Towns around rez to fight alcoholism
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — For more than four decades, Navajo tribal officials
turned a deaf ear when mayors of border communities asked for
help in combating soaring rates of alcoholism among their Native
American populations.
The response, going back all the way to the chairmanship of Raymond
Nakai, was simple: You brought this problem on yourself with your
greed to profit off of liquor sales so you solve it yourself.
But in recent months that attitude has changed and the Navajo
Nation, with its vice-president, Dr. Taylor McKenzie, in the forefront,
efforts are being made by the tribe to set up a consortium with
various bordertown mayors to finally address the problem.
"What we are looking at,"said McKenzie," is taking
the success of the Na'Nizhoozhi Center Inc. (NCI) in Gallup and
seeing if that will work in other places."
Gallup Mayor John Pena is part of the effort and feels that the
tribe's efforts in this area will benefit all of the border communities
including Gallup. Mayors of other bordertowns, such as Farmington,
Cuba, Winslow, Holbrook and Page have also been attending preliminary
meetings in recent months to get the consortium up and running.
McKenzie said that this whole process began more than a year ago
when groups in Farmington held a symposium to address alcohol
abuse in their area. There was a great deal of talk about possible
solutions and, for the first time in anyone's memory, a consensus
by both city and tribal representatives at the meeting that the
best approach would be a united effort.
McKenzie agreed that this marked a radical change in thinking
on the part of tribal officials but he said that it was obvious
that the problem was too big for any one community to handle and
that everyone would profit by working together.
So a series of meetings have been held in the various border communities
(the next one is scheduled for Gallup in May) and the idea was
to set up a consortium that would seek funding from various sources
to set up programs similar to the one in Gallup in the other border
communities.
He and others at the meetings have praised NCI for its role in
reducing the alcohol abuse problem in Gallup and helping rid the
city of its national reputation as "Drunk City, USA."
He said the group plans at its next meeting to take whatever steps
are necessary to form a nonprofit organization that would go after
the funds and develop plans to deal with the problem on a community
by community basis.
"If the communities work together," said McKenzie. "It
will be a lot easier to get the funding needed to address the
problem."
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Animal Planet coming to spay a while
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — Animal Planet TV, known to cable and satellite
system viewers for such hit shows as "Emergency Vets," "Crocodile
Hunter"and "The Jeff Corwin Experience," will visit
the Navajo Nation next week starting with a Tuesday morning stop by
the Animal Planet Rescue truck at the Navajo Nation Fairground.
There, at the Window Rock Veterinary Clinic, Navajo Nation President
Kelsey Begaye will welcome Animal Rescue veterinarians and staff to
discuss tribal plans, goals and struggles as they relate to pet overpopulation
and responsible pet ownership. A big focus of the Animal Planet Rescue
visit will be to teach youths about the "compassion, respect
and responsibility" that comes with caring for dogs, cats and
other animals, a Navajo Nation spokesperson said.
Tuesday's kick-off event celebrating Animal Planet's visit will begin
at 9 a.m. at tribal veterinary clinic next to the Window Rock Sports/Civic
Center on the fairground.
Animal Planet TV is viewed all over the world.
"This is an opportunity to bring some national and even international
attention to the (Navajo) Nation, and will give our kids an opportunity
to focus on something really positive out here," the spokesperson
said.
Regina Clauschee, a liaison to President Begaye on youth issues, said
the stray dogs that Navajos see every day trying to survive as they
search for food and water across parking lots and along roads are
capable of "tremendous loyalty and love," and worthy of
adoption by caring families. Youths need to hear from professionals
that the animals they encounter every day should be respected and
not harmed.
"For our kids, the Animal Planet visit will give them an opportunity
to see veterinarians do their best work," Clauschee said.
The Animal Planet Rescue truck and its interactive displays is a 2002
partner in the Navajo Nation Comprehensive Spay and Neuter Plan, which
will provide low-cost sterilization surgeries and vaccination wellness
for up to 250 Diné familes' pets. All surgeries will be first-come,
first-serve, and animals are to be fasted for 12 hours prior to surgery.
Animals should be at least
four months of age.
Despite a funding dilemma that sees the tribe struggle each year on
how it will fund animal control officers, the tribe is making gains
in that regard. With 10 new animal control officers on board this
year, funded out of the tribe's undesignated reserve, the president's
Chief of Staff, Arvin Trujillo, is hoping that adequate animal control
funding is something that the council will make a permanent matter
for line item funding starting in the 2003 tribal budget deliberations
that are beginning now.
One thing the tribe has decided to do is to take the Animal Control
program, responsible for rounding up feral dogs and cats, and working
with other programs to find caring homes for them, and transfer it
from the Fish and Wildlife Office into the Veterinary Program, headed
by Glenda Davis. Mike Halona is in charge of Animal Control and its
approximately one dozen officers.
Animal Planet TV will be working with three Navajo families to produce
a segment from one of its shows that will focus on pet ownership issues
on the reservation. The Animal Planet Rescue Truck works in conjunction
with the American Humane Association. The AHA began its animal relief
work during World War I, assigned by the War Department to aid the
horses, mules and other animals that served during the war.
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Man's ear mangled in attack
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A man who had his ear partially cut off said his attackers
tried to kill him during a beating early Wednesday.
Police met with Bentley Yazzie, 20, who lists his address as 2205
E. Boyd Ave., the Na'Nizhoozhi alcohol treatment center, after being
called at 1 a.m. to the Mustang gas station on 800 E. Coal Ave., to
investigate a man who had been beaten.
Yazzie was covered in blood and had a "mangled" left ear,
according to the Gallup Police report. The officer noted the man was
very intoxicated, and he said: "They tried to kill me."
He said he'd been beaten by two male strangers behind Esquire Bar.
"I had to crawl out of the ditch for help," Yazzie is quoted
as saying in the report.
Yazzie kept falling asleep while an officer questioned him. Meanwhile,
three men were located near Esquire.
They said they didn't know anything about any beating. Police took
all three to the Na'Nizhoozhi Center, according to the report.
Yazzie was taken to Gallup Indian Medical Center, where a doctor said
he had a severe cut to the left ear and that a chunk of his ear was
missing. Yazzie was too intoxicated to tell police what exactly happened.
In other Gallup Police news, two Gallup residents were arrested early
Tuesday after police found cocaine and a crack-smoking
pipe in the van driven by Michael Barraza, 42, of 606 W. Morgan Ave.,
according to another police report.
Cpl. Diane Dosal was sent to the Thunderbird Lounge in Butler's Square
to investigate a "possible narcotics use going on in a
blue van, reported by an anonymous female," according to the
report.
Dosal met with Nola Pino, 25, of 3305 Church Rock St., who appeared
to be squirming and was huddled together with Barraza and Loyd Lewis
of Texas, according to the report. The officer told them why she had
been sent there and asked what was going on.
They said they were waiting for a friend to come out of the bar with
some beer.
Dosal had dispatchers check out the three for warrants and discovered
Barraza and Pino had bench warrants. Lewis had no warrants and was
picked up by a friend.
While officers were handcuffing Pino and Barraza, Dosal noticed a
small black bag on the floor near where Pino sat.
She had her drug-sniffing dog, Spade, walk up to the van. He indicated
drugs might be located in the area where Pino sat.
Dosal collected the bag, which contained a white powder appearing
to be cocaine, according to the report. During an inventory of the
van, which was towed, she also found what appeared to be a crack cocaine
pipe, she wrote.
Barraza and Pino were arrested. Pino was charged with possession of
a controlled substance, a felony, and on her bench warrants for failure
to appear in court on citations involving having no driver's license
and no registration for a vehicle. She was also charged with misdemeanor
resisting or obstructing on officer because she struggled with and
kicked at officers who handcuffed her that night, according to the
report.
Police charged Barraza for his four misdemeanor warrants, one for
failure to appear in a worthless checks case; failure to appear in
a case involving careless driving, no insurance and having an open
container of alcohol in a vehicle charges; failure to appear in court
to face a charge of aggravated battery on a family member, and failure
to pay fines in a battery against a household member case, according
to the report.
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Winslow student to be on MTV2
Featured in video 'Mystical Warrior'
Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer
WINSLOW, Ariz., — Although Verdell Premeaux could have walked
away with his Grammy award last February for his album, "Bless
the People," and taken some time away from the business, he's
working hard as ever on his next project: a video segment for his
song "Mystical Warrior" for MTV2.
Premeaux will visit the Affiliation of Arizona Indians Center in Winslow,
Ariz., Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m. to promote the project, sign autographs,
answer questions and introduce one of the stars of the video, Roberta
Carr of Winslow. The event will also feature prize drawings and a
Navajo taco sale organized by Winslow High School, where Carr is a
sophomore, to help defray Carr's travel expenses while accompanying
Premeaux on a national promotional tour.
Premeaux says "Mystical Warrior" is a song of the Native
American Peyote religion, but described it also as a love song about
a warrior and his love who reconcile their differences after the young
warrior goes out on his own in search of knowledge.
"As Native Americans, the idea and theme is about coming to terms
with ourselves, and for the sake of our children getting through our
problems," said Premeaux.
As a song of the Peyote religion, he sees other value in it also;
"The video is a communication tool in relation to our younger
generation . . . I don't want to see this thing die out, say, 10 years
from now."
Because the peyote plant contains the hallucinogenic substance, mescaline,
Premeaux believes many people misunderstand and misuse the religion,
which he described broadly as "a way of living . . . and a traditional
way to achieve healing" beyond the scope of Western medicine.
Premeaux once recorded a song called "Peyote Healing" some
years ago with musician Robby Robertson on the album, "Contact
from the Underworld of Red Boy."
For the "Mystical Warrior" video, with a modest estimated
budget of $25,000, he has taken on the duties of writer, producer
and director. Although Premeaux feels a little overwhelmed by the
scale of the project, he still finds the creative aspect, the script
writing, most challenging.
"I wonder if it is the right thing to do sometimes," he
said, admitting to the frustrations of trying to get the attention
of a public by whom he sometimes feels "mishandled and misunderstood."
"But it's for the people," he reconciles, "and if it
all works out, hopefully we can do another one."
The 15-minute video segment, which Premeaux hopes to begin shooting
in a few weeks around the Navajo reservation, is tentatively scheduled
to air on MTV2 some time between September and November.
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City man convicted on cocaine count
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — A federal District Court trial jury convicted a Gallup
man of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine but acquitted him of
distribution of cocaine and using the telephone for selling drugs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Kimball said Tuesday that she was a
bit puzzled by the verdict against Mario Romero of Gallup. If conspiracy
to traffic, why not trafficking and using the phone in the crimes?
"Conviction on the conspiracy count means that 12 jurors believed
beyond a reasonable doubt he conspired with the other defendant to
distribute crack cocaine," Kimball said.
Romero's trial was part of a wrap-up of a case the local Region II
Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, the FBI, the New Mexico State Police's
Narcotics Division and the 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office
and the U.S. Attorney's Office investigated last year involving 30
people, eight from Gallup and the rest mostly Mexican nationals. The
drug trafficking conspiracy between the men and women occurred for
years in Gallup, and investigation was dogged, Kimball said.
She praised slain Gallup Police Officer Larry Brian Mitchell as being
a large part of bringing down the arrests, which occurred less than
a month after his May 30 death on duty during a stand-off and shoot-out
with Robert Kiro, 34, who had been involved in a domestic violence
incident with a gun.
"He was an excellent young agent," Kimball said. "He
did a lot of work. We were devastated when he was killed, not just
because he was a good agent but because he's a great guy."
She especially praised a Gallup-area Region II narcotics agent who
she asked not to be named because of the confidentiality of their
work. He testified at Romero's trial along with Kimball's key witness,
a New Mexico State Police narcotics officer.
Kimball described the McKinley County agent's work as "tremendous.
He's the backbone of this investigation. He has worked tirelessly
since moving to Gallup to rid the city of the drug problem that plagues
that area.
"He has been the go-to guy when we needed anything. He's a prince
of a guy, as honest as the day is long. He really cares about his
community."
The state police narcotics officer testified that in November 2000,
he purchased crack cocaine from Dorian Rios, 31, another Gallup resident,
while Romero assisted. The Gallup officer testified he assisted in
surveillance of the men.
Romero testified in his defense that he is innocent of the charges.
The suspects were indicted in November, Romero for distribution of
crack cocaine, but a new indictment of Romero in March brought the
two extra charges of conspiracy to distribute crack and using the
telephone to sell drugs, a federal felony.
Romero's attorney is Marc H. Robert of Albuquerque, who could not
be reached for comment. "He did an excellent job," Kimball
said.
Federal District Judge C. LeRoy Hansen heard the case in Albuquerque
last Tuesday and Wednesday.
Romero, who had been out on bond, was immediately taken into custody
by U.S. Marshals, pending sentencing or other court action. Robert
filed a motion for a new trial because he wrote that the verdicts
were inconsistent with the charges.
"We responded that they were not inconsistent," Kimball
said.
Now the motion has to be ruled on. The judge could acquit Romero completely,
hold a new trial, or deny the motion. If he denies the motion, a sentencing
hearing should be held within two months, Kimball said.
Then the Bureau of Federal Prisons will decide where Romero will go,
as New Mexico has no federal prisons. He could be sent anywhere in
the country.
Of the 30 defendants, six are fugitives, another was convicted by
trial, 21 pleaded guilty and one is pending a plea in May.
The Gallup suspects all pleaded guilty, another was convicted by federal
jury, some have been sentenced, and a another is expected to be sentenced
today, she said. They include:
Ruben Zavala, 44, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to
distribute crack cocaine and received 46 months in prison.
"Sentence is based on the quantity of drugs or whether the person
was a minor player or a major player or if he had a gun," she
said.
The "mastermind," Mario Jose-Felix, 26, of Gamerco, who
also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana,
faces almost 20 years in prison. Jose-Felix's sentencing was scheduled
for 11 this morning.
Ralph Garcia Sr., 51, who pleaded guilty to distribution of crack
cocaine and was just sentenced last Thursday to 30 months in federal
prison.
Diane Lopez, 37, who pleaded to distribution of crack cocaine and
was sentenced in November to 37 months in prison.
Dennis Montoya, 41, another "major player," who was convicted
Nov. 28 of distribution of cocaine, manufacturing crack cocaine and
possession of cocaine. A motion for a new trial was filed by his attorney,
William Stripp of Ramah. Kimball said Montoya is looking at a four
or five-year federal prison sentence if he's not granted the new trial.
Dorian Rios, 31, who pleaded guilty to distributing of crack cocaine
and has not yet been sentenced.
Cruz Galaviz, 43, who pleaded guilty to distribution of "powder"
cocaine and has not been sentenced.
Julian Otero, 23, who pleaded guilty to distribution and hasn't been
sentenced.
Joseph Trujillo, 33, who pleaded guilty to possession with intent
to distribute cocaine and carrying a firearm during or related to
a drug trafficking crime and has not yet been sentenced.
Trujillo's brother, Anthony Michael Trujillo, 30, who pleaded to the
same charges as his brother and also has yet to be sentenced.
Ruby Ann Apodaca, 28, of Gamerco, who pleaded guity to possession
with intent to distribute cocaine and hasn't been sentenced.
Martin Carillo, 32, who pleaded guilty to "misprision of a felony,"
which means he was aware drug trafficking was occurring and he did
nothing to stop it, Kimball said.
Daniel Hausner, 21, who is scheduled to plead guilty to some charges
on May 8.
"I've been busy. And I have other cases, too," said Kimball,
who's been working at the U.S. Attorney's office for more than 12
years.
She has only worked one other Gallup case, which is unrelated to this
but is a recent case involving a trucker stopped at the Gallup point-of-entry.
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Navajo tribal funds to increase slightly
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation's general fund will increase
a net of $2.1 million this coming fiscal year, according to Controller
Bobby White's initial projection accepted by the Budget-Finance
Committee.
This year's $107.392 million will rise to $109.492 next year.
The panel allotted all the increase to the Executive Branch which
will receive $92.014 million from Oct. 1, 2002, through Sept. 30,
2003. This means $11.090 million will go to the Legislative Branch
and $6.388 million to the Judicial Branch. The figures do not include
outside funds which provide about two-thirds of the total spending
each year...
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Ariz. Transportation Board to hold hearings
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
FLAGSTAFF — Arizona's State Transportation Board will hold
the last of three public hearings on the newest Five-Year Highway
Construction Plan at 9 a.m. (MST) Friday in the City Council Chamber
at 211 West Aspen Street.
Included in the plan are the major projects for Apache, Navajo,
Coconino, Yavapai and Mohave Counties for fiscal years 2003 through
2007.
In the three northeastern counties there will be 26 projects costing
an estimated $154.7 million. Of that, six projects worth $28.1 million
will be on the Navajo, Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute Reservations
with eight more worth $58.1 million adjacent to the reservations...
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Navajo Nation Council
Diné Bureau
Tuesday's council actions
WINDOW ROCK — Here is a summary of Tuesday's Navajo Nation
Council actions on the second day of the five-day spring session:
By a 64-6 vote, took $917,000 from the less than $5.2 million in
the emergency operation Undesignated Reserve Fund for the annual
adult Public Employment Program ($500,000), speaker and delegate
discretionary accounts ($277,000), a dozen standing committee travel
accounts ($120,000), and presidential public assistance ($20,000).
The original resolution called for more than $2.2 million. Still
facing delegates are requests for $3 million from the Undesignated
Reserve for a pay raise for employees, except Head Start, and $500,000
to establish the tribal gambling czar's office...
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School head OKs settlement
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The state superintendent of schools has
approved a settlement between former Albuquerque Superintendent
Brad Allison and the Albuquerque school board.
Michael Davis gave his approval Wednesday in a letter addressed
to board president Leonard DeLayo.
"The settlement agreement and my approval of it will allow
APS to make a fresh start under new leadership without the inevitable
distractions of a long legal battle," Davis wrote.
The $350,000 settlement, approved by the school board on a 5-2 vote
last week, essentially buys out the final two years of Allison's
contract...
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Deaths
Rufus Edward Whiteman
GALLUP — Services for Rufus Whiteman, 81, will be held at 10
a.m., Friday, April 19 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Rev. Mike
Vigil will officiate. Burial will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Whiteman died April 14 in Gallup. He was born Jan. 9, 1921 in Gibson.
Whiteman graduated from Gallup High School in 1941. He served in
the U.S. Army and was a survivor of the Bataan Death March and was
a prisoner of war for 3 — years He was employed with the U.S.
Postal Service, where he retired as a postmaster. He was past president
of the Gallup Little League, a member of the Lions Club and the
National Association of Postmasters.
Survivors include his wife, Ann Radosevich Whiteman of Gallup; son,
David Whiteman of Albuquerque; daughter, Kathleen W. Gintowt of
Gallup; brother, John Whiteman of Scottsdale, Ariz.; sisters, Eunice
Miller of Albuquerque, Marie Rooney of Las Vegas, Nev. and Ellen
Fowler of California; and two grandchildren.
Whiteman was preceded in death by his parents, Josefina Alary and
Hugh Whiteman.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Ann Whiteman's residence.
Donations can be made at American Diabetes Association.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Ivan Averill Dawes
FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. — Services for Ivan Dawes, 34, were held
at 10 a.m., today at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Fort Defiance.
Burial followed at Community Cemetery, Fort Defiance.
Dawes died April 13 in Lukachukai, Ariz. He was born June 5, 1967
in Fort Defiance into the Water Edge People Clan.
Dawes graduated from Chandler High School, Chandler, Ariz. and went
to technical training in Phoenix. He was employed as a laborer and
custodian. His hobbies included basketball, weight lifting, fishing,
camping and hiking.
Survivors include his parents, Phillip Dawes,Geralding Denetdeel
and Boyd Denetdell; brothers, Lionel Dawes of Chandler and Boyd
Denetdell Jr. of Sells, Ariz.; sisters, Bernadine Letcher of Fort
Defiance and Sharon Carter of Chandler.
Dawes was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leo and Zonnie
Dennison and Theodore and Polly Dawes.
Pallbearers were Todd Hoisington, Gabriel Bedoy, Alex Wauneka, Richard
Dennison, Michael Dawes and Vernon Halona.
Tse Bonito Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Leo Larry
BREADSPRINGS — Services for Leo Larry, 40, will be held at
10 a.m., Friday, April 19 at Rollie Mortuary Palm Chapel. Pastor
Jake Yazzie will officiate. Burial will follow at Gallup City Cemetery.
Larry died April 12 in Breadsprings. He was born Oct. 14, 1961 in
Gallup into the Tall House People Clan for the Water Running Together
People Clan.
Survivors include his wife, Marisa Norton of Breadsprings; son,
William Charleston Larry of Breadsprings; mother, Alice Q.
Larry of Gallup; brothers, Hoskie Larry Jr. and Lorenzo Larry both
of Breadsprings; sisters, Lucy Lynch, Irene Tso and Bessie Yazzie
all of Breadsprings.
Larry was preceded in death by his father Hoskie Larry Sr.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Larry, Chavez Livingston, James Livingston,
Artencio Lynch, Dennis Sam and Brian Tso.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Jake "Juaquin" Aragon
SAN FIDEL — Services for Jake Aragon, 83, will be held at 11
a.m., Friday, April 19 at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church, Cubero.
Rev. William P. Beaton will officate. Burial will follow at the
Aragon residence, Cubero.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m., tonight at Our Lady of Light
Catholic Church.
Survivors include his sons, Emilio of California, Tomas of Grants,
Douglas of Gallup, Nabor and Theodore both of Cubero; daughters,
Yolanda Garcia of California, Ida Aragon of Cubero, Catherine Talamonte
of Utah and Brenda Pickerd of Ariz.;
brother, Joe Saavedra of Grants; 40 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren.
Aragon was preceded in death by his wife, Adela Aragon; sons, Roger
and Julius Aragon and daughter, Dolores Aragon.
Pallbearers will be Tomas Aragon, Facho Garcia, Douglas Aragon,
Nabor Aragon, Theodore Aragon, Benjie Aragon, Carlos Padilla and
Chris Denny.
Johnny Brown Begay
ARIZONA — Services for Johnny Begay, 64, will be announced
at a later date.
Begay died April 14 in Phoenix. He was born Nov. 9, 1937 in Casamero
Lake.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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Roberta
Carr of Winslow, Ariz., will be featured in a video by recording artist
Verdell Premeaux. The video of his song Mystical Warrior will be played
on MTV2.