Gallup Sun • March 12, 2021

E FRE

VOL 7 | ISSUE 311 | MARCH 12, 2021

GALLUP GETS BACK IN GEAR City Council revisits pre-COVID issues

K C I R T A P .

T S COLOR ON PAGE 17

SEE PAGES 4, 6, 8, 10

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Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

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DON'T TEST YOUR LUCK THIS ST. PATRICK'S DAY In March 2019, McKinley County had 10 alcohol involved crashes (UNM, 2020).

Driving while intoxicated can lead to: Ɠ a revoked driver's license Ɠ up to $10,000 in fines Ɠ jail time

CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE!

UNM. (2021). McKinley County Community Report. Retrieved from https://gps.unm.edu/gps_assets/tru_data/Crash-Reports/Community-Reports/2019-communityreports/County_McKinley.pdf

NEWS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

3

LOCAL NEWS

NEWS

2021 Best of the Best Rodeo hangs in the balance CITY COUNCIL TO DECIDE NEXT MONTH

By Kevin Opsahl Sun Correspondent

T

he coronavirus pandemic is what did in the annual Best of the Best Rodeo last summer, but the city is not ready to decide whether or not to put a halt to this year’s event.

Even though city staff recommended cancellation, the Gallup City Council decided to give organizers time to put together a proposal regarding the rodeo for presentation at the April 13 meeting. A decision by council members is expected the same night.

Promoter Walt Eddy was among those at the March 9 meeting urging the council not to cancel the rodeo that night because if they did, he predicted, a story from the media would cause potential advertisers to sour even if things changed and the city could host the event after all.

“We’re going to re-address it in another month and see if we’re going to be able to have it,” Eddy told the Gallup Sun after the meeting. “If the city is wanting to have it, I’m wanting to do it.

Everybody is wanting to do this if it is possible with restrictions in the state.”

Eddy told the newspaper before the meeting he hoped the council would give him time to plan for a 2021 rodeo and not cancel it outright, knowing the state coronavirus restrictions could change. According to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s red to green framework, McKinley County was still in red status on March 9. Under red status large gatherings would permit only five people or 40 cars to be in attendance.

“As more people are getting the vaccine, New Mexico and McKinley County are both very

8 4

Kylie Conner competes in the barrel racing event at the 2019 Best of the Best Rodeo in Red Rock Park at 825 Outlaw Rd., Church Rock, N.M. Photo Credit: Kierce Photography

Braden Harris in the calf roping event at the 2019 Best of the Best Rodeo in Red Rock Park at 825 Outlaw Rd., Church Rock, N. M. Photo Credit: Kierce Photography

optimistic that things are getting ready to change,” Eddy said.

Only one day later, the status of the county changed to green.

“Hopefully, by August, we can have more [people] at an event,” Eddy said.

In an interview, Assistant City Manager Jon DeYoung expressed optimism that the event would take place regardless of restrictions.

“We’re going to do the best we can with whatever state we’re in — whether it be red, yellow, green … and strategize based on those current health orders,” DeYoung said. “If the mayor and council direct us to have the event, we will make sure we follow the guidelines.

We will do our best to put on the event.”

DeYoung said the proposal to the council would include a contract for Eddy’s professional services, as well as a budget needed to put on the event.

Even though last year’s Best

not having spectators. DeYoung said they might need to restrict ticket sales and have a system in place to track who is coming in and out of the venue.

The Best of the Best Rodeo, which started in 2013, brings high school students together to compete in eight different activities, from pole bending to steer wrestling, at Red Rock State Park. In 2019, over $160,000 was awarded in cash, as well as $35,000 in prizes. That year, the event drew over 520 contestants from 21 states, Eddy said.

“It’s a heck of an economic boost,” he continued. “I’m not a graduate with a tourism degree ... but bringing people from outside the community into your community for an extended stay sounds like a pretty good way to advance tourism.”

DeYoung also touted the rodeo, even as the city lost nearly $77,500 after deciding to cancel it last year — though that figure was tens of thousands less

of the Best Rodeo was canceled due to the pandemic, Eddy said he has proceeded as normal in organizing for 2021.

“We’ve been working on it the same way we have every year with the assumption that it’s going to happen, knowing it might not,” he said. “We haven’t spent any money advertising and we would have this month in previous years.”

At the March 9 council meeting, DeYoung gave some thoughts on event logistics when pressed on it by councilors.

After Dist. 4 Councilor Fran Palochak asked if it would be possible to push the rodeo back to August or September as opposed to June, DeYoung said the city’s decision would hinge on getting contracts in place, knowing what event capacity limits are, and getting enough contestants to register.

Palochak asked if it was possible to compete with social distancing and restrictions, such as

than what the city estimated it would lose.

“It’s just growing each year.

We’re getting more and more contestants,” DeYoung said. “We get a lot of people from all over the country coming to Gallup and they get to experience our community and shop. That’s what I really miss out on.”

Eddy is pleased with what the rodeo has evolved into since its inception.

“I’m super proud of taking an idea from infancy into one of the most successful high school rodeos ever,” he said.

While Eddy is hoping for Best of the Best Rodeo for FY 2021 to be approved when it comes up at the council meeting in April, the City Council meeting minutes released on March 11 state that “If the event is limited in capacity, which is likely, then fee revenue will not support this event. Staff is recommending canceling the Best of the Best Rodeo in June 2021.”

WHAT’S INSIDE …

A VERY BUSY HOUSE More than 100 bills cleared N.M. House

12 13 15 18 THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN What it means for New Mexico

Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

FIVE TIMES BIGGER THAN MANHATTAN Iceberg breaks off in Antarctica

FAMILIES COME FIRST A patient speaks out about medical profits

OPIOID ADDICTION MOVIE Misses the mark

NEWS

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BENCHCRAFT BY ASHLEY MILLENNIUM BY ASHLEY Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021 5

Gallup animal shelter back on the drawing board LIBRARY GETS ADDITIONAL FUNDING

By Beth Blakeman Managing Editor

A

year ago, just before the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, the City of Gallup was talking about how to build a new regional animal shelter.

Now they’re talking again.

Cat at the McKinley County Humane Society Feb. 26, 2020. Photo Credit: Kristine Gruda

Gallup Sun Publishing, LLC Publisher Babette Herrmann Office Manager Mandy Marks Managing Editor Beth Blakeman Design Vladimir Lotysh Contributing Editor Cody Begaye Correspondents Molly Adamson Kevin Opsahl Dee Velasco Photography Mike Esquibel Cable Hoover Ryan Hudgeons Knifewing Segura On the Cover Image of machine gears working together. Photo Courtesy unsplash.com

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: 1983 State Rd. 602 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.

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At the Feb. 25, 2020 City Cou nci l meet i ng, Ja ck ie McKinney was the outgoing mayor. He said he had friends on both sides of the land issue and didn’t want to encumber the incoming mayor over site

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Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

Dog at the McKinley County Humane Society Feb. 26, 2020, when a new regional animal shelter was under discussion by the Gallup City Council. Photo Credit: Kristine Gruda selection. So the council voted to table the issue.

Gallup got its new mayor, Louis Bonaguidi, at the same time COVID was entering the picture.

The sites under consideration for the shelter included an expansion of its current location (Balok Street off U. S. Highway 491) with the Gallup-McKinley

Octavia Fellin Public Library, as seen in a presentation from a 2013 plan to rebuild it. Photo Credit: Courtesy Huitt-Zollars construction engineering company County Humane Society north of the animal medical center, and some potentially donated land near Hasler Valley Road.

On March 9, more than a year later, the City Council put it on the agenda again. This time it accepted a grant agreement of $261,000 for the new regional animal shelter.

The Gallup Sun asked Director of Planning and Development for the City of

Gallup Clyde Strain, what that amount would mean for a shelter that received a concept design plan that said construction would run between $7.9 million and $8 million, depending on the site selected. “ We g e t g r a n t s h e r e and there. We’re trying to

ANIMAL SHELTER/ LIBRARY | SEE PAGE 19

NEWS

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UNM. (2020). McKinley County Community Report. Retrieved from https://gps_assets/tru_data/Crash-Reports/Community-Reports/2019-community-reports/County_McKinley.pdf NEWS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

7

Water line replacement timeline moved up

By Kevin Opsahl Sun Correspondent

T

he Gallup City Council approved a budget adjustment to begin a water line replacement and road pavement project at its March 9 meeting.

Replacement of the water line — on East Wilson Drive, f r om McK i n ley D r ive t o Ma rg uer ite F ra nco Dr ive — was slated to take place within two years, with supervision from the city’s utilities department. But since the public works department wants to utilize time-sensitive

funds for a mill and overlay on Marguerite Franco Drive, the utilities department proposed moving up the process to get the water line done.

O n M a r c h 9, D e n n i s Romero, the depar tment’s execut ive d i rec t or, went before the city council and asked for a budget ad justment, which would allow him to transfer $46,000 in funds from the Water Enterprise reser ve fund into a prev iously unfunded line item — the design and construction management of the new water line. The request was necessary because the project was not included in the budget for the current fiscal year, Romero said.

Romero noted he has not yet asked for the project’s construction funding, which will require him to make another budget adjustment request to the council.

“Funding is never a formality, and requests can always be d isapproved,” Romero wrote to the Gallup Sun in an email on March 10. “However, given the council approval for design and construction management costs, there is a positive outlook for approval of construction funding.”

According to information prov ided in a city council agenda packet , t he water

WATER LINE | SEE PAGE 19

View from East Wilson Street between McKinley Drive and Marguerite Franco Drive on the morning of March 11. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura

One-hundred-twenty-nine bills have cleared the House OVER 3,000 NEW MEXICANS PARTICIPATED IN COMMITTEES IN WEEKS FIVE AND SIX Staff Reports

S

A NTA F E — W i t h less than two weeks remaining in the 2021 Legislative Session,

8

t he New Mex ico House of Representatives continues to move quickly on legislation while involv ing thous a n d s o f Ne w M e x i c a n s throughout the process.

Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

A s o f M a r c h 7, t h e New Mex ico House of Representatives has worked efficiently on the 312 bills i nt roduced i nto it s cha mber s si nce t he beg i n n i ng

of t he ses sion. About 289 bills have had a hearing in a House committee and out of that total, 129 have made it t h roug h t he com m it tee process, passed the House f loor, a nd a re now i n t he Senate for con siderat ion.

In weeks five and six, over 3,000 New Mexicans participated in the committee process. Dur ing those weeks, New Mexicans have called into committees by phone o r Z o o m f r o m 2 9 of t h e state’s 33 counties. “ We c a m e i n t o t h i s unprecedented session with he av y ex pec t a t ion s f rom our constituents to respond e f fe c t i v e l y t o t h i s p a n demic,” the Majority Floor Leader Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton, D -A lbuquerque, s a id. “Gover n ment i s not k now n to tu r n on a d i me, but I th i nk the House ha s sur prised some in our abilit y to stay productive a nd move c r it ic a l leg i s l a t ion t h at helps New Mex ica n s recover from this pandemic th roug h a complicated process. “ We’ v e wo r ke d t o ge t these bills right,” she said. “ It h a s b e e n a m o nu mental task by all involved i n t he Hou s e t o a d a pt t o t he re a l it ie s of t h i s pa n demic a nd do the people’s bu si ne s s s a fely a nd ef f ic i e n t l y,” S p e a ke r o f t h e

House Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said.

“We are now in the final stretch of this historic session a nd we ca n’t let ou r foot off the gas. Though we hope to never have to do a session completely virtually a ga i n, t he level of ex pert i s e a nd pr ofe s sion a l i s m leg islator s a nd st a f f have show n throughout is tr uly commendable.”

Prior to the star t of the s e s s ion , t he Hou s e s et a guideline for five bills per member in anticipation of a process impacted by virtual pa r t icipat ion a nd remot e vot i ng. Wit h t hat cha nge, member s have pr ior itized legislation directly dealing with relief and recovery for hardworking New Mexicans a nd sma l l busi nesses a nd a l l o w e d fo r a m p l e t i m e fo r pu bl ic c o m m e n t a nd pa r t icipat ion. L eg islat ion tota ling over $800 million in pandemic relief has now been sig ned by Gover nor Michelle Lu jan Grisham.

Members of the pub lic can track legislation on the New Mexico Legislature website, access committee meetings and House f loor session s via the Webca sts t a b, o r p a r t i ci p a t e by Zoom to provide public comm ent on commit tee hearings.

NEWS

Statistics from 2017 - 2019 showed that an estimated 0.8% of McKinley County adults reported that they had driven a vehicle while intoxicated at least once in the past 30 days.

Driving intoxicated is never okay!

If you drink, don't drive!

NMDOH. (2021). New Mexico Substance Use Epidemiology Profile. Retrieved from https://www.nmhealth.org/data/view/substance/2457/

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

9

PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS

A new public safety building is coming … eventually

By Molly Adamson Sun Correspondent

D

uring the city council meeting held on March 9, Clyde Strain, Gallup’s Planning and

Development Director, presented a grant that would pay for a new public safety building to house the Gallup Police Department and the Gallup Municipal Court.

The grant by the State of New Mexico’s Department of Finance and Administration, totals $1.5

million.

The design for the new building is complete, and in an interview after the meeting, Strain said the city is now looking at funding for the project. He explained that it is a $16 million project, but that the city has been putting money

Weekly Police Activity Reports Staff Reports SEA RCHING FOR SHOOTER Lupton, March 5 McKinley County Deputy Gavin Panteah was dispatched to the three -mile ma rker of I-40 along with Deputies Nocona Clark and Frank Villa in reference to a potential shooting. But on the way there, the dispatch location switched to the Yellowhorse Trading Post in Lupton, Ariz.

The deputies arrived and

met with the victim, Elias Espinoza, who had sustained a gunshot wound on the right side of his face. Panteah spoke with the caller at the scene, Antonio Agguire, who told him that he and Espinoza stopped at a nearby gas station. Espinoza left the vehicle to go inside, and Agguire said he heard a gunshot.

W h i le A g g u i re helped Espinoza to a nearby bench and called 911, he said he saw the shooter leaving and traveling eastbound on I-40

in a black SUV. The ambulance arrived about 4:30 pm to perform aid on Espinoza, who was eventually flown to a hospital in Flagstaff, Ariz. for further care.

The deputies searched the vehicle and found traces of blood among several other items. Agguire later changed his story and said the shooting had actually occurred near the eight-mile marker. After being transported to McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, he was released after giving a

aside for it for years, and that it is at about the halfway mark now.

The grant is for the design, construction, and to equip the new building.

With the design already complete, Strain said the grant would most likely go toward

construction. He estimated that construction wouldn’t start for another two to five years.

The council approved the use of the grant, so now the city can move forward with continuing to collect funding for construction and equipment.

statement.

Several sets of footprints were found at the scene at Yellowhorse Trading Post, but no further evidence was recovered.

Waste Authority had caught fi re.

McKinley County Undersheriff James Maiorano arrived at the scene after 8:20 am and confi rmed damage from the fire, including paint damage and warping of the metal panels. The dumpster was estimated to cost about $4,800. Maiorano was advised the dumpster could be repaired and reused.

There are no suspects, but Maiorano said it is believed trespassers from the homeless camp may have been the same perpetrators who lit the dumpster on fi re.

BURNING DUMPSTER Gallup, Feb. 25 A phone call early in the morning led to Gallup Fire Department and Gallup Police Department being dispatched to a makeshift road near a homeless ca mp off Nor th Mission on property owned

by Gallup Land Partners. The call stated a dumpster from Northwest New Mexico Solid

WEEKLY DWI REPORT Staff Reports

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Wayne Lucero March 7, 11:10 am Aggravated DWI Metro Dispatch received multiple calls about a grey Toyota Tundra parked in front of the Prewitt post office with its motor running and the driver asleep at the wheel. McKinley

County Deputy C l a y t o n Et sit t y wa s dispatched to t he a rea of 1692 State Hw y. 122 in Prewitt, where

DWI REPORT | SEE PAGE 23

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Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

PUBLIC SAFETY

Deputies respond to shooting in Gamerco

By Molly Adamson Sun Correspondent

told Holder the ma n shot him when he was standing outside his car. eputy Jerald Holder a sked K iy ite Wa t c h m a n a n d about his car. Kiyite said he Deput y D ew ay ne drove a dark blue 2014 Ford Holder were called Flex. He told the deputy it t o 2 0 6 S u m m i t Av e n u e was registered to him. But i n G a me r c o o n Fe b. 2 6 , when Holder called it in to around 3:30 am. They were dispatch, they couldn’t find responding to a call about a car registered to Kiyite. a gunshot victim.

K i y i t e t ol d p ol ic e h e A man named Thompson had been shot w ith a .45, Becenti met the deputies in a nd Holder d id not ice a the yard outside the trailer bullet wound on the lower home. He told the officers r ight side of his back. He that the v ictim was in the was transported to Gallup trailer. Holder went inside, Indian Medical Center. where he met t he v ict i m While Holder was speakBrandon Kiyite, sitting in a ing with Kiyite, Watchman chair just inside the door. stayed outside a nd talked When Holder asked him to T hompson. T hompson what happened, Kiyite said stated he had been sleeping a man had taken his car and when he hea rd a g u nshot shot him. He said he didn’t that woke him up. know the man, but that he Thompson said he told Kiyite that he worked st a r t ed record i ng on h i s for the cartel. camera, but only heard one Holder asked about the gunshot and did not know shooter’s race, a nd K iyite what type of gun had been s a id he t hou g ht he w a s fired. He said Kiyite walked Native. He descr ibed him over to his house and told a s f ive feet, seven inches him he had been shot. ta ll, between 170 a nd 200 Thompson said that peopounds and approximately ple are always doing crazy 40 yea r s old. He d id not t h i ngs over where K iy ite know what he was wearing. was shot, and that they’re K iy it e went on t o s ay a l w a y s s h o o t i n g . W h e n t h a t t h e s h o o t i n g h a p - Watchman asked him who p e n e d o u t s i d e a t 2 0 2 the people he was referring Summit Avenue. He said he to were, Thompson said he had been sitting in his car didn’t really know who they when a ma n ca me up a nd were, but t hat one of t he pointed a gun at his head, guys’ names was something telling him to get out. He like Shane.

D

This table represents a 7-day period of Gallup Police Dept. incident calls.

MAR 3-9 INCIDENT TYPE

NUMBER OF CALLS

Intoxicated Person

207

Welfare Check

165

Traffic -related

126

Police Request

55

Domestic

46

Alarm

45

Law

42

Disorderly Subject

32

Accident

26

Attempt to Locate

20

All other calls including shots fired, disputes, burglary, assault, vandalism, etc.

247

PUBLIC SAFETY

In the v ideo Thompson provided, Kiyite can be seen a r g u i ng w it h a m a n, but Watchman said he couldn’t tel l what t he t wo men were saying to each other.

T h e v i d e o a l s o s h owe d Kiyite walking over to 206 S u m m i t Av e . Wa t c h m a n told Thompson to save the video for evidence.

Holder also spoke with T hom p s o n’s mom a nd dad, Virginia Becenti a nd Eugene Becenti. They both said they had been watchi n g T V when t hey he a rd the gunshot. Virginia said she had seen K iyite walki n g ba ck a nd for t h on Summit Avenue earlier that morning, Watch ma n a nd Holder st ayed on t he scene w it h S er ge a nt S h a ne B e n net t u nt i l C h ief I nv e s t i g a t o r Chris Escamilla arrived.

No casings were found at the scene, only tire tracks and shoe prints.

FBI seeks those responsible for death of Navajo Nation resident Staff Reports

T

he FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the death of Isiah Terrell Billy.

On Oct. 5, Billy was found deceased in a wash east of t he S i ncl a i r g a s s t a t ion near mile marker 23 on U.S. Highway 64, in Sh iprock, New Mexico.

The cause of death is pending, but considered suspicious.

Billy, who was 30 at the time, lived in Shiprock, on the Navajo Nation.

The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety are investigating the case.

Navajo Nation resident Isiah Terrell Billy who was found dead in Shiprock, N.M. in October 2020. The FBI is searching for those responsible. Photo Credit: FBI Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or go online at tips.fbi.gov.

Do you want FAST INTERNET? We need your opinion!

The City of Gallup is looking into creating a new high-speed broadband Internet network.

This survey only takes a few minutes.

Scan the QR codes with your phone or visit www.gallupnm.gov for the survey link.

RESIDENTS SCAN HERE

BUSINESSES SCAN HERE

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

11

NEWS

STATE & REGION

New Mexico leaders discuss American Rescue Plan ‘GAME CHANGERS’ FOR THE STATE Staff Reports

T

he U.S. House and Senate pa ssed the A mer ic a n R e s c ue Act of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package, on March 10, and New Mexico leaders wasted no time discussing what the ramifications of the package mean for the state. This discussion was held in an online roundtable on March 10.

W h i le most of t he d is cussion has been spent on items like the $1,400 stimulus payment for qualifying A mer ica ns a nd ex tension of u ne m ploy me nt i n s u rance, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., wanted to highlight the other parts of the Act that he believes are game changers for New Mexico.

“This is going to supercharge the already robust efforts of our governor and our state to vaccinate New Mexicans,” Heinrich said.

A crucial part of the act is $20 billion to allow the Biden Ad m i n i s t r a t ion t o i mpr ove t he pr o duc t ion , administration, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines nationwide. It also includes provisions to increase vaccine delivery to veterans and tribal communities.

This means an increase in the amount of COVID testing, genomic sequencing to stay ahead of new variants, expansion of contact tracing, and increases in the procurement of personal protective equipment.

“I n a ver y rea l way, I believe today is the beginning of the end for this pandemic,” Heinrich said.

Heinrich also highlighted the $31 billion that is being invested into Native tribes across the country.

“This piece of legislation is the single greatest investment in Indian Countr y in American history,” he continued. “We have to reduce the stark and incredibly persistent inequities in transm i s sion , ho s pit a l i z a t ion , and death rates [in Indian Country].”

12

Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.

Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M.

There w ill be about $1 bi l l ion f low i ng i nt o New Mex ica n t r ibe s, Hei n r ich said. The amount includes “unprecedented levels” of federal funding to increase access to clean water, electricity, broadband, and the basics that are underserved in many tribal communities.

The expansion of the child tax credit is another area of the Act that Heinrich said has not been discussed as much, which he added is enormous for New Mexico.

“We’re looking at nearly ever y ch i ld i n t he s t at e.

About 95 percent will benefit by expanding the child tax credit, taking it from $2,000 to $3,600 per child, and making those payments monthly,” Heinrich said.

The legislation will also allow New Mexico to safely reopen its schools, he continued. This is through $1.2 billion for K-12 schools to address the needs to get the schools open by covering sick leave, technology, and air filtration upgrades throughout the classrooms.

Hei n r ich h ig h l ig hted one more section of the Act meant to boost restaurants and other entities that were hit hard by the pandemic: $25 billion nationally in direct g r a nt s fo c u s e d on lo c a l businesses.

Heinrich then made one important plea to the public: “Please, New Mexico, file your taxes,” Heinrich said.

“That’s how the government is going to find you for these programs. So this year, whatever else you do, make sure you file your taxes.”

Sen. Ben Ray Lu já n, D-N.M., said he also believes t he leg i sl a t ion, wh ich i s now hea ded to P resident Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, is the biggest leap toward stopping the spread of COVID-19 and reopening school s, bu si ne s se s, a nd workplaces. “ The A mer ica n Rescue Plan makes strong investments in our hospitals, rural hea lth clinics, a nd India n Health Services. It includes billions of dollars for vaccines, testing, contact tracing, as well as resources to address health disparities in communities of color, tribal communities, and rural communities,” Luján said.

Rep. Teresa L eger Fernández, D-N.M., said the passage of the legislation is proof that the government is working.

“The House, the Senate, the President are responding to the promises made to the American people to rescue our countr y from the pandemic, and that’s what we’re doing,” she said.

Fer ná ndez spoke about the $2.5 billion from the legislation that is going to help the state, local, and tribal gover nments climb out of the crisis.

“I’ve talked to the mayors and local officials and tribal leader s, Republ ica n s a nd Democrats, and I’ve asked them ‘What do you need to address this crisis?’ And this plan answers their requests for direct payments, for help to open their fairgrounds and sma ll businesses. They’re ready to receive this lifeline

Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M. and put it to use,” Fernández said.

This result will also be seen in other states and communities, which Fernández believes will be a crucial step forward for the country.

“All Americans are going to benefit from this day,” she said.

G o v. M i c h e l l e L u j a n Grisham, D-N.M., reiterated that the passage of the legislation is what happens when a collective government is working together to ser ve the people who elected them.

“This is a day of incredible recognition,” she said. “This [legislation] is the best leadership out of a presidential administration showing that American people come first.”

She spoke about the boost the legislation will give to families who are either in d a nger of or h ave fa l len into poverty in the past four years.

“President Biden and Vice P re sident K a m a la Ha r r i s with the leadership of the Democrats in the House and the Senate, quite literally, declared war on poverty once and for all by creating universal benefits and lifeline and life-long assistance,” Lujan Grisham said.

Through the benefits of the legislation and the virtue of state leaders, Lu jan Grisham said this leads to about 25 percent of New Mexico families immediately being lifted out of poverty.

“There a re no words to de scr ibe t he i mpa c t t h a t has on a state that has long had extreme and persistent

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-N.M. p over t y,” s he c o nt i nue d .

“This is exactly the investment we have a lways deser ved, and we need now more than ever.

“It is a time not only for g reat celebr at ion, but t o make sure we cla r if y a nd talk to the individuals and families, telling them to file their tax returns and engage with their elected officials,” she said. “We are surviving this pandemic, but with the American Rescue Plan, we don’t just sur vive, we have the opportunity to rebuild, rega in, to read just. There isn’t a single working family in New Mexico who isn’t goi ng to benef it by t hese efforts. I am really honored to be able to thank this delegation for making sure we have the tools and resources to ensure this is the safest state in the country in our response to the pa ndemic and any other public health issue ever again.”

Lujan Grisham concluded by highlighting the benefits that will be provided by the investments to broadband, t r i ba l com mu n it ie s , a nd state schools and how they could impact New Mexico in the future and how the state could now compete with the U.S. and the world in each of those fields. “ T h is may be t he on ly opportunity to connect all of New Mexico once and for a l l,” Lu ja n Gr isha m sa id.

“New Mexico deserves to be competitive with the rest of the country and the globe, and New Mexico deser ves every opportunity to be that competitor.”

STATE & REGION

NEWS

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Earthweek: Diary of a Changing World Week ending Friday, March 5, 2021

By Steve Newman

Waning Stream The Gulf Stream is at its weakest in more than 1,000 years, which scientists say could curb its climate-moderating effects for Europe and disrupt the overall North Atlantic Ocean circulation. Several studies have linked the slowdown to climate change brought on by human activity. Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, a research team says it found the slowdown began about 1850, but has undergone a dramatic decline since the 1960s. “If we continue to drive global warming, the Gulf Stream System will weaken further — by 34 percent to 45 percent by 2100, according to the latest generation of climate models,” team member Stefan Rahmstorf said.

Sumatran Eruption Fa r wester n Indonesia’s Sinabung volcano erupted with 13 separate blasts within a single day, spewing ash thousands of feet into the sky of North Sumatra province. Nearby residents were forced to remain indoors to avoid the falling debris.

Antarctic Split An iceberg more than 20 times the size of Manhattan and nearly 500 feet thick has broken off from Antarctica’s Brunt Ice Shelf. The British Antarctic Survey said it was the largest calving there since 1917, but cannot be directly linked to climate change.

Warning signs of the split began last November when a chasm in the ice appeared and ripped toward another major crack 21 miles away. In January,

4.6

5.3 3.2

2.2

6.3 +109° Kédougou, Senegal

5.8 4.3 Niran Marian

-71° Vostok, Antarctica the chasm began to expand in that direction at about a halfmile a day until the separation occurred. While it is a huge chunk of ice, scientists say it is dwarfed by Iceberg A68a, which broke off from the Larsen C Ice Shelf in 2017 and recently threatened to collide with South Georgia Island.

Earthquakes Iceland’s Met Office says a swarm of tremors jolting the island’s Reykjanes peninsula probably means magma is building up there beneath a mountain just to the southwest of the capital, Reykjavik.

• A strong tremor in central Greece caused scattered damage and was felt in neighboring Balkan countries.

• Earth movements were also felt in southern Oman, Taiwan, south-central Alaska, California’s Simi Valley and western North Carolina.

residual radioactivity from the 1960s French nuclear tests in southern Algeria. Radiation protection expert Pierre Barbey of France’s University of Caen Normandy says he analyzed Saharan dust that fell on his car in the Alps during a recent episode and found it contained minute amounts of cesium-137 created by the blasts. While the radiation is now too weak to harm humans, Barbey says

the finding “does say a lot about the persistence of radioactive pollution.”

Carbon “Red Alert” Leading climate scientists warn that the promised moves to greener technologies to supply the world’s energy needs will not happen fast enough to stave off the climate catastrophes predicted if the world warms more than 2 degrees Celsius.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change says nations must cut their carbon emissions in half within the next 10 years to keep global heating within the 1.5-degree “safe” threshold. U.N. SecretaryGeneral António Guterres called the warning a red alert for our planet, adding that “it shows governments are nowhere close to the level of ambition needed to limit climate change.”

Tropical Cyclones C yc l o n e N i r a n spun up off the coast of Queensland, then quickly strengthened to Category-4 force. It was predicted to weaken and skirt New Caledonia as a Category-2 storm.

• Cyclone Marian churned the open waters of the eastern Indian Ocean.

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

Saharan Fallout As a huge plume of Saharan dust cast a pall over parts of Spain and France in early March, a leading expert warned that the desert particles can still contain

Saharan dust blew into parts of Europe during early March. Image Credit: ECMWF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

13

OPINIONS

Update on the effort to objectify the redistricting process in New Mexico

By Mike Daly Guest Columnist

R

ecent ly, I t a l ked about the effort by a bi-partisan commission to reform the lopsided political redistricting process in New Mexico, which is mandated every ten years after the national census. The short version is that the effort to mandate non-partisan redistricting has failed. The bill recommended by the Redistricting

Task Force in New Mexico was effectively killed when Democratic House Speaker Brian Egolf in a Zoom Meeting bashed the plan, saying it would undermine progressive priorities. Simply stated the Democrats hold the power in the legislature and they don’t intend to relinquish a bit of it.

The Democratic Party alternative, Senate Bill 15, removes the teeth contained in the Task Force recommendations.

While the public at large is the

big loser here, especially hard hit are Tribes and Pueblos that are often partitioned without regard to local political divisions.

Forever hopeful, the Task Force sponsor, New Mexico First, is asking to strengthen SB 15 by: En su r i ng a clea r a nd empowered role for New Mexico’s 23 sovereign Tribes and Pueblos and other communities disproportionately impacted by Voting Rights

Act issues throughout New Mexico’s history.

Making sure limitations in census data are acknowledged and the significant undercount of Tribes/Pueblos, rural, and frontier com mu nities a re addressed through the use of other credible data sources to enhance census data.

C r e a t i n g pr oh i bit io n s against protecting incumbents and partisan gerrymandering as included in two other redistricting bills, SB 199 and HB

Mike Daly 211; Requiring the legislature to document and justify amendments to redistricting maps.

We can be hopeful, but a strong reform effort is probably doomed at this point.

Federal American Rescue Plan is the relief New Mexicans need

By Sharon Kayne Communications Director New Mexico Voices for Children

A

LBUQUERQUE — Several advocacy organizations issued the following

statement regarding passage March 10 of the American Rescue Plan: “We applaud the passage of the American Rescue Plan.

This legislation is the kind of action we need now, when unemployed workers are still struggling to pay their bills,

millions of families are falling further behind on rent and [are] at risk of facing homelessness, and parents are worrying about how they will feed their children,” James Jimenez, executive director of New Mexico Voices for Children, said.

“We want to thank those

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members of our congressional delegation who worked hard to pass the American Rescue Plan and deliver the relief our state needs: Senators Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M. and Representatives Deb Haaland, D-N.M.-District 1 and Teresa Leger Fer na ndez, D -N.M.District 3,” he added.

Key elements of the COVID relief package that will help fa m i l ie s i n New Mex ico include: (1) increased housing assistance and an extension of increased SNAP food benefits to help people keep their homes and feed their families; (2) an extension of unemployment assistance; (3) tax credits and stimulus payments to help people meet urgent expenses,

Sharon Kayne, Communications Director for New Mexico Voices for Children such as rent, groceries, utility bills, and car payments; and

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OPINIONS

Families should come before corporate profits

By Jeanise B. Livingston Gallup

W

hat should have been a routine laparoscopic surger y to remove my gallbladder, changed my life. Forever. That’s why I’m speaking out about the need for the Legislature to pass a law to put patients before healthcare corporations.

W hen I went in for my operation, the surgeon made a mistake. He misidentified— and then severed—one of the ducts coming out of my liver.

But we didn’t know that at the time.

I went from the operating room to the intensive care unit and then back to the operating room for emergency surgery. No one knew what was wrong.

They opened me back up and cleaned out at least four liters of digestive fl uid that had spilled into my body cavity. They discovered the severed duct and hooked up my liver to a draining tube. After surgery, I was in a coma for about two weeks and my family was on an emotional roller coaster. I ended up on a ventilator. My family didn’t know if I would ever come home again.

Finally, I woke up. I had a row of staples 12 inches long down my abdomen. A huge scar remains.

Because of the original surgeon’s error, I had to have my internal organs reconstructed. It took months for me to recover. But my life has never returned to normal.

Even though everything

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was reconstructed, my liver is permanently and severely damaged. The devastation caused by that surgeon’s mistake puts me at continual risk for liver failure and needing a full liver transplant.

To this day I have to go back to the hospital every three months to get lab work done to check my liver. But, due to COVID, the appointments have not been regu l a r. I n fa c t , I h ave my appointments over the phone now because I am still scared to go to the hospital to get my labs.

When I go to my appointments, the doctor always tells me to look out for signs that my liver is giving me problems. I appreciate the reminders, but I don’t need them. I have to live with this fear daily. And my husband and ch ild ren look out for the

signs as well.

This is not the family I knew before I went in to have my ga l lbla dder removed.

We’re all so serious now. We live with fear. We worry about the liver transplant that I am sure to need one day.

The worst part for me is that I am not as strong as I was before. I feel weak all the time. I want to be the healthy, energetic mother that my kids deserve.

A nd I’m not alone. Too many New Mexicans—people right here in McKinley County – are harmed every year by hospital negligence and medical error.

New Mexico has a Patient Compensation Fund to help patients like me, who, due to medical malpractice, have su f fered h a r m a nd need expensive care for the rest of their lives. That fund can’t fi x

that hospitals are not held accountable, leaving injured patients to fi gure out the care they need on their own.

This year the New Mexico Legislature has a chance to fi x this problem. HB 75 will protect the Patient Compensation Fund and ensure that it is used to actually help patients—not to shield corporate hospitals.

HB 75 has already passed the New Mexico House of Representatives. It is now in the Senate. I urge our McK i n ley Cou nt y st ate Senator s to vote for th is important bill so that it can go on to the governor to become law.

In New Mexico, we value family. Passing HB 75 will show New Mexico families that we are valued—and that we are more important to our elected officials than faceless healthcare corporations.

Jeanise Livingston a liver or ease a child’s fear about their mom’s health, but it can help patients move for wa rd. Unfor tunately, a backroom deal made several years ago allows multi-billion healthcare corporations to manipulate the Patient C o m p e n s a t io n F u nd , s o

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15

COMMUNITY

The story of Saint Patrick (San Patricio) PATRON OF IRELAND, ENGINEERS, HERPETOLOGISTS FEAST DAY MARCH 17

By Sean Wells Contributing Artist

W

e have all enjoyed the green flair and parades of good ol’ Saint Paddy’s Day. But, we rarely stop to consider the saint behind the day, Saint Patrick of Ireland. Often depicted herding snakes off the green isle in a robust Bishop’s garb, his legends and his story have entertained and inspired generations.

But, does he deserve an entire holiday?

Although he is generally credited with driving the snakes from Ireland, the originally icy island was anthropologically shown to be without snakes and as an island, did not see the appearance of snakes until modern times. In fact, Ireland just recorded the first venomous snake bite ever, almost a year ago today! But, the crediting of the snake eradication is likely to

be a misunderstanding of some ancient text in which a pagan group affiliated with human sacrifice and Samhain, the dark harvest festival that served as the root for Halloween, was driven out by Saint Patrick and a small army.

The group was referred to as ‘snakes.’

He was born into wealth in Great Britain. He had some religious exposure since his father served as a deacon, although they were not a particularly religious family. At the age of 16, Patrick was taken by Irish pirates from the estate. He was enslaved as a shepherd, tending a flock.

Sad, lonely, and scared, he turned to his faith, with many hours to contemplate his life.

After six years in captivity, Patrick was visited by God who instructed him to leave Ireland.

He walked hundreds of miles to the coast and found passage

Sean Wells back to Britain and his family.

When he returned, he pursued the study of the Christian religion with vigor and eventually became a Bishop.

Soon, he was visited again by voices or angels encouraging him to return to Ireland which he did, serving the existing Christians and converting many

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to Christianity over a period of 40 years. His sermons were notoriously long and intense and legend says he once gave a sermon so extended, that his staff grew roots and an ash tree grew there to mark the spot.

Despite the fact that his captors were Irish and he was British, Patrick was well-loved by the Irish people. He wrote an article denouncing the British treatment of Irish Christians, referred to as the Letter to Coroticus. He also spoke to the people showing respect for their traditions, incorporating much Celtic and Irish symbology in his lectures.

In this image, he holds the Irish shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He also used the sun, a strong Celtic symbol, centered on the cross to create the variant cross now known as the Celtic Cross.

He was both brave and gentle and inspired a country to

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Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

embrace Christianity. Perhaps he didn’t drive out the snakes, but he certainly rang in much joy and hope! He died on March 17, 461A.D, which marks his Feast Day. Although he was never officially canonized by the Catholic Church, he remains much beloved and popularly recognized.

A Saint all over the world, he is a symbol of courage, faith, endurance, perseverance, forgiveness, and unity for Ireland and the world.

Eat cabbage and brisket, drink green beer and say a toast for Saint Patrick to keep the snakes at bay, whatever they be to you!

Saint Patrick is often shown in a green garb accented by white and gold. He is often depicted at the water’s edge, surrounded by the green fields and rocky cliffs of Ireland.

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COMMUNITY

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

17

Tonal imbalance sinks opioid addiction drama ‘Cherry’ SERIOUS TOPIC HANDLED WITH TOO MUCH FLASH

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

RATING:  OUT OF  RUNNING TIME: 142 MINUTES T h is featu re w i l l be available for streaming via Apple TV+ on March 12.

Based on the bestselling book of the same name by Nico Walker, Cherry is a drama that tackles the massive opioid-addiction problem plaguing the U.S. The movie boasts some major talent behind the camera with directors Anthony and Joe Russo, most famous for their work on Marvel features like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The filmmakers and cast certainly do their best to provide plenty of searing drama, but the end result feels far too slick and polished, also suffering from some tonal imbalances.

Cherry (Tom Holland) is a college student unhappy and disaffected by his future life prospects. His attitude changes for the better after meeting and falling for Emily (Ciara Bravo), but it’s a shortlived reprieve after she considers moving to another country.

Unsure of his own future, the

18

protagonist decides to enlist in the U.S. Army and is sent into a war zone. The movie depicts the trauma he experiences as well as its permanent effects on his psyche upon his return.

It also details his attempts at reconnecting with Emily and a growing drug addiction issue which ultimately leads him to rob banks in order to continue his habit.

The performers work their hardest to believably convey a gritty picture of modern life fi lled with personal tragedy.

The character of Cherry is forced to react to numerous horrific events and display addictive behavior as he spirals downward. It’s a meaty role for any actor. The suffering of his cohorts is also depicted, as well as their rash, panicked and sometimes unhinged actions as they fi nd themselves falling further and further into debt.

Amidst the grimness, a dealer named Pills & Coke (Jack Reynor) adds a hint of levity to the proceedings with his blunt observations about the behavior of his clients.

But oddly enough, the fi lmmakers don’t always choose the most appropriate cinematic techniques to capture all these hardships. In fact, the movie uses a steady barrage of unnecessary camera tricks throughout. The photography is sharp and impressive, but it feels as if

Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

Cherry (Tom Holland) shows a bank teller a note written on a dollar bill in an effort to rob a bank to pay for his opioid addiction in the movie “Cherry.” Photo Credit: Apple TV+

every other shot involves some kind of a visual tweak or effect.

There are shots that play with focus and others using eccentric lenses.

When Cherr y goes into ba sic t r a i n i ng, t here’s a s e q ue nc e w it h c a pt io n s appearing onscreen that look like something out of a comic book. One assumes that this was all done to keep the otherwise bleak story vibrant and exciting, but it ends up adding artifice to the proceedings.

And even though some of the attempts at humor do result in the odd laugh, just as many gags fall fl at. The movie does

have a running joke in which banks and other institutes are given amusingly broad, generic names that slowly become more negative and explicit. It’s funny at fi rst, but when events take a more dangerous turn, lives are at risk and we’re supposed to be concerned for the fates of these figures. So having sight gags clearly visible in the background doesn’t engage the viewer in the bigger emotional plight of the characters.

While the actors are solid, the overly f la shy v isua ls and jumbled tone often feel

incongruous and ill-advised.

The end effect certainly takes away any gravitas that the story intended about opioids and drugs taking hold and ruining the lives of everyday people.

Instead, the constant storytelling tricks serve as a distraction that frequently takes one out of the experience. Cherry has noble intentions, but its hyperkinetic approach to the story is overdone and undermines all the issues the movie is attempting to bring to light.

V ISIT: W W W. CINEMASTANCE.COM

COMMUNITY

ANIMAL SHELTER/ LIBRARY | FROM PAGE 6 accumulate enough money,” Strain said. “But yeah, we got a ways to go still. We have probably close to a million [dollars] now with other appropriations.”

Strain said there is now enough money for site acquisition and design, and the city will continue to apply and ask

WATER LINE | FROM PAGE 8 l i ne repl a cement proje c t would go out to bid in May, w it h con st r uc t ion beg i nning the last week or June or first week of July. It could be completed in August, at wh ich poi nt t he m i l l a nd overlay project could begin the following month.

R omero s a id t h i s pa rt icu la r water l i ne, wh ich serves about 25 houses, was insta lled in 1941. Pa r ts of it have been repaired over

the state for money.

Strain said the Balok Street site was chosen, because it is big enough for the expansion and has the infrastructure needed already in place.

“Now that we have a definite site, we can go to formal design and get a shovel-ready project,” he said.

Strain said he is pretty sure Huitt Zollars construction engineering company will be

used for the new shelter, since they are on contract and know all the particulars about the project.

He was unable to provide an educated guess on the estimated time frame for completion, but did say, “Realistically we’re looking about two to five years out.”

LIBRA RY GETS BUDGET ADJUSTMENT Oc t av i a Fel l i n P ubl ic

Library Director Tammi Moe told the Gallup City Council of the need for space, more meeting rooms, expanded services for youth, conference and group study rooms, more staff, and parking on Feb. 9.

On March 9, the council met to talk about budget adjustments to revenue and expenditures for the library in the amount of $10, 240.

The State of New Mexico

Department of Cultural Affairs awarded the city more than $8,000 to support library collections, staff salaries, staff training, library equipment and other operational expenses associated with the delivery of basic library services.

In addition, the city received a little over $2,100 of CARES Act funding to defray certain costs incurred by the library related to the pandemic.

the years, but now it needs replacing.

“I got here five years ago and we’re hustling to do as much a s we ca n, a s ex ped it iou sly a nd respon sibly a s we ca n,” Romero sa id.

“There’s still water lines in the area that have been in since 1929 that we’re looking at trying to replace. It’s a matter of tr ying to keep up w it h what we need to replace ... and trying to have the money to do it.”

The budget ad justment from the council on March

9 will not only speed up the timeline for the water line replacement, but also save t he publ ic work s depa r t ment the unnecessary hassle of tearing up a new and improved road, Romero said.

Robert Hamblen, building construction superintendent a nd a c t i n g publ ic work s director, reiterated the point made by Romero.

“Dennis is working with me to get this done, that way it doesn’t delay the mill and overlay a nd t hat way, we w ill be able to utilize the money that the state gave us,” Hamblen said.

He was referring to funds public works receives from

the state yearly — though the department can’t sit on the money forever.

“If we don’t end up using it, we’ll end up losing it,” Hamblen said.

P u bl ic work s s e c u r e d t he money l a s t yea r, but was not able to use it due to the way the economy was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The state ended up giving us an extension on last yea r’s g r a nt , so we were able to combine two grants — last year’s and this year’s — and we were going to be able to k nock out a tot a l of eight streets this fiscal year,” Hamblen said.

Hamblen said six streets in eastern Gallup would be paved before public works begins on Marguerite Franco a nd Wi l son Dr ive, a l lowi n g t he wa t er l i ne t o be installed first. The pav ing for both those roads should be completed w it h i n t wo weeks after the projects are started.

Romero esti mates t hat the water line project will sta r t in late June or ea rly July of this year and be completed by mid to late August.

Hamblen told Romero he was looking at beginning the road pavement project when the line is completed, around August.

A ention Medicare Beneficiaries Did your Medicare plan change this year? Call us now to make sure you are in the right plan. We also help beneficiaries who are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, such as new to Medicare, Medicare with Medicaid, Medicare with Low Income Subsidy (Extra Help), and those with Medicare who just moved into the area.

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You can also visit us online at www.ourmedicarestore.com or call 505-609-8226 to see if you qualify for extra benefits such as DENTAL, VISION, HEARING, FITNESS, TRANSPORTATION, AND OVER THE COUNTER PRODUCTS at li le or no cost to you!

Call for an Appointment!

(505) 247-3223 Marijuana Card Doctor Serving Gallup, NM And Surrounding Areas!

NEWS

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19

CLASSIFIEDS

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

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

2018 Toyota Rav4 32,600 miles Low Mileage with a Sunroof Priced at $25,195 Don’t forget to ask about Match Cash available for your Down Payment!

Ford C-Max Hybrid Only 13,000 miles! Like New!!

Comes with SiriusXM Radio Priced at $17,725

HELP WANTED CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE The Gallup Sun seeks a part-time customer service representative. Position is 25 hours per week with the opportunity to expand into a full-time position. Previous customer service and/or sales experience preferred. Looking for a positive, outgoing, and hard-working team player.

Must own a reliable vehicle.

Background and drug screening required for chosen candidate. Pay DOE. Send resume and cover letter to: gallupsun@gmail.com *** The Gallup Sun is hiring an independent contractor delivery driver. You must have a reliable vehicle, valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance.

Email resume or work history to gallupsuncirculation@gmail. com *** The Comfort Suites in Gallup 3940 E. Hwy 66 is accepting applications for housekeeping.

If interested please stop by to complete an application. *** NOW HIRING

2018 Ford Explorer XLT FWD 65,600 miles SiriusXM Radio and Power Seats Priced at $26,800 Gurley Motor Co. 701 W. Coal Ave, Gallup, NM (505) 722-6621 www.gurleymotorford.com

Vernon Hamilton Construction VHCC, LLC Part time Office Help with Phone and Computer Skills Applications can be picked up at: 4725 E. Historic Highway 66 between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday. *** Rollie Mortuary.

We believe in ideas.

We believe in passion.

We believe in dreams.

We believe in you.

www.nmhu.edu 20 Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

Front desk receptionist...

Starting pay $10.50 Must be multitasker * Organizes * Patient * willing to learn * Able to work with computers * be Productive * being able to work under pressure * some bookkeeping skills.

Apply in person.

Leave us a Review! *** IT Specialist The Eleventh Judicial District & Magistrate Courts is recruiting for an IT Specialist.

This position provides technology support and analysis in the areas of client, field and/or applications support. This position is based in Gallup, NM but will also support court locations in San Juan County.

Salary for this position is $62,015.20 annually, $29.815 p/ hr. For a full job description and to download the required applicant forms, please visit the Judicial Branch Career page at https://www. nmcourts.gov/careers.aspx.

Applications, may be emailed to www.11thjdchr@nmcourts. gov, faxed to 505-334-7762, or mailed to Human Resources, 103 S. Oliver Drive, Aztec NM 87410. Applications must be received by 5:00 pm on Monday, March 29, 2021.

LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the McKinley County Board of Commissioners will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

Among other items, the County Commission will consider the adoption of a Proclamation Declaring Extreme or Severe Drought Conditions Within the County and banning certain fireworks for the Cinco De Mayo and Independence Day firework sale periods. As part of this consideration, there will be a public hearing for the Commission to hear comments

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 regarding this issue and to receive a drought report.

Office and can be sent electronically upon request.

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 a.m. 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.

Auxiliary aides for the disabled are available upon request; please contact Janessa McMahon at (505) 722-3868 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to make any necessary arrangements.

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

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

Done this 3RD day of March 2021 McKINLEY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS /S/ Billy Moore, Chairperson Publication date: Gallup Sun March 12, 2021 *** LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Gallup Housing Authority will conduct its monthly Board of Commissioners meeting to be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 at 9:00 am MST. Meeting will be conducted at the Gallup Housing Authority, 203 Debra Dr. Gallup, New Mexico 87301.

A copy of the agenda and/or specific agenda items may be obtained at the Gallup Housing Authority office. This is a public meeting except for items to be considered in closed session. A general public comment period is allowed at the end of the business portion of the meeting.

Please be advised the Gallup Housing Authority will comply with all Federal and State COVID-19 protocols, including groups of no more than five [5] people in any given area, social distancing amongst attendee’s, and not allowing anyone who is sick or exhibiting signs of

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 21 CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 20 COVID -19 into the public meeting area. Documents are available in various accessible formats and interested parties may also participate by phone.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the Gallup Housing Authority at (505) 722-4388, at least (1) week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact the Gallup Housing Authority, if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed Gallup Housing Authority Gallup, McKinley County, New Mexico By:/S/ Alfred Abeita, Chairman of the Board Publish: Gallup Sun March 12, 2021 *** ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF MCKINLEY STATE IF NEW MEXICO In the Matter of the Estate Of BEVERLY GONZALES, Deceased.

No. D -1113-PB-2021-00010 NOTICE TO CREDITORS EDDY GONZALES has been appointed Personal

Representative of the Estate of BEVERLY GONZALES, 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.

Date: 03/08/2021.

EDDY GONZALES MASON & ISAACSON, P.A. By: James J. Mason Attorneys for Personal Representative 104 East Aztec Avenue Gallup, New Mexico 87301 (505) 722-4463 Publish: Gallup Sun March 12, 2021 March 19, 2021 March 26, 2021 *** Legal Notice Request for Proposals Public Notice is hereby provided that the GallupMcKinley County Schools is accepting competitive sealed proposals for: CAMPUS MASTER PLAN AND EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR CROWNPOINT HIGH SCHOOL AND NAVAJO

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PINE HIGH SCHOOL RFP-2021-33MA Commodity Code(s): 90666, 90607, 90652, 90966, 92471, 92537 As more particularly set out in the RFP documents, copies of which may be obtained by downloading from the GallupMcKinley County Schools eBidding platform website https://gmcs.bonfirehub.com A NON-MANDATORY PreProposal Conference will be held virtually on March 23, 2021 at 2:00 PM MDT. Please see the proposal documents as to how to request to attend.

Sealed proposals for such will be received until 2:00 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) on, April 6, 2021. 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.

The Gallup-McKinley County School Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive any formalities or minor inconsistencies, and/or cancel this solicitation in its entirety.

Dated the 10th Day of March 2021 By: /S/ Charles Long, President Board of Education Gallup-McKinley County School District No. 1 RFP ISSUE DATE: March 12, 2021 PUBLICATION DATES: March 12 & 19, 2021 (Gallup Sun) *** ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS MALONEY AVENUE WATELINE REPLACEMENT CITY OF GALLUP Formal Bid No. 2105 Notice is hereby given that the City of Gallup, New Mexico will receive ELECTRONICALLY submitted bids for construction of MALONEY AVENUE WATERLINE REPLACEMENT until the hour of 2:00 p.m., local time, Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at https://app. negometrix.com/buyer/3226.

Bids will be electronically opened, and publicly read aloud at the Office of the

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: _______ 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.

Procurement Manager via virtual conference/video calls or through other virtual means.

This project consists of installing approximately 2000 linear feet of new 8-inch AWWA C-900 DR18 PVC waterline. Work for waterline shall include fittings, appurtenances, trenching, bedding, backfilling, compaction, transfer of water services, fire hydrants, gate valves, and traffic control.

Sidewalk, curb and gutter, asphalt, and drivepad removal and replacement are also included.

This project is located in Gallup, NM on Maloney Avenue. This project runs from 2nd Street to 7th Street.

Plans, Specifications and Bidding Documents may be obtained from DePauli Engineering and Surveying, LLC, 307 S. 4th Street, Gallup, New Mexico 87301, (505) 8635440, upon deposit of $250.00, all of which will be refunded upon return of the documents within ten (10) days after bid opening. Plans, Specifications and Bidding Documents may also be examined and/ or downloaded at https://app. negometrix.com/buyer/3226 NOTE: The City of Gallup has transitioned to a new e-Bid/ RFx software powered by Negometrix. All solicitations

will be released electronically through Negometrix and responses from bidders must be submitted electronically through this online platform.

By using Negometrix, prospective bidders will be provided with all information regarding a bid including addendums and changes to the project requirements.

Negometrix is a completely free service for all respondents.

Prior to submitting a proposal, respondents are required to set up their free account with Negometrix. Register your company at Negometrix.com.

Only ELECTRONICALLY SUBMITTED BIDS will now be accepted; system will not accept bids submitted after due date and time.

Pre-Bid/Pre-Proposal Conferences, Bid Openings, and Pre-Construction Conferences will be held via conference/video calls or other virtual means until further notice. Details regarding virtual bid opening are provided within bid documents.

Dated this 10th day of March, 2021 By: /S/ Louie Bonaguidi, Mayor Classified Legal Column: Gallup Sun Publishing Date: Friday, March 12, 2021

Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

21

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MARCH 12 – MARCH 18, 2021 FRIDAY, March 12

REGISTER FOR VIRTUAL CRAFTS HANGOUT

Register to participate in OFPL’s March 13th afternoon of chatting and crafting on Zoom at ofpl.online by today. For more information: jwhitman@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291.

VIRTUAL FUN FRIDAY: WOMEN IN HERSTORY TRIVIA

4 pm on Facebook LIVE, @ gallup library. To celebrate Women’s History Month, join us for a live trivia event. Test your knowledge of Women’s History from historical figures to modern day pioneers. Download the Kahoot it! App from your play store or jump in on the website kahoot.it and watch on Facebook Live.

ON THE BOOKS: WOMEN’S HERSTORY MONTH

11 am on Facebook, @ galluplibrary, or YouTube at Octavia Fellin Public Library. to view episodes of On the Books: Women’s Herstory Month where we’re exploring Women’s History through authors and works in our collection. This week our focus is on Elizabeth Peratrovich.

SATURDAY, March 13

VIRTUAL CRAFTS HANGOUT

12 pm @ ofpl. online for an afternoon of chatting and crafting on Zoom! Virtually chat with other community members to exchange craft ideas, stories, and food recipes as we craft together through knitting, painting, sewing, drawing, and more.

VIRTUAL SHOW OPENING; SEVENTH ANNUAL YOUTH ART SHOW

3 pm LIVE on the @gallupARTS Facebook page.

Celebrate nine teachers and two independent students representing 11 elementary, middle, and high schools from across the Gallup area.

PRE PI DAY PIE SALE

10 am-2 pm or until they are sold out. @Angela’s Café con Leche (201 E. Highway 66). Reserve your pie at (505) 297-9515. $15 per pie (This year only … No single slices!) . All pies donated by local restaurants, bakers, and bakeries. Sponsored by The Ups and Downs Team; American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

COVID VACCINATIONS – SECOND DOSE

9 am-4 pm COVID-19 vaccinations @ UNM-Gallup (705 Gurley Ave.). Second dose only for those who received

their first dose on Jan. 30.

Please have your medical record number available.

For more information (505) 722-1753 MONDAY, March 15

BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK

The Library is celebrating Valentine’s Day by playing matchmaker! You shouldn’t always judge a book by its cover. Put your trust in fate and choose a book without knowing the title. Requests for blind dates can be made using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online. Maybe you will fall in love! Place a request for a blind date with a book starting Feb. 1 and then rate it by filling out the “Rate the Date” card included with each book.

Return the card to the book drop by March 15 and be entered in a drawing to win a prize. Post a picture with your blind date on our Facebook or Instagram pages @galluplibrary for a second entry into the drawing.

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

SELF-CARE MONDAYS

12 pm on OFPL’s Facebook or YouTube @galluplibrary to make DIY self-care products. This week we will create aromatherapy candles. Ingredient lists for each product are available at ofpl.online. Email jwhitman@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

CREATIVE CORNER

4 pm @ YouTube @gallup library. Create your own art using materials found around your home! Courses are geared towards individuals approximately 15-years of age and older.

Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, firstserved basis. This week we will focus on Artist Trading Cards. Artist Trading Cards are miniature pieces of art that are traded by artists around the world. Learn how to make your own ATC with an interactive workshop inspired by Courtney Cerruti’s CreativeBug class. Need inspiration?

Complete the optional OFPL ATC mini-challenges and win a prize. Creative Corner Episodes are available for viewing after the premiere event on YouTube, @galluplibrary. For more information: jwhitman@gallupnm.gov; (505) 863-1291.

TUESDAY, March 16

REGULAR COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

9 am-12 pm This virtual meeting will be held @ facebook.com/mcoemgallup/

22 Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

CALENDAR

EVERYBODY IS TALKING TUESDAYS!

4 pm YouTube, @galluplibrary. In honor of Women’s History Month, we are talking about the amazing women in our lives. Submit a 3-5 minute video about the influential women in your lives and join the creative genius of OFPL. Watch out for talks about books, authors, movies, food, making, and technology from our talented neighbors. Join us on YouTube, @galluplibrary.

Submissions can be sent to libtrain@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

TECH SHORT TUESDAYS

5 pm @galluplibrary. for “How to” tech shorts. It is tax season and the perfect time to learn where to get forms and tips for getting tax help. For more information: libtrain@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

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 doineedacovid19test.com.

WEDNESDAY, March 17

IRISH DANCE DEMONSTRATION

1:30 pm on Facebook @ galluplibrary or YouTube at Octavia Fellin Public Library for an Irish Dance Demonstration featuring step instructions for you to learn some moves yourself! For more information: childlib@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

TECH TIME ONLINE: (LIVESTREAM) HOMEWORK HELP USING HELPNOW

Need help with homework?

Let us help you find the tools you need to be successful using El Portal’s HelpNow feature. Join us LIVE to ask questions and get answers instantly.

CHILDREN’S LIBRARY BRANCH WEEKLY EVENTS OFPL EVERY CHILD READY 2 READ

11 am Visit YouTube, @ gallup library to view episodes of OFPL’s Every Child Ready to Read where we focus on the five practices of early literacy: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. This week we will focus on Descriptions.

THURSDAY, March 18

WE READ, WE TALK BOOK CLUB

6 pm Zoom discussion.

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones is the topic. The story follows four American Indian men after a disturbing event from their youth puts them

in a desperate struggle for their lives. For more information: bmartin@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291.

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 doineedacovid19test.com.

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 focus on Clothespin Dinosaurs craft.

ONGOING COLLABORATIVE ART MURAL

Create with other community members to make a beautiful hanging mural for OFPL. All of March receive one six-inch square Mandala coloring page. Return your coloring page by April 9 at 5 pm and watch a time-lapse video of our collaborative art mural being pieced together. Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, first-served basis using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online while supplies last. For more information email jwhitman@ gallupnm.gov; (505) 8631291.

SPRING INTO STEM BINGO

Unleash your inner scientist with all the supplies you need for 12 different STEM activity kits available at OFPL using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online.

Complete and return the bingo card to the Main Library by April 30 at 5 pm for a prize! For more information email childlib@gallupnm.gov; (505) 863-1291.

VIRTUAL ESCAPE ROOM 2

All Day. The time for another virtual escape room is here! Access our digital escape room collection on our website http://ofpl.online or through social media @ galluplibrary. Escape Room 2 will be posted beginning Jan. 2. Registration is not required, play anytime at home. For more information: libtrain@gallupnm. gov; (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 505-726-4285 or go to bbbsmountainregion.org/volunteer to sign up today.

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) 863-1291 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 11 am-5 pm. and will offer curbside pick-ups only from 12 pm - 4 pm. Saturday pick-ups must be scheduled in advance. There will be Saturday curbside pick-ups only from 12 pm-4 pm and must be scheduled in advance. New requests will not be processed on Saturdays. Please allow 48 hours for the fulfillment of all library requests. Call (505) 863-1291 to schedule a Saturday pick-up and for reference services.

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).

Closed on Sundays. Rapid testing is not available.

RMCHCS COVID-19 VACCINE DISTRIBUTION

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services is making appointments for individuals in Phase 1B of the vaccine distribution plan.

For detailed information call (505) 488-2684; https:// bit.ly/2M0n2bV

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 23 NEWS / CALENDAR

CALENDAR | FROM PAGE 22

Elders and high risk – By appointment only – (505) 786-6270.

NAVAJO IHS COVID-19 VACCINE SCHEDULE

10am-3 pm @Pueblo Pintado Clinic (M-Th) Elders and high risk – By appointment only – (505) 655-3254

8:30 am-4:30 pm @Chinle Comprehensive Health Care Facility (Mon.-Fri.) Drive-thru first and second doses of Moderna vaccine; Pfizer second doses. Ages 16 and over.

8:30 am-4:30 pm @ Piñon Health Center (Mon.-Fri.) Drive through; First/second doses of Moderna vaccine, ages 18 and over; Second doses of Pfizer vaccines, ages 16 and over.

DWI REPORT | FROM PAGE 10 he found the suspect vehicle.

As he drove up, Etsitty saw the driver open the door and appear to vomit.

RESCUE PLAN | FROM PAGE 14 (4) improved access to affordable health coverage for people earning low incomes and middle-class families.

“Two of the provisions that we are the most excited about are the monthly child allowances, which are expected to cut child poverty in half, and the $39 billion investment in the nation’s child care infrastructure, which will help our small businesses, so parents can begin heading back to work,” Jimenez said.

“The package also includes $31.2 billion in aid for our

he 2021 Developer of the Year Award has been given to Michael Sage, Deputy Director of the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation at the NM IDEA Annual Membership Meeting, Feb. 17.

Sage was recognized for his advocacy for struggling McKinley County businesses during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. He helped save more than 125 manufacturing jobs. He also assisted the City of Gallup in efforts to obtain grant resources and led an initiative to create a new industrial

Michael Sage, winner of the 2021 NM IDEA Developer of the Year Award. Photo Credit: Courtesy Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation

Et sit t y t u r ned on h i s unit’s emergency lights and approached the suspect vehicle from the passenger side.

He made contact with the driver, Wayne Lucero, 60, of Grants, who said he was leaving

McKinley Paper Mill and traveling back home.

A s he s p oke, E t s it t y observed Lucero slurred his speech, had bloodshot eyes, and could not maintain his balance.

There was also an open bottle

of Corona beer in the front cup holder.

Lucero agreed to take the standard field sobriety tests, but failed. He was placed under arrest and transported to McKinley County Sheriff’s

Office for the breath test.

After posting two samples of .18, Lucero was transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI and having an open container.

nation’s Native American communities and Tribes, making it the largest investment the federal government has ever made in the country’s Native people,” he added.

“We a re t ha nk f u l t hat Senators Heinrich and Lujan and Congresswomen Haaland and Leger Fernandez heeded the call from New Mexicans to advocate for more inclusive relief for all our families,” Marian Mendez Cera with El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos sa id. “More mixed status immigrant families are included in this relief package and much-needed funding for our state and

municipal governments to help New Mexicans weather the pandemic and revitalize our economy.

“That said, many essential workers and families were still excluded and so we will continue to work with our state and local governments to ensure that money is set aside for those essential workers who are on the frontlines of the pandemic yet continue to fall through the cracks,” she pointed out.

The state and local governments will also see fiscal relief that will help restore jobs for teachers, firefighters, and other critical public employees, prevent further layoffs and cuts to core services like education and health care, and provide assistance to people who have been hit hardest by the

pandemic and recession.

“Our faith traditions remind us that people, no matter their gender, income, race, or immigration status, have inherent dignity,” Abraham Sanchez with NM CAFé said. “This relief package ensures that our government not only addresses but begins to restore our public health system and provides robust relief to those suffering the most.

“We are grateful for the leadership of our Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan for lifting up all New Mexicans. We look forward to continuing to work with them as well as our state and local elected officials to ensure those families who were still excluded are part of local recovery efforts. We must not leave anyone behind,” he concluded.

“This plan, combined with the tax bill making its way through the state legislature and the state-level relief packages that have already been passed, it’s (sic) clear that lawmakers are not just putting families and small businesses first, they’re also centering [on] racial justice and equity in many of their policies,” Jimenez said “But, while the American Rescue Plan provides muchneeded relief, it’s also temporary. As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID19 public health and economic crisis, it has become increasingly clear that economic recovery isn’t going to happen overnight, particularly for people of color, who have been hit the hardest by both the pandemic and the recession,” Jimenez said.

“We have more work to do to build a more equitable economy that works for everyone. We look forward to working with our congressional delegation to enact permanent policies that will reduce the longstanding inequities that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health a nd economic cr ises,” he concluded.

10 am-3 pm @ Thoreau Clinic (M-F) Elders and high risk – By appointment only – (505) 862-8761 8 am-4 pm @Gallup Indian Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic (M-F) Ages 65 and over and ages 16 and over with chronic medical conditions – By appointment only.

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

STAY UPDATED FIND US ON FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/Gallupsun

CALENDAR

Staff Reports

cluster in Gallup related to the development of driverless vehicles.

The Developer of the Year Award acknowledges the outstanding efforts of a person who spearheaded a major project that relocated, consolidated or expanded in New Mexico during the preceding 12 months. It is also given to a person who prepared the community for economic growth in a unique way.

NM IDEA awards are given to individuals and organizations to encourage, recognize, a nd promote outsta nding achievements and professionalism in the field of economic development.

8:30 am-4:30 pm @ Tsaile Health Center (Mon.-Fri.) By appointment only. (928) To post a nonprofit or 724-3639 8:30 am-3:45 pm @Crownpoint Healthcare Facility (T, W, Th)

Michael Sage gets NM IDEA Award

T

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Gallup Sun • Friday March 12, 2021

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24 Friday March 12, 2021 • Gallup Sun

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