Gallup Sun • December 4, 2020

E FRE

VOL 6 | ISSUE 297 | DECEMBER 4, 2020

It can be done Dine` model/photographer creates positive life out of adversity

By Dee Velasco For the Sun

W

hen Shu ndeen Model l wa s a young Diné girl living in Arizona, she faced a lot of obstacles. In her home, she dealt with alcoholic parents, domestic violence, and abuse. At school she was bullied by children who made fun of her for being too thin.

“I remember kids would tease me because I was so skinny,” she said. “They would trip me and push me into the lockers and now it’s funny because when they see me now (laughing), they [guys] try to hit on me on Facebook.”

“I’ve forgiven them, but I just want to move on. But [I am] watching my boundaries.”

Raised in Teesto, Ariz., then relocated to Sanders, Ariz., the full blooded Diné model and photographer recalls living in a world of chaos and now uses that to improve her life and help others.

The 40-year-old said she overcame her background and learned to trust people in front of the camera, and behind it, too.

It’s part of something she described as “body positive.” “’Body positive’ is feeling good about how your body looks, even if your body is not perfect like those you fi nd on

MODELL | SEE PAGE 20

New Mexico launches 3-tier system

SEE PAGE 4

GMCS Connect Volume 1 December 4, 2020

By Mike Hyatt GMCS Superintendent

GMCS has been expanding our social media, electronic, print and other communication avenues to share information about our School District as part of our strategic plan Elevate 2022. In response to the challenges of 2020 we are additionally providing a new method of communication called “GMCS Connect.” GMCS Connect will be another way to communicate monthly with our community about the accomplishments of our students and their activities in our schools. GMCS Connect will be printed in the Gallup Sun newspaper, available on the GMCS website and electronically distributed to GMCS staff.

In our first edition this week, we want to take the opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to our students, parents, and staff in their collaboration to help students continue their learning during these unprecedented times. Many of our students and staff have been navigating a new online learning environment that can be difficult to manage. Despite these challenges, we are finding successes and over time we are seeing increased stabilization for students and staff during online instruction.

While we are working hard to provide the best education possible for our students, we know that online learning cannot and will not replace in-person learning. We look forward to the opportunity to have students back in school, learning and participating in the various activities that they enjoy. As we did last school year, we remain hopeful for some additional in-person activity opportunities for our Seniors to experience this spring.

Thank you to everyone for your support of GMCS and our students. We will continue to focus on and make the best decisions by always prioritizing the needs of our students and will also strive to give parents a choice in the education they want for their children during this time.

Welcome to GMCS CONNECT!

Virtual Competitions GMCS has hosted a variety of virtual athletic competitions for students recently and has received positive feedback about the opportunities GMCS is providing for our students to compete.

The next set of virtual competitions will be the volleyball passing contest from 11/30/2020 - 12/4/2020.

Book Fair Give the gift of reading this season!

Stagecoach Elementary Online Scholastic Book Fair. Orders can be placed 24 hours a day, seven days a week through December 13.

To order visit https://scholastic.com/bf/stagecoachelement aryschool2

Virtual Family Game Night Jefferson Elementary is hosting a Virtual Family Game Night on Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Parents of Jefferson students, you can stop by the school on Friday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. to pick up your academic and fun family game. Parents are encouraged to take a picture of your family playing your game. Send pictures to Guillen at jlandava@gmcs.org.

2 Mrs. Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

The cross country competition, which in this cycle is to run the greatest number of miles over the next two weeks. The runners that run the highest numbers of total miles will win. Runners can run anywhere they would like (cross country courses, tracks, treadmills, etc.)

The NMAA Powerlifting Competition is also in season. The second powerlifting competition will take place between 11/30/2020 and 12/13/2020.

Dec.. 14-School Board Meeting Dec.. 18--End of first semester Dec.. 21--Jan.. 1Winter Break

Our Mission

At GMCS We Care

It is our mission in Gallup-McKinley County Schools to prepare our students for success. We empower and develop our students through:

x x x

• improving academic knowledge,

Wear your Mask Social Distance Wash/Sanitize your hands frequently

• promoting essential skills and positive character traits, • providing safe and healthy learning environments, and • creating strong partnerships among parents, colleges and the business community.

NEWS

ϭϮ͘ 'ĂůůƵƉ >ĂŶĚŵĂƌŬ ƉƚƐ͘ ϮϬϭ ĂƐƚ ,ŝůů 'ĂůůƵƉ͕ ED ϴϳϯϬϭ dĞůĞƉŚŽŶĞ͗ ;ϱϬϱͿ ϴϳϬ ϯϬϬϴ

FRXUWHV\

NEWS

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

3

LOCAL NEWS

NEWS

State to provide exibility for counties in reopening RED-TO-GREEN SYSTEM TO BE USED FOR NEW MEXICO COUNTIES

New Mexico adopts a three color tier system to address COVID-19 safe reopenings. Image Credit: NMDOH

By Dominic Aragon Sun Correspondent

S

ANTA FE — Counties in New Mexico may be able to reopen and increase capacity at non-essential businesses. On Dec. 2, the state transitioned into a three-tier county-by-county system that will determine where restrictions can be eased.

“ The cou nt y-by- cou nt y framework enables counties, and the businesses and nonprofits within their borders, to operate with fewer restrictions when they slow the spread of the virus and drive down test positivity rates,� Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham explained. “It’s been a difficult year and an especially difficult past month. We must remain as vigilant as ever to contain and beat

the virus,� she said.

THREE-TIER SYSTEM Under the new system, counties will be considered as red, yellow, or green.

If a county is deemed “red,� the state has determined the number of positive COVID-19 tests is very high and there is a high average of new cases. In red counties restrictions will remain in place. Red county restrictions will

limit indoor dining and reduce capacity at houses of worship to 25 percent.

If a county is “yellow,� there is a high average positivity rate.

These counties can look forward to easing restrictions in the near future.

At this level, essential retail stores can have up to 125 customers or 25 percent of their maximum occupancy, whichever is smaller. Food-and-drink

establishments can have up to 25 percent of their maximum occupancy.

If a county is declared “green,� it is considered a med iu m r isk cou nt y a nd businesses considered to be “non-essential� can operate under fewer constraints.

A green county could be

3-TIER SYSTEM | SEE PAGE 13

New Mexico surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 cases Staff Reports

S

A N TA F E — New Mexico state health officials announced 1,549 additional COVID-19 cases on Dec. 2.

G o v. M i c h e l l e L u j a n Grisham issued the following statement: “Every single day I pray that New Mexicans infected with this virus will recover. Every single day I pray for the families whose

H O J [ J U J O B 4

P J 48%$ #BSFs r#FDBVTF XF $

H O J U I H J '

P J # 1SP "DUJWF SVT r5XP 4UFQ %JTJOGFDU 1SPUFDUs ,JMMT $PSPOBWJ UFDI XXX TXED CJP .JDIBFM $IBWF[ u

$FSUJGJFE -PDBMMZ 0XOFE 0QFSBUFE

loved ones are battling illness with all the strength they have.

My thoughts are always with the doctors, nurses and health care providers who give everything they have to their patients, who selflessly risk their own health to protect their communities and our state. My thoughts are with their families, too, and the families of the first responders and essential workers who, through their commitment and sacrifice, even in this dark time, inspire hope and reaffirm my confidence in the unbreakable spirit of our great state.

100,000 COVID CASES | SEE PAGE 22

WHAT’S INSIDE ‌

9 4

DR. JILL JIM Tapped by the President-elect

11 13 14 18 SNAP BENEFITS Emergency Benefits extended

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

SPRING SEEDLING SALE Kicks off in winter

CAR PARADE THAT WASN’T Celebrating first responders

SOUND OF METAL When a rocker goes deaf

NEWS

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Conduct Public Online Webinars for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Disposal of Mine Waste at the United Nuclear Corporation Mill Site The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will conduct public meetings via webinar to receive comments on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposal of Mine Waste at the United Nuclear Corporation Mill Site in McKinley County, New Mexico. The draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives to the proposed action.

The public meeting webinars will be accessible to the public by navigating, on the day and time of the meeting, to the internet link below and entering the event number and password associated with the date of the webinar when prompted. Telephone access will be required for the audio portion of the meetings and is available by dialing the telephone number and entering the passcode provided below. The NRC staff will present the results of the draft environmental impact analysis and receive the public’s comments on the draft report. The NRC invites members of the public to attend the public meeting webinars and to present oral comments on the draft EIS. Wednesday, December 9, 2020 – 2:00 pm MT Webinar Telephone access Event address: https://usnrc.webex.com/ Phone number: 888-454-7496 Event number: 199 047 2797 Passcode: 7838183 Event password: UNCDEIS The public may also submit written comments on the draft EIS before December 28, 2020.

A notice published in the Federal Register (FR) on November 13, 2020 (85 FR 72706; https:// www.federalregister.gov/), announced the availability of the NRC’s draft EIS and provided instructions for submitting written comments.

The draft EIS can be found on the NRC public webpage for the license amendment review at https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioning/uranium/united-nuclear-corporation-unc-. html. If you do not have internet access, contact the NRC Public Document Room at 800-3974209 for assistance. Questions regarding the draft EIS should be directed to Ms. Ashley Waldron at 301-415-7317 or at Ashley.Waldron@nrc.gov.

NEWS

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

5

PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS

WEEKLY DWI REPORT Staff Reports Donna Tolino Nov. 5, 1:39 pm Aggravated (Second)

DW I

Gallup Sun Publishing, LLC Publisher/Editor Babette Herrmann Accounts Representative Sherry Kauzlarich Associate Editor Beth Blakeman Photography Knifewing Segura Ana Hudgeons Ryan Hudgeons Cable Hoover Correspondent/Editorial Asst.

Dominic Aragon Circulation Manager Mandy Marks On the Cover Shundeen Modell as the Fire Queen for the Ice Ball gala, Jan. 2017. Photo by M. Weitz The Gallup Sun, published Fridays, is not responsible or liable for any claims or offerings, nor responsible for availability of products advertised. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The Gallup Sun distributes newspapers in McKinley, Cibola and Apache counties.

Office: 102 S. Second St., Gallup, NM 87301 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gallup Sun, PO Box 1212, Gallup, NM. Mailing Address: PO Box 1212 Gallup, NM 87305 www.gallupsun.com Phone: (505) 722-8994 Fax: (505) 212-0391 gallupsun@gmail.com Letter to the editor/guest column ACCEPTED BY EMAIL ONLY. State full name and city/town. No pen names. ID required. All submissions subjected to editor’s approval.

Guest columnists, email Sun for submission requirements.

6

McK i n ley C o u n t y Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Ji m a r r ived at the site of a one-vehicle crash near 209 Mentmore Rd. Metro Dispatch told him a green Jeep had driven into a ditch by a driver who appeared intoxicated.

At the scene, Jimmet with Deputy Clayton Etsitty, who made contact with the Jeep’s driver, Donna Tolino, 39, of Gallup. She had bloodshot eyes and slurred her speech, and she smelled of alcohol. When Jim asked her what happened, she said she was taking the Jeep on

THANK YOU ADVERTISERS AJ Tires & Auto Center - 19 Amazing Grace Personal Care - 18 Bubany Insurance Agency - 12 Butler’s Office City - 19 First Baptist Church - 10 505 Burger and Wings - 15 Four Corners Detox Recovery Center - 9 Gallup Housing Authority - 3 Gallup Lumber - Insert Gallup McKinley County Schools - 2 Genaro’s Cafe - 15 Grandpa’s Grill - 15 Keller Williams Realty - 1 KFC - Insert Maria’s Restaurant - 15 McKinley County DWI Task Force $ 7, 24 New Mexico Credit Corp - 11 New Mexico Finance Authority - 11 NMHU - 21 Nuclear Regulatory Comm. - 5 Octavia Fellin Public Library - 14 Peace NM Cannabis - 14 Pinnacle Bank - 20 Pizza Hut - Insert Railway Cafe - 15 RMCHCS - 16 Rollie Mortuary - 20 Route 66 Diner - 15 SASNWNM - 17 SWDC - 4 Thunderbird Supply Co. $ 6, 8 Valley Fence - 13 Virgie’s Restaurant & Lounge - 15

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

a test drive when the warning lights came on and then things went wrong.

Tolino admitted to having one shot of Sailor Jerry before driving. She agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests, but failed. She was taken to the sheriff’s office for a breath test, but was unable to post a sample.

She was then transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for a second DWI, roadways laned for traffic, and driver’s license on demand.

Dennison Billy Nov. 14, 6:33 pm Aggravated DW I (Second) T he McK i n ley Cou nt y Sheriff’s Office was conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Highway 118 near mile marker 27. One SUV stopped and the

driver advised D e p u t y Terence Willie a white vehicle was swerving on the road a nd a l mo s t T-boned them pr ior to the checkpoint.

Willie attempted to locate the white vehicle heading west on Highway 118. He spotted a white Chevy Sonic traveling west and turning onto Interstate 40. The Sonic was unable to maintain lanes for traffic, so Willie followed it and pulled it over. He made contact with the driver, Dennison Billy, 30, of Yatahey.

As Willie spoke with Billy about the traffic stop, he noted Billy had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. There was also a male in the front passenger seat who appeared intoxicated, and another in the backseat.

Billy got out of the vehicle, at which point Willie noticed the smell of alcohol coming from inside.

Billy said he was coming

from Gallup and asked Willie not to “get him in for this.”

When asked if he had anything to drink prior to driving, Billy admitted to drinking 12 ounces of Bud Light at 6:45 pm, even though Willie’s watch read 6:33 pm.

Willie then issued the standard field sobriety tests. Billy refused to fi nish the tests and was placed under arrest. After placing the driver inside his unit, Willie advised Deputy Clayton Etsitty to finish up with the two intoxicated passengers in the Sonic.

Billy was transported to the sheriff’s office for the breath test, where he posted samples of .22 and .23. Metro Dispatch said that Billy had a revoked New Mexico driver’s license.

After transporting him to Gallup Indian Medical Center for clearance, Willie took Billy to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked him for a second DWI, driving with a revoked license, evidence of financial responsibility, and roadways laned for traffic.

PUBLIC SAFETY

distracted driving

law enforcement be responsible

drugged driving

drunk driving

preventable

dangerous

awareness

designated driver impaired

december

stay safe

alcohol

crime

drug free

illegal

drugs

crash

risky

drive sober

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

7

U. S. law enforcement completes third annual money mule operation ACTION TAKEN AGAINST OVER 2,300 MONEY MULES IN GLOBAL CRACKDOWN

A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally-acquired money on behalf of someone else. Photo Credit: FBI.gov Staff Reports

T

he U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and six other federal law enforcement agencies announced the completion of the third annual Money Mule Initiative, a coordinated operation to disrupt the networks through which transnational fraudsters move the proceeds of their crimes.

Money mules are individuals who assist fraudsters by receiv i ng money from v icti ms of fraud a nd forwarding it to the fraud organizers, many of whom are located abroad. Some money mules know they are assisting fraudsters, but others are unaware that their actions enable fraudsters’ effor ts to swindle money from consu mer s, bu si ne s s e s, a nd

8

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

government unemployment funds.

Over the last two months, U.S. law enforcement agencies took action against over 2,300 money mules, far surpassing last year’s effort, which acted against over 600 money mules. This year, actions occurred in every state in the country. The initiative announced Dec. 2 targeted money mules involved in lottery fraud, romance scams, government imposter fraud, technical support fraud, business email compromise or CEO fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud. Many of these schemes target elderly or vulnerable members of society.

Reporting is the first step. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 8 am - 9 pm MST. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS

INDIAN COUNTRY

Dr. Jill Jim tapped to serve on BidenHarris COVID-19 Advisory Board Staff Reports

W

INDOW ROCK , Ariz. — Dr. Jill Jim has been chosen as one of four people to serve on the BidenHarris COVID-19 Adv isor y Board. The announcement that the Navajo Department of Health executive director would join the board came Nov. 26. She was appointed to her position at the Navajo

Depa r t ment of Hea lt h by Nav a jo Na t ion P r e sident Jonat ha n Nez a nd Vice President Myron Lizer at the start of their administration in Jan. 2019.

“Dr. Jim’s extensive public hea lth ex per ience a nd expertise has been a major benefit for the Navajo Nation t h r o u g h o u t t h e C OV I D 19 pa ndem ic a nd now she w ill ser ve on a much broader level to help fight

t h is moder n- day mon ster throughout the country,” Nez said. “Our Nation’s COVID-19 preventative measures and restrictions put forth by our public health experts have served as a model for other states and entities across the country.

It wa s Nez who recommended Dr. Jim be appointed to the Advisory Board.

“I congratulate her and thank her for her dedication

and commitment to helping our Navajo people,” he said.

Dr. Ji m i s a n en rol led member of t he Nava jo Nat ion, or ig i na l ly f rom Navajo Mountain, Utah, and a fluent Navajo speaker. She earned a Doctorate in Public Health, a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration, a second Master’s in Public

DR. JIM | SEE PAGE 10

Dr. Jill Jim, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and executive director of the Navajo Department of Health has been named to the Biden-Harris COVID-19 Advisory Board. Photo Credit: OPVP

‘This has got to stop’: Indigenous activists decry lingering contamination decades after the last uranium mines closed

By Kendra Chamberlain NM Political Report

T

hursday night [Nov. 1 9] , a g r o u p o f Indigenous community leaders gave presentations about the legacy of uranium mining in the state that still threatens the health and environment of their communities, decades after the last

communities across the state did most of the dangerous mining of the radioactive material, and those communities are still struggling to hold the federal government accountable for cleaning up the toxic contamination that was left behind.

“We felt that there were a large portion of our communities across the state that still remain largely unaware

Environmental Law Center, which organized the online event, said.

“It’s very important that we recognize that there are hundreds upon hundreds of abandoned mines, unsealed pits,

mine entrances, tailing ponds, waste piles, highly radioactive materials and toxic chemicals from uranium mining and milling, many that have yet to be cleaned up and continue to pose significant health threats,”

Necochea said.

“This continued uranium contamination that we witness, and that our communities

URANIUM MINE | SEE PAGE 10

Four Corners Detox

Coming Soon NEW DETOX PROGRAM IN GALLUP Learn more at our website:

fourcornersdetox.org A mural in Albuquerque advocating for Mount Taylor to be protected from mining. Mount Taylor, which was mined for uranium for decades, is a pilgrimage destination for at least 30 Indigenous communities including the Navajo Nation, the Hopi and Zuni peoples and the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. The mine was officially closed earlier this year. Photo Credit: Kendra Chamberlain mines ceased operations.

From the 1940s through the early 1990s, New Mexico produced roughly 70 percent of the uranium in the United States, which was used in nuclear weaponry during the Cold War. Members of Indigenous INDIAN COUNTRY

of the major environmental justice impacts that uranium continues to have on so many individuals—especially our Indigenous communities—across the state,” Virginia Necochea, executive director of the New Mexico

(505) 490-7270 - or (505) 471-4985

For job opportunities, visit the careers page on our website.

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

9

Heinrich pleased about committee support for ‘Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act’ HEINRICH WORKS FOR INVESTMENTS IN TRIBAL BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE Staff Reports

W

A SH INGTON, D. C. — U. S .

Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is praising the momentum of the “Bridging the Tribal Digital Divide Act” after it passed out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Nov. 18. The legislation would expedite the deployment of affordable broadband service on tribal lands by coordinating and improving

DR. JIM | FROM PAGE 9 Health from the University of Utah. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Promotion a nd Com mu n it y Hea lt h Education from Nor t her n

the effectiveness of federal resources.

“Access to high-speed internet is increasingly essential to daily life and brings unprecedented economic opportunities for users, especially for people living in rural areas,” Heinrich said. “Unfortunately, too many tribal communities in New Mexico lack access to broadband internet, which means less access to educational, health, and career-related resources.

“I applaud Senator Udall’s

[Tom Udall, D-N.M.] efforts to get this legislation through committee and will continue fighting to strengthen broadband access for tribes and rural New Mexico communities.”

Heinrich recently introduced the “Internet Development for Tribes Act”, legislation that removes regulatory barriers for tribes to access the internet and invests in infrastructure necessary to access high-speed broadband in rural communities.

He i n r ic h i s a l s o t h e Democratic Senate lead on the “Tribal Connect Act”, legislation to improve broadband connectivity in Indian Country.

The bicameral, bipartisan bill would increase access to the Federal Communications Commission’s schools and libraries universal service support program. The $4 billion program, known as E-rate, provides discounts to assist public schools and libraries in obtaining high-speed internet

access and telecommunications at affordable rates.

Arizona University.

S ome of her pr e v iou s work ex per ience includes ser v i ng a s a Hea lt h Ca re Analyst for HealthInsight in Albuquerque, consultant for Navajo Area Indian Health Service, and epidemiologist

for the Utah Department of Health. “ I a m pr oud t o s e r ve as a member of the BidenHarris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board,” Jim stated. “ I look forward to working with fellow members of the

advisory board to help prepare an urgent, robust, and professional response to the global public health crisis, for President-elect Biden to lead with on day one.”

The Biden-Harris COV ID -19 Adv isor y Boa rd is cha ired by for mer Food a nd Dr ug Ad m i n i st r at ion c o m m i s s io ne r D r. D a v id Ke s s ler, for me r S u r ge o n Genera l Dr. Vivek Mu r t hy a nd Ya le Un iver sit y Dea n Dr. Marcella Nunez- Smith, a professor of internal medici ne a nd a hea lt h e qu it y researcher.

The other two appointments a n nou nced i nclude Ja ne Hopk i n s, a nu r se who specializes in mental health and a leader of sever a l nu r s e s’ u n ion s, a nd Dav id Michaels, a n epidemiologist and professor of

env i ron ment a l a nd occupationa l hea lth at George Wa s h i n g t o n U n i v e r s i t y, who s er ved a s a n O SH A administrator in the Oba ma Administration and an Assistant Secretary of Energ y i n t he Cl i nt on Administration.

“We a re ver y proud of Dr. Jim and all of our public health experts and frontline wa r r iors who a re fighting for us and saving lives every day,” Nez said. I am looking for ward to suppor ting Dr. Jim’s role with the BidenHarris COVID-19 Adv isor y Board and I am optimistic that the Biden-Harris transition team will continue to consider more members of the Navajo Nation for cabinet and high-level appointments as they assemble their administration.”

URANIUM MINE | FROM PAGE 9

the U.S., according to Manuel Pino, a member of Acoma Pueblo and an organizer of the Laguna-Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment. Today, there are more than 1,000 remaining uranium mines on the Navajo Nation that have not been reclaimed or remediated.

A number of remaining mines and mill sites remain in the Grants Mining District and in the San Mateo Creek Basin that have not been fully remediated yet and continue to impact groundwater resources that the surrounding communities rely on for drinking water.

continue to face, is a clear example of environmental racism and an environmental injustice that continues.”

A STATE OF SACRIFICE ZONES Much of the uranium mining that occurred in New Mexico was on tribal lands and was performed by tribal members.

The Grants Mining District and the nearby Navajo Nation is home to one of the country’s most productive uranium belts, and the region was one of the most intensely-mined areas in

10

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

INDIAN COUNTRY

NEWS

STATE & REGION

Extension of emergency SNAP beneďŹ ts for Dec. 2020 Staff Reports

S

A N TA FE — New Mexico households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits will

said. “Many New Mexico families are struggling as the pandemic rages on and our low-income residents need all the support, they can get to stay healthy and safe this time of year.�

The emergency assistance

supplement on their regular issuance date.

Since March of 2020, SNAP households that were not already receiving the maximum SNAP food benefit for their household size have received an increase

New Mexico Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program card. Photo Credit: SNAPbeneďŹ ts.net receive the maximum amount for their household size for the month of December as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Mexico Human Services Department announced Dec. 2. “We are especially grateful to provide additional food assistance for New Mexicans as we head into the holiday season,â€?

Karmela Martinez, director of the Income Support Division which administers the SNAP program, formally known as food stamps

will increase a household’s monthly benefit up to the maximum food benefit amount for their household size (see table to the right). SNAP recipients do not have to take any action to receive these additional food benefits as they will be placed directly on their EBT cards.

SNAP recipients with a regular issuance date of Dec. 1-12, will receive a supplement on Dec. 12, 2020. SNAP recipients with a regular issuance date of Dec. 13-30, will receive their benefits and the

bringing their food benefits to

the maximum amount each month. These increases were made to help reduce food insecurity for New Mexicans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

maximum monthly allotment per household size.

T he Hu m a n S er v ic e s Department provides services and benefits to more than 1

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP Oct. 1, 2020 – Sept. 30, 2021 Household Size

Maximum SNAP Monthly Allotment

1

$204

2

$374

3

$535

4

$680

5

$807

6

$969

7

$1,071

8 + Each Additional Person Individuals seeking to apply for SNAP benefits may apply online through www.yes.state. nm.us or by phone at (800) 2834465. Newly approved SNAP recipients will be eligible for the supplemental benefit.

The table below reflects the

$1,224 +$153 million New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Child Support Program, and several behavioral health services.

2YHUDOO ZH DSSUHFLDWH WKLV XQFRPSOLFDWHG VXSSRUW RSWLRQ IRU VPDOO EXVLQHVVHV GXULQJ D WLPH ZKHQ PDQ\ RWKHU WKLQJV VHHP VR XQFHUWDLQ —Small Business Recovery Loan Fund borrower

SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY LOAN FUND &UHDWHG E\ WKH 6WDWH RI 1HZ 0H[LFR WKH 6PDOO %XVLQHVV 5HFRYHU\ /RDQ )XQG R໤HUV ¿QDQFLDO DVVLVWDQFH WKDW FDQ KHOS PHHW LPPHGLDWH H[SHQVHV RU SURYLGH D FXVKLRQ during uncertain times.

Loans of up to $75,000 Âż[HG LQWHUHVW UDWH 1R FROODWHUDO RU SHUVRQDO JXDUDQWHHV ,QWHUHVW RQO\ SD\PHQWV XQWLO \HDU WKUHH

AppOLFDWLRQ GHDGOLQH 'HFHPEHU , 2020 Learn more at www.nmfinance.com or (505) 984.1454

STATE & REGION

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

11

NEWS

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Earthweek: Diary of a Changing World

By Steve Newman

Week ending Friday, November 27, 2020 Warming Bites Warmer temperatures may be causi ng blood- suck i ng ticks to shift their feeding preference from dogs to humans in a potentially g row i ng t h reat to publ ic health. This fi nding is alarming because ticks carry and can transmit deadly Rocky Mou nt a i n s p ot t e d fe ver.

Experiments conducted at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine placed a human in one box and a dog in an adjacent one. The researchers watched at various temperatures as the ticks sniffed out which mammal would bring their next blood meal. While at 75 degrees Fahrenheit the ticks showed a distinct preference for the dog, they became 2.5 times more likely to prefer humans at around 100 degrees.

between five separate prides, according to the reserve. “It was a celebrity lion that was a darling to tourists,” Chief Warden James Sindiyo told the Nairobi News. It reports that as soon as word went out that the famous lion had passed, hundreds of tourists and wild cat lovers who had interacted with him sent condolences. The lion was said to have been injured when younger territorial lions attacked him a few weeks ago.

-50° Oimyakon, Siberia

2.4

5.8 Gati

Earthquakes R u s s i a ’ s Bellingshausen 6.1 A ntarctic research station was rocked by a magnitude 6.0 tem6.0 blor off the Antarctic Peninsula.

• Earth movements were also felt in central Chile, Guam, northeastern Japan and southeastern Spain.

Greenhouse Rise The U.N. weather a genc y say s t h at while global carbon emissions fell by as much as 17% globally at times during the COVID

+113° Rivadavia, Salta, Argentina

pandemic, the levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere have continued to rise to even higher records this year. “The lockdown-related fall in emissions is just a tiny blip on the long-term graph,” World Meteorological Organization chief Petteri Taalas said. “We need a sustained flattening of the curve.” He added in a statement that such a rise in carbon

Nivar

5.4

dioxide levels as observed over the past four years has never been seen before, either in direct measurements from the atmosphere or in ice-core samples that reveal CO2 concentrations from up to 800,000 years ago.

Returning Giants Critically endangered blue whales, the largest creatures ever known to have existed, are returning to Britain’s sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. U.K. scientists say the whales appear to be growing in numbers around the island after being nearly wiped out by whaling 50 years ago. While only a single blue whale was seen there between 1998 and 2018, 58 were spotted in a survey in February of this year. Another recent study found that humpback whales are also returning to the same waters.

Regal Death The oldest lion in Kenya’s Maasai Mara Game Reserve died peacefully and with dignity after a 16-year reign in the park. Olorpapit had sired many offspring while shuttling

Lofty Plastic Scientists report they have found the uppermost-recorded microplastic pollution on the planet near the summit of Mount Everest. A n inter national team organized by England’s University of Plymouth says it collected “substantial quantities” of polyester, acrylic, nylon and polypropylene fibers at an elevation of 27,690 feet. The team says that while some could be from material carried up Everest by climbers, much of it could have been blown there by the powerful winds that often impact the mountain’s higher slopes. Plastic pollution has been found in recent years from the world’s highest mountain to its deepest ocean trench.

Tropical Cyclones Somalia was raked

by Category-2 Cyclone Gati, which killed at least four as the strongest such storm on record there.

• India’s Tamil Nadu state wa s ra ked by Categor y-1 Cyclone Nivar.

Dist. by: Andrews McMeel Syndication ©MMXX Earth Environment Service

Cyclone Gati made landfall farther south than any other hurricane-force cyclone on record in the Arabian Sea. Photo Credit: RAMMB/CIRA

12

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Forestry Division Spring Conservation Seedling Sale set for Monday MORE THAN 50 SPECIES OF TREES AND SHRUBS AVAILABLE TO ORDER ONLINE Staff Reports

S

ANTA FE— The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Fore st r y Div i sion spring seedling sale kicks off Dec. 7. The Conservation Seedling program will have approximately 30,000 trees and shrubs available for sale on the Forestry Division website. Uses include windbreaks, erosion control, supporting wildlife habitat, watershed restoration, reclamation projects, and reforestation.  “Now is the perfect time for landowners to begin making plans for spring planting

This mature lilac in bloom will be available for purchase the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department Forestry Division spring seedling sale which kicks o Dec. 7. Photo Credit: EMNRD

PiĂąon pine seedlings will soon be available through the Forestry Division Spring Conservation Seedling sale. Photo Credit: EMNRD

sea son,â€? Ca rol Bada , conservation seedling program m a n a ger s a id . “We h ave more t h a n 50 s pecie s of seedlings available for multiple conservation purposes, including the always popular piĂąon pine and fragrant lilac.â€?

One-year-old, small container seedlings (10 cu. inch container) of the same species a re available in mini mu m lot s of 49 for $8 0.

Two-season, large container seedlings (40 cu. inch container) are available in lots of 20 for $57. Bare root seedlings will be sold for $32 per bundle with a minimum order of two bundles.  There is a $5 handling fee per order and an additional $10 fee per lot for all UPS orders. All sales are final. A full list of seedling species, program requirements, suggested uses, and planting instructions can be found at  http://www.emnrd.state. nm.us/SFD. The deadline to order is April 16, 2021 with

See the plants and seedlings available at the Forestry Division Conservation Seedling Sale, starting Dec. 7 in Santa Fe. Photo Credit: EMNRD d ist r ibut ion t a k i ng place beginning March 8 through April 23.

Due to COVID-19 restrict ion s , s e e d l i n g s w i l l b e shipped by UPS or distributed via curbside pick-up at the Forestry Division seedling warehouse, 3250 Calle Princessa Juana, in Santa Fe. Wa r e hou s e hou r s a r e Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 am-12 pm and 1 pm – 4:30 pm. For customer a nd employee safety, warehouse pick-up is by appointment only and will be scheduled by phone or email once orders a re proces sed. COV ID -19 protocols will be followed

at all times. This includes face mask attire and social distancing.

Methods of online payment include Discover Card, MasterCard, or Visa Card.

Checks are accepted with mail-in application forms, which can be downloaded from the Forestry Division website.

Landowners who need an order form mailed to them s hou ld cont a c t t he New Mex ico Forestr y Div ision

by Apr il 10, 2021 at (505) 476-3325.

A l l proceed s a re rei nvested back into the Conser vation Seedling Program.

9DOOH\ )HQFH &RPSDQ\ DQG 1HZ 0H[LFR 'HSDUWPHQW RI 7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ ZLOO KDYH IRXU DFWLYH PLOH &RQVWUXFWLRQ =RQHV ZLWK /DQH &ORVXUHV RQ , IRU WKH QH[W WZR ZHHNV :HVWERXQG 5LJKW /DQH Âą PLOH PDUNHU WR PLOH PDUNHU :HVWERXQG 5LJKW /DQH Âą PLOH PDUNHU WR PLOH PDUNHU (DVWERXQG 5LJKW /DQH Âą PLOH PDUNHU WR PLOH PDUNHU (DVWERXQG /HIW /DQH Âą PLOH PDUNHU WR PLOH PDUNHU

3-TIER SYSTEM | FROM PAGE 4 allowed up to 50 percent occupancy at essential retail stores.

Additionally, indoor dining and houses of worship could have a maximum occupancy of 50 percent. As of Nov. 30, 32 New Mexico counties are classified

as red. Los Alamos County is the lone yellow county.

The county-by-county outlook is updated every other Wednesday. The next update will take place on Dec. 16.

The map can be accessed at cv.nmhealth.org/redtogreen.

CASE COUNTS T he Gover nor’s Of f ice reported the Nov. 30 case count

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

at 1,684, putting the total over 97,000 statewide.

Locally, 85 new COVID ca ses were repor ted in McKinley County on Nov. 30, bringing the area’s total confi rmed case count to over 7,100.

I n t ot a l, 1,56 8 New Mexicans have lost their lives to COVID-19, as of Nov. 30.

(DVWERXQG 2Q 5DPS Âą PLOH PDUNHU 6KRXOGHU :RUN 7KH UDPS LV RSHQ WR WUDŕľśF 7KHUH LV D ZLGWK UHVWULFWLRQ LQ SODFH 6SHHG LV UHGXFHG WR PSK WKURXJK WKH PLOH ZRUN ]RQHV 3OHDVH GULYH ZLWK FDXWLRQ UHGXFH VSHHG DQG REH\ DOO SRVWHG WUDŕľśF VLJQV 10'27 DQG 9DOOH\ )HQFH &RPSDQ\ DSSUHFLDWH \RXU FRRSHUDWLRQ

'ULYHUV FDQ H[SHFW PLQRU GHOD\V IURP $0 WR 30 0RQGD\ )ULGD\ Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

13

OPINIONS

Letter to the Editor 9 CAR PARADE Dear Editor: This is a loud shout out to our hospital workers and fi rst responders. We planned a large

car parade for Nov. 28, but the governor’s restrictions limit car parades to only nine cars. So nine cars it was.

But workers: make no mistake, we love and support you and appreciate that you and your family’s health are on the line helping our community heal.

Michael Daly, for the organizers and the community

Gallup, N.M.

Car parade participants wishing to thank health care workers drive past the front of RMCHCS in Gallup, Nov. 28. Photo Credit: Cable Hoover

Martin Link writes out a thank you sign to hang on his car as he prepares to participate in a parade in honor of healthcare workers and first responders outside Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services in Gallup, Nov. 28. Photo Credit: Cable Hoover Janie Lee Hall tapes a thank you sign to her car for a parade in honor of healthcare workers and first responders outside RMCHCS, Nov. 28 in Gallup. Photo Credit: Cable Hoover

Tony Burrola hangs a sign thanking emergency responders on his truck for a parade outside RMCHCS, Nov. 28 in Gallup. Photo Credit: Cable Hoover

Call for Availability or for a Free Consultation

(505) 247-3223

FACEBOOK LIVE @ GALLUPLIBARY FRI., DEC 11TH STARTS AT 4:00 P.M.

Marijuana Card Doctor now Serving Gallup, NM

CALL (505) 863-1291 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Bring in this ad and receive 10% off!

14

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

OPINIONS

Udall, Heinrich stand up for federal employees JOIN OTHER SENATORS TO BLOCK TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDER Staff Reports

W

A SH I NGTON — U.S. Sens. Tom Udall, D-N.M. and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. joined Senator Gary Peters, D-Mich. and 40 other senators to introduce legislation that would block the implementation of an Oct. 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new cla ssi f ication for federa l employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the administration to facilitate politically-motivated hiring and fi ring practices against non-partisan civil servants with policy expertise. Over 33,000 New Mexicans are currently serving the American people in federal service. “The president’s recent executive order—designed to strip longstanding civil service protections for the many dedicated New Mexicans and Americans who keep our government running—is nothing short of a direct assault on the federal workforce, and the bedrock institutions of our democracy,� Udall said. “The civil service is designed to uphold the critical functions of our government with non-partisan professionals. “M a ny New Mex ic a n s proudly serve in the federal civil service, and some individuals are putting their lives on the line to fight fi res across the West, and are conducting life-saving scientific research for a coronavirus vaccine,�

Udall continued. “I am proud to cosponsor this legislation— New Mexicans, Americans, and civil servants deserve a president and a Congress that will support and protect them.� “President Trump is issuing offensive executive orders on the way out the door. This latest one is yet another reprehensible attack on the expertise of public servants and the important work they do for our nation,� Heinrich said. “The Trump Administration’s systematic dismantling of the federal workforce has impacted many critical missions and will take years to recover from. “We must defend civ il OPINIONS

servants from unwarranted removals and distractions and immediately reverse this order,� Heinrich stated.

On October 21, President Trump signed an executive order that would allow agency heads to convert certain policy-centric positions to a new

classification, Schedule F, where there is greater flexibility to fi re those employees.

Of f ice of Per son nel Management Acting Director Michael Rigas issued preliminary guidance on Oct. 23 that suggests a broad interpretation of the types of positions

that would be eligible for conversion.

This has created concern that the Administration could fi re civil servants under politically-motivated circumstances

TOM UDALL | SEE PAGE 22

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

Dine Local Restaurant Guide Please Support Local Businesses &RPÄ MRLŨ XĆ– IRU EUHDNIDVĆœ OXQFĹŠ RU GLQQHU

@aV_ EfVd  DRe *+!! R^  (+!! a^ Ȋ% !ZTECȊ!VENUE

'ALLUP ČŠ.-ČŠČŠ

5RXWÄ 'LQHU %SJWF 5ISPVHI JT 0QFO 0S $BMM GPS 1JDL VQ PS %FMJWFSZ

/FFERINGČŠ#URBSIDEČŠ ČŠ#ARRY /UT

.PO 4BU BN QN 4VOEBZ $MPTFE

& )JTU )XZ (BMMVQ /.

Call us for Carry-Out!

Offering Delivery, Take-Out & Curbside!

Give Us A Call!

(505) 722-9311 1981 NM-602, Gallup, NM 87301

Hours: Monday - Friday 11 am to 7 pm

Railway Cafe on Route 66 Join us for our huge selection of desserts!

#ALLçFORç$ELIVERY ç #ARRY /UTçORç #URBSIDEç0ICK 5P

Open for Take-Out and Curbside Only!

Tues - Sat 7 am - 7 pm Sun 8 am - 1 pm • Mon Closed

(505)863-2535 Gallup, NM

2IIHULQJ %UHDNIDVW /XQFK 'LQQHU : &RDO *DOOXS 10

-ONČŠnČŠ3ATČŠČŠ ČŠAMČŠnČŠ ČŠPM

&DOO IRU &DUU\ 2XW

Advertise in the Sun! Call for Great Rates & Ad Specials today.

(505) 722-8994 Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

15

COMMUNITY

WellSpring Recovery Center welcomes new director Staff Reports

D

r. Teresa Meehan has joined Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services as director of WellSpring Recovery Center.

Dr. Meehan has over 25 years of experience in education and in the helping professions. She has a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico and is a tenured Associate Professor of Linguistics and Psychology at New Mexico S t a t e Un i ve r s it y- Gr a nt s .

Her far-reaching experience

includes 12 years at Cibola General Hospital as a social service provider, providing crisis intervention services in the emergency department and providing case management services in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Most recently, Meeha n served as a consultant to organizations pursuing accreditation from the Commission on t he Accred it a t ion of Rehabilitation Facilities. She was part of the consulting team that assisted WellSpring Recovery Center in achieving its CARF accreditation this

summer.

Meehan is an advocate for indigenous populations. She is dedicated to developing and implementing programs that fully integrate the holistic wellness philosophy expected in person-centered programs and alternative healing approaches, which are an integral part of the thought, and philosophy of many Native American communities.

A long-ter m goa l of Meehan’s is to expand treatment and recovery options at WellSpring Recovery Center to include outpatient and

community-based services so clients have the opportunity to receive services along the full continuum of care. As part of the planned program, she also plans to address the long-standing issues of health inequity and racial disparity that negatively affects the collective wellness of our community.

“It’s time to stop using a band aid approach in treating addictions,” Meehan said. “The addictions are the effect of multiple traumatic life experiences, so we have to address the effects of the traumas in order to help individuals make

Teresa Meehan joins Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services as director of the WellSpring Recovery Center. Photo Credit: RMCHCS the permanent life changes they desire.”

Girl Scout Troop 10253 Receives Silver Award Staff Reports

A

loni Herra and Violet DayChief, members of Gallup’s local Girl Scout Troop, received the Silver Award, the second highest award given by Girl Scouts of America for a

special project to benefit pediatric patients. With the help of pediatrician, Dr. Michelle Stam-MacLaren, the girls created “Book Bags” for children who are admitted to the hospital and for their siblings. The bags contain reading books, coloring books, bookmarks

and crayons. Due to COVID-19, Aloni and Violet have not been able to place the bags in the hospital. However, as soon as they get clearance, the girls will bring the bags to the Medical Surgical/ Pediatrics Unit in the hospital for young patients at RMCHCS and their brothers and sisters.

Violet DayChief and Aloni Herrera of the Girl Scout Troop 10253 display “Book Bags” they helped create for hospitalized children and their siblings. Photo Credit: RMCHCS

RMCHCS announces new Emergency Department Director Dylan Solomon Staff Reports

R

ehoboth McKinley Chr i st i a n Hea lt h Care Services has promoted Dyla n Solomon, RN to the position of director of the Emergency Department.

Solomon fi rst began working at RMCHCS in 2017 as a nurse in the Emergency Depa r tment. In 2019, he took on the role of house supervisor.

Solomon has extensive experience as a basic and a n i nter med iate med ica l

16

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

Dylan Solomon, RN has been promoted to director of the RMCHCS Emergency Department. Photo Credit: RMCHCS

SOLOMON | SEE PAGE 17 COMMUNITY

Neurology: a critical part of a medical evaluation Staff Reports

A

neu rolog ist is a medical doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system.

This includes, but is not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), concussion, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke. A child, or pediatric, neurologist specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic disorders in children from the neonatal period through adolescence. Some of the conditions overlap with those seen by adult neurologists, and others are unique to the younger population.

Child neurologists treat

many of the same common conditions found in adults such as migraine, epilepsy, stroke, and Tourette’s. They are also trained in conditions related to neurogenetics and developmental problems.

WH AT DOES A NEUROLOGIST DO? Neurologists are highly trained clinicians capable of diagnosing complex conditions through detailed history and physical examination, including testing of mental status, vision, speech, strength, sensation, coordination, reflexes, and gait. Even as medicine becomes more dependent on technology, the neurological exam will remain a critical component of the patient’s evaluation.

Some common neurologic tests used to complete the

evaluation include: Computed tomography (CT) or computer-assisted tomography (CAT) scans Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Electroencephalography (EEG) Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (NCS/ EMG) Lumbar puncture (LP) for cerebral spinal fluid analysis Neurologists are different from neurosurgeons as they do not perform brain or spinal cord surgery. However, neurologists and neurosurgeons work closely together for several conditions, sometimes even in the operating room together.

Genera l neu rolog ists p e r fo r m v a r io u s pr o c e dures including LP and NCS/ EMG. Subspecialty-trained

neurologists also perform intraoperative brain and spine monitoring, autonomic testing, endovascular procedures including angiograms and coiling of aneurysms, botulinum toxin injections, and skin and muscle biopsies.

The RMCHCS Neurology Department offers adult and child neurology consultation, electroencephalography

(EEG); nerve conduction study (NCS); elect romyog raphy (EMG) vagus nerve stimulator (VNS); programming for epilepsy botox treatment; and cervical paraspinal injection for craniocervical pain.

The Neurology Department has been in existence since board certified neurologist Dr. Flor J. Caballar-Gonzaga joined the hospital in 1997.

RMCHCS hires a new fi nance director Staff Reports

R

MCHCS has brought Samuel McDowell on as its new director of finance.

McDowell was born and raised on the East Coast of the United States, but has spent most of his working career at a variety of international postings that includes the Philippines, Micronesia, Indonesia, Sudan, Romania, Algeria and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

He most recently served as chief financial officer of a women and children’s hospital in Abu Dhabi.

McDowell has a unique

Samuel McDowell is the new director of finance at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services. Photo Credit: RMCHCS hobby… flying sailplanes whenever he has the spare time.

The staff of the RMCHCS Neurology Department from the left: Chrishawna Stewart, MA for Cardiology; Kristen Bebo, MA for Sleep; Alyssa Tsikewa, MA for Neurology; Samantha Moore, Clinical Coordinator; Dr. Flor Caballar-Gonzaga, Neurologist, Sleep Specialist, Clinical Electrophysiologist. Photo Credit: RMCHCS

SOLOMON | FROM PAGE 16 technician. He also has exper ience ser v i ng a s a lead COMMUNITY

supervisor, dispatcher, field research assistant and physician’s assistant.

In January 2020, Solomon received the Daisy Award in

Nursing, a nationwide program that rewards and celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care given by nurses every day.

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

17

‘Sound of Metal’ packs emotional wallop

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

RATING:  OUT OF  RUNNING TIME: 130 MINUTES This film will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Dec. 4.

T he m a jor it y of movies focus on images to tell a story showing the actions of its characters rather than explaining their story. While pictures certainly play a part in the new feature Sound of Metal, this drama focuses on a protagonist whose life revolves around sound and what happen s when t hat essential part of his life is suddenly taken from him. It’s a heavy and occasionally draining drama, but one with exceptional performances that are likely to be recognized during awards season.

Dr ummer Ruben (Riz Ahmed) and his girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke) are heavy metal musicians touring the country in an RV and playing shows in various clubs. When the percussionist begins to ex per ience hea r i ng los s, he visits a doctor. Upset by the prognosis and the costs involved in receiving an elaborate procedure to help with the condition, Ruben tries to continue on, but it is too difficult. Lou insists that her

18

Ruben (Riz Ahmed) at the drums in “Sound of Metal.” Ruben suffers a loss of hearing that turns his life upside down and creates an internal struggle as he reshapes the things that matter to him. Photo Credit: Amazon Prime boyfriend check into a facility in order to come to grips with the problem.

Concerned about being separated from his significant other, Ruben is initially resistant to the idea. Facility manager Joe (Paul Raci) attempts to help the musician come to terms with and accept his condition, but the lead still

Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

hopes to repair his hearing and return to his old life.

Star Riz Ahmed is a talented actor who has made an impression in recent fi lms like Nightcrawler and The Sisters Brothers, but he is particularly strong in this leading role. One imagines that it must be a real challenge to accurately depict the feelings of being suddenly

deaf and fi nding himself completely off-balance as a result.

However, the actor hits the right notes throughout as Ruben attempts to deal with the situation and even try to solve it, only to hit roadblock after roadblock along the way.

This isn’t a big or showy performance, but a very believable and authentic one that clearly displays the internal struggle that the character is going through.

In order to properly defi ne what the character is experiencing, the fi lm uses audio in fascinating ways. It often cuts away from the normal sounds present in the streets to muff led tones as Ruben would hear them and shows his difficulty as he attempts to decipher words and noises.

Intermittently, we are forced to strain to hear those speaking to him just as he does, and the effect helps viewers relate to his situation and the challenges and frustrations involved.

Naturally, his transition into the facility is a rough one, ultimately leading to plenty of internal and external confl ict.

The movie doesn’t try to solve ever y problem that Ruben encounters, but does show all

that is involved in restructuring one’s life. Admittedly, the pacing does slow down during the middle of the fi lm as the lead begins to interact with other residents at the facility.

These sequences don’t offer the same kind of drama as the fi lm does during the opening of the story, but are still interesting to watch.

Even more authenticity is lent to the proceedings when the protagonist decides to return to the regular world and reconnect with his significant other. Rather than wrap things up cleanly, the movie instead focuses on giving its lead character new perspective after everything that he has endured.

This is an interesting and compassionate little stor y that benefits greatly from the exceptional lead performance, which feels like a very accurate portrayal of a man going through a momentous life change. Sound of Metal may not be loud and brash, or spend as much time in the clubs as one might expect, but it still manages to pack an emotional wallop over the course of its running time.

V ISIT: W W W. CINEMASTANCE.COM COMMUNITY

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for December 4, 2020

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

W

elcome to another look at some of the latest Blu-rays and DVDs arriving on store shelves. There are plenty of familiar titles arriving on disc both new and old in a wide variety of genres. So, since you can’t or likely shouldn’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES! THE RISING H AWK: B ATTL E FOR TH E CARPATHIANS: Also known simply as The Rising Hawk, this period drama is set in Eastern E u r o p e du r ing the 13th century.

A s Mongol invaders move across the land raiding and pillaging villages, a small community in the mountains prepares itself for the inevitable onslaught. Local leaders try to come up with a specific plan to stop these forces and save themselves from death and destruction. This tale did not win its battle with reviewers, who generally panned the flick.

One or two admired the attempts to develop individuals and deal with their emotional struggles. However, most complained that it came across as

COMMUNITY

cheesy instead of exciting and had a sluggish pace. The cast includes Alison Doody, Robert Patrick, Tommy Flanagan, Poppy Drayton and Alex MacNicoll.

THE UNBELIEVABLE PLIGHT OF MRS. WRIGHT: This documentary tells the story an American nurse and entrepreneur named Diana Wright.

To be frank, there isn’t a lot of i n for m at ion available about the title. The press synopsis states that over c om i n g poverty and abuse, Wright built a massive business devoted to improving the quality of life for nurses, only to be given a terminal cancer death sentence by the very industry to which she dedicated her life. Failed by the American medical system with only eight months to live, Diana takes her health into her own hands, spending her allotted time in search of a cure for cancer.

As mentioned, there aren’t many write-ups for the feature, but it has won awards at various film festivals across North America. So, if it sounds interesting, then you might want to give it a shot.

WEREWOLF: Released under the title Wilkolak in its homeland, this Polish/German production uses monsters to deal with the fallout of WWII. Set in 1945, it follows a group of kids

who are liberated from an SS war camp and placed at a remote and d i lapidated or pha nage.

Worried about Soviet soldiers a r r iv ing to ha r m t hem, the youths must deal not only with psychological trauma, but also fend off a pack of hungry wolves who have surrounded the rickety complex. This foreign-language feature received excellent reviews from the press.

While one or two couldn’t get a handle on the mixing of war, horror tropes and coming-of-age observations, the rest called the cast excellent, the camerawork striking and described the movie as a powerful, unsettling and disturbing drama about the effects of war. Kamil Polnisiak, Nicola s P r z ygoda , Son ia Mietielica and Danuta Stenka.

BL ASTS FROM THE PAST! This week, Kino gets the ball rolling with some intriguing Blurays. Apache (1954) stars Burt

Lancaster as a warrior who escapes from his captors in the hopes of returning to his homeland. Attack! (1956) is a war movie with Jack Palance and Eddie Albert. It is about a commander who feels forced into taking the life of an ineffective captain.

It may come as a surprise to some, but Blues Brothers star John Belushi headlined a romantic comedy during the height of his popularity. Continental Divide (1981) stars the comedian as a gruff and unhealthy reporter who does a story on an ornithologist (played by Blair Brown) studying the Ba ld Ea g le.

The two unexpectedly fall for each other.

The movie is premiering on Blu-ray with a film historian commentary track and a trailer.

Warner Archive is making a made-to-order 2-disc Bluray available of Hammer’s The Curse of Frankenstein (1957).

It presents new 4K restorations

of two cuts of the movie, a recently recorded film historian commentary and numerous other special features about the production.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS! If you want to introduce youngsters to Bugs Bunny, this is your week!

Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection (19301969) Blu-ray ON THE TUBE! And here are the latest TV-themed releases coming your way.

Chernobyl (2020) 4K TV mini-series Great Performances - Now Hear This: Season 2 (PBS) Mission: Impossible: The Original TV Series (1966-1973) L o ve in Wint e r l an d (Hallmark TV Movie) NOVA: Human Nature (PBS) Perry Mason: Season 1 Tudors: Season 3 Walker: Texas Ranger: Season 5 Winter in Vail (Hallmark TV-movie) V ISIT: W W W. CINEMASTANCE.COM

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

19

MODELL | FROM PAGE 1 fashion magazines,” Modell said.

“If you simply can be confident in who you are, you can get anywhere, and don’t care about what others think.”

This was what her late brother Jake Modell told her when she was sixteen years old.

That’s also when he suggested she get into modeling. She said it was her brother who really pushed her to become what she is today; even when her family fell apart.

At the time she said she didn’t quite know how to connect with her brother’s words.

“He would tell me to not be

Modell in a photo shoot for Exposer a magazine in Denver, Colo. Jan. 2017. Photo Credit: TruLife Photos. shy around people,” she said. “He kept pushing me to tell the world — ‘This is who I am’, to be comfortable in my skin and to have

Modell is the photographer here as she captures this 1957 Chevy low rider truck with her lens at a car show in Denver, Colo. July 2017. Photo Credit: Mountain Cove Photography

a high esteem.”

Modell says her na me Shundeen means “my light” in Navajo, but she was always portrayed as the black sheep in her family.

She said that her family has objected to some of her photography portraits.

“Some of my photo shoots are implied nude or boudoir, but I never go further,” she said. “I’m just pushing out of my tradition and telling others that you can do whatever you want. Push for whatever you want. It’s like a tease and putting it to the imagination. When I’m modeling, I’m not doing it for myself, I’m doing it for body positive.”

Modell says little girls are brought up to think that you

''A Tradition'' • A Gallup tradition with over 100 years of dedicated service.

Now under new ownership, the Rollie legacy continues; providing the facilities and conveniences that serve families best with dignity, integrity and understanding.

must be what they see on magazines and television, even if this means starving yourself to have a body like those models.

“You can be beautiful no matter what size you are. You don’t have to be photoshopped either,” she said.

Modell said in order to do what she wanted, she sometimes had to veer off the traditional Diné path.

MODELL AS PHOTOGRAPHER Modell said when she posed for photo shoots, she often wondered why the photographer would move all Modell wore her mother’s silver bracelet in this May 2019 over the place. That Denver, Colo. photo shoot which she dedicated to her curiosity motivated her mother. Photo Credit: Diamond Photography to get involved behind the camera.

Modell recalled that at the These are memories that they beginning she felt awkward can look at always, and that with a camera in her hands. But makes me happy.” with some help from a seasoned Modell’s photography work photographer, she became more primarily consists of low rider comfortable with the craft. cars, family shots, and random “When I take pictures, I see subjects. it in a different perspective,” she Model l ca me up w it h said. “I’m showing the world the name Mountain Cove what I see, and it feels pretty Photography, which in her Diné good, I capture people’s memo- language is Dzilglahnii. ries. I love it and I’m always with Modell lives in Denver, Colo. my camera wherever I go.”

When she is not modeling or She said she now she loves taking pictures, she works as a taking pictures and seeing Certified Nursing Assistant and something different in what a phlebotomist. she shoots. Whether it’s taking For more information pictures at car shows or scenes on Shundeen Modell, you from her native land, she wants can contact on Facebook/ to capture these moments and S h u n d e e n , o r e m a i l s hold them in time. That’s true n8v3modeling@gmail.com for especially with family portraits. my modeling, and for photog“It’s fun when I capture fam- raphy mountaincovephotogily moments on my camera. raphy@gmail.com

• Rollie Mortuary offers package pricing, accepts Navajo Nation Social Service packages and can assist families with pre-need planning and set up.

• Rollie Mortuary offers a genuine desire to be of assistance to you and your family in this time of need.

401 E. Nizhoni Blvd.

Gallup, NM 87301 (505) 863-4452 20 Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

Service is your way of life, and our way of doing business.

GALLUP 107 E. Aztec Ave., 505.722.4411 Walmart: 1650 W. Maloney Ave., 505.863.3442 1804 E. Aztec Ave., 505.722.0300

NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS GALLUP SUN ARCHIVES Need a past issue? $2.00 per copy. Note issue date and send check or M.O. to: Gallup Sun, PO Box 1212, Gallup, NM 87305. Subject to availability.

AUTO SALES Gurley Motor Company

*** For Sale 1999 Toyota Camery no accidents, have service records 192K miles. $2500 Call Brent 505-387-2572 For Sale For Sale Steel Shipping Container 20 ft. x 8 ft. x 8 ft.

Big enough to store a car.

It is water and critter proof. $2500 call Brent 505-387-2572 LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICES ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

2018 Ford Explorer XLT 65633 miles Sirius XM Radio, Bluetooth, 3rd Row Priced At $26,800

2017 Ford Escape SE Surius XM Satellite Radio Only 23100 miles Priced at $18,225

2020 Toyota Prius Only 600 miles!

Hybrid Priced at $25,525 Will Match up to $800 on your Down Payment!

Gurley Motor Co. 701 W. Coal Ave, Gallup, NM (505) 722-6621 www.gurleymotorford.com

Read online at gallupsun.com

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Public notice is hereby given that the Gallup-McKinley County Schools, Gallup New Mexico, desires to purchase the following: ITB-2021-20RB Used Equipment for Maintenance and Construction Department Price Agreement Commodity Code(s): 0702 As more particularly set out in the bid documents, copies of which may be obtained by downloading from the GallupMcKinley County Schools eBidding platform website https://gmcs.bonfirehub.com/ portal Sealed bids for such will be received until 2:00 PM (LOCAL TIME) on December 17, 2020. FAX and HARDCOPY PROPOSALS will NOT be accepted. Offerors will not be able to upload proposals or documents after the specified CLOSING date and time.

Dated the 4th of December 2020 By: /S/Charles Long, President Board of Education

We believe in ideas.

We believe in passion.

We believe in dreams.

We believe in you.

www.nmhu.edu CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS Gallup-McKinley County School District No. 1 BID ISSUE DATE: December 4, 2020 PUBLICATION DATE: December 4, 2020 (Gallup Sun) December 6, 2020 (Albuquerque Journal) *** PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the McKinley County Board of Commissioners will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Among other items, the County Commission will have the second reading after publication, and, take action on the proposed adoption of Ordinance No. 2020-DEC-006 Authorizing the Formation of a District pursuant to the Electric Generating Facility Economic District Act. Adhering to the Social Distancing Protocols, issued by the Governor’s Office; and the requirements of the Open Meetings Act allowing members of the public to attend and listen to meetings of the quorum of the governing body, this meeting will be physically closed to the public but open to the public via technology services. Members of the public may view the live stream feeds offered on the approved Facebook account of the McKinley

County Office of Emergency Management. Members of the public are welcome to call in with comments about any of the items on the agenda. The comment call in number (505.863.1400) will be monitored beginning at 8:45 am on the day of the meeting; and, it will stop being monitored at 9:10 am on the day of the meeting.

Please give your name, and the Agenda Item Number you desire to comment on, and a return phone number. When, at the appropriate time for making comments on the agenda items, (beginning at approximately 9:10 am) the Commission Chair will call you on your return number so you can make your comment. The Commission Chair pursuant to state law

and county policy can limit the time of comments and reduce common or cumulative comments as needed; comments will be limited to 3 minutes.

The members of the County Commission at their option can participate by phone or other technological participation methods. A copy of the agenda will be available 72 hours prior to the meeting in the Manager’s Office and the County Clerk’s Office and can be sent electronically upon request.

All interested parties are invited to attend via the live stream mentioned herein.

Done this 23rd day of

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 22

Honor Your Loved One ... in the Gallup Sun 'SFF PCJUVBSZ X IFBETIPU JO OFXTQBQFS BOE POMJOF %PXOMPBE GPSN BU XXX HBMMVQTVO DPN o BU UPQ PG QBHF JO 0CJUVBSJFT #FBVUJGVM DVTUPN USJCVUFT BWBJMBCMF BU SFBTPOBCMF QSJDFT (BMMVQ 4VO 0óDF 4UBUF 3E (BMMVQ /.

1IPOF t 'BY

&NBJM HBMMVQTVO!HNBJM DPN Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

21

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 21

/S/ Billy Moore, Chairperson

November 2020 McKINLEY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

December 4, 2020

Publication date: Gallup Sun

***

SUBSCRIBE TO THE

GALLUP SUN! Three Convenient Delivery Options Snail Mail: __ 1 yr. $62.95 __ 6 mo. $32.95

*Home Delivery: __ 1 yr. $45 __ 6 mo. $25

Digital (Email): __ 1 yr. $35 __ 6 mo. $20

*Gallup metro area only

Name: ___________________________________ Address: _________________________________ City/State/Zip: ____________________________ Phone: ________________ (for billing purposes only) Mail Check to: Gallup Sun, PO Box 1212, Gallup, NM 87305 • Fax: (505) 212-0391 • Email: gallupsun@gmail.com Credit Card #: _________________ Exp: _______

Public Notice Public Notice is hereby given that Gallup Business Improvement District, Inc. will conduct its regular monthly Board of Directors Meeting to be held virtually on Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 3 PM. The agenda and a log-in information will be available 72 hours prior to the meeting from francis@ gallupbid.com and on City of Gallup website.

Publication date: Gallup Sun December 4, 2020 *** ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF McKINLEY STATE OF NEW MEXICO In the Matter of the Estate of JOSE ELIAS ESTEBAN VELARDE, Deceased.

No. D-1113-PB-2020-00035

3-4 digit code: _________ Billing zip: _________ Pay By Phone: (505) 722-8994 The Gallup Sun is distributed weekly, on Fridays. Forms received after Wednesday, the subscription will start the following Friday.

100,000 COVID CASES | FROM PAGE 4 “B e c a u s e we mu s t be clear-eyed about the risks we face, I have aimed never to paint an overly rosy picture of the pandemic and the economic fallout ravaging our state. There can be no doubt: We are headed for a painful winter. More New Mexicans will contract this virus and fall seriously ill. Some will lose their lives. Today alone we lost 40 New Mexica ns to t h i s v i r u s. We ca n not become numb to this tragedy.

Families all across our state are grappling with unfathomable grief. Each of these New Mexicans was loved. Each is mourned with our whole hearts.

“But I am reminded and

TOM UDALL | FROM PAGE 15 and create uncertainty in federal agencies that are critical to protecting the nation’s national security and addressing the ongoing pandemic.

OPM has still not answered basic questions regarding the

NOTICE TO CREDITORS MONICA CLARISSA ESPINO has been appointed Personal Representative of the Estate

hope to remind you, even as we reach this grim milestone, of two inescapable, essential facts. It is within our power to reverse the deadly trajectory of this pandemic. And we, as one united state, are more than up to the challenge. We can indeed save lives. We can, through our own day-to-day decisions and actions, prevent needless illness and death.

“Together, we will beat back this virus and rebuild our state.

With compassion for others, with the patience and kindness and fortitude that defi ne us as New Mexicans, we will overcome this moment of crisis.”

Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are: • 70 new cases in McKinley County Including • A female in her 50s from

McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.

• A male in his 60s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions.

• A female in her 70s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.

• A male in his 70s from McKinley County. The individual was hospitalized.

• A female in her 80s from McKinley County.

development, implementation and potential consequences of this hastily issued executive order.

Udall and Heinrich were joined in introducing the legislation, led by U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-Mich., Sens.

Ben Cardin, D-Md., Richard Blu ment ha l, D - Con n.,

22 Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

CLASSIFIEDS WEEKLY RATES FIRST 25 WORDS: FREE! (4 consecutive weeks max.)

26-50 WORDS: $10 51-75: WORDS: $20 76-100 WORDS: $30 $10 FOR EACH ADD’L 25 WORDS

EXTRAS – $5 PER WEEK, PER ITEM: TEXT BOX, HIGHLIGHT, ALL CAPS, BOLD, AND/OR PIC/LOGO Free classifi ed: Limit one free ad per customer only. Second ad starts at $10, per 25 words.

EMAIL: GALLUPSUNLEGALS@GMAIL.COM DUE: TUESDAYS 5 PM of JOSE ELIAS ESTEBAN VELARDE, deceased. All persons having claims against this estate are required to present their claims within four (4) months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or the claims will be forever barred. Claims must be presented either to the Personal Representative at the offices of Mason & Isaacson, P.A., 104 East Aztec Avenue, Gallup, New Mexico, 87301, attorneys for the Personal Representative, or filed with the District Court of McKinley County, New Mexico.

MONICA CLARISSA ESPINO MASON & ISAACSON, P.A. By: James J. Mason Attorneys for Personal Representative 104 East Aztec Avenue Gallup, New Mexico 87301 (505) 722-4463 Publication Date: Gallup Sun December 4, 2020 December 11, 2020 December 18, 2020

• 48 new cases in Bernalillo County • 130 new cases in Chaves County • 18 new cases in Cibola County • 4 new cases in Colfax County

• 32 new cases in Curry County • 4 new cases in De Baca County • 113 new cases in Doña Ana County • 70 new cases in Eddy County • 10 new cases in Grant County • 1 new case in Guadalupe County • 2 new cases in Hidalgo County • 98 new ca ses in Lea County • 4 new cases in Lincoln County • 4 new c a s e s i n L o s Alamos County • 4 new ca ses in Luna County • 2 new ca ses in Mora County • 19 new cases in Otero County

• 3 new ca ses in Quay County • 23 new ca ses i n Rio Arriba County • 26 new cases in Roosevelt County • 85 new cases in Sandoval County • 141 new cases in San Juan County • 5 new cases in San Miguel County • 76 new cases in Santa Fe County • 14 new cases in Sierra County • 5 new cases in Socorro County • 2 new ca ses in Taos County • 5 new cases in Torrance County • 17 new cases in Union County • 80 new cases in Valencia County

Ch r i s Va n Hol len D -Md., S her ro d Brow n , D - Oh io, Mark Warner, D-Va., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tim Kaine, D -Va ., Ja ck R e e d , D - R .I ., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Brian Schatz, D -Hawaii, Tammy Baldwin, D -Wisc., K irsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Tammy D u c k wo r t h , D - I l l ., A m y

Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sheldon W hitehouse, D -R .I., Patt y Murray, D-Wash., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Tom Carper, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., M ichael Ben net , D - Colo., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Doug Jones, D-Ala., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Dick

Durbin, D-Ill., Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Dia ne Feinstein, D - Ca lif., Ky r sten Si mena , D -A r i z ., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn.

• 1,479 cases throughout the state

CLASSIFIEDS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR DECEMBER 4 – DECEMBER 10, 2020 FRIDAY, December 4

DRAWCEMBER ART CHALLENGE

Dec. 1-5 OFPL challenges you to sketch the provided weekly themes. This week’s theme will be candy canes, peppermint tea and more.

Incorporate the essence of peppermint into at lest 51 percent of your overall sketch. Send your weekly artwork through our social media @galluplibrary or use our special hashtag #OFPLsketchchallenge to win prizes.

VIRTUAL FUN FRIDAYS

4 pm Live on Facebook @ galluplibrary for 2020 Trivia for the opportunity to win great prizes.

FREE FAMILY ART KITS

12 pm-4 pm Art123 Gallery is making free Family Art Kits available for Winter Fun. In honor of Gallup’s Balloon Rally, learn origami and make a hot air balloon. Also create a one-of-a-kind collaged holiday card to send to a loved one. The kits include all the necessary supplies and step-by-step instructions for the projects. They can be picked up on a first-come, first-served basis at 123 W. Coal Ave.

DRIVE-UP COVID-19 TESTING

1:30 pm-2:30 pm @ UNM Gallup Lions Hall parking lot (705 Gurley Ave.). Pre-registration is preferred, but not required at cvtestreg. nmhealth.org

STAGECOACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOOK FAIR

through Dec. 13 online.

Support your school and help your child discover new books and favorite characters. Choose from the interactive gooklist and enjoy free shipping on book-only purchases over $25.

OFPL NEW TRADITIONS SERIES

11 am - Visit You Tube @ galluplibrary to view episodes of the series featuring winter traditions of the diverse peoples of New Mexico. Bideos are posted Wednesdays and Fridays.

Farolitos are today’s focus.

ONE-2-ONE VIRTUAL TECHNOLOGY HELP

11 am-12 pm live on Facebook, @galluplibrary and through scheduled video and audio calls. Ask your technology questions and get assistance during the live sessions. Please email libtrain@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 to schedule a personalized audio or video meeting, or join us Live on Facebook at the scheduled times.

CALENDAR

SATURDAY, December 5

SELF-CARE SATURDAY

1 pm on Facebook@galluplibrary. to make your DIY cosmetics from items around your home. Each ingredient list will be available on our website of-l.online. All SelfCare episodes are available after the livestream. Visit YouTube, @galluplibrary.

This week we will focus on Gingerbread Sugar Scrub.

SUNDAY December 6

DRAWCEMBER ART CHALLENGE

Dec. 6-10 OFPL challenges you to sketch the provided weekly themes. This week’s theme will be gingerbread (Landscape gingerbread housing or gingerbread family portrait. Ideas are endless, as long as you incorporate gingerbread into your sketch).

Send your weekly artwork through our social media @ galluplibrary or use our special hashtag #OFPLsketchchallenge to win prizes.

MONDAY, December 7

DRIVE-UP COVID-19 TESTING

1:30 pm-2:30 pm @ UNM Gallup Lions Hall parking lot (705 Gurley Ave.). Pre-registration is preferred, but not required at cvtestreg. nmhealth.org NM Dept of Health 1919 College Drive

CREATIVE CORNER

4 pm @ ofpl.online/programs/#makerspace. The focus will be on Geometric Wall Art (Create a high contrast geometric panel to brighten up any room.)

TUESDAY, December 8

TECH SHORT TUESDAYS

5 pm live on Facebook, @galluplibrary for “How to” tech shorts. This month we will focus on building and making.

For more information please email libtrain@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 .

REGULAR COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

9 am-12 pm Regular County Commission meeting available to livestream via McKinley County Office of Emergency Management Facebook page

COVID TESTING

11 am-1 pm in Grants @ 700 E. Roosevelt Ave., Ste. 100

LOBO PLATFORM TRAINING SESSION

10 am-11 am https://unm. zoom.us; Meeting ID: 986 6284 2743. These sessions focus on services available through LoboWeb, LoboTrax, LoboMail and LoboAchieve

EVERYBODY IS TALKING TUESDAYS! – CELEBRATIONS AND DIY IDEAS

CALENDAR

4 pm YouTube, @galluplibrary on Tuesdays. Join the creative genius of the Octavia Fellin Public Library and our unusually talented neighbors for book-talks, author-talks, movie-talks, pop-talks, foodtalks, maker-talks, tech-talks.

WEDNESDAY, December 9

(FACEBOOK LIVE) JOB SEARCH ONLINE

4 pm – Looking to make some cash? Having trouble applying for jobs online? We can help. Join us for this live session on how to search for jobs online and how to find resources to help in your job hunt.

OFPL NEW TRADITIONS SERIES

11 am - Visit You Tube @galluplibrary to view episodes of the series featuring winter traditions of the diverse peoples of New Mexico. Videos are posted Wednesdays and Fridays. Tamales are today’s focus.

NM VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

9 am-11 am WebEx Virtual Event for veterans, dependents and organizations that serve veterans. Link: https:// bit.ly/3lt67e2 ; or dial (404) 397-1596 and use access code 199 012 6966

DRIVE-UP FLU VACCINATION

11 am-2 pm @ Casamero Lake Chapter House. For more information call Crownpoint Division of Public Health (505) 786-6294; (505) 7866240

DRIVE-UP COVID-19 TESTING

1:30 pm-2:30 pm @ UNM Gallup Lions Hall parking lot (705 Gurley Ave.). Pre-registration is preferred, but not required at cvtestreg. nmhealth.org THURSDAY, December 10

COVID TESTING

2 pm-4 pm in Grants @ 700 E. Roosevelt Ave., Ste. 100

CRAFTY KIDS

4 pm on Facebook and Youtube @galluplibrary (all ages) for family-friendly crafts and step-by-step tutorials for all skill levels. This week we will create our own snow globes..

MCHA HOUSING HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT

7 pm on ZOOM: https://bit. ly/3pgbnCn or call +1-669900-9128; Meeting ID 824 3950 2001; Passcode 12345. If you need more help call (505) 862-9329.

ONGOING

MCKINLEY COUNTY IMMUNIZATION CLINICS, FLU SHOTS

8:30 am – 4 pm Mon., Wed., Fri. continues through December by appointment. @ McKinley Public Health

Office, (1919 College Dr.) Call (505) 722-4391 to schedule an appointment. Vaccines provided at no cost for children through 18 years of age. Bring your child’s shot record.

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

Gallup Wreaths Across America is working to place a Christmas wreath on every veteran’s grave in Gallup on Dec. 19. Due to COVID restrictions, the honor guard and wreath-laying ceremony will be virtual, with the City of Gallup filming and posting it online. Volunteers who wish to participate the laying of the wreaths at Gallup’s four cemeteries will meet in the open air, wearing masks and practice social distancing. Three-hundred wreaths have been sponsored so far.

There are 1,300 veteran’s graves in Gallup. For more information, contact Janice Bradley at janiceb43@ me.com

WE READ, WE TALK BOOK CLUB REGISTRATION

We will be reading Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse for our January session. Request your copy and preferred meeting times on our Online Registration Form at ofpl.online/programs Deadline Dec. 21. Registration is limited to 30 participants, but a waiting list is available.

Email childlib@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

COMMUNITY MITTEN TREE

Help us deck the halls! Pick up a paper mitten curbside to decorate and return for our community mitten tree window display. Request your mitten on our Online Registration Form at ofpl.online.

Email childlib@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS

Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for more mentors to make a difference in the life of a young person. Mentors and mentees can meet for socially distance friendly interactions or hangout virtually playing games, cooking, reading, etc. via Facetime, Zoom, or other platforms. For more information call 505726-4285 or go to .bbbsmountainregion.org/volunteer to sign up today.

RMCHCS FLU VACCINES (ADULTS ONLY)

Urgent Care Clinic (520 Hwy. 564). Walk-ins 5 pm- 9 pm, Sat., 9 am - 9 pm and 12 pm-5 pm Sun. Please bring insurance information. For those with no health insurance there will be a $25 fee.

Pre-registration can be done during hours of operation, 9 am-9 pm. For more information: (505) 863-2273.

RMCHCS COVID-19 DRIVE-UP TESTING

9 am-5 pm Mon.-Fri. @ Urgent Care Center (520 NM Hwy 564, north of the New Mexico Cancer Center).

VIRTUAL TUTORING AND HOMEWORK HELP

The Boys & Girls Club of Gallup has been offering virtual tutoring and homework help with trained mentors using Zoom calls. Club members with a 2020 membership can attend for free after they fill out a virtual permission form on the club website.

To get a 2020 membership, fill out an online application and permission form. It’s free. The help will be available until Dec. 31. For more information: bgcgallup.com; (505) 488-2378; Facebook@ BoysandGirlsClubGallup

DIAL-A-STORY

Storytime anytime, call (505) 862-9177 to hear a story any time of the day or night.

Stories will change daily, at the end feel free to leave us a message to let us know what stories you want to hear. For more information: childlib@ gallupnm.gov; (505) 8631291.

LIBRARY CARD REGISTRATION ONLINE

Today’s libraries have programs and resources that go far beyond books. From virtual story times, family game nights and art classes, to opportunities to borrow audiobooks and stream movies, there’s something for everyone at the library.

To explore all that the library has to offer, visit your library at ofpl.online to register for a free library card. For more information: bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 8631291 for more information.

CURBSIDE CHECKOUT SERVICES

OFPL staff continues to provide essential services to our community by offering curbside checkout, virtual classes, workshops, and public education through our social media platforms. Visit ofpl. online for the online request form. • DVD/CD check out limit is 10 - 30 library items total. OFPL Staff is on-site Monday through Friday from 9 am-6 pm. and will assist with curbside checkout. Free Comic Book to keep with your curbside order while supplies last. Call (505)-8631291 for all inquiries including reference services.

To post a nonprofit or civic event in the calendar section, please email: gallupsunevents@gmail.com or fax: (505) 212-0391. Deadline: Monday at 5 pm.

Gallup Sun • Friday December 4, 2020

23

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month December is known as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. In December 2019, New Mexico had 21 alcohol involved fatalities making it the highest out of all months for 2019 (UNM, 2019).

UNM. (2019). Traffic Research Unit. Retrieved from http://gps.unm.edu/tru

Instead of having a night you can’t remember, make it a month you won’t forget by choosing not to drive while impaired!

24 Friday December 4, 2020 • Gallup Sun

COMMUNITY