, March 2, he told the
Independent in an interview Wednesday.
Begaye said that while plans for the event still are being firmed
up, he would like to make the announcement in Shiprock, in the
Northern Agency.
It is not considered one of his strongholds and would be a departure
from tradition, since tribal presidential candidates usually hold
the event in their home chapters where they have political strength.
He is from Kaibeto in the Western Agency...
| Top |
Check is in the mail, trust office says
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The director of a beleaguered federal
agency said 7,100 Indian oil and gas royalty checks worth $1.8
million were being mailed Friday to tribes nationwide.
The Office of Trust Funds Management carried out a special computer
run, issuing checks based on estimates for the past three months
for half of what one month's payments should be.
The oil and gas royalty checks "go in the mail tonight," said
Doug Lords, director of the Albuquerque-based Office of Trust Funds
Management.
"Our checks will cover the whole nation. 7,100 checks will be issued," he
said...
| Top |
3 escapees captured in Chambers
Dine' Bureau
ST. JOHNS — Apache County Sheriff Brian Hounshell announced
Friday the capture of three Tennessee escapees and an alleged female
accomplice at the hotel in the Interstate 40 village of Chambers.
All four were taken without resistance around 7:30 a.m. at the
Best Western Chieftain Hotel near Mile Post 333 on I-40 by teams
of ACSO deputies, the sheriff's special northern district Special
Response Rifle Team and Arizona Public Safety Department officers.
The three males escaped from the Johnson City, Tenn., jail and
fled with a woman, the sheriff said. Two of the males are boys,
ages 16 and 17, while the third is identified as David Gregg, 18.
Their female alleged accomplice is identified as Shandeeda Pauley,
21...
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Deaths
Sarah Sandoval
GALLUP — Services for Sarah Sandoval, 78, will be held at
10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Rev. James
E. Walker will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25 at Rollie Mortuary
Palm Chapel.
Sandoval died Feb. 17 in Gallup. She was born Nov. 21, 1923 in
Gallup.
Survivors include her sister, Rosie Sandoval of Gallup.
Sandoval was preceded in death by her parents, Felicita and Genaro
Sandoval; brothers, Albert Sandoval, Joe Sandoval, Tony
Sandoval and Waldo Sandoval; and sisters, Lucy Sandoval and Mary
Sandoval.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Tom Snyder
MARIANO LAKE — Graveside services for Tom Snyder, 94, will
be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 25 at Crownpoint Community Cemetery.
Pastor Bobby Boyd will officiate.
Snyder died Feb. 17 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 20, 1907 in Crownpoint.
Survivors include his son, Fred Thompson Jr. of Gallup.
Snyder was preceded in death by her parents, Zonnie and Doggie
Begay Snyder; brothers, Charles Snyder, Joe Snyder and John Snyder;
and sisters, Bah Morgan, Ruth Snyder and Edith Snyder-Morgan.
Pallbearers will be Harrison Mariano, Ray Morgan, Broderick Snyder,
Frederick Snyder, Fred Thompson Jr. and Lance Fred Thompson.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Rito S. Martinez
GALLUP — Services for Rito Martinez, 40, will be held at 10
a.m., Monday, Feb. 25 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic. Father
Diego Mazon will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.
Martinez died Feb. 19 in Gallup. He was born Dec. 26, 1961 in Gallup.
Survivors included sons, Jose Martinez, Rito Martinez and Samuel
Martinez all of Gallup; daughter, Julia Martinez of Gallup; brothers,
Charles Martinez and Robert Martinez both of Zuni, Leo Martinez
and Paul Martinez of Gallup; sisters, Charlene M. Ruffin and Flora
Thompson both of Gallup.
Martinez was preceded in death parents, Liberato and Julianita
Sanchez Martinez.
Pallbearers will be Michael Moreno, Arenzo Ruffin, Brosen Tony,
Rockey Tony, Albert Trocoso and Shawn Yazzie.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Denny Lee
TSELANI, Ariz. — Services for Denny Lee, 94, were at 10 a.m.,
today at Black Mountain Mission. Frank James officiated. Burial
will follow at Black Mountain Cemetery.
Lee died Feb. 16 in Chinle, Ariz. He was born June 15, 1908 in
Tselani into the Deer Spring People Clan for the Red Bottom People
Clan.
Survivors include his child, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Astiin Nitahyai.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial
services at Sarah G. Gorman's residence 1/4 mile E. of Tselani/Cottonwood
Chapter.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Betty Rose Denetdale
BUFFALO SPRINGS — Services for Betty Denetdale, 70, will be
announced at a later date.
Denetdale died Feb. 21.
A family gathering will be held at 5 p.m., tonight at Tohatchi
Chapter House.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Herman Becenti
NASCHITTI — Services for Herman Becenti, 100, will be announced
at a later date.
Becenti died Feb. 22 in Gallup. He was born Aug. 15, 1901 in White
Rock into the Sleeping Rock People Clan for the Near the Water
People Clan.
A family meeting will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24 at Naschitti
Chapter House.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
| Top |
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