Candidates must pay ethics fines to run for office
Memo goes out to hopefuls
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Men and women who want to run of tribal office
must prove they have cleared up all their Ethics-Rules Committee
punishments, including restitution.
This is what potential candidates are being told in a two-page
memo co-signed by committee Chairman George Tolth and Elections
Administration Director Carol Kirk Perry.
Each month the elections office sends Ethics Director Virgil Brown
Jr. a list of candidate applicants to determine if there are any
outstanding Ethics-Rules Committee orders with which the person
has not fully complied.
If there are, Perry has directed her voter registration specialists
to send the person a letter saying, "It has come to our attention
that you have an outstanding Ethics Order which has not been satisfied
and for which we have not obtained a Notice of Compliance from
the Ethics-Rules Office," and asking the person or his/her
attorney to contact Brown" regarding the
appropriate course of action" to obtain the notice.
The co-signed memo, dated Feb. 15, notes, "If you have, in
the past, been found in violation of the Ethics in Government
Law by the Ethics-Rules Committee of the Navajo nation Council,
you must show full compliance with such orders. All sanctions
imposed must be satisfied, sanctions which may have included payment
of money or the performance of some act. If you have been ordered
to pay restitution or a fine, you must show proof that such restitution
or fine has been paid in full. This
requirement of full compliance still applies even for those orders
that are more than five years old."
Typical punishments the committee imposes include restitution
of some or all of the misbegotten funds, being removed from all
tribal elected offices, and prohibition against holding tribal
elected offices for five years. But many offenders complete the
five years without making restitution, or only part of it.
Sometimes the committee also forbids a person from holding a tribal
job for five years. Contempt charges usually result in a $100
civil fine.
However, the punishment can be modified, if the person applies
to the Ethics-Rules Office and the committee agrees.
"You must demonstrate good cause for modification. Inability
to pay, without any aggravating circumstances, is not good cause
and will not be grounds for modification," the co-signed
memo states.
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Cunningham buried in Arlington
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — As a bugler blew "Taps" among
rows of white headstones, 4-year-old Kayla Cunningham stood and saluted
her father"s casket draped with an American flag.
Senior Airman Jason Dean Cunningham, a pararescuer who killed in the
mountains of Afghanistan, was buried Thursday with military honors
at Arlington National Cemetery.
His family and fellow soldiers remembered him as a motivated soldier,
a good-natured family man and an example to those who knew him.
"You have left behind a legacy to your family and the world.
I intend to uphold it," Cunningham"s father, Lawrence "Red"
Cunningham wrote in a letter he placed in his son"s casket during
a memorial service Wednesday night.
A pararescue-squad member, Cunningham, 26, was among the troops airlifted
into the rugged mountains of Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda.
He and five others were killed in the United States" bloodiest
day of fighting since the campaign began.
But military officials said Cunningham saved the lives of at least
10 of his comrades, according to John Bennitt, a family spokesman.
"He was one of the best," said Master Sgt. John Kingsley,
a fellow member of Cunningham"s 38th Rescue Squadron. The two
were on the ground together in Afghanistan. "We"re a small
unit, everybody knows everyone. It"s like losing a brother."
About 80 pararescuers in their distinctive maroon caps stood nearby
during the funeral service. The pararescuers — or PJs —
are specially trained to provide medical treatment and rescues in
areas only accessible from the air.
"If we take (Jason"s) life as an example of selflessness,
then we are called by Jesus to love more than we are loved and forgive
more than we are forgiven," said Martin McGuill, the chaplain
who conducted the service. "May Jason so beloved soar on eagle"s
wings and touch the face of God."
A pair of HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters — the craft commonly used
by the pararescuers — flew overhead and three sharp cracks rung
out from the seven-person rifle party.
Cunningham"s father and mother held each other weeping and clutching
the tightly folded flag presented to them by Master Sgt. Don Shelton.
After the service, Jason"s wife knelt against the casket sobbing
with their two daughters, Kayla and 2-year-old Hannah, beside her.
"You will never believe how proud I am of you," said his
father"s letter, which the family provided to The Associated
Press. "God always seems to take the best of the best first."
Cunningham grew up in Carlsbad, N.M. His family moved to Farmington,
N.M., where he attended high school. After graduation, he spent four
years in the Navy before joining the Air Force.
"He was real generous, real funny. He had a really good sense
of humor," said Staff Sgt. Brandon Casteel. "He really did
always strive to better himself."
His family had been stationed at Moody Air Force Base near Valdosta,
Ga. since last summer. He was sent overseas Feb. 1.
On the morning of March 4, Cunningham was aboard one of two MH-47
Chinook helicopters that deployed troops in the rugged Afghan mountains.
They were searching for special forces troops that were trying to
rescue a Navy SEAL who had fallen from another helicopter earlier
in the day.
One of the helicopters was hit with machine gun fire and a rocket-powered
grenade and crashed. The other deployed its troops and was able to
take off.
Throughout the day the soldiers on the ground fought off enemy forces.
They were rescued after nightfall, but not before Cunningham and five
other soldiers were killed and 11 were wounded.
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A letter from a proud father
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — The following is the text of a letter placed
in the casket of Senior Airman Jason Dean Cunningham by his father,
Lawrence "Red" Cunningham, during a service Wednesday for
the airman, who was killed March 4 during fighting in Afghanistan.
Cunningham was laid to rest Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery.
A copy of the letter was provided to The Associated Press by the family:
Dear Jason,
You will never believe how proud I am of you. Jason, you were the
most ornery kid in the world at times, the silliest kid in the world
at times, but that is what made me love you.
Now as a man you became a wonderful father and a great husband.
Trust me when I say that your self-determination and pure heart for
your goals will forever live in my soul as well as your mother"s
and your brother and sister. We all loved you for who you were as
a child, young man, most of all as a man. You gave your life for us
all.
It is hard to put my feelings on this paper because the love and pride
I have for you can"t be put in words.
You have heard the words many times: "He followed in his brother"s
footsteps," or, "He followed in his father"s footsteps."
I have never heard them say, "He followed in his son"s footsteps,"
but I will do the best I can.
Your mother and I will always watch over Theresa, Hanna, Kyla. You
know how Ma hovers, so rest easy.
You have left behind a legacy to your family and the world. I intend
to uphold it.
In the big picture of things we are only here on earth for a blink
of an eye. It won"t be long before we are together again.
God always seems to take the best of the best first. I lately feel
a great comfort when I shut off the lights at night, knowing you are
in a better place and serving God as one of his angels, looking out
for all of us.
I will ask God to forgive me for all my sins. I will do my best to
live by his glory.
Please give your mother a sign that you are with her and that you
are at peace. Please watch out for her when she gets to heaven, take
her hand and comfort her.
Jason, I will do my best to make the world understand just how important
you and your fellow P.J."s (pararescuers) are to them.
Pop and Ninnie love you very much. Papa is so proud of you and seems
to be taking this in stride. He knows you will be with him now and
in heaven. My mother said she knew you would be a hero someday. She
loves you.
Through all this, I have come to realize all the things that are taken
for granted in life are as fragile as the shell on a sparrow"s
egg.
Jason, I will never forget you and you will be in my heart forever
and beyond.
Your Loving Father,
Red Cunningham
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Authorities say teen drank before shooting
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — An Albuquerque teen-ager who allegedly shot
a Bernalillo County sheriff"s deputy had been drinking, smoking
marijuana and brandishing a handgun before the shooting, an arrest
warrant affidavit said.
Deputy Shaun Sanchez allegedly was shot by 15-year-old Jerry Cisneros
Jr. after he pulled over the car the teen was driving for a traffic
violation in Albuquerque on March 7, authorities said.
The two got into a struggle as Sanchez was about to conduct a body
search. Cisneros pulled out a pistol and shot the deputy in the cheek,
sheriff"s spokeswoman Michele Arviso Devlin said.
Sanchez returned fire, hitting the Albuquerque teen several times.
Sanchez is recovering at home, Arviso Devlin said.
Cisneros remains at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque
where a guard is watching the door of his room. Hospital officials
are not releasing his condition.
Cisneros" girlfriend told authorities that he and her brother
began drinking beer and smoking marijuana in her back yard the afternoon
before the shooting, the affidavit said.
Later that night, Cisneros showed the girl a .22-caliber handgun,
court records said.
Cisneros also allegedly told Sanchez he had been drinking, court records
said.
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Prep baseball
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
FARMINGTON — Faulty baserunning coupled with crucial errors spelled
disaster for Gallup.
The Bengals had two runners picked off while committing five errors
as three-time defending Colorado state champion Niwot
toppled Gallup 7-6 during the first round of the Farmington Invitational
on a cold, windy Thursday afternoon at Ricketts Park.
"We had two runners that were leaning the wrong way," Gallup
coach Larry Macias said about the two Bengal baserunners
that were picked off that would have eventually scored. "But
their pitcher (Pat Howe) had a good move (to first). We were down
5-2 and we came back. I"m really happy the way we played. We
showed a lot today. They were three-time defending state champions
from Colorado. It could have gone either way. Now we play Farmington
and they"re defending state champion. We see it as a challenge."
Gallup (2-5) will face defending Class 4A state champion Farmington
today at 4 p.m. in second round action in the six-team round robin
tournament. The Bengals will face a yet undetermined opponent Saturday.
The other four teams are host Farmington; Durango, Colo.; Manzano
and Unitah.
Gallup scored its first run in the top of the first off Niwot lefthander
Howe without the aid of a hit. Two fielding errors along with a hit
batsman scored the run.
With one out, Bengal senior leftfielder Shane Hargrove was hit by
a pitch. Senior centerfielder Will Silva got aboard on an error at
shortstop. Junior first baseman Kevin Walsh hit a fly ball to leftfield
that was dropped for a second error that loaded the bases. Junior
third baseman Jared Montano, who was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles
and two RBI, then drove in Gallup"s first run on a sacrifice
fly.
But the Cougars squeezed across a pair of runs off Bengal sophomore
lefthander Jesse Hall in the bottom of the first with the help of
two throwing errors by Bengal senior catcher Reynaldo Bowman, who
was making first start behind the plate after transferring from Window
Rock.
"That (the errors) really hurt," Macias said. "But
this was his first game catching. He"ll work it out."
Niwot"s leadoff batter junior centerfielder Mike Olsen was hit
by a pitch. Olsen stole second and advanced to third on a throwing
error by Bowman. Junior second baseman Joel Lahman drove in Olsen
with a single to center on the first offering from Hall. Hall then
fanned senior third baseman Steve Lux but Bowman grabbed the third
called strike but threw wildly to first base for his second error
of the inning, allowing the second run to score.
The Bengals tied the game in the top of the second on a one-out single
by junior rightfielder Emilio Esparza. Esparza, who was 2-for-3 with
two singles and one RBI, stole second and moved to third on a throwing
error before scoring on a passed ball.
However in the bottom of the second, Niwot scored three runs to take
the lead, 5-2.
Hall walked the bases loaded with one out. An error at shortstop allowed
two of the runs to score. Then Lux doubled to left to drive in another
run.
Gallup"s Montano led off the fourth with a basehit. Bowman followed
with a bunt single down first. But with one out, Montano was picked
off in a rundown between second and third for the second out. Esparza
then singled in one run and senior second baseman Tony Saucedo, who
was 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBI, singled in the other run
for a 5-4 game.
The Bengals tied the game in the top of the fifth with a single run.
Silva singled but then was picked off first base. Junior first baseman
Kevin Walsh was hit by a pitch and then advanced on a wild throw by
Howe on a pickoff throw to first. Walsh scored on an RBI-single by
Montano.
Niwot broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth with two runs scoring.
Spencer Crosser drove in the first run with a standup double to centerfield
and Adam Demersseman drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
The Bengals made it a one-run game in the top of the sixth on a leadoff
walk to Hall by relief pitcher Ryan McDermid and a RBI-single by Saucedo.
In the seventh Lux, the fourth Cougar pitcher, struck out two of the
three batters he faced to get the save. Bengal senior pinch hitter
Mike Alonzo was caught looking at a third called strike down the middle
with the tying run, Silva, at third base after getting aboard on an
error at shortstop and then stealing third.
Bengal lefthanded pitcher Jesse Hall went the distance and took the
loss. Hall allowed seven runs while scattering five hits. He struck
out nine, walked four and hit two batters.
Niwot starting pitcher Howe, who was the first of four pitchers for
the Cougars, lasted five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits.
Like Hall, Howe also hit two batters. Relief pitcher McDermid lasted
one third of an inning. Mike Zarlengo pitched two-thirds of an inning
and Lux hurled the final inning for the save.
Niwot scored seven runs on just five hits. Gallup finished with six
runs on eight hits. Both teams had five errors.
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City author to have book signing
Staff Report
GALLUP — Hastings Book Store in Farmington is holding a book-signing
at 2 p.m. Saturday regarding a former Farmington Police Officer
accused in his wife"s 1994 shooting death.
The book Grave Accusations, by Gallup Independent Police Reporter
Andrea Egger, was published in October 2001 by New Horizon Press.
In the book, Egger details the events of April 4, 1994, when Monica
Dunn, 31, died by shotgun wound to the abdomen.
Her husband, Paul Dunn, then a Farmington Police traffic officer,
was in the bedroom with his wife when the gun blast struck Monica
Dunn. He was charged with her murder and later in the year acquitted
by a Gallup jury...
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Bond reduced for man in child porn case
PHOENIX (AP) — An Avondale man facing more than a dozen child
pornography charges will soon return home after having his bond
reduced.
Asher Emerson, 52, was arrested in January near Payson after being
stopped for investigation of drunken driving.
Deputies said they found computer-generated photos in his car of
juveniles involved in sex acts.
Police searched Emerson"s home and his state Corporation Commission
office, confiscating his computer and computer files...
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Deaths
Hanesbah Mary Jim
GALLUP — Services for Hanesbah Jim, 104, will be held at 11
a.m., Saturday, March 16 at Cope Memorial Chapel. Rev. Dennis R.
Gardner will officiate. Burial will follow at the Gallup City Cemetery.
Jim died March 9 in Gallup. She was born July 1, 1898 in Red Rock
into the Black Streak People Clan for the Towering House People
Clan.
Jim was a homemaker, rancher and rug weaver.
Survivors include her sons, Ben Jim of Sage Brush, James Jim of
Rehoboth, Bobby Jim and Dan Jim both of Gallup;
daughters, Nellie Gleason, Sarah Jim and Alice Smith all of Gallup;
48 grandchildren; 101 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by her son, Nelson Alfred Jim Sr.
Frankie Jim, Dan Jim, Daniel Jim, Nelbert Jim, Ben Jim and Albert
Jim.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Bronson Guy Bennett
SEAGRAVES, Texas — Services for Bronson Bennett, 22, will be
held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 16 at the Casamero"s
Residence, Mariano Lake. Pastor Clarence Benally will officiate.
Burial will follow on family land, Mariano Lake.
Bennett died March 11 in Wellman, Texas. He was born April 11, 1979
in Albuquerque into the Deersprings People Clan for the Black Streak
People Clan.
Bennett attended Thoreau High School and was also schooled in Talequah,
Okla. He completed basic training for the Army Infantyman in Fort
Benning, Ga. He was employed as a labor/concrete finisher in Seagraves.
His hobbies included reading, playing basketball, and collecting
Michael Jordan colletables.
Survivors include his mother, Mae Bennett of Mariano Lake; brothers,
Branson Guy Bennett, Austin Yazzie Jr. and Shadrach Yazzie all of
Mariano Lake; sisters, Josephine Bennetta and Shannon Bennett both
of Mariano Lake; and grandparents, Maggie Casamero and Martha S.
Bennett both of Mariano Lake.
Bennett was preceded in death by his father, Sonny L. Bennett and
grandfathers, James Casamero and John R. Bennett.
Pallbearers will be Roderick Ramone, Johnson Casamero, Dewayne Thomas,
Rope Martinez, Branson Bennett and Shane
Bennett.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Casamero"s Residence.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Maria Dolores N. Fernandez
GALLUP — Services for Maria Fernandez, 73, will be held at
1 p.m., Saturday, March 16 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Rev. Lawrence
J. O"Keefe will officiate.
Fernandez died March 8 in Gallup. She was born Jan. 18, 1929 in
Manila.
Survivors include her sons, Robert T. Sekiya of Albuquerque, Edward
Gonzales and Michael Sekiya both of Gallup; daughters, Rachel Mondragon
of Arvada, Colo. and Charlene Sekiya of Gallup; brothers, Robert
Fernandez of Colorado Springs, Colo., Alfredo Fernandez and Edward
Fernandez both of HI; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Fernandez was preceded in death by her parents, Everisto and Vicenta
Fernandez.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to any Respect Life Organization.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Clara Catron Spencer
SPENCER VALLEY — Services for Clara Spencer, 79, will be held
at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 16 at Twin Buttes Nazarene
Church. Pastor Peter Riggs Jr. will officiate. Burial will follow
at Sunset Memorial Park.
Visitation will be held from 4-5:30 p.m., today at Cope Memorial.
Spencer died March 12 in Gallup. She was born May 25, 1922 in Tse
Ya Toh into the Towering House People Clan for the
Red Running Into the Water People CLan.
Spencer was self educated. She was employed as a maid, dishwasher,
cook helper, rug weaver and assistant manager. She
taught rug weaving. Her hobbies included silversmithing, farming
and ranch work.
Survivors include her sons, Sammie Tso Spencer and Don Spencer;
daughters, Pearl S. Joe, Effie S. Garfield, Pansy S.
Johnson, Anna Spencer, Pearlene S. Talley and Roberda Spencer; sister,
Alice Ashley; 46 grandchildren and 40 great-
grandchildren.
Spencer was preceded in death by her husband, Kee Tso Spencer; sons,
Harry Tom Spencer and Kee Spencer Jr. and
daughter, Frannie S. Ashley.
Pallbearers will be Don Spencer, Branden Garfield, Brian Spencer,
Keith Tso Spencer, Derald Spencer and Dalvin G. Singer.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Lester Hosteen Sr.
TOHATCHI — Services for Lester Hosteen Sr., 39, will be held
at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 16 at the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints, Tohatchi. Lee Yazzie will officiate. Burial will
follow at Tohatchi Community Cemetery.
Hosteen Sr. died March 11 in Whipperwill, Ariz. He was born Dec.
4, 1962 in Keams Canyon, Ariz. into the Towering House People Clan
for the Bitter Water People Clan.
Hosteen graduated from Many Farms High School. He was variously
employed as a carpenter/maintenence man, railroad worker, regional
firefighter, and with Mandon Construction, Chevron Gas Station,
and the Navajo Housing Authority. His hobbies included leathermen,
silversmithing, cooking out, running, playing football, and basketball.
He was a member of the Native American Church.
Survivors include his wife, Margie F. Hosteen; sons, Orlando Hosteen,
Lester Hosteen Jr., Don Ray Hosteen and Les Lewis Hosteen; parents,
Kee and Betty John; brothers, Jerry Hosteen and Jefferson Hosteen;
Juanita John and Lucinda John; grandfather, Hosteen Dan.
Pallbearers will be Philbert Francisco, Larry Francisco and Jefferson
Hosteen.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Tohatchi Community Chapter House.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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