Arizona towns evacuated as fire threatens
Smoke shrouds Gallup
SHOW LOW, Ariz. (AP) — A wildfire swept across 36,000 acres
of forest in eastern Arizona early Thursday, destroying three
homes in a town just west of here and forcing the evacuation of
thousands.
Three log cabins burned in Pinedale, one of three communities
evacuated west of Show Low, said Gary Butler, sheriff in Navajo
County. As many as 4,000 people were asked to evacuate the towns
of Pinedale, Linden and Clay Springs.
Karen Steinke, a dispatcher for the Show Low Police Department,
said early Thursday that at least 7,700 residents in this city
125 miles northeast of Phoenix were being evacuated. However,
Butler said that was incorrect and Show Low police officials wouldn't
confirm that report.
There was no sign in Show Low that an evacuation was under way.
The Rodeo fire began Tuesday about a quarter-mile northeast of
the White Mountain community of Cibeque, growing to about 1,200
acres by midday Wednesday before exploding. The fire slowed as
it reached the top of an area called the
Mogollon Rim and began burning in flat, wooded terrain on the
plateau.
Authorities didn't know how the fire started but noted that without
lightning in the area it had to be caused by man.
As it approached, Navajo County authorities ordered the communities
of Linden, Pinedale and Clay Springs evacuated, said Kartha Icenhour,
a fire prevention officer for the forest.
Butler said authorities had been expecting something like this
because of the dry conditions in the state's forests.
"It wasn't if it was going to happen, but when it was going
to happen," said Butler. "We just knew the big one was
coming."
Gov. Jane Hull declared a state of emergency to free up funds
to fight the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by people.
Meantime, local fire officials sprayed down homes to try to keep
them safe.
Troy Hvidsten, a spokesman for the Linden Fire Department, said
his department had been evaluating neighborhoods to see which
could be saved if the fire approached.
He said firefighters wouldn't be able to preserve the 500-home
Timberland Acres neighborhood in Linden if the fire reached it
because there was too much fuel around it and the houses are made
of wood. The fire was still at least five miles from the neighborhood
as of Wednesday night.
Linden resident Deborah Martin, who was staying in Show Low after
being evacuated, seemed resigned to the possibility that her home
could be destroyed.
"I have my photos my animals and enough clothing for a few
days. If it goes, Hey, rebuild," she said.
Evacuees from the three rural communities were being directed
to Round Valley High School's gymnasium in Springerville about
55 miles away, with overflow going to Round Valley Middle School's
gym in Eager, authorities said.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, which handled the initial response
to the fire, requested an arson investigator.
On the Kaibab National Forest, the Big fire had burned about 100
acres near Jacob Lake about 25 miles southwest of Fredonia since
being reported Tuesday.
It was 60 percent contained and wasn't threatening any structures,
said forest spokeswoman Jackie Denk.
In the southern part of the state, operations were reduced on
the nearly contained, 16,400-acre Walker fire burning in the Coronado
National Forest about three miles west of Nogales.
On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov
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Candidates: Prez must live on rez
Larry Di Giovanni
Staff Writer
WINDOW ROCK — A number of Navajo presidential candidates —
in light of the disqualification by residency issue facing fellow
candidate and tribal Council Speaker Ed T. Begay — were asked
this week for their views on how important it is that
the coming president have lived on the Navajo Nation prior to election.
The Navajo Nation Election Code, Title 11, says that a candidate for
president and vice president "must have been continually
physically present within the Navajo Nation ... for at least three
years prior to the time of election."
"That's the way the people want it," candidate Joe Shirley
Jr. said. "That's the Navajo Nation law. If you're a Navajo,
we need to abide by Navajo law."
Speaker Begay listed 1105 Martinelli Drive in Gallup as his address,
and sources close to Navajo Election Administration said Begay was
initially asked by letter to produce utility bill receipts showing
that he has lived in his traditional home over the past three years,
which he said is about eight miles north of the Church Rock Chapter.
Offering some sympathy, Shirley said "I think Gallup is a unique
area as far as the Navajo people are concerned ... we may need to
revisit our residency requirements."
Shirley has lived and worked as an Apache County Supervisor for the
past 18 years in Chinle, Ariz., while another candidate also sensitive
to Begay's plight, Larry Curley, acknowledges that he has resided
most of the past few years in Albuquerque. His Navajo home is in Birdsprings.
"Just looking at it in terms of fairness, any Navajo who really
wants to run for Navajo president ought to be given the
opportunity to run," Curley said.
Addressing the Navajo speaker's situation, Curley said: "He has
served the Navajo Nation. He ought to be given the
opportunity to run. But there are also laws as well. If the law says
you have to live in a particular place, then the law ought to supercede.
In my personal opinion they ought to be running, but if the law says
it's not allowable, then the law ought to
supercede my own personal views."
Candidate Milton Bluehouse Sr., who resides in Ganado, Ariz., said
he has sent a letter to the Navajo Board of Election Supervisors,
asking that until Speaker Begay's disqualification issue "is
cleared," he should not be allowed to participate in any forums
or functions involving presidential candidates. Begay, however, was
on hand Tuesday night for a presidential
candidates forum at the Navajo Nation Museum, sponsored by a natural
resources professionals group, Diné Bi Keyah.
"The law is in place where a person has to reside on the reservation
rather than some peripheral communities," Bluehouse said. "Some
of us have been living on the reservation all these years. That's
exactly what these people should be doing rather than coming in here
at the last minutes and saying they're residents."
Regarding Speaker Begay's predicament, Bluehouse said: "If he
lives in Gallup — and what's he's saying is it's for an educational
or job purpose — no. If you're a Navajo, you get out there with
the rest of them, no exceptions, and live with the rest of us on that
trust land and not some other community that's not all Indian."
"If you're going to run, I think you need to live on the (Navajo)
Nation," said candidate Edison Wauneka, who lives on the reservation
in Oak Springs. "This is very important to the Diné people.
If people live off the nation, they're not going to be fully aware
of the problems out here."
Wauneka said tribal codes must be applied fairly to everyone, regardless
of their status. In his view, Begay should be disqualified since he
listed Gallup as his address.
"But there's always politics involved," Wauneka said. "Then
there's also favoritism. I'm very concerned about that. We should
all be aware of the laws before we run for office."
New Mexico State Sen. Leonard Tsosie, who supports Wauneka's candidacy,
also weighed in on the issue. "When you do not abide by the law,
then it questions your integrity as a Navajo Nation presidential candidate,"
he said. "That's what the Navajo people look at: Are you complying
with Navajo laws?"
Speaker Begay's case is to be decided Saturday by tribal Office of
Hearings and Appeals officer Richie Nez. A few years ago, OHA ruled
that a Navajo woman who had won election to a chapter position was
disqualified from holding that office because she lived off reservation
in Yah Tah Hey. The law is the law, Wauneka said.
Speaker Begay has brought up a Navajo common law issue, which is that
as a Navajo, he is forever tied as a resident to Church
Rock, that place where his umbilical cord was buried. However, Navajo
common law is not set down in writing, and residency issues have normally
been decided by what's in tribal codes.
Several presidential candidates said if the Navajo people perceive
that Begay has used his clout or long-time status as a tribal
elected leader to get himself back into the race at the expense of
tribal law, he will lose votes.
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Drought worsens
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Almost five dozen county, state, tribal and federal
officials learned Wednesday of temporary or long-range assistance
available to help Navajos through the worst drought in modern history.
After five hours of exchanging information, the group toured Ganado
Lake, a new irrigation project.
A trip that day to Dilkon, Jeddito, Low Mountain and Pion, was canceled
when Navajo President Kelsey Begaye learned the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's San Diego region team would not be able to come
to Window Rock, but would join the tour in Chinle today. He also told
the group FEMA's national director would visit the third week of July,
during the Navajo Nation Council's regular summer session.
Today the schedule calls for a meeting before the caravan travels
to Many Farms Lake, Round Rock, Lukachukai, Wheatfields
Lake, Whiskey Lake, Asaayi Lake and Red Lake.
"We need your assistance," Begaye told the visitors, "whatever
resources you have." Admitting it gets dry every year, "but
this year it's different," he said. "It will be worse next
year. The weather will get worse. The people out there are looking
for help."
He added that the tribal council must pass the new Grazing Act "to
have a way for it to work for livestock owners. You can haul all the
water, you can haul all the hay, you can haul all the food and not
do anything about grazing. The only way to address this is for the
permit holders who have more than their permit allows... to sell the
extra and put the money in the bank and to begin to really manage
their livestock."
The Hopi Tribe Office of Range Management's Robinson Honani also attended
and pointed out that the Kykotsmovi-based
government has been cutting the number of animals down.
Wednesday's program began with an electronic slide show from Glenda
Davis, director of the tribe's Veterinary-Livestock Bureau.It used
many photos taken on Begaye's Monday tour to one of the hardest-hit
areas, the Bodaway-The Gap and the Cameron Chapters.
The four tribal veterinarians rated the animals shown on a scale of
1-10, with one being those whose ribs and backbones were plainly evident
— and no animal scored more than a four.
Things are so bad, four auctions will be held, beginning Saturday
and Sunday at the Crownpoint Rodeo Grounds. All testing, vaccinations
and health certifications will be done at no additional charge to
the animals' owners, she said. Auctions also will be held June 29-30
at Naschitti and July 6-7 at Tuba City. A fourth auction will be held,
but no details were confirmed.
Dan Bloedel of the U.S. Agriculture Department's Natural Resources
Conservation Service in St. Michaels told about the "Equip"
program which provides 75 percent up to $450,000 to improve rangeland
and cropland management, plus irrigation on a competitive basis to
improve the environment.
For fiscal year 2003, applications for the 1-10 years contracts with
the five Resource Conservation Districts on the Navajo Reservation
must be submitted by July 5 to offices in St. Michael's, Dilkon, Kayenta,
Chinle and Shiprock.
Paul Jaster, Navajo County Emergency Management Director, urged ranchers
to use the program as it will pay them for reducing their herds. "It's
cash money," he added.
Steve Jones of the U.S. Reclamation Bureau in Boulder City, Nev.,
noted his agency's approximately $150,000 in four years to the tribe
to write a drought response plan.
His agency's emergency assistance goes to entities, rather than individuals,
for planning assistance, or to individuals for temporary measures
such as laying water pipes above ground, or deepening wells.
Mark Wingate of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco
explained how his agency's help would begin once a FEMA declaration
is issued.
Again, temporary measures, such as water trucks to supply water only
for human drinking, can be supplied, along with the $25,000 needed
for the assessment required by FEMA.
Chuck McHugh of the Arizona State Emergency Management Department
in Phoenix, explained the Stafford Act which requires the non-federal
entity to show its resources have been overwhelmed so President George
W. Bush can issued the
Declaration of a State of Emergency. This allows FEMA to require federal
agencies to help.
In answer to Navajo County Supervisor and Hard Rock Chapter President
Percy Deal's question, McHugh said Bush's declaration would be different
from the one already issued by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman.
McHugh explained the Arizona Governor's Emergency Fund is limited
to helping people. Since Navajos in Arizona are state citizens, they
can get the help.
Local officials must show they have been overwhelmed so Gov. Jane
Hull can declare a state of emergency. The state then will pay 75
percent of the cost.
Coconino County already has issued its declaration, he said.
Supervisor Deb Hill of Flagstaff said this is the sixth or seventh
consecutive dry year. The five-member Board of Supervisors issued
its emergency declaration April 24 for the entire county.
She called the current situation an "ongoing and deepening crisis...
desperate for a substance-based economy." She pointed out that
without electricity for refrigerators and freezers, once Navajos slaughter
their animals, they can't preserve them.
"You don't want a situation where you have plenty of water available
for the people and they starve to death" Hill said, because they
already slaughtered their food source.
Even Flagstaff's mayor wants to send aid by trucking reclaimed water
for livestock. The big cost will be the driver's salary and the fuel.
"The water's cheap" by comparison, she said.
Another Flagstaff group wants to assist with the cost of feeding the
surviving livestock, she added.
Greg Norton of the Farm Service Agency in Holbrook was joined by Sharon
Kinnison of the FSA in Phoenix and Connie
Skinner of the FSA in Holbrook to talk about his agency's help is
for livestock producers.
For calendar year 2003, the application deadline is Oct. 31, but he
urged everyone to apply as soon as possible for a program that is
like crop insurance.
The catastrophic loss program has a $100 fee, with some waivers available,
if the economic loss is 50 percent or more.
An emergency conservation program will pay up to 64 percent in a cost-sharing
arrangement for temporary assistance such as above-ground water pipes
or 50 percent for permanent improvements. Another section of that
law covers water hauling, truck rental, labor, pipelines and troughs.
The Navajo drought declaration does not declare an emergency, Deal
said. "It needs to go further." He also was unhappy that
the two biggest federal agencies on the reservation, the BIA and IHS,
were absent. "They should be sitting at the table with us asking
'How can we help?'," Deal said.
The Navajo Nation also needs to understand, he said, that the agencies
require Window Rock to spend its money first, before getting reimbursed,
such as the 75 percent from the federal Agriculture Department.
And the tribe should add a cash incentive to the livestock sales,
something he wished the BIA would do.
Jaster noted that federal programs often just do not fit the reservation's
situation. So, he urged the tribal, state and federal agencies to
help the ranchers and individuals fill out the necessary applications
and not simply shuffle them from desk to desk.
"If there are problems, troubleshoot for them; be a go-between
to make it fit," he said.
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Prewitt, Baca area lookng at new school
building
Zsombor Peter
Staff Writer
PREWITT — If construction goes according to plans, students of
Baca and Dlo'ay Azhi Elementary Schools will be passing one another
in the halls of a new combined school by the Fall of 2003.
"The school is much needed and much deserved by the community,"
said Baca Elementary Principal Jacque Mangham. The Baca and Dlo'ay
Azhi schools, approximately 10 miles apart, serve grades K-4 and K-6
respectively. Both were built in the 1930s and will be combined into
a single 80,000-square-foot building in Prewitt serving an estimated
390 students.
Substandard conditions at the schools, says Project Manager Barbara
Borgeson, are the result of a combination of age and insufficient
maintenance. Bureau of Indian Affairs schools have over the years
received only one-third of the funds from the U.S. Congress they've
needed for repairs, she says, and even that funding has been disproportionate.
Despite some repairs, health risks from the buildup of asbestos, lead
paint and radon gas have been worsening at both aging facilities,
according to Borgeson. Dealing with 70-year-old structures has also
meant poor fresh air circulation, common sewer line breaks and insufficient
accommodations for the handicapped.
While portables, currently housing two-thirds of Baca Elementary's
student body, have helped ease classroom pressures, current facilities
still indoor gymnasiums and adequate conditions for proper computer
labs or other technological updates.
"We can't even hardly run our computers because of the wiring
problems," said Mangham. "(The school is) not built to meet
the needs of children in today's time."
The new school will feature a modern media center, a multi-purpose
gymnasium as well as a cafeteria and playground.
The boards of both schools agreed to the consolidation to provide
better facilities than two new schools could afford
separately.
"It serves the BIA's goal to bring better education closer to
Indian students," said Borgeson.
With the current schools so close together and the replacement expected
to serve a relatively small population, "it's a very good use
of taxpayers' money," said Mangham.
With Principal Amy Mathis of Dlo'ay Azhi Elementary in line for retirement
next year, Mangham will most likely take over as principal in Prewitt.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently contracted Bradbury Stamm
Construction of Albuquerque for the design and construction of the
new school. Borgeson says the understaffed BIA is paying the Army
to administer the project in order to take advantage of their greater
resources and efficiency. Contingency costs — the unexpected
expenses associated with construction projects — arising from
the corps's work, notes Borgeson, typically run between 2 and 3 percent,
compared to 5 to 10 percent for BIA projects.
Although not the first time the BIA has contracted with the Army,
this is the first time its Office of Facilities Management and
Construction has selected one contractor for both the design and construction
of a project.
Known as the design-build process, it skips the common need to bid
a design — contracted with one party — to another company
that would then go ahead with the actual construction.
Besides the time saved by not having to search for a second contractor,
the process's "fast-track" approach also gets projects off
the ground and finished faster by having construction begin with only
part of the design completed. The rest of the design follows as the
building is progressively built. Disputes between designer and contractor
are also purportedly eliminated by
having the traditionally separate parties under the same contract.
Despite the new and improved facilities, the Prewitt school will not
have dormitories. Thoreau Elementary currently boards a
number of its students.
That decision was made because the need for dormitories was judged
to no longer be there, said Beatrice Woodward, the principal of Baca
Elementary from 1985-2000. Most students already come from the surrounding
Baca, Prewitt, Haystack area.
Woodward was instrumental in initiating the project and pursuing the
application. "The new school is very important to that area,"
she said.
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Area Sports
Carrie Loretto
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — The competition in the 13-14 division of the Gallup
Youth League continues to heat up.
The A's pulled out a 5-2 victory over the Rangers in the second meeting
of the division leaders at Indian Hills Tuesday night.
It was the second split of the season for the A's whose only losses
this season have been to the Rangers and Mets. In the nightcap, the
Ft. Defiance Braves rallied past the Red Sox 6-5.
A's 5, Rangers 2
A's lefty Will Armijo came in on relief in the bottom of the sixth
inning and shut down a revitalized Rangers offense to preserve a strong
outing by A's starter Jake Romero.
Romero, who struck out seven Rangers through six innings, found himself
in trouble and facing the top of the batting order. With one out and
a pair of runners on base he delivered a dirt ball to Aaron Cooley
prompting a timeout and eventual replacement.
The defensive switch resulted in a throwing error to first, allowing
Eric Rangel, who also reached on an error, to score from third. A
heads-up defensive play by third baseman Randall Miller saved a run
on the next play. Andreyes Sisneros hit an infield grounder to third
baseman Randall Miller. Gregorio Paredes headed home from third and
Miller made the fielder's choice play, opting to send the ball to
catcher Chad Manges who easily tagged Paredes out at the plate. Armijo
got the next batter to fly out to Eddie Miller as the A's held onto
a one-run margin.
An RBI double by Manges and a pair of errors produced a pair of insurance
runs for the A's in the top of the seventh, then Armijo struck out
the first two batters he faced in the bottom half and got the third
to foul out to Manges for the save.
With strong pitching and defensive support, Romero shut out the Rangers
through the first four innings. A leadoff walk to Paredes in the bottom
of the first had the Rangers threatening to tie the game after he
stole second and advanced to third when Cooley hit into a fielders'
choice. However, Romero struck out the next batter and left fielder
Abel Campos made a great catch of a monster hit into the left field
corner by Chaz Troncoso.
Romero struck out two more batters after giving up a double and a
pair of walks in the second inning. Clean-up hitter Troncoso singled
in the third, but was left stranded at third with a strikeout by Romero.
The Rangers again came away empty after putting runners on second
and third in the fourth inning. Romero started the inning with back-to-back
walks, but then a pair of catches by right fielder Kendall Miller
and centerfielder Shaun Griswold
sandwiched around a strikeout by Romero ended that threat.
The Rangers finally pushed a run across in the fifth. Cooley led off
with a double into centerfield. It appeared the A's would leave him
stranded after a ground out by Sisneros and another strikeout by Romero.
But then Escamilla got a bounce on his hit to knock in Cooley.
The A's capitalized on an early breakdown to take a 1-0 lead. Griswold
reached on a high infield fly that dropped near first base. He stole
second then scored on a two-out double to left field by Romero.
The top of the batting order again came through for the A's in the
third as they took a 3-0 advantage. With one out, leadoff hitter Manges
doubled into left field and Griswold followed with an RBI single.
Mike Ramirez added a single to put runners at the corners. Romero
nearly hit into a double play, but he beat a throwing error to first
allowing Griswold to score.
Paredes registered the pitching loss, giving up six hits and striking
out six. He didn't walk any batters. Griswold hit 2-for-3 for the
A's and Manges was 2-for-4 as the pair accounted for four runs. Escamilla
hit 2-for-4 to lead the Rangers.
Ft. Defiance Braves 6,Ft. Defiance Red Sox 5
Bobby Hardy scored the go-ahead and eventual winning run to cap a
five-run rally in the third inning for the Braves.
The Red Sox led 3-0 after the first inning before the Braves overtook
them.
Obrian Brown was the winning pitcher for the Braves scattering 13
hits in his complete-game victory.
The Braves totalled 15 hits against three different Red Sox pitchers.
Brown and Aaron John were the leading hitter for the
Braves with two hits apiece. Aaron Jimison scored twice.
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Area Sports
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
ALBUQUERQUE — Shiprock Lady Chieftain Glynnis Price was a runner-up
in the Sun Country Junior Foundation Match-Play Championship at
Paradise Hills Golf Course last Wednesday in Albuquerque.
Price, 14, who played injured throughout the tournament, battled
back-and-forth with Andrea Berry then took the victory at the 19th
hole, winning 1-up.
"We kept going back-and-forth and I was two up with two holes
left but I lost hole 17 and then lost hole 18 and we had to go
to the 19th hole," said Price.
"I then put my drive down the middle and Andrea put her (drive)
off to the side. She then put the ball about two feet in front of
the hole and sank her putt. I also put the ball within her (ball)
and all I had to do was sink my putt and we would have had to
go to the next hole but I missed it and she won," Price continued.
Despite losing by a putt, Price realizes her strengths and weaknesses
that will make her a stronger golfer.
"I need to work on my mental game. I know I can do better but
when it comes down to it I mess up somewhere. This give me a lot
of experience being beat. I need to practice more but I realize
I need a lot of work to be at higher level to when I take a putt
it's without any pressure," Price said.
Price continues to keep herself busy during the off-season attending
a variety of tournaments in the state.
This past Monday, Price placed third at the Marty Sanchez tournament
in Santa Fe and then took second at a tournament in Grants on Wednesday.
Her schedule also has the River View in Kirtland and the Pinon in
Farmington next week. She has put herself on the waiting list for
the San Juan and plans to make two appearances in Albuquerque in
July.
Price's second place finish has qualified her for the Sun Country
PGA Section Junior Tour Championship that will be held August 1-2
at Los Altos Golf Course also in Albuquerque.
Price, a sophomore, has been on the Lady Chieftain golf team the
past two years and has helped Shiprock with back-to-back state titles
in their first two years in existence.
Price feels that while she is enjoying her off-season play, it will
help her individually and her team next season to defend their state
titles.
"I like playing, it's fun. These tournaments are no different
than going out and playing 18-holes on any day. I hope it helps
me to bring my score down and I have less strokes. We are moving
up to 4A next year and it's going to be a lot harder," said
Price.
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Navajo Nation DWIs
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Corrections Department booked
the following adults on drunk driving charges from June 3-9. A person
is not guilty (innocent) unless convicted in court.
Chinle — Joe James Begay, 61, Lukachukai; Elroy Brady, 30,
Rock Point; Alex Carty, 67, Chinle; Vern K. Begay, 35, Chinle; Mike
T. Lee, 50, Mariano Lake; Delbert Begay, 31, Lukachukai; Samuel
Haudley, 30, Chinle; Alvin Roanhorse, 33, Fort Defiance; Herbert
Tracey, 24, Salina Springs; Garrick Tsosie, 29, Many Farms; Bobby
Widefoot, 43, Pinon; Bertha Gorman, 40, Chinle; Ron Judge, 18, Chinle;
Jerry T. Nez, 41, Lukachukai and Tully Yazzie, 41, Chinle.
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Web gallery features world's best-known Navajo
artist
Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Special to the Independent
GALLUP — A new art gallery is starting up in Gallup, but
shoppers won't find it located on any street in town.
The Gorman Gallery, owned by Zonnie Gorman, is a virtual gallery,
and currently its only address is its website address on the Internet
— thegormangallery.com. The gallery debuted in cyberspace
the first week of June, courtesy of local graphic designer Laura
Roberts...
Deaths
Rena Shorty Nelson
AZUSA, Calif. — Services for Rena Nelson, 60, will be held
at 11 a.m., Thoreau Church of God. Pastor David Nahkai will
officiate. Burial will follow at Thoreau Community Cemetery.
Nelson died June 13 in Covina, Calif. She was born March 6, 1942
in Thoreau into the Two Who Came to the Water People
Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.
Survivors include his sons, Tim Nelson of San Jancito, Calif. and
Willie Nelson of Azuza, Calif.; brother, Hoskie Shorty of
Thoreau; sister, Bessie Yazzie of Smith Lake and two grandchildren.
Nelson was preceded in death by her husband, David Nelson; parents,
Frank and Anna Shorty; daughter, Fannie Nelson; son,
Steven Nelson and brothers, Buddie Shorty, Herbert Shorty and John
Shorty.
Pallbearers will be Bill Chavez, Ivan Chavez, George F. Nelson Sr.,
Michael Platero, Nelson Willie and Derrick Yazzie.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Nellie B. Orllie
TOHLAKAI — Services for Nellie Orllie, 86, will be held at
11 a.m., Friday, June 21 at Bethlahem Christian Reformed
Church, Tohlakai. Pastor Bobby Boyd will officiate. Burial will
follow at Green Meadows, Rock Springs.
Orllie died June 17 in Gallup. She was born April 17, 1916 in Blackhat
into the Red Running into the Water People Clan for
the Bitter Water People Clan.
Orllie was a homemaker, farmer and sheepherder. Her hobbies included
rugweaving, cooking and sewing.
Survivors include her sons, Steve Orillie and Faron Orillie both
of Tohlakai; daughters, Aileen Redhouse of Kirtland, Fern
Gonzales of Gallup, Jean Orllie of Tohlakai; Mary Shirley of Tohatchi
and Rita Williamson of Scottsdale, Ariz.; parents,
Hosteen Hatallie Begay and Nasbah Chischilly; sisters, Sarah B.
Long of Rock Springs, Ruby Begay and Marie B. Yazza
both of Tohlakai; 24 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren and nine
great-great grandchildren.
Orllie was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Orllie; and
daughters, Louise Orllie and Helen Orllie.
Pallbearers will be Casey Tommie, Craig Orillie, Lebain Gonzales,
Truman Orillie, Felix Benally, Brian Orillie and Ronald
Martin Jr.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Bethlahem Christian Reformed Church.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Gloria M. Curley-Smiley
PREWITT — Services for Gloria Curley-Smiley, 36, will be held
at 10 a.m., at First Baptist Church, Thoreau. Pastor Bruce
Gardner will officiate. Burial will follow at private family cemetery.
Curley-Smiley died June 17 in Prewitt. She was born Jan. 3, 1966
in Albuquerque into the Towering House People Clan for
the Tangle People Clan.
Survivors include her husband, Leroy Smiley of Prewitt; mother,
Pearl Jake-Tapaha of Prewitt; brothers, James F. Curley of
Albuquerque and Nelson Curley of Prewitt; sisters, Sandra Adams
of Albuquerque, Bernice Manning of Tohajilee, Corrina
Smiley of Tohatchi, Ruth Ann Begay, Rita Yazzie and Mary Ann Curley
both of Prewitt.
Curley-Smiley was preceded in death by her father, James F. Curley
Sr.; sister, Eunice Jean Curley; brothers, Jason F. Curley
and Lorenzo Curley and sisters, Marian Curley and Barbara Delgarito.
Pallbearers will be James F. Curley Jr., Matthew Curley, Jason Delgarito,
John Jake Jr., Gene Manning Jr., Donovan Nan
Martinez and Shane Lee Martinez.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Benjamin Johnson
CHINA SPRINGS — Services for Benjamin Johnson, 42, will be
held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 21 at the Cope Memorial
Chapel. Rev. Dennis Gardner will officiate. Burial will follow at
the City Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m., today at Cope Memorial Chapel.
Johnson died June 16 in China Springs. He was born Dec. 29, 1958
in Fort Defiance, Ariz. into the Towering House People
Clan for the Red Running into the Water People Clan.
Survivors include his mother, Rose Becenti Johnson of China Springs;
brothers, Hoskie Johnson, Edison Johnson and
Micheal Johnson all of China Springs; sisters, Fannie Morrison of
Grand Canyon, Ariz., Alice R. Livingston, Martha Johnson,
Rose A. Johnson and Colleen Johnson all of China Springs; and one
grandchild.
Johnson was preceded in death by his father, Chee Johnson; grandparents,
Fannie Slim and Antonio Johnson.
Pallbearers will be Donovan Jones, Jeffery Yazzie, Justin Yazzie,
Micheal Johnson, Waylon Toledo and Edison Johnson.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Rock Springs Chapter.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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