What's news

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent

Man missing since Feb. 4

GALLUP —The family of Calvin Smith is seeking his whereabouts. Smith, 27, was last seen at the east side Lowe’s between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 4. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 200 pounds. Smith was last seen wearing black pants and a gray sweatshirt with “Nike” written on it. Anyone with information is asked to call James Wilson at (505)-879-3755, (505) 488-8657 or (505) 409-7682.

Grants P&Z to meet
By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — The Grants Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet today at 5:00 p.m.
The commission meets in the City Hall Chambers, entered from the Lead Street parking lot on the west of the building.

Information: Planning and Zoning/Code Enforcement Office, (505) 285-398

Chamber hosts forum

GALLUP — The McKinley County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum on Feb. 18 for candidates who are seeking election to the Gallup City Council.

The forum will be held in the auditorium in Calvin Hall on the University of New Mexico-Gallup campus, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting until about 8:30 p.m.

Chamber officials said the forum will primarily focus on business, economic development and will offer the candidates an opportunity to present their goals and vision for Gallup and the districts that they represent.

Members of the chamber are also being given an opportunity to submit questions for the candidates by submitting them to bill@thegallupchamber.com

More details: McKinley County Chamber of Commerce office at 722-2228.

Navajo first lady takes on drunken driving

By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation Office of the First Lady is sponsoring a Mothers Against Drunk Driving fundraiser on Thursday. The Valentine’s Day bazaar at the Navajo Nation Museum will benefit victim and advocacy services on Navajoland.

Vendor tables will be $25 for the bazaar, which begins at 9 a.m. Vendors are also invited to donate a portion or all of their sale proceeds to the Navajo Nation MADD.

“The fundraiser is to get money to pay for services for those impacted by drunk driving,” first lady Vikki Shirley’s staff assistant Angela Barney-Nez said.

Barney-Nez said that the money will pay for specially-trained counselors who work with victims on the Navajo Nation.

“Drunk driving affects the whole family. Unfortunately it is so rampant in our communities,” she said. “We have a high level of drunk driving and we must do all we can to help those innocent people who suffer the result of it,”

In 2008, the Navajo Nation Police Department made 3,602 arrest for driving under the influence; in 2007, NNPD made 4,199 DUI arrests; and in 2006, NNPD made 3,760 DUI arrests.

Information: (928) 871-7008 or (928) 637-3001