Gallup Sun • March 4, 2022

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VOL 8 | ISSUE 362 | MARCH 4, 2022

RAISING THE GRADE SENATE BILL 1

GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

PED Secretary Kurt Steinhaus

INCREASING MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY LEVELS $ $ LEVEL 1: 40,000  50,000 $ $ LEVEL 2: 50,000  60,000 $ $ LEVEL 3: 60,000  70,000

Governor signs landmark education-friendly bills. Story Page 3

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Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

NEWS

NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

Lujan Grisham enacts historic raises for NM teachers

Staff Reports

S

A N TA F E – G o v.

Michelle Lujan Grisham wa s joined by educators, students and legislators as she signed multiple pieces of priority legislation into law strengthening the state’s educator pipeline and building up New Mexico’s public education system for students, families and education professionals March 1.

THE HEADLINERS S e n a t e B i l l 1, w h ic h increases the minimum salaries by $10,000 for all three tiers of teachers. Coupled with 7 percent raises in the budget, New Mexico teachers will be the highest paid in the region.

(Sponsors: Sen. Mimi Stewart, Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill,

5 NEWS

ELECTION RESULTS Sarah Piano wins District 3

Rep. Debra Sariñana) House Bill 73 shortens the amount of time teachers must wait to return to the classroom to work after retirement, helping to address the state’s teacher shortage. (Sponsors: Rep. Joy Garratt, Rep. Phelps Anderson, Rep. Ryan Lane) Hou s e Bi l l 13, wh ich increases the stipend for resident teachers, provides stipends for mentor teachers involved in the state’s teacher residency program and requires teachers who go through the program to work in the same district for three years – providing a more stable base of educators in rural areas. (Sponsors: Rep. Debra Sariñana, Rep. Joy Garratt, Sen. William Soules, Sen. Mimi Stewart, Rep. Ryan Lane) Senate Bill 36 increases employer contributions to the

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educational retirement fund, ensuring the fund remains solvent and decreases teacher contributions, allowing teachers to take more money home.

(Sponsors: Sen. Mimi Stewart, Rep. Natalie Figueroa) “New Mexico cannot fully realize a cradle-to-career educational system that lifts up every student and family without supporting our educators,” Lujan Grisham said. “This session, we made enormous strides in demonstrating that we are a state that respects and values these professionals who make a difference in the lives of our children every single day. This is an excellent place to build from, and we will continue to use every avenue to build up New Mexico schools, students, families and teachers.”

Gallup-McKinley County

Schools Superintendent Mike Hyatt lauded the governor for signing off on the bills, and called it a step in the right direction in resolving some ongoing litigation. “ T he Ga l lup -McK i n ley County Schools Boa rd of Education changed the educational landscape in New Mexico as a plaintiff in the on-going Yazzie-Martinez litigation,” Hyatt said. “GMCS has consistently advocated for additional funding for students who are at risk and sounded the alarm about the lack of educational funding in New Mexico.”

Hyatt empha sized that GMCS students a nd sta ff deserve to be treated fairly and he looks forward to implementing these salary increases to recruit and retain highly qualified staff at GMCS. “GMCS celebr at e s t he

ED-FRIENDLY BILLS PASSED House Bill 57, which allows PED to use data reported in FY20 instead of FY22 to calculate the transportation distributions for FY23. This is a one-time fix to hold the transportation formula harmless due to the pandemic.

HB 119, which provides for an additional state distribution for school districts levying the Public School Capital Improvements Tax. HB 43, which authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to make loans to charter schools for renovation, construction, purchase or expansion of a charter school facility or to pay off charter school lease-purchase agreements through a new Charter School Facility Revolving Fund. signing of Senate Bill 1 from the recent legislative session, which is an on-going move in the right direction to resolve this ongoing litigation.”

According to New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, in July 2018, a state district court ruled in the consolidated Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico lawsuit that the state is violating the constitutional rights of students and has not adequately invested in public education nor adopted the educational instruction and programs.

Meanwhile, Public Education Secretar y Kur t Steinhaus said the bills the governor signed March 1 sends a loud, clear message that New Mexico values and supports professional educators.

“We are fortunate to have an executive and a Legislature that are willing to invest in this precious resource because they understand how vital great teachers are to student academic achievement and well-being,” he said.

WHAT’S INSIDE …

CAPITAL OUTLAY Government money funds Gallup projects

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TWO HOMICIDES FBI needs help solving the cases of two murduered men

14 15 SUMMER-READY The return of key events after COVID hiatus

MOVIE REVIEW 'The Batman' hits theaters March 4"

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

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Governor caps interest rates on storefront loans Staff Reports

S

A N TA F E – G o v.

Michelle Lu ja n Grisham signed Hou s e Bi l l 132 on Ma rch 1, refor m i ng predator y lending practices by lowering the cap on small loan interest rates from 175%

Gallup Sun Publishing, LLC Publisher Babette Herrmann Office Manager Mandy Marks Design Vladimir Lotysh Contributing Editor Cody Begaye Correspondents Molly Ann Howell Rachelle Nones Rachel Pfeiffer Holly J. Wagner Photography Cable Hoover Ana Hudgeons Ryan Hudgeons Knifewing Segura On the Cover Teachers, educational administrators celebrated the passage of landmark legislation, including a teacher raise. File photos.

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

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to 36%.

“As we continue to grow our economy and create quality jobs for New Mexicans across the state, protecting New Mexico consumers rema ins cr itica lly impor ta nt,” Lu ja n Gr isha m sa id.

“After many years of effort by advocates a nd legislators, I am glad to finally sign this legislation into law and deliver common-sense protections to vulnerable New Mexicans in rural and urban communities statewide.”

Sponsored by Rep. Susan Her r er a , S p e a ker of t he Hou s e Br i a n Egol f, R ep.

Joy Ga r r at t , Rep. Phelps Anderson, and Rep. Daymon Ely, the legislation enacts a 3 6 p ercent m a x i mu m rate of interest chargeable under the New Mexico Bank

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Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

I n s t a l l ment L oa n Ac t of 1959 a nd the New Mexico Small Loan Act of 1955, limiting such loans to the same maximum annual percentage per mitted by the U.S. Department of Defense for active-duty members of the military.

“This is going to make a real difference in the lives of New Mexicans who struggle to make ends meet. By capping these interest rates, we can stop the debt trap and help more families get a head,” Egol f sa id. “ T h is historic achievement is the result of years of hard work

by Representative Herrera and other champions of our working families.”

The legislation a lso increases the maximum loan size from $5,000 to $10,000.

Speaker of the House Senator Brian Egolf

GALLUP SUN ARCHIVES Effective June 24, 2016, ALL Gallup Sun *archives (past issues) will be mailed.

Must provide exact release date and mailing address.

Send info. and check or money order for $2.00 to: Gallup Sun PO Box 1212 Gallup, NM 87305 *Based on availability.

NEWS

Sarah Piano wins District 3 election

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

S

arah Piano is currently the regional director for the nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region, but soon she’ll be adding another title to her roster.

On March 1, Piano won the Gallup District 3 election, capturing 65 percent of the vote.

In an interview with the Sun, Piano said she was feeling anxious the entire day of the election, especially before the results came in.

“Of course I wanted to win, I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t want to win, but I was very anxious throughout the day,” Piano

Dist. 3 City Councilor contender Julia Azua

Dist. 3 City Councilor-elect Sarah Piano

said. “You just never know, and my opponent worked hard as well so you don’t know what’s going to happen. It was kind of a moment of relief to know the final answer, but then [I’m]

obviously super excited for this opportunity.”

The unofficial results reported in the evening of March 1 declared that Piano won with 356 votes while Azua had 188.

DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCILOR CITY OF GALLUP – DISTRICT 1 (Vote for 1) Precincts Reported: 0 of 9 (0.00%) Total Times Cast: 66/0 N/A Candidate Party Total LINDA M. GARCIA 60 Total Votes 60 Total Unresolved Write-In 0

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JAMES

MAIORANO FOR

SHERIFF

Paid for by the Committee to Elect James Maiorano III

y Current Undersheriff of McKinley County y 21 years of law enforcement experience y McKinley County resident for 30+ years

Azua commended Piano on her success and offered her support.

“I will definitely work with and support Sarah,” Azua said.

“She’s got a long road ahead of her to build her experience portfolio as a city council member and I anticipate she’s going to need a lot of active community members to help her be successful. So I will support her in any way that I can.”

Azua said she isn’t done with her mission to help Gallup. She’s going to get involved with some committees to help improve the city. She noted that health care is still one of her priorities.

In a previous Sun article published on Feb. 18, Piano described some of her goals for

her city council term. She said she wants to work on strengthening the relationship between the city, county and tribal governments, increasing transparency with decision making around city projects and finding new funding opportunities to support infrastructure projects in Gallup.

Additionally, she would make supporting small businesses and retaining police officers a priority.

Piano praised Azua for her hard work during the race.

“I want to say that I feel like we ran a really clean race and I’m very proud of both of us because we wanted to help the community…,” Piano said.

Piano’s city council term will begin on April 1.

DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCILOR CITY OF GALLUP – DISTRICT 3 (Vote for 1) Precincts Reported 0 of 7 (0.00%) Total Times Cast: 54/0 N/A Candidate Party Total JULIA AZUA 188 SARAH ELIZABETH PIANO 356 Total Votes: 544 Unresolved Write-In 0

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FULLY ENDORSED BY CURRENT SHERIFF, RON SILVERSMITH NEWS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

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The money train is coming to Gallup IN THE FORM OF CAPITAL OUTLAY

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

M

oney makes the world go around, as the old saying goes – and as the second session of the 55th New Mexico Legislature ended – money was on the minds of local legislators.

They a re now back to explain how the money will be spent. The session began on Jan. 18 and ended Feb. 17.

“These 30 -day sessions a re fa st a nd f u r iou s a nd they’re all about budget,” Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, explained during the Feb. 22 Gallup City Council meeting.

“At the end of the day the only reason we should be there based on the Constitution is the general appropriation act.”

As Lundstrom said, budget concerns were the focus of the legislative session.

Brandon Howe, a planner with the Northwest New Mexico Council of Governments, told

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NNMCOG Planner Brandon Howe

Mayor Louis Bonaguidi

Representative Patty Lundstrom

the council which projects the NNMCOG had on tap.

The NNMCOG submitted nine local projects for capital outlay funding. Lundstrom sa id McK i n ley Cou nt y received about $16 million in capital outlay. Capital outlay funds are used to build, improve, or equip physical property that will be used by the public.

Howe fi rst told the council that the city did not receive a ny d i rect capit a l outlay funding for the water well construction project. Still, it

did receive $8 million from the general appropriations bill.

T h e G e n e r a l Appropriations Act (House Bill 2) includes education, public safety, and infrastructure funding.

Next on Howe’s list was the east Nizhoni Boulevard improvements.

“We weren’t able to secure any funding for that project, but we do have a couple of applications in the works, so we have a plan of attack and a strategy to get that budget funded,” Howe said.

According to the city’s website, the project will consist of three phases. Phase 1 includes East Nizhoni Boulevard and Second Street. This phase will reconfi gure the intersection and relocate turn signals and traffic lights.

Phase 2 will include the E a s t Ni z ho n i B ou le v a r d and College Drive intersection. The improvements will include adding more lanes, new turn lanes, and relocating traffic lights.

Phase 3 will see the addition of new curbs and gutters and getting the sidewalks up to code with the ADA guidelines.

According to the city’s website, the project will cost over $3.7 million.

Meanwhile, the state did not fund direct capital outlay for the new senior living center, but Howe said the project was listed in the general obligation bond bill. General obligation bonds are repaid through property taxes and voted on during elections.

Howe said the general obligation bill should cover about $5.4 million of the new senior living center cost. In a previous interview with the Sun, Mayor Louie Bonaguidi said the new center would cost as much as $7 million.

A d d i t i o n a l l y, H o w e explained that the general obligation bond applications are starting back up again, a nd t hat t he NW N MCOG would be working with the city staff to put together an application to get the remaining funding needed.

Another project that the city needs funding for is the re-turfi ng of parks and sports fields.

“We’ve secured $350,000 from the legislators [for the

Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

turf],” Howe said. “One of the things we’ve talked about before this is kind of leveraging those funds with the land and water conservation fund and hopefully securing an additional $250,000 to complete more replacements of the turfs.”

Howe told the council that the regional animal shelter project could get $150,000 from capital outlay once the governor signs off on it. West Aztec Avenue storm drainage improvements received $100,000 in capital outlay, and the Gallup Cultural Center received $175,000. The Gallup Police Department will be getting $95,000 to purchase police vehicles.

Next, Howe then turned to the junior funding requests.

Advent u re Ga l lup a nd Beyond is going to receive $105,000 to develop an outdoor recreation plan. The money will also be used to implement their strategic plan.

In a previous city council meeting back in September, AGB said the recreation area would be on the north side of Gallup. It would cover the land east of the Gallup Flea Market and west of the Gallup OffHighway Vehicle Park.

T he McK i n ley Cou nt y Domestic Violence Shelter for Battered Families will receive $60,000 in operational funds, and the Four Corners Detox Center will be getting $2 million to help construct their new building.

Before he concluded his presentation, Howe warned that all of these aforementioned entities may not be receiving the amounts listed.

“Of cou r se, t he governor still needs to review and approve the bill, so some of these might get [struck] out,” Howe said.

After Howe’s presentation, Lundstrom took over describing the important aspects of the legislative session to the council.

One thing she highlighted was the money that would be going towards economic development.

For example, Gallup is slated to receive $400,000

MONEY TRAIN | SEE PAGE 7 NEWS

Luján back to work after suffering stroke Staff Reports

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A SH I NGTON, D.C. – U. S .

Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., in gratitude for the prayers and well wishes for his recovery, returned to the United States Senate today, getting back to work for the people of New Mexico following his medical emergency.

Retaking his seat in the Senate Committee

on Com merce, Science a nd T r a n s por t at ion, t he Senator voted to advance President Biden’s highly qualified nominees to the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in addition to taking important votes on the Senate Floor.

“It is the greatest honor of my life to represent New Mexico in the United States Congress,” Luján said.

Luján said the senate has several important matters on its docket – from confirming the first Black woman to the Supreme Court to lowering costs for working families.

“I want to thank my constituents, my family, my staff, and my Senate colleagues for their continued love and support.

With this support and by God’s grace, I am back in the Senate and eager to get the job done for New Mexicans,” he said in a news release.

Senator Ben Ray Luján

Will HB 95 make it easier to sign up for insurance?

PROPONENTS BELIEVE SO Staff Reports

S

A N TA F E — G ov.

Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 95 March 2, which makes fi nding and enrolling in quality affordable health coverage easier for New Mexicans. “The Easy Enrollment Act,” sponsored by Representative Liz Thomson, Senator Liz Stefanics, and Senator Brenna McKenna, gives uninsured New Mexicans an easy on-ramp to health coverage through the state income tax system.

“This legislation will result in more New Mexicans enrolling in affordable health insurance – a win for families and communities around the state,” Lujan Grisham said. “Many New

MONEY TRAIN | FROM PAGE 6 from the state to help plan and develop the 100 th Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, which takes place Aug. 4-14.

The city will also be getting $300,000 for Red Rock Park expenditures. Although this money will not be coming from capital outlay funds, but rather from the New Mexico Econom ic Development Department.

L u nd s t r om e x pr e s s e d ent hu sia sm t hat t he U.S. Department of Transportation will spend $25 million for the NEWS

Mexicans are unaware that they qualify for quality coverage, and streamlining the enrollment process means a healthier New Mexico.”

New Mexico residents would be able to start the enrollment process by checking a box on their state income tax return.

Starting next year, taxpayers will have the option to give the state tax agency permission to share information used to assess eligibility for low-cost or no-cost coverage with agencies that oversee health coverage programs, like Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace, beWellnm.com.

T he Hu m a n S e r v ic e s Department will assess eligibility and contact uninsured individuals to provide information

about their coverage options, increasing accessibility for all participants.

“Easy Enrollment is good government in action,” said Stephanie Schardin Clarke, Secretar y of New Mexico Ta xation a nd Revenue Department. “It will remove obstacles for health insurance coverage for vulnerable New Mexicans.”

New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal said many uninsured New Mexicans simply don’t know that they qualify for no-cost or low-cost health coverage. “ T h a n k s t o t he E a s y Enrollment Act, connecting with enrollment assistance could now be as easy as checking a box on the state income

tax form,” Toal said. “I commend Governor Lujan Grisham, Representative Liz Thomson,

and the State Legislature for prioritizing this important coverage initiative.”

rural infrastructure accelerator grant program. The grant program is an effort to promote rural communities and any infrastructure projects they may have regarding transportation.

“This came out of this community as a result of [the city’s] autonomous vehicle work,” Lundstrom said.

Lundstrom said the city has been a leader in the autonomous vehicle frontier.She credited the Deputy Director of t he Ga l lup E conom ic Development Cor poration, Michael Sage, for pushing for a center in Gallup where the vehicles could be tested.

In a previous city council meeting, Sage explained why Gallup would be a great location for the autonomous vehicle testing, pointing out its proximity to Interstate 40 and the railroads.

Another bill that Lundstrom wanted the council to take note of was House Bill 163, which retains the Hold Harmless tax exemption. To explain, Hold Harmless is a tax bill that includes a child income tax credit. It also eliminates a tax on social security benefits, exempts military retirement income from state income tax, and stops taxes on food.

Ga l lup’s Cit y Ma na ger Maryann Ustick showed her support for HB 163.

“When I heard that the Hold Harmless bill passed, I didn’t know what to say or do because we have been fighting for that since the day I walked in the door,” Ustick said. “Mark Fleisher took everything that we talked about, planned, and strategized over the seven or eight years and he put it all in one bill and he got it done. It’s the most amazing thing I have ever seen.”

Mayor Louis Bonaguidi concluded the meeting by saying some encouraging words about how far Gallup has

come in recent years.

“Over the last 30 years we’ve lost For t Wi ngate, we’ve lost coal companies, we’ve lost more and more and more,” Bonaguidi said. “We’ve hit rock bottom, so I think at this point we’re going to be going up, and I think this is the fi rst year basically we were successful.”

He declared that the legislative session had a very positive outlook for Gallup.

“We’ve been damn successful and now all we need is the governor to sign off on it,” Bonaguidi said. “I think the next few years are defi nitely going to be successful.”

NM Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

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NEWS

PUBLIC SAFETY

WEEKLY DWI REPORT Staff Reports Featured DWI Regina Bee Jan. 23, 5:02 pm Aggravated DWI (Fourth)

Gallup Police stopped a vehicle swerving across Aztec Avenue, which led to Regina Bee, 41, of Ga llup, being arrested for her fourth DWI

offense.

Officer Albert Jarad was traveling westbound near the intersection of Aztec Avenue and Second Street when he pulled behind a black Nissan Altima at a traffic signal.

While the light was still red, the Altima pulled forward and continued on Aztec Avenue.

Jarad began following the Altima, which then stopped at a green light before continuing on its path.

The Altima continued on Aztec Avenue, eventually driving over the median line without activating its turn signals twice. Jarad ran the vehicle’s license plate through Metro Dispatch and learned its registration and insurance had both expired.

Jarad activated his unit’s emergency lights and pulled the Altima over near 950 Aztec Ave. He met the driver, Bee, and asked for her identification and fi nancial papers twice, but

was told she did not have any of them.

W h i le wa it i ng for t he requested documents, Jarad observed Bee show signs of intoxication, including bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. Bee denied drinking any alcohol prior to driving, and stated she was going home from her friend’s house, during which Jarad noted she slurred her words.

Bee was offered to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, but she refused and was placed under arrest. She also refused to give a breath sample. After running her name through Metro Dispatch, Jarad was advised Bee had three prior DWI arrests and her license had been revoked.

B a s ed on t he nu mber of prior arrests, Jarad was required to obtain a blood warrant. After the warrant wa s signed by Magistrate Judge Virginia Yazzie, Bee was transported to Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital where the blood draw was

completed. She wa s t hen taken to McKinley County Adult Detention Center and booked for the fourth DWI, d r iv i n g on a s u s p ende d license, no registration or insurance, failing to maintain a lane, and failure to obey traffic control devices.

Bee is awaiting a pre-trial hearing set for March 15.

Name: Sheila Benally Age: 35 Arrested: Jan. 5 Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Status: Motion hearing March 29 Name: Derryl Begay Age: 31 Arrested: Jan. 24 Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Status: Warrant issued Feb. 23 Name: Cameron Edward Smith Age: 24

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Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

Arrested: Jan. 28 Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Status: Pre-trial hearing March 8 Name: Arianna Lynn Smith Age: 23 Arrested: Jan. 28 Charge: DWI Status: Pretrial hearing March 24 Name: Stephanie Long Age: 48 Arrested: Jan. 30 Charge: Aggravated DWI (misdemeanor) Status: Motion hearing April 26 Name: Paulson Begay Age: 44 Arrested: Feb. 6 Charge: DWI Status: Pretrial hearing March 24

PUBLIC SAFETY

FBI seeks clues in murder of Iyanbito man Staff Reports

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he FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest, and conviction of whoever killed William Robert Nelson Jr. On Aug. 27, 2015, partial skeleton remains later identified as Nelson were found along a trail near Iyanbito, N.M., on the Navajo Nation.

N e l s o n ’s f a m i l y h a d reported him missing in May 2014. At the time, blood and blood spat ter were fou nd i n Ne l s o n’s b e d r o o m i n Iyanbito.

“Those who have lost loved ones never forget, and neither does the FBI,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque FBI Division said.

“The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety have been investigating this case for a long time. We won’t stop until

William Robert Nelson Jr. Mr. Nelson and his family get justice.”

The cause of death is undetermined but considered suspicious.

Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI at 505889-1300 or go online at tips. fbi.gov.

T h e f u l l p o st er for Nelson can be viewed in this issue on Pg. 19.

FBI offers reward in Isleta Pueblo homicide Staff Reports

T

he FBI is offer ing a rewa rd of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the homicide of Roger Johnson.

Johnson was found dead in the backseat of his white Hyundai Sonata located in a pasture off Tribal Road 12 in Isleta Pueblo, N.M. on Feb. 27, 2018.

Johnson, 69, died of stab wounds.

“The FBI and Isleta Police Department have been worki n g a g g re s sively on t h i s case for almost four years,” Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque F B I D i v i s i o n s a i d . “ We need the public to help us connect some of the dots.

Someone knows who killed Mr. Johnson. Please come forward and help us give him and his family the justice they PUBLIC SAFETY

Roger Johnson

deserve.”

Joh nson, a resident of Ya hta hey, N.M., had been repor ted missing the day before he was found.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or go online at tips.fbi.gov.

T h e f u l l p o s t e r fo r Johnson can be viewed in this issue on Pg. 19.

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

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INDIAN COUNTRY

NEWS

Promoting literacy ‘READ ACROSS NAVAJO NATION MONTH’ KICKS OFF Staff Reports

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INDOW ROCK , Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jon a t h a n Nez , First Lady Phefelia Nez, and Second Lady Dottie Lizer signed a proclamation on March 2, recognizing March 2022 as “Read Across Navajo Nation Month,” in coordination with “Read Across America” to celebrate the joys of reading and to promote literacy to enhance the lives of Navajo students and families.

The signing ceremony was held at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Ariz., with Miss Navajo Nation Ni a ga r a Rockbr id ge a nd Navajo Nation Library Program Supervisor Donovan Pete in attendance.

“Celebrating the joy of reading together, as a community and a Nation, inspires our children to read, which is an important factor in their pursuit of higher education and a better quality of life,” Nez said. “Reading can significantly benefit a child’s language skills, academic success, family bonds, concentration, creativity, imagination, and awareness. Committed families, educators, and community members can make a huge difference in our children’s reading ability and development.”

The proclamation states that reading to children is proven to develop language skills, expand vocabulary, build self-confidence, boost imagination, cultivate their awareness of the world around them, and strengthen family and community bonds.

“By signing this

From left, Miss Navajo Nation Niagara Rockbridge, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, First Lady Phefelia Nez, and Second Lady Dottie Lizer read excerpts from Dr. Seuss books during the proclamation signing in Window Rock, Ariz. March 2. Photo Credit: OPVP proclamation, we are re-committing ourselves to pave a path to literacy. Together, we can begin a tradition to read at bedtime, gather in classrooms for story time, create community book clubs, and visit our school or community libraries.

Books can help build our children’s future,” Lizer said.

During the signing ceremony, the leaders also read portions of Dr. Seuss books in celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2, which brings thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers across the country together to encourage reading and learning among youth.

“During Read Across Navajo Nation Month, we encourage families to read together and to

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Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

inspire all children and youth to read,” Phefelia Nez said.

“This month, take the time to incorporate reading into your children’s schedule and routine. Reading to your child – at any age – will boost their confidence, brain development, creativity, and language skills.

Reading also provides a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect with their children.

It’s a wonderful way to spend time together after a long day of errands, chores, school, or work.”

Lizer expressed her gratitude for the Navajo Nation Library and their efforts to cultivate an awareness of the importance of reading.

“The Office of the First Lady and Second Lady has [a] shared interest in promoting literacy.

We are committed to a partnership in expanding upon initiatives such as this,” she said.

Rockbridge explained that 95 percent of a child’s brain is developed by the age of five.

With that in mind, it’s important to practice early childhood literacy by reading books such as Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

“These were some of my favorites growing up and being in school indulging in books like Green Eggs and Ham,” she said. “I encourage parents to pick up a book and read to your children.”

In observance of “Read Across Navajo Nation Month,” the Navajo Nation Library will host virtual story times led by guest readers and provide free

books on the library’s social media pages.

For more details, please visit:https://www.facebook. com/NavajoNationLibrary.

The Office of the President and Vice President thanks the Navajo Nation Library, Of f ice of Mi ss Nava jo Nation, and the Department of Diné Education for their support.

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INDIAN COUNTRY

NEWS

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Earthweek: Diary of a Changing World Week ending Friday, February 25, 2022

By Steve Newman

Water Cycle Surge New research suggests that the movement of water between the clouds, land and ocean due to climate change has intensified at twice the rate earlier predicted. Writing in the journal Nature, scientists say that rising global temperatures have been making this process more extreme, with water moving away from dry regions toward wetter ones. This is driving more severe droughts in some areas while amplifying heavy rainfall and the resulting flood disasters in others. The study found that between two and four times more fresh water has shifted since 1970 than what climate models had projected.

“Changes to the water cycle can have a critical impact on infrastructure, agriculture and biodiversity,” says lead author Taimoor Sohail.

3.2

5.0 +112° Matam, Senegal Emnati

-64° Vostok, Antarctica it easy for fi res to be sparked and spread in areas that had rarely or never burned before.

It says that even with deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the risk of extreme wildfires will rise 14% by 2030 and 30% by 2050. As seen in recent years from California to Argentina and parts of Europe, such fires are burning longer and hotter, making them difficult or impossible to control.

Earthquakes A magnitude 5.4 quake cracked buildings at the top of New Zealand’s South Island.

• Tremors were also felt in New Zealand’s Canterbury region, Guam and England’s West Midlands.

A Fiery Future The likelihood of uncontrollable wildfires is predicted to increase globally by the end of this decade, and the U.N. warns that governments are not prepared to cope with the health and economic consequences. A new United Nations Environment Program report warns that global heating is bringing more drought and higher temperatures, making

Eruptions Sicily’s Mount Etna produced another in a series of eruptions that was accompanied by huge, colorful fountains of lava.

A nearby airport was temporarily closed due to airborne volcanic debris.

• Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego rumbled violently as it erupted as many as six times an hour, with lava shooting up more than 300 feet into the sky.

Nearby residents said their roofs and windows were soundly shaken by the eruptions.

Dual ‘Harvest’ A new solar power technique being launched in Kenya shows how the sun’s energy can be harvested twice by

5.4 4.4

placing solar panels above rows of crops. Known as agrivoltaics, the arrangement generates electricity while providing the partial shade some types of crops need. It also helps the soil to retain moisture. Cabbages grown under the well-placed solar panels were a third larger and appeared healthier than those in control plots with the same amount of fertilizer and water. The agrivoltaics configuration also allows the panels to

collect rainwater to be stored for later use.

Historic Rise An international team of researchers has determined that the moder n trend of sea level rise began globally as early as 1863, when the Industrial Age began to produce the first surge in greenhouse gas emissions.

Writing in the journal Nature

Communications, the scientists say they examined tide records from 36 different regions around the world to find when and where the seas began to rise.

They found it first started in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States between 1872 and 1894, and later in Canada and Europe. Sea level rise has mainly been driven by the thermal expansion of the oceans as the world warmed, as well as runoff from melting glaciers and ice sheets.

Tropical Cyclone Cyclone Emnati spared Madagascar significant damage as the fourth such storm to strike the Indian Ocean island within a month. Cyclone Batsiri killed at least 124 people and left thousands homeless there when it hit on Feb. 5.

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

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Agrivoltaic energy systems can increase crop yield, produce electricity for remote farmers and collect rainwater. Photo Credit: University of Sheffield HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

11

OPINIONS

Luján opines on Biden’s State of the Union speech

By Ben Ray Luján New Mexico Senator

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ASHINGTON D.C. – U. S .

Senator Ben Ray Lu já n, D -N.M., issued the following statement on President Joe Biden’s fi rst State of the Union speech: President Biden’s fi rst State of the Union speech sent a clear message that the United States stands with the people and government of Ukraine in the face of an unprovoked and unjustified Russian invasion.

Senator Ben Ray Luján Members on both sides of the aisle showed their support for the president’s plans to hold Russia accountable and

provide aid to Ukraine. From clo s i n g ou r a i r s pa ce t o Russian planes to creating a task force to go after Russian Oliga rchs’ a ssets, tonight President Biden showed the world that American diplomacy matters.

As Americans continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the president laid out his plans to put an end to the pandemic, protect public health, and create new jobs for working families.

Ton ig ht , P re sident Biden reminded us that our

government is working to make people’s lives better. This past year Congress passed, and the President signed, the American Rescue Plan and the bipartisan infrastructure bill – laws that help working families recover from the pandemic and will help modernize our roads, bridges, and infrastructure.

I was heartened to hear the President call for Congress to act on competition legislation, which is critical to New Mexico and the nation. This bipartisan legislation includes

a provision I championed to provide billions of dollars for our National Laboratories to support cutting-edge research.

This necessary legislation would help our labs in New Mexico to lead the way in modernizing our economy while improving our supply chain and addressing our reliance on foreign manufacturing.

However, there is still more work to do, including lowering health care costs. I look forward to working with the president to deliver on these priorities for New Mexicans.

How are inherited annuities taxed?

“It’s fanta stic if you inherit an annuity, but you need to understand the tax implications and how to make them more favorable.” – Lawrence Castillo ‘Layin it on the line’

Fortunately, though, understanding how inherited annuities are taxed can help you avoid paying more in tax than necessary. Your benefi ciary status and how the payouts are structured determine tax liability for inherited annuities. You can do a few things to ease that tax burden and perhaps defer payment.

For instance, if you are a surviving spouse inheriting

By Lawrence Castillo Guest Columnist You cannot escape taxes if you inherit an annuity.

an annuity, you have a few options. You can choose to pay taxes on all the money right now or exercise what is called the “spousal continuation provision.” The spousal continuation provision is a tax strategy you use to avoid paying taxes now. You could also spread your tax payments over time by opting for non-qualified stretch pay ment s ba sed on you r

life expectancy. All of these options have their pros and cons, and you should always i nvolve you r f i na ncia l or tax advisor in the decision process.

If you a re a non- spousal beneficiary who inherits an annuity, the rules work a bit differently. Still, there are ways to help minimize your tax bill. For example, you could use what’s called

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Lawrence Castillo a bonu s a n nu it y t o help mitigate your tax burden or choose periodic payments.

T hese t y pes of a n nu it ies prov ide bonu s money t o incentivize you to purchase them.

You can also use other tech n iques i f you have a cce s s to a t a x pla n ner.

Your pla n ner may recomm e n d w h a t ’s k n ow n a s a “1035 exchange,” in which you exchange an inherited a n n u i t y fo r a d i f fe r e n t annuity that is similar but could provide better benefits.

The main reason you would even consider doing a 1035 is if a newer annuity offers you better benefi ts or more favorable terms. The main thing to remember with a 1035

LAWRENCE CASTILLO | SEE PAGE 13 OPINIONS

exchange is that you can’t swap a qualified annuity for a non-qualified annuity to avoid paying taxes.

I f you i n her ited t he de ce a s e d a n nu it a nt ’s IRA a nd the a nnuity, you might be able to roll the inherited annuity into a personal IRA in your name. The rollover option is only available to those who inherit both the IRA and annuity. If you could do a roll-over, you would have to follow the inherited IRA tax rules.

QUALIFIED VS. NONQUALIFIED ANNUITIES If you want to understand how an inherited annuity is taxed, two terms that are critical to grasp are “qualifi ed” annuities and “non-qualified” annuities. An annuity is qualifi ed if you purchase it with pre-tax dollars via a tax-advantaged account such as an IRA or 401k.

The IRS treats distributions paid to an annuitant from qualified annuities as taxable income in the year they are received. Qualifi ed annuities are also required to follow required minimum distribution rules. Any withdrawals before age 59 ½ may be subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Non-qualified annuities are funded with after-tax dollars in a fashion similar to a Roth IRA. There’s a caveat,

though. Although contributions to a non-qualified annuity are not taxable, growth and earnings on the initial investment are tax-deferred.

Tax-deferred means you will pay ordinary income tax on the earnings portions of your distributions. However, there are no RMD issues, and you won’t have that 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Su m m i ng it up: A n i n her ited a n nu it y ca n be a welcome w i nd fa l l or a potentia l l iabi l it y. I f you inherit an annuity, be sure you fi nd an expert who can help you navigate the rules and suggest ways to avoid paying more in taxes than you must.

The key is in understanding how the IRS treats specific kinds of beneficiaries and annuities.

L aw rence Ca st i l lo i s a member of Sy nd ic at ed Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully t r a n s pa rent approa ch t o money management.

Lawrence Castillo Host of Safe Money and Income Radio. L and C Retirement Income Planners, 4801 Lang St. NE Suite 100 Albuquerque NM 87109.

Interested in additional information? Register for my FREE Newsletter at 888-9983463 or click my newsletter l i nk: ht t ps://a n nu it y.com / lawrence-castillo-newsletter/ Syndicated Columnists is the sole provider of this material, both written and conceptual, for this column. All rights reserved.

Obituary

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INDOW ROCK, Ariz . — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, Speaker Seth Damon, and Vice President Myron Lizer offer their condolences to the family of former Tohatchi Red Willow Farm Board President and beloved community leader Dorothy Bitsilly, who passed away on Feb. 23 at the age of 93.

Mrs. Bitsilly is Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan), born for Tódich’ii’nii (Bitter Water Clan). Her maternal grandfather was Táchii’nii (Red Running into the Water People Clan) and her paternal grandfather was Naakai dine’é (The Mexican Clan). She is originally from Tohatchi, NM, and born on September 28, 1928.

“We offer condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues,” President Jonathan Nez said. “Throughout her lifetime, she lived by the teachings of our elders and demon st r at ed T ’á á Hwó Ají Té ego, s el f- r el i a nce and self-determination …

Dorothy’s unyielding advocacy for the Red Willow Farm project serves as an example

Honoring the life of Dorothy Bitsilly of what it means to love and serve your community as a resilient Navajo woman.”

In her years serving as a farm board president, Mrs. Bitsilly was known for her dedication to the Red Willow Farm project, which supplied a water well and electricity to local farmers. Her advocacy was largely driven by her dream to see the Navajo people achieve food sovereignty from agriculture.

She also served over 30 years as a Bureau of Indian Affairs education liaison, was the Vice President of the Fort Defi ance Agency Council on Aging, and the Navajo Nation representative to the New Mexico Aging Advisory Policy group.

During her lifetime, Mrs. Bitsilly was recognized as Shí Masani of the Navajo Nation from 2006-2007, received the 2020 Community Lifetime Achievement in Excellence Award, and the ‘Far m to Table’ 2020 Farmer of the Year honor.

Married 45 years to her husband, the late Guy Bitsilly Sr. she was preceded in death by her son Guy Bitsilly Jr. She is survived by six daughters, including Navajo Nation Chief Justice JoAnn Jayne, four sons, her sister Cora Joe, 21 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Dorothy Bitsilly will be laid to rest at the Tohatchi Community Cemeter y on Wednesday, March 2, 2022.

A public viewing will begin from 8:30 am to 9:30 a.m. with a memorial service to follow at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Gallup, NM. Flower arrangements can be ordered and monetar y donations can be sent to the Cope Memorial Mortuary. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the family will also be accepting donations this weekend at Tohatchi NHA Unit No. 12.

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Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

13

COMMUNITY

Summer events planned as COVID cases drop

Gallup BID Executive Director Francis Bee

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

A

s Gallup works to bounce back from two years of COVID19 limitations, key summer events look to be on track but some may have a few modifications.

It’s still difficult to predict what direction the pandemic may take, so this year’s events still come with the caveat that another wave could spoil the best-laid plans.

“There’s been a pattern with COVID, when the restrictions are relaxed, nobody wears a mask and then they go out and party and everyone gets infected again,” Gallup Business Improvement District Executive Director Francis Bee said.

But his biggest worry for the summer season is rain, which can spoil outdoor events.

Ba r r i ng cat a st roph ic weather or intrusive health measures, the shows will go on. A couple of events, like the Native tribal dances, may show up in new locations pending city approval.

The monthly Arts Crawl is set to start in April and run 7 pm to 9 pm every second Saturday night through October, Bee said. Parts of it may have to shift over a block from their usual spot later in the season, but officials won’t be sure until there is a construction schedule for a Coal Avenue public works project that might overlap part of the crawl zone.

The Freedom Ride, Flight & Cruise event is set to return from a two-year hiatus July 22 to 24. So far the balloon lift and motorcycle ride are expected to come back at full strength, Gallup McKinley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bill Lee said.

Longtime car show sponsor

14

Kiowa dancers perform at the corner of First Street and Coal Avenue during the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial parade in downtown Gallup in August 2019. The Ceremonial will return this year for a full centennial celebration. File Photo Steve Gurley is unable to produce that event this year, so Bee is working to put on a scaled-down car show in a different location, possibly the courthouse plaza parking area where the Gallupfest will take place later in the day. The event takes a lot of logistical planning and coordination with multiple public safety agencies, so any site would need city approval.

“The only difference this year is that Steve’s show had a high measure of cachet to it,” Bee said.

Gurley was able to use his connections to the collector car community to bring in spectacular show cars.

The Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, which came back as a hybrid event last year, is coming back to Red Rocks Park in full force Aug. 7-15 for its centennial event.

The two groups that were managing indoor and outdoor events separately last year are working together this year.

“We know we want to go big. It all comes down to the dollar,” Executive Director Kyle Tom said, adding that

Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

A sweet ride! The Gurley Motor Co. Route 66 Car, Truck & Street Rod Show that coincides with the Freedom Ride, Flight & Cruise event will not return this year, but a scaled down car show is being planned. File Photo infl ation, supply chain issues and world turmoil are making budget projections a challenge.

“Everything is going to be so expensive come August. Our budgets now are looking good, but as things go on it might be more expensive.”

The arts exhibit hall will reopen for visitors, and this year the ceremonial will award $100,000 in prize money across categories, up from $40,000 last

year. The prize pot gets support from the Centennial Club, in which companies or families pledge an annual amount for a few years until each has contributed $1,000.

Tom also hopes to revive some old-time events from the days before the ceremonial moved to Red Rock Park, and said staff has been reviewing old history books, newspapers and videos for ideas.

“This truly is not just an event, but for people it’s really part of their families and part of their lives that they look forward to every year and it has been for generations. Whether they come for the art show, the powwow, the rodeo or the parade,” Tom said. “If we can deliver those like we normally do and fi nd ways to make it a little bit better and really worthy of 100th, that’s our goal.”

COMMUNITY

‘The Batman’ is bogged down by its run time

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

RATING:  OUT OF  RUNNING TIME: 176 MINUTES This feature film opens exclusively in movie theaters March 4.

With so many “Batman” movies over the past few years, it is beginning to get confusing to follow the iconic comic book character and his cinematic exploits.

At least explaining the latest DC feature “The Batman” and its place among other superhero flicks is relatively simple.

This appears to be the first in a standalone series of films that have absolutely nothing to do with “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Justice League” or the 2019 spin-off, “Joker” (at least, as far as I can tell).

But like the last title mentioned in this review, the adaptation is set in a gloomier world.

Gotham City is plagued with crime and a youthful Batman aka Bruce Wayne (Robert Pattinson) hunts criminals in the night, decked out in a bulletproof bat costume.

Despite politicians and other cops calling the figure a vigilante, police commissioner James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) contacts Batman to ask for help in a series of brutal crimes. It seems that a serial killer is setting up elaborate death traps for the city’s elite citizens, leaving riddles behind on the bodies.

Batman agrees to help and dives into the seedy underbelly of Gotham City, encountering mobsters Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) and Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin (Colin Farrell), as well as thief Selina Kyle aka Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz). Can the caped crusader identify the murderer and save some of the targets before they are wiped out?

Errrr, well, the case doesn’t proceed as efficiently or as quickly as hoped for. In fact, the movie plays out over nearly three full hours.

That does allow for a few enjoyable and extended interv iews and confrontations between the protagonist and various foes, even if it’s clear that the intent is simply to establish one or two of them for future COMMUNITY

Commissioner James Gordon (Jeffery Wright) calls on vigilante Batman (Robert Pattinson) to help solve a series of brutal crimes in “The Batman.” Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures franchise movies. A few really seem to be relishing their roles…

Farrell looks almost unrecognizable as Cobblepot and Turturro really stands out, landing a darkly humorous tone as slimy mobster Falcone.

However, other interactions with a few secondary characters are hard-boiled to a fault.

It’s one thing to be intense, but when the filmmakers try to present a grittier and more realistic backdrop to the proceedings, the growling and angry outbursts do feel over-the-top.

Additionally, that extended three-hour running time is a long period to meander through a straightforward mystery, especially when audiences will already have an idea of who the guilty party is based on the methods used. And the film’s

closing argument that a true hero must deliver hope to the masses instead of vengeance seems like an awfully obvious moral.

As for Pattinson, he is perfectly fine in the role of Batman.

As mentioned previously, the movie is overly somber and he is asked to walk in torrential rain and brood into the camera for extended periods (some trimming of this might have cut a good 10 minutes out of the feature), but the actor manages the task.

The constant downpours appear to be a part of a grander water motif. It may be a stylistic choice for visual impact or to

suggest that Gotham City needs to be washed clean, but the constant heavy rain is so exaggerated that it almost becomes amusing (so much so that the villain’s final scheme involving a flood almost seems like an unnecessary act).

On a positive note, there is some chemistry between the lead and the Selina Kyle character, as well as some well-choreographed action. The actor handles the physical elements effectively during his beat downs of thugs and crooks.

There is also an impressive scene involving Batman being pursued by cops and leaping off a tall building, as well as an

exciting car chase that causes chaos on a roadway.

In the end, “The Batman” does its best to update the character for the modern age and it succeeds in fits and starts. There are some good moments here and there, but the fi lm is also bogged down by its ridiculous length and a supposed mystery that doesn’t generate much in the way of suspense or surprises.

Comic book completists will probably enjoy enough of the movie to make it worthwhile, but casual moviegoers shouldn’t feel any rush to hurry out to this adaptation.

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Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

15

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for March 4, 2022

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

W

elcome to another look at highlights arriving on Bluray and DVD. This isn’t a particularly busy edition, but it does include some Oscar nominees and interesting independent features. So, if you can’t or shouldn’t be heading out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

BELFAST: Based on the ea rly life of writer/director Ken net h Branagh, this d r a m a t el l s the stor y of a young boy growing up in Belfast during the tumultuous 1960s.

We see the youngster go about his daily business as the threat of violence on the street looms all around. After his father suggests the family move out of the country, the child must grapple with potentially

leaving the neighborhood he has spent his entire life in.

Critics were generally very impressed with this feature. A small contingent was unhappy that the fi lm was told from the point of view of a child, instead wanting an adult perspective on the conflict between P rotest a nt u n ion ists a nd Roman Catholic nationalists.

However, most appreciated the events being presented cinematically through the eyes of a youngster.

They also called it a sincere and moving drama with incredible performances, noting it was one of the year’s best fi lms. It stars Jude Hill, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench, Jamie Dornan and Ciarán Hinds.

FLEE: This interesting documentary uses animation to tell its subject’s powerful story.

A man is interviewed by fi lmmakers and a crew, recounting his life and a painful secret that he has kept hidden for 20 years. Through the audio and animated images, viewers learn that this man is a child refugee from Afghanistan and learn what prompted him to

seek asylum in another part of the world.

This feature received rave reviews from the press and is currently nominated for Academy Awards in both the Best Documentary and Best Animated Feature categories.

One or two didn’t find this individual’s tale as compelling as other stories they had seen about refugees. But everyone else called it an effective immigrant story and one that effectively addresses some of the inner turmoil one feels when being uprooted.

HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN: While cable a nd t elev ision releases are normally included in the “On the Tube!” section below, it is a slower-than-usual edition. So, this week a couple of titles are getting a more detailed analysis.

This is a Lifetime TV-movie remake of the popular 1980s show. In this update, an angel arrives on Earth and takes a position as a school guidance

counselor. She then sets out to help troubled students and their families.

This picture earned reasonable notices from a select group of reviewers who saw it. They noted that the feature was overly sweet and resolved the character’s problems in far too easily a manner. Still, most thought it was earnest, good-natured family entertainment and that those who appreciated the original program would likely enjoy this as well.

This is a DVD only release.

The cast includes Jill Scott, B a r r y Wa t s o n , V i c t o r i a Bidewell, Sasha Rojen and Robert Moloney.

I AM MORTAL: Roughly 200 years in the future, technolog y ha s progressed to the point where humans have achieved immortalit y t h r ou g h genetic engineer ing. In addition, war and violence have become a thing of the past. A group of teenage rebels learn that all life is now monitored and decide to form their own resistance movement in order to love and live a normal, mortal life.

There aren’t many reviews available for this title and those that have appeared online haven’t been inspiring. They suggest that the movie features a lot of talking heads and awkward speeches. Apparently, the fi lm doesn’t provide much in the way of thrills or excitement. And these write-ups also

suggest that viewers will get a bluntly delivered religious message about joining the Christian faith.

Abraham Lewis, Eloise Smyth, Lauren Lindsey Donzis, John Harlan Kim and Sean Gunn headline the fi lm.

THE PILOT: A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL: Inspired by true events, this foreign-language feature from Russia is set during World War II. It’s about a pilot who is shot down by Nazi forces.

A f t e r crashing in a forest behind enemy lines, the wounded figure must find a way back to safety. To do so, the man must fi nd sustenance, avoid enemy forces, endure incredibly harsh conditions like extreme cold, and even fend off a pack of hungry wolves.

Those who can stomach a Russian war movie right now won’t fi nd many notices available for the title. A few online ones from different parts of the world have appeared on websites. Most state that the survival element of the movie is effective and chillingly rendered, but that the romantic subplot and sections involving supporting characters are corny and inauthentic.

It features Pyotr Fyodorov and Daniel Brach.

THE REAL CHARLIE CHAPLIN: Here’s another fi lm that was made-for-cable (specifically, Showtime) but

OBITUARIES

+ŗŎ \ŜU OŞHG ŗH LQ WKH *DOOXS 6XQ IŎ )5(( 2QH KHDGVKRW DOOR HG Download form: gallupsun.com (obituaries page) or stop by office at 1983 State Rd. 602.

Let us design a custom tribute at an affordable rate!

All obituaries are posted in our print and web editions!

Phone: (505) 722-8994 Fax: (505) 212-0391 Email: gallupsun@gmail.com

16

Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

COMMUNITY

is receiv ing a more thorough exa mination in this section.

M a n y know Charlie Chapl i n a s o n e of t h e greatest comedians of cinema, but he also endured a scandal or two in his personal life and was incredibly private. Little is actually known about the man and this documentary blends previously unheard voices and perspectives on the fi gure to provide more detail into who Chaplin was.

Critics were very impressed with what they saw. A small contingent who didn’t care for the movie commented that it didn’t enlighten them as much as they had hoped for.

However, the consensus was that the documentary was well put together and gave an honest and unvarnished picture of its subject. This title will be exclusively available on DVD. RUN & GUN: This action/ thriller follows a reformed criminal now l iv i ng a qu iet l i fe i n subu rbi a with his new family. That a l l ch a nge s when his past catches up with him, bad guys arrive and he is blackmailed into picking up a mysterious package.

The lead is immediately double-crossed and pursued by various assassins. Drawing upon his old abilities, he must take all the heavies down in order to save those he loves.

This appears to be a directto-disc DVD only release, so there aren’t many write-ups available yet. Those that have popped up online suggest the feature suffers from a familiar storyline that feels routine and predictable. Still, they do state that it is better-written than other low-budget action titles and benefits from a dependable cast and a few good zingers.

It stars Ben Milliken, Angela Sarafyan, Mark Dacascos and Richard Kind.

LA SOGA: SALVATION:

A hit ma n decides to r e t i r e f r om the business.

He quits and move s w it h his significant other to a seaside resort town. Soon, men from his past arrive and kidnap his lady.

They demand that he perform one last assignment for them (this appears to be a very familiar problem for the hero of these types of movies).

T h i s for eig n -l a n g u a ge feature from the Dominican Republic is actually a sequel and was released as “La Soga 2” in its homeland.

So far, there are only a few write-ups in this part of the world. One article thought that the cast were solid and that the lead managed to sell the dramatic aspects of the story well. Others critiqued the movie heavily, calling it a poor knock-off of features like Taken and suggesting that it would not thrill viewers. The cast includes Manny Perez, Sarah Jorge León, Hada Vanessa and Chris McGarry.

STOKER HILLS: In this fl ick, a small group of college students are a s sig ned to shoot a horr or pic t u r e in the titular sma ll tow n.

Unfortunately, the production gets off to a terrifying start when they are attacked and kidnapped by a real serial killer.

After their disappearance, two detectives are sent to search for the kids. They fi nd their personal items and go through the camera footage, trying to identify the psychopath and locate the students before it’s too late.

S o fa r, t he pre s s h a s panned this effort. They have written that the movie is fl at, lacks tension and feels padded out. This group has also complained that there are some major logic problems with the screenplay, saying that even horror fans will have a tough time enduring this feature. Tony Todd, Steffani

Check out our FREE access community website!

Brass, David Gridley, Vince Hill-Bedford and Tyler Clark headline the fi lm.

BL ASTS FROM THE PAST! It’s a very quiet edition for older features being given Blu-ray upgrades (though next week will more than make up for it).

Full Moon Features is one of the distributors who are delivering something from their vaults. “Prehysteria! 2” (1994) is a straight-to-video family flick and sequel that involves dinosaurs.

In the fi rst movie, a household discovers and takes in a group of tiny ancient reptiles.

This picture picks up with the creatures accidentally getting lost and ending up on a plane.

When they land, a young girl and her friend discover them.

The little dinosaurs help the kids take on their sinister governess.

This Blu-ray includes trailers for other features from the studio, as well as a behindthe-scenes featurette. If you’re wonder ing if the or iginal “Prehysteria!” (1993) is also available on Blu-ray, it was released in 2018 on the format

and can also be found at online retailers.

A nd the other ma jor release comes from Warner Bros., who have the “James Bond: The Daniel Craig 5-Film Collection 4K UHD + Blu-ray” box set.

T h i s c o n t a i n s n e w, high-quality 4K UHD transfers and Blu-rays of “Casino Royale” (2006) (both the theatrical and unrated cuts are included), as well as “Quantum of Solace” (2008), “Skyfall” (2012), “Spectre” (2015) and “No Time to Die” (2021).

Presumably, the box includes all of the previously released extras from earlier editions on the accompanying Blu-rays.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS! Here are some titles that may be of interest to children.

“A r t h u r : B e l i e v e i n Yourself” (PBS Kids) DVD “The Batman” (2004 – 2007 Animated Series) Blu-ray “Blues Clues & You Triple Pack” (Nickelodeon) DVD “Prehyster ia! 2” (1994) Blu-ray “Scooby-Doo Where Are

You!” The Complete Series (Original Animated Show – 3 Seasons) Blu-ray “SpongeBob Squarepants Triple Pack” (Nickelodeon) DVD ON THE TUBE! And you’ll find all of the TV-themed releases for the week listed below.

“American Gods” Seasons 1 – 3 Collection DVD “The Batman” (2004 – 2007 Animated Series) Blu-ray “C h r o n ic le My s t er ie s: 3-Movie Collection” (Hallmark Channel) DVD “Deadhouse Dark” Season 1 (Shudder) DVD “ H i g hw ay t o He a ve n” (Lifetime TV-movie) DVD only “ M a n hu n t : T h e Ni g h t Stalker” Series 2 (Acorn) Bluray and DVD “Masterpiece: Around the World in 80 Days” (PBS Miniseries) DVD “The Real Charlie Chaplin” (Showtime Documentary) DVD “Scooby-Doo Where Are You!” The Complete Series (Original Animated Show – 3 Seasons) Blu-ray “Stra nded in Paradise” (Hallmark Channel) DVD “ Tak ing the Reins” (Hallmark Channel) DVD

''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.

• 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

www.gallupsun.com COMMUNITY

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

17

SPORTS

HOMETOWN SHOWDOWN! MIYAMURA PATRIOTS FALL TO GALLUP BENGALS 56-62

Gallup Bengal Nathaniel Yazzie (25) goes for a basket as Miyamura Patriots Mathias Rodriguez (11) and Dionte Gilbert (25) attempt to stop him.

Photo Credit: RAH Photography Gallup Bengal Kristian Touchine (34) makes his layup as Patriots Jeremiah Paredes (32) and Antonio Lovato block the shot. Photo Credit: RAH Photography

Miyamura Patriot Mathias Rodriguez (11) goes for a basket as Gallup Bengal Brett Baker (42) attempts to block at the 1-4A Boys District Championship Game at Gallup High School, Feb. 26. Photo Credit: RAH Photography

Miyamura Patriot Antonio Lovato (24) looks for his team mate to pass to while Gallup Bengal Nathaniel Yazzie (25) tries to get the ball back. Photo Credit: RAH Photography

18

Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

SPORTS

NMAA releases championship schedule COVERS ROUND 1, QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS Courtesy of Dusty Young NMAA Associate Director

A

LBUQUERQUE, N M – T he New Mexico Activities Association would like to highlight the following important information regarding the upcoming NMAA State Ba sketba ll Cha mpionship 1 st Round and Quarterfinal matchups.

NMAA State Basketball Official Championship Name: NMA A State Basketball Championships Championship Brackets: Boys and girls brackets will be posted and updated throughout the event on MaxPreps.

C h a m p i o n s h i p

Locations: 1st Round & Quarterfi nals: Host School Sites (higher seed) Semifi nals & Finals: UNM – The Pit, Rio Rancho Events Center, Bernalillo HS Championship Dates for 1st Round & Quarterfi nals: 1st Round of 16 (at higher seed) Class A-5A Girls – Friday, March 4th Class A-5A Boys – Saturday, March 5th Quarterfinals (at higher seed) Class A-5A Girls – Tuesday, March 8th Cla ss A- 5A Boys – Wednesday, March 9th Tickets for 1st Round & Quarterfinals: Available online via GoFan – https://gofan.co/app/school/

Game Stats Round-Up Gallup, NM: The Number 1 seed in District 1-4A, the Gallup Bengals 16-12; 10-1 District outran cross town rival Number 2 seed Miyamura 14-14; 8-2 district showdown 62-56. Gallup shot 57% from the field; free throw shooting at 59%; three points shooting at 34% with (11) turnovers.

NMAA $10.00 Adults $5.00 Students (K-12) / Seniors (65+) / Military *no cash sales – tickets available online only **Pre-sale tickets will also be made available to each community via the school administration to ensure both spectator groups have the opportunity attend * * *N M A A Tou r n a ment Passes provide access to 1st Round & Quarterfi nal games and can be purchased directly from the NMAA office or by calling 505-923-3110 Additional Facility Information for Spectators & Media: Ca pa cit y re s t r ic t ion s /

l i m it at ion s, ad m it t a nce requirements, and face covering regulations are at the discretion of the host school administration Additional Information Specific to Members of the Media: WORK I NG med i a w it h a v a l id 2 021-2 022 N M A A Media Credential may cover the event. Only those outlets covering a specific school/ at h lete w i l l be g ra nted access.

Media members should communicate with the host school administration prior to the event to review local policies/procedures and confi rm attendance.

The NMA A’s full media policy, which includes special guidelines pertaining to COVID-19 (Section 11 of the

Led by: Coach of Year-Josh Dunlap; All-District Nathaniel Yazzie (17) points; MVP and All District Kohannon Atazhoon; (16) points; All District Joaquin Ortega (15) points; Kristine Touchine (9) points; Jemaine Smith (7) points and others, Miyamura Patriots shot 57% from the fi eld; free throw shooting at 27%;; three points shooting at 20% with (12) turnovers. Led by: All District

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NMA A 4A State Play will have #10 Gallup Bengals at #7 Belen Eagles-Saturday. While #16 Miyamura Patriots at #1 Highland Hornets-Saturday.

Congratulations, the Gallup Bengals have won (4) straight D1-4A championship.

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SPORTS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

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.

Color: Granite Crystal with Orange accents.

Leather Interior Less than 3,000 miles Huge Discounts!!!!!!!!

AUTO SALES Gurley Motor Company

(505) 722-3881 AmigoToyota.com FOR RENT HOSPITAL AREA 4 bedroom/4bathrooms $2500.00 a month. No pets.

3 bedroom/ 2 bath at $2200 a month. No pets.

3 bedroom/2 bathroom $2200.00 a month DOWNTOWN 2 bedroom/1 bath at $1100 a month. No pets.

2020 Ford F150 XLT 4WD Blue Advantage Certified!

Like New Only 23,000 miles!

Was $ 51,550 NOW $49,900

2022 Chevrolet Camaro 1SS Final Price: $52,365 Condition: New Body Style: Convertible Transmission: Manual Ext. Color: Riverside Blue Metallic Stock #: 22022

2020 Ford Edge SEL AWD Loaded! With Leather Interior and Heated Seats Blue Advantage Certified!

Only 37,000 miles! $33,995

2021 Ford Bronco Sport 4x4 Outer Banks Edition Gold Blue Advantage Certified!

Only 5200 miles!

Was $46,650 NOW $43,500 Gurley Motor Co. 701 W. Coal Ave, Gallup, NM (505) 722-6621 www.gurleymotorford.com *** Amigo Automotive Center

2021 Jeep Gladiator

INDIAN HILLS 3-Bedroom/2 bath at $1800.00 a month. No pets.

More 3-bedroom rentals available in March.

Email berlinda@gallupliving. com for application.

HOME FOR SALE BY OWNER House located in Mossman development. 3 beds, 2 baths, central air/heat, attached garage, 2 car driveway, updated kitchen, $199,000.

Call (727) 776-2266 HELP WANTED

Pre-Owned 2018 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4WD Engine: 4.0L V-6 Transmission: Automatic Mileage: 29,282 Stock#: TP2205A Amigo Toyota 2000 S. Second St. Gallup, NM 87301

Cooks Wanted 505 Burgers & Wings Need: Great Cooks, comes with great pay. Apply in person at 1981 State Rd. 602 Photographer Wanted The Gallup Sun has an opening for an oncall and general assignment photographer to take photos for the paper. Please email resume to Publisher Babette Herrmann: gallupsun@gmail. com LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICES

12: +,5,1* :DLWVWDII $PNQFUJUJWF 1BZ (PPE 8PSL &OWJSPONFOU 'MFYJCMF 4DIFEVMFT &NQMPZNFOU "EWBODFNFOU 8F BSF MPPLJOH GPS )POFTU %FQFOEBCMF BOE 5SVTUXPSUIZ QFSTPOT 1MFBTF BQQMZ BU 4 4FDPOE 4USFFU

20 Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

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

Public Notice is hereby provided that the GallupMcKinley County Schools is accepting competitive sealed proposals for: RETROFIT DISTRICT FACILITIES WITH AUTOMATIC FAUCETS, FLUSHERS AND BOTTLE FILL STATIONS RFP-2022-44BK Commodity Code(s): 22530, 22532, 67055, 67073, & 91060 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 10, 2022 at 10:00 AM 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 7, 2022. 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

We believe in ideas.

We believe in passion.

We believe in dreams.

We believe in you.

www.nmhu.edu

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 3rd Day of March 2022 By: /S/ Charles Long, President Board of Education Gallup-McKinley County School District No. 1 RFP ISSUE DATE: March 3, 2022 PUBLICATION DATES: March 4, 2022 (Gallup Sun) March 3 & 6, 2022 (Albuquerque Journal)

*** NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS CITY OF GALLUP, NEW MEXICO Request for Proposals (RFP) NO. 2021/2022/08/P Qualifications-based competitive sealed proposals for Administrative and Design Professional Services will be received by the Contracting Agency, City of Gallup for RFP No. 2021/2022/08/P. The Contracting Agency is requesting proposals for: • Professional Planning Services • Engineering Services • CDBG Management and Administrative Professional Services FOR PROJECT: WEST LOGAN AVENUE (6 TH TO 9 TH ) STREET AND DRAINAGE PROJECT, GALLUP NM

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 21 CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 20 CDBG Project No. 20-C-NR-I01-G-10 As more particularly set out in the RFP documents, copies of which may be obtained from the City of Gallup Purchasing Division, 110 W. Aztec Ave., Gallup, New Mexico 87301; or contact Frances Rodriguez, Purchasing Director at (505) 863-1334. Copies are available for viewing or can be downloaded from: https://app. negometrix.com/buyer/3226.

Electronically submitted proposals shall be received via electronic bidding platform until 2:00 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) on or before March 24, 2022 where proposals will be received and recorded by the City of Gallup Purchasing Department via virtual conference/video calls or through other virtual means.

The City of Gallup has transitioned to a new e-Bid/ RFP software system powered by Negometrix.

All solicitations will be released electronically through Negometrix and responses from offerors must be submitted electronically through this online platform. By using Negometrix, prospective offerors 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 PROPOSALS will now be accepted; system will not accept proposals submitted AFTER due date and time.

Dated this 2 nd day of March 2022 By: /S/ Louie Bonaguidi, Mayor Classified Legal Column: Gallup Sun Publishing Date: Friday, March 4, 2022 *** INVITATION FOR BID HEAT DUCT SEALING, CLEANING & INSULATING THIRTY (30) RESIDENTIAL UNITS ROMERO Site GALLUP HOUSING AUTHORITY March 1, 2022 The Gallup Housing Authority is requesting qualified licensed contractors provide a written BID for HEAT DUCT SEALING, CLEANING & INSULATING – 30 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, ROMERO Site as described in the package.

You are invited to submit a delivered or emailed BID to be received by Mike Burnside, Project Coordinator, for the Gallup Housing Authority.

The Housing Authority Main office is located at 203 Debra Drive, Gallup, NM 87301, phone number (505) 722-4388.

Contact Mike Burnside to receive a Bid Package and to make an appointment if you wish to see the housing units and site. Site review is required prior to submitting a bid.

BID must be submitted with all the required documents in a sealed envelope with the words “BID Documents – ROMERO Duct Insulation Project”, and your company name on the front.

Your BID must arrive

no later than 3:00 PM, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022, at the Gallup Housing Authority, Main Office, or emailed to Mike.Burnside@ galluphousing.com. BIDs received after this date and time will not be accepted.

A Pre-Bid Meeting will be held Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 11:00 AM, in the GHA Conference Room.

Attendance is Not mandatory.

The Gallup Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all BIDs or any part thereof and to waive any informality in any BID not deemed in the best interest of the Housing Authority.

Please refer any questions regarding this Invitation for Bid in writing (via e-mail) to: Mike.Burnside@ galluphousing.com Published by: Gallup Sun March 04, 2022 *** 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, March 17, 2022 at 3 PM. The agenda and log-in information will be available 72 hours prior to the meeting from francis@gallupbid.com and on City of Gallup website.

Published by: Gallup Sun March 4, 2022 *** ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF McKINLEY STATE OF NEW MEXICO In the Matter of the Estate Of ERICA DAWN PLATERO, Deceased.

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.

Dated: EVA M. DAHOZY-PLATERO

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

James J. Mason Attorneys for Personal Representative 104 East Aztec Avenue Gallup, New Mexico 87301 (505) 722-4463

EVA M. DAHOZY-PLATERO has been appointed Personal Representative of the Estate of ERICA DAWN PLATERO, deceased. All persons having

Published by: Gallup Sun February 25, 2022 March 4, 2022 March 11, 2022

No. D-1113-PB-2022-00009

Administrator I – Senior Services This is a full-time professional position involving oversight of PMS-McKinley County Senior Programs in Thoreau and Ramah.

Administrative office is in Gallup. Frequent travel to sites required.

Apply on-line at pmsnm.org. Click Jobs@PMS. Toll-free hotline 1-866-661-5491.

EOE/AA/M/F/SO/Vet/Disability Follow us on Facebook

CL |S CLASSIFIEDS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

21

Governor signs affordable housing legislation into law Staff Reports

S

A N TA F E — G ov.

Michelle Lujan Grisham today signed Senate Bill 134, the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund, which will provide a dedicated funding stream for the construction and maintenance of thousands of additional affordable homes for low- and moderate- income New Mexicans. “ E v e r y New Me x ic a n deserves a safe, affordable and comfortable place to live, and this funding stream will make a real difference in the lives of New Mexicans, especially in rural areas of the state,” Lujan Grisham said.

“Providing greater access to stable and affordable housing will have profound and positive social implications that ripple throughout New Mexico communities, and I’m grateful to Sen. Nancy Rodriguez and Rep. Nathan Small for sponsoring this important legislation, which passed with bipartisan support.”

The new recurring funding will dedicate 2.5% of the annual severance tax bond capacity for the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund, which is administered

Representative Nathan Small by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. The fund is expected to generate an estimated $20-25 million annually in dedicated funding for the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund.

“Access to affordable housing is an incredibly important factor in positively influencing an individual or family’s stability, health, and well-being,” Sen.

Senator Nancy Rodriguez Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe. “These recurring, sustainable housing funds will benefit generations of New Mexicans. I was very proud to co-sponsor this legislation and I am grateful to Governor Lujan Grisham for signing it into law today.”

Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, said rising housing costs are a burden for many New Mexican families and

SB 134 “allows us to dedicate crucial resources to new construction, energy efficiency, and rehabilitation that will make a world of difference for many lower and middle income families across our state.”

There is currently a statew ide shor t a ge of 32 ,0 0 0 units for renters making less tha n 30% of a rea media n i nc o me , a cc o r d i n g t o a

study commissioned by the Housing New Mexico Advisory Committee. In addition, 218,471 New Mexico households were identified as “cost burdened” – spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

“This funding is the crucial and consistent investment needed to help address the growing housing needs of the state. We are grateful for all the support of the governor, our legislators and partners to get this across the fi nish line,” said Isidoro Hernandez, executive director and CEO of the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority.

Jack Milarch, CEO of the New Mexico Home Builders Association also lauded the signed into law legislation.

“With today’s serious housing shortage, especially at the lower cost end of the spectrum, protecting and maintaining the value of our existing homes and neighborhoods must be a mission-critical priority,” he said.

“Thank you to our legislators for generously suppor ting additional funding for the Housing Trust Fund and thank you Governor Lujan Grisham for signing SB134 into law.”

Senators advocate to extend USDA waiver authority in spending package Staff Reports

W

ASHINGTON– As schools across the nation continue transitioning back to normal operations, U.S. Senator Ma r tin Heinr ich, D-NM, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, is leading a group of 29 Senate colleagues, including Senate Agr icu ltu re Com m it tee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), in an effort to make sure school administrators, staff, and industry partners that supply food to child nutrition programs have continued support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In 2020, at the onset of

t he COV I D -19 pa ndem ic, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that granted USDA the authority to issue several n a t io nw ide w a i ver s a nd flexibilities for schools and program operators. In 2021, t h r ou g h t h e C o n t i nu i n g A ppropr i a t ion s Ac t 2 0 21 and Other Extensions Act, Congress extended USDA’s initial authority to June 30, 2022.

I n a le t t er t o S e n a t e Ma jor it y L ea der Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minor ity Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the senat or s reque st ed t h at t he upcoming omnibus spending bill include a provision to

22 Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

“continue to provide USDA authority to issue all necessary waivers, including an extension of all authority provided by FFCRA for state and nationwide waivers from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023.”

The senators add, ‘Without these waivers, federal child nutrition programs will not be able to adequately meet the needs of children as we work to transition beyond COVID-19.

The meals provided through the child nutrition programs are critical to our nation’s pandemic response to childhood

SENATORS ADVOCATE | SEE PAGE 23

Senator Martin Heinrich NEWS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MARCH 4 - 10, 2022 SATURDAY, MARCH 5

GALLUP 9TH ST. FLEA MARKET

9 am to 5 pm @ 340 9th Street. The Gallup 9th Street Flea Market is one of the largest Native American markets in the United States. With more than 500 vendors and as many as 10,000 visitors each week, you can find food, crafts, jewelry, livestock, and household goods.

FREE FAMILY ART KIT

12 pm to 6 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123 W. Coal Ave.).

Paint and play with texture.

Use unconventional painting tools to create a colorful, textural, and expressive 5» x 7» canvas.

More info: www.galluparts. org/familyartkits.

MONDAY, MARCH 7

EPISODE 307 OF “POETRY IN AMERICA”

2 am on PBS station KNME. Episode 307 of “Poetry in America” features students from Miyamura High School.

It is entitled “Rabbits and Fire and Bear Fat.” The episode will also be on demand from the network

CREATIVE CORNER – MATCHBOOK STORIES

4 pm on YouTube and OFPL’s Facebook Live. Learn how to craft your favorite book into a matchbook story and

SENATORS ADVOCATE | FROM PAGE 22 hunger.”

The letter was also signed

by U.S. Senator s Ta m my Ba ldw i n (D -W I ), M icha el Ben net ( D - CO.), R ich a rd Blu mentha l (D - CT), Cor y B o oke r ( D - NJ ), S he r r o d Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin ( D - M D), T hom a s Ca r p er (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dia n ne Feinstein (D - CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), A ng u s K i ng ( I-ME), A my Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ed Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), a nd Sheldon W h it ehou se (D-RI).

“Dear Leader Schumer and CALENDAR

bring it to life.

Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, first-served basis using the Supply Request Form at ofpl. online. For more information email jwhitman@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291.

TUESDAY, MARCH 8

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

6 pm @ City Council Chambers, Gallup City Hall (110 W. Aztec Ave.). The meeting will also be streamed on the City of Gallup’s Facebook page at City of Gallup, New Mexico Government.

WOMEN’S VETERAN AND FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

6 pm @ Veterans Helping Veterans building (908 E. Buena Vista Ave.). This meeting is for Women veterans, veteran wives and widows, or any woman related to a veteran.

CALENDAR of Google’s internal SEO experts, this workshop will give you a behind-the-scenes view into how Google approaches SEO for its own sites. Learn practical strategies that you can implement to help drive traffic to your site. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

FAMILY STORYTIME

11 am. Join us in the Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec.

Ave.) in person for storytime activities, songs, rhymes and read-alouds every week! Age 0-4. For more information email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

THURSDAY, MARCH 10

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

10 am at the Main Library (115 W. Hill Ave.). Drive traffic to your website with Search Engine Optimization.

Anyone with a website or business presence online can benefit from SEO, the process of helping search engines find and display your site in search results. Hosted by one

9 am to 12 pm. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program makes funding available to assist households that are unable to pay rent or utilities. Join New Mexico Legal Aid at Octavia Fellin Public Library every Thursday from 9 am-Noon for assistance completing the ERAP application. They will be onsite for walk-ins ready to provide help in keeping safe, stable, and affordable housing. Appointments are also available by contacting New Mexico Legal Aid at (505) 722-4417.

Email: bmartin@gallupnm.

Leader McConnell: Since the onset of the pandemic, Congress has taken action to address the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 public health emergency, including by granting USDA authority in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to issue several nationwide waivers and flexibilities for schools and program operators.

We write to ask that the omnibus continue to provide USDA authority to issue all necessary waivers, including an extension of all authority provided by FFCRA for state and nationwide waivers from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023, in order to provide the flexibility needed to respond to the ongoing pandemic and to ensure that the federal child nutrition programs continue to operate and provide healthy snacks and meals to students.

Going forward, schools across the country will continue to need f lexibility in

providing school nutrition progra ms. That’s because school districts that continue to operate in-person face a slew of challenges that impact meal service such as workforce shortages, unpredictable and cancelled food deliveries, increased food prices, and the inability to source standard food items or products like trays and cutlery.

It will take time for nutrition operations at schools to recover from the challenges created during the pandemic, to rebuild their programs, and overcome the significant fi nancial impact.

We recognize schools will continue to have the option to ser ve free meals to all students through June 2022 v ia the Seamless Summer Option. However, it is clear that schools and suppliers are continuing to face ongoing operational and supply challenges as they work to transition back to normal operations.

Given that over 29 million

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9

GROW WITH GOOGLE

gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

CRAFTY KIDS

4 pm Join us on Facebook, @ galluplibrary, or YouTube at Octavia Fellin Public Library (all ages) for family-friendly crafts and step-by-step tutorials for all skill levels.

Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, firstserved basis using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online.

This week we will be getting creative with our own names.

Kids will be able to paint, draw, or design their names with the provided art supplies. For more information email: bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

ONGOING

GALLUPARTS EXTENDS HOURS THROUGH FEBRUARY

12 pm-6 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays (123 W. Coal Ave.)

GOOGLE CAREER CERTIFICATE SCHOLARSHIP

Jump-start your career with a Google Career Certificate scholarship. Prepare for entry-level positions in data analytics, IT support, project management, or user experience design - no college degree or relevant experience required. Apply for a scholarship at ofpl.online now through March 31. For more info.: email bmartin@

children receive low cost or free meals at school every day, extending the SSO and other waivers are critical to keeping our nation’s children fed this summer and during the 2022-2023 school year.

This is especially true for states with high rates of poverty, where large portions of students are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

The June deadline means that summer meal programs will not be able to operate under the same program rules through the entire summer.

This deadline also restricts the ability to respond to the operational and access challenges that schools may face into 2023.

For schools that continue to face fluctuations in participation and staffi ng shortages, returning to normal National School Lunch Program rules on meal counting and eligibility would shortchange schools of adequate commodities and make both school and summer programs virtually impossible

gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

RMCHCS COVID-19 TEST/ VACCINE/BOOSTER CLINIC

8 am-10 am and 2 pm-4pm Mon.-Fri. @ College Clinic (2111 College Dr.). 16 years and older. For test, someone will come to your vehicle.

Please call (505) 236-1074 and someone will come out to your vehicle to obtain a specimen.

For vaccine and booster adult must be six months out from their second vaccine.

Call College Clinic at (505) 863-1820 to set up an appointment.

RMCHCS CHILDREN’S COVID-19 TESTS/VACCINATIONS

8:30 am-11 am and 1 pm-4 pm Mon.-Fri.@ College Clinic (2111 College Dr.).

For COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11. A patient/ guardian will be required to remain with the patient and wait 15 minutes for observation immediately after vaccine is given.

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.

to run effectively.

Further, schools will need support when they ultimately transition back to normal school meal operations under the National School Lunch Program. USDA will need to waiver authority to support schools and program operators through this process and be able to effectively respond to unexpected challenges that may arise.

We believe extending the authority to issue state and nationwide waivers through September 30, 2023 will provide much needed assistance to school administrators, staff, and industry partners that supply food to child nutrition programs.

Without these waivers, federal child nutrition programs will not be able to adequately meet the needs of children as we work to transition beyond COVID-19. The meals provided through the child nutrition programs are critical to our nation’s pandemic response to childhood hunger.”

Gallup Sun • Friday March 4, 2022

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24 Friday March 4, 2022 • Gallup Sun

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