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Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent

Man accused of assaulting son
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

GALLUP — Edgar Tracy, 42, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly punching his 9-year-old son in the back.

According to McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Escamilla’s report, the boy’s mother, Evangeline Yazzie, said she called police after she found her son crying. Asked why he was crying, the boy told her Tracy punched him in the back.

Yazzie told the deputy that when she asked Tracy why he had hit their son he told her he had only pushed their son.

But while they were talking, Tracy continued “walking after their son in a very aggressive manner,” which prompted Yazzie to call police.

Tracy told Escamilla that he was only playing with his son when the boy ran into another room, crying.

The boy said his dad got mad at him for “messing with the cat,” and punched him near the upper left shoulder.

Escamilla found redness on the boy’s back and arrested Tracy and booked him at Gallup McKinley Adult Detention Center on one count of obstruction of reporting or investigation of child abuse or neglect, a misdemeanor.

Governor wants Pit Rule modified
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced Wednesday that he is directing Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Secretary Joanna Prukop to work with the oil and gas industry to modify several provisions of the state’s Pit Rule.

The proposed changes would allow oil and gas companies to better absorb the costs associated with the stronger regulations, which were implemented last year.

Richardson personally met recently with leaders of the oil and gas industry as well as oil patch legislators to discuss their concerns about the financial impact of the rule.

“The oil and gas industry is critical to New Mexico’s economy and these changes will help producers weather the financial storm while still protecting the environment,” Richardson said.

The Pit Rule was revised last year with the input of industry, the environmental community and many other stakeholders. It is designed to protect New Mexico and its citizens from any future groundwater or other environmental contamination from oil field waste pits.

Since it went into effect on June 16 oil prices hit an all time high of $147 per barrel in July 2008 and have since dropped to $35 a barrel.

Three Bad Jacks to play Saturday
By Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Rockabilly favorites the Three Bad Jacks of Los Angeles will be returning to Window Rock for a show at the Navajo Nation Museum Saturday at 2 p.m.
Opening for the band will be the F-Holes of Flagstaff . The cost will be $10 at the door.