Gallup Sun • March 25, 2022

E FRE Rental Available in May 4 bedroom/ 2 1/2 bath Monthly Rent $2,700

Gallup Living Rentals 309 E. Nizhoni Blvd. Gallup NM 87301 505-488-2344 Office or berlinda@gallupliving.com

VOL 8 | ISSUE 365 | MARCH 25, 2022

ROAD TO IMPROVEMENT The latest on Coal Avenue Commons project. Community Page 16

CAREER CRIMINAL BACK IN JAIL. P. 4

2

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

NEWS

( , ! * #'

A Year old mind in a 28 Year old body He was nice young man. 6 feet – 2 inches tall built big, not fat but just big. He was actually somewhat intimidating. With his mother’s help with the application process he ended up in a one bedroom housing unit. His mother handled his funds for him so most of times his rent was paid on time and he had food to eat. He had bare bones furnishings – one chair and small dining table, a small TV on a small stand and one easy chair in the living room. One bed and a lamp stand in his bedroom.

Then he began to call the maintenance hot line because his heard something or someone trying to break in and one night a window was broken. The problem was the broken glass was on the outside of the house if someone tried to break in the broken glass would have been in the inside of the house. So, staff wondered did he break the window to get attention or maybe he was scared of things that go “bump in the night”. Later, there were police calls to the unit because of issues related to people partying and getting out of hand at his unit. Being lonely he began to invite street types to hang out with him. Then once he called the maintenance hot line and wanted to report that there was a fire in his kitchen. Apparently, a grease fire got out of hand and luckily no major damage was done. Before the Maintenance Tech left he asked if the Tech would buy him some food since his mother hadn’t been to his unit for a couple of weeks and he had very little food. Where was his food? The latest round of vagabonds had eaten it all up for him.

What to do? What do we do?

When my Housing Manager brought this to my attention – we didn’t want to just throw him out but we couldn’t let this situation continue. We clearly do not have the expertise or the resources to deal with thFTF situationT. So, we decided to hire a mental health expert on a retainer arrangement to help us to assess the situation and offer options. With their help we figured out that he was in a group home in Albuquerque and that is where he really wanted to be. But, because of the cost, his family could not afford to keep him there. Someone told them he might qualify for public housing since he was disabled.

So, they took him out of the Albuquerque group home and got him set up with Gallup Housing Authority.

But, in many of these cases these individuals need daily monitoring and assistance. They may have limited independent living capability. He eventually was moved out of public housing by his family.

The question is:

Where do you put individuals like this? In my experience over the last years many times families get them into public housing and then basically walk away from them. I guess they think it is now Gallup Housing Authority’s job to take care of them. That is not true. WE NEED BETTER LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR THESE FOLKS. Comments are welcome.

# # 213 ! ! % $ ( - .515/622+4377 $" # " & ! $ "# & ) * 0 $ $" * NEWS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

3

NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

Inmate absconds with police transport van LIFE ON THE LAM WAS BRIEF Staff Reports

A

n inmate ex pe r ienced a br ief moment of f ree dom when he took control of the van that was transporting him and two other inmates from Bernalillo Cou nt y Detention Center to McKinley County Adult Detention Center March 21.

The two ma le inmates 35-year-old Joshua Hall and 36-year-old Rickie Billie were shackled and handcuffed and placed in the rear compartment of the transport van. The lone female, 45-year-old LaCosta Reeves, was shackled in the side compartment of the van.

Before getting onto I-40, there was some commotion in the rear compartment so the deputy stopped to check on his restrained passengers and found nothing alarming. He got back on the road and headed westbound on I-40 when Hall claimed that he was having trouble breathing, stating he was having a heart attack.

T he deput y pu l led of f at the 66 Pit Stop, west of Albuquerque, and called for an ambulance.

He opened the rear door of the van to check on Hall. He B e r n a l i l lo C ou nt y Sheriff’s Office charges: Assault with intent to commit a violent felony upon a piece office Assault on a peace officer Battery on peace officer Disarming a peace officer Resisting, evading, obstructing Escape from jail False imprisonment Unlawful taking of a motor vehicle

7 4

FAREWELL COUNCILOR Yogash Kumar says goodbye during his final city council meeting

Law enforcement agencies, including McKinley County Sheriff ’s Office, State Police, Cibola County Sheriff, and Laguna police, chase after a stolen police van with three inmates. Lone inmate, Josh Hall, planned and executed his failed escape scheme. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Undersheriff James Maiorano side compartments.

T he pu r su it conti nued westbound on I-40, where multiple attempts to deflate the tires using spike strips were unsuccessful. By this time, several agencies, including Cibola County Sheriff’s Office, McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, and Laguna Police, were actively trying to stop the van.

Still westbound, nearing Exit 102, Hall abruptly veered

Josh Hall

TRANSPORT VAN | SEE PAGE 20

An inmate that was being transported from Bernalillo County to Gallup took control of the van that was driven by an unnamed McKinley County Sheriff ’s Office deputy. The vehicle crashed near mile marker 102, leaving I-40 westbound. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Undersheriff James Maiorano moved him out of the van and had him sit on the step. “[Hall] kept saying I can’t breathe, I am having a heart attack, and that’s when he attacked my deputy,” McKinley County Undersheriff James Maiorano said.

A lso, u nk now n to t he deputy at the time, Hall had removed his handcuffs. He

8

then attacked the deputy. Next, a physical struggle ensued and they both fell to the ground.

Hall tried to take the deputy’s fi rearm, but the deputy drew his weapon. But, as Hall appeared compliant he made a move for the driver’s seat of the transport van.

The deputy struggled with Hall at the driver’s side door of

the van, but Hall got behind the wheel and sped off, knocking the deputy to the ground. The deputy immediately called 911.

A report was received that the van was seen exiting I-40 at Exit 131 and heading north.

New Mexico State Police located the van and Hall fled in the vehicle with the two inmates still in the rear and

Cibola County Sheriff’s Office Charges: Kidnapping (fi rst degree) Assault with intent to commit a violent felony on a peace officer Receiving or transferring stolen motor vehicles (second offense) Assault with intent to commit a violent felony Aggravated fleeing a law enforced officer Criminal damage to property (Over $1,000) Driving while license revoked

WHAT’S INSIDE …

HUGE AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA Man hopes drug saint will help him evade police

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

12 16 17 RMCHCS NEW CEO Robert Whitaker named hospital’s new CEO

COAL AVENUE UPDATES Next phase will last through summer

MOVIE REVIEW ‘Infinite Storm’ has beautiful scenery

NEWS

ASHLEY

FRIGIDAIRE

BENCHCRAFT BY ASHLEY

SERTA

SIGNATURE DESIGN BY ASHLEY

ACME MILLENNIUM BY ASHLEY SERTA BENCHCRAFT BY ASHLEY

^^^ JHZ[SLM\YUP[\YLNHSS\W JVT

4L[YV (]L .HSS\W 54 ASHLEY

NEWS

URBAN STYLES MILLENNIUM BY ASHLEY

ACME

ASHLEY LANE FRIGIDAIRE Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

SIGNATURE DESIGN BY

sale

JONAR

te i SH e T k R a A We m be a SM o you t

The whole store’s on

BENCHCRAFT BY ASHLEY

n o i t c e l e S s u o l Fabu rices P t a e e c i v Gr r e S T y S l E d R n Frie S NO INTE r for Y eve A n D a h t R! r E 90 e P i s P a O

PEAK LIVING

SIGNATURE DESIGN BY ASHLEY LG

comes

STEVE SILVER

Here

MILLENNIUM BY ASHLEY

STEVE SILVER

LG

Castle Furniture’s Gorgeous New Styles will make Your Heart Flutter Faster and Faster!

5

Anonymous complaint triggers investigation

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

N

ew Mexico’s State Auditor is looking into an anonymous complaint by a group claiming they are city employees concerned about how the city is handling employee and ex-employee health benefits.

That may or may not be a big deal. Auditor Brian Colón’s

Gallup Sun Publishing, LLC Publisher Babette Herrmann

office confirmed that they received a complaint alleging insurance fraud of at least $50,000 and opened an examination, but spokeswoman Stephanie Telles also noted the office opens an examination for every tip received on the anonymous line.

The auditor’s office investigates complaints of government fraud, waste and abuse.

It doesn’t discuss the mechanics of or timeline for their

Contributing Editor Cody Begaye Correspondents Molly Ann Howell Rachelle Nones Rachel Pfeiffer Holly J. Wagner Photography Ana Hudgeons Ryan Hudgeons Knifewing Segura On the Cover A seasonal look at the lights of downtown Coal Avenue, prior to the start of Coal Avenue Commons project. Photo by RAH Photography The Gallup Sun, published Fridays, is not responsible or liable for any claims or offerings, nor responsible for availability of products advertised. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The Gallup Sun distributes newspapers in McKinley, Cibola and Apache counties.

Office: 1983 State Rd. 602 Gallup, NM 87301

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gallup Sun, PO Box 1212, Gallup, NM. Mailing Address: PO Box 1212 Gallup, NM 87305 www.gallupsun.com Phone: (505) 722-8994 Fax: (505) 212-0391 gallupsun@gmail.com Letter to the editor/guest column ACCEPTED BY EMAIL ONLY. State full name and city/town.

No pen names. ID required. All submissions subjected to editor’s approval. Guest columnists, email Sun for submission requirements.

6

actual fi nancial audit, which we do every year with every state agency or entity.”

The substance of the complaint alleges the city paid for some employees to continue receiving health insurance after they left, and that 14 former employees paid the city to continue their benefits under COBRA but were not enrolled.

City Ma nager Ma r ya nn Ustick a nd City Attor ney Curtis Hayes both said they

had not had any complaints from past employees.

“This is an anonymous complaint — so not a credible source. I have received no complaints from any former employees about a lack of health insurance coverage under the COBRA program,” Ustick said.

“If there actually are former employees having issues with their COBRA coverage, I’m not aware of it,” Hayes said.

RISE aims to level the business playing field for women, minorities GALLUP BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE FOR AWARDS

Administrative Assistant Valerie Smith Design Volodymyr Lotysh

examinations, other than to say they are handled by the investigative div ision. A n examination is not an audit, and not all examinations result in action.

“It’s just a review of allegations that have come to our office. It’s more limited in scope because it is specific to what the complaint is,” Telles said. “When we speak of an audit, we’re referring to anything that might include an

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

THANK YOU ADVERTISERS Amazing Grace Personal Care - 17 Amigo Automotive Group - 1 Bubany Insurance Agency - 20 505 Burgers and Wings - 15 Butler’s Office City - 19 Castle Furniture - 5 Crime Stoppers - 9 El Morro Theatre & Events Center - 17 Gallup BID - 8 Gallup Housing Authority - 3 Gallup McKinley County Schools - 2 Genaro’s Cafe - 15 Grandpa’s Grill - 15 Keller Williams Realty - 1 McKinley County Community Services - 16 NMHU Grant - 22 NMHU - 22 Octavia Fellin Public Library - 15 Pinnacle Bank - 20 Rico Auto Complex - 24 Rollie Mortuary - 14 Route 66 Diner - 15 Sacred Heart Catholic School - 13 Sammy C’s Rock N’ Sports Pub & Grille - 21 Thunderbird Supply Company - 6 TravelCenters of America - 11 UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center - 18 Western New Mexico University - 12

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

R

unning a small business is a challenge for anyone, but can be especially difficult for women and people of color who may not start with a lot of connections or advantages.

Comcast’s RISE program was created to help level the playing field.

“Comcast RISE launched in October 2020 to advance digital equity and help provide underrepresented small business owners with access to the digital tools they need to thrive,” Kyle Biederwolf, Comcast manager of external affairs, said.

It has reached 8,000 recipients in 590 cities in 34 states.

So far, 13 New Mexico businesses have qualified for RISE awards, including a vegetarian café, a coffee house, legal and credit consulting businesses, a beauty supply store, a pottery studio, a personal trainer, a

RISE AIMS | SEE PAGE 12

NEWS

Colleagues pay tribute to retiring City Council member Yogash Kumar

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

O

ne thing was clear by the end of the March 22 City Council meeting: retiring council member Yogash Kumar will be sorely missed.

“You’ve been my boss, you’ve been my inspiration and you’ve been my friend. You can’t be replaced. Your unique perspective has been so helpful to us and for the staff,” City Manager Maryann Ustick said.

“I also want to thank you for your support of the community, in so many ways that go unknown to the community.

Come by often and give me advice.”

She was among several colleagues who sometimes tearfully heaped praise and commendations on Kumar at the last meeting of his second term. Some, like Mayor Louie Bonaguidi, had funny stories to share. He told about their fi rst meeting: “Twenty years ago we were putting up Ceremonial banners.

I’m driving by his motel and I see a bucket truck out in front.

I pull in and ask, ‘Who owns that bucket truck?’ and it was Yogash. I called Yogash and asked, ‘Can we borrow your bucket truck so we can put up banners? And he refused.

“A day later he calls me back and says ‘I’ve decided I’ll lend it to you.’ He lent me that truck and we used it for the next 12 years. The truck broke down and he had a Skytrak [industrial lift], so he handed me the keys and said. ‘Take this.’ I’m looking at it saying, ‘What the hell do I do with this machine?

I can’t drive this.’ So he drove it. For the next five years, when we did it, he got up at 5 a.m. to use his Skytrak to put up those banners.”

Greater Gallup Economic Development Cor poration Executive Director Patricia Lundstrom credited Kumar NEWS

Yogash Kumar with getting that organization off the ground in 2012.

“We had no off ice, no equipment, no supplies. It was Councilor Kumar, then a regular citizen businessman, who bought all of our computers, all of our supplies and got us ready to do economic development,” she said. “His value to the organization has been second to none, with key business insights and working knowledge of the community.

You have to have both when it comes to economic development. It’s my hope that he stays with us and certainly qualifies to sit on our board.” [Kumar and Bonaguidi are ex-officio members.]

Lu nd st rom a lso noted that Kumar has donated his council salary to community nonprofits, including GGEDC, over the years. Another beneficiary has been the Gallup Fire Department.

Before presenting Kumar with a metal flag from the department, Fire Chief Jesus “Chuy” Mor a le s t h a n ked Kumar for his support and donations that help pay for smoke detectors for the community. “Those are items that help minimize the risk and will continue to keep people safe at night for the next 10 years,” he said, quipping, “They have 10-year batteries in them.”

Councilor Linda Garcia had to choke back tears. “He’s special to me because we started out from day one nine years

ALLEN EUGENE FUHS

August 11, 1927 - December 20, 2021 Allen Eugene Fuhs was born in Laramie, Wyoming on August 11, 1927, the second of two children of Grace and Michael Fuhs. He passed away in Monterey, California, on December 20, 2021, at the age of 94. Dr. Fuhs graduated from Gallup High School in 1946, and then attended the University of New Mexico, where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After serving in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict, he returned to his studies, earning M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.

During his lifetime, Dr. Fuhs conducted research into topics ranging from rarefied gas dynamics for reentry vehicles to anti-prism geometries in structures. He spent the majority of his career as a professor at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), and retired from the School as a Distinguished Professor - the equivalent of a Chair at a private university. After retiring from NPS, he was Chief Scientist of Orbital Sciences Corporation from 1987-1990. His many professional accomplishments included being elected President of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); being named an Honorary Fellow of AIAA, the Institute’s highest rank; being awarded the U.S. Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Medal; and being selected for the New Mexico Museum of Space History Hall of Fame. Fuhs also served on Vice President Dan Quayle’s Space Policy Advisory Board and on the Advisory Committee for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Late in life, he established the Fuhs Family Foundation (a part of the Community Foundation for Monterey County) to encourage involvement of young scientists and engineers in science communications.

Dr. Fuhs is survived by his daughter, Susan Fuhs; son-in-law and grandson, David and John Fink; his brother, John (Jack) Fuhs; many nieces and nephews; and his long-time companion, Maxine Hoag. His funeral service, which was delayed for Covid-19 safety, was held at Cope Mortuary Chapel in Gallup, New Mexico, on March 21, 2022, after which he was interred next to his wife, Emily, at Hillcrest Cemetery. Pallbearers were David Fink, John Fink, Derrick Fortney, Dennis Fuhs, John Fuhs, Kerry Fuhs, Loren Fuhs and Michael Fuhs. The service was officiated by one of Dr. Fuhs’ former students, LCDR Brian Tousley, USCG (ret).

COLLEAGUES PAY | SEE PAGE 20 Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

7

PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS

Highway 491 collision leaves one person dead Staff Reports

O

ne person died after a crash on March 19 when a car collided with a parked semitruck. The victim was later identified as Nicholas Yazzie, 20, from Navajo, N.M. Around 8 am, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office was

called to a crash on Highway 491 at the 6-mile marker.

According to the Sheriff Office’s Facebook page, the driver of the car drifted out of the right lane partially onto the shoulder of the road and hit a parked semi-truck. The police do not belief that the car stopped at any point.

Yazzie died at the scene.

The semi-truck driver was only minorly injured, and his vehicle was not damaged.

The southbound lanes of Highway 491 were reduced to one lane for several hours while the crash was investigated and the towing company removed the car.

The sheriff’s department is still investigating the factors that caused the crash.

Drug saint lets dealer down Staff Reports

A

man trying to get a large amount of marijuana out of the state may have been hoping Jesus Melvarde, the “narco-saint”, would help him achieve his mission.

On March 16, around 9:36 am, Gallup Police Officer Brandon

Salazar saw a white Ford Fusion following too closely to a semitruck near the 27-mile marker on I-40 eastbound. The car was also swerving onto the shoulder of the road.

When Salazar finally pulled the car over, he met the driver, Jonathan Jairo Barragan Alejo, 25, from Clearlake Oaks, Calif.

He asked the young man for his

license, registration, and car insurance, which Barragan Alejo was able to provide.

The officer had the young man follow him to his patrol car and he began to write a traffic violation for Barragan Alejo. As he did so, Salazar began talking to the man and asked where he was going.

Barragan Alejo said he was

ǡ ͻ Ǥ ǡ ǣ ǡ ǣ ͷͲͷǦ͹ʹͺǦͳͲͷͷ ǣ ̷ Ǥ

8

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

A car crashed into a semitruck on Highway 491 near the 6-mile marker March 19. Photo Credit: MCSO

on his way to visit his grandma in Tulsa, Okla., and that he was also going to be looking for work while he was there. He explained that he was planning on staying there for a month.

According to his report, Barragan Alejo appeared nervous to Salazar. Salazar noted that he was breathing very heavily.

Salazar noticed that the registration was not in Barragan Alejo’s name, so the man explained to the officer that he had had the vehicle for a few months and was in the process of buying it.

According to the report, Salazar made the connection that driving a vehicle that belongs to someone else and also driving a salvaged vehicle are things associated with drug smuggling.

Barragan Alejo explained that the car had only been driven a few times around the northern California area in the past couple months, but Salazar was able to find out through the Drug Enforcement Agency’s plate reader system that the car had been used to travel on I-40 through Arizona and New Mexico multiple times in the past month.

When Salazar asked if Barragan Alejo had been traveling outside of California recently, the man could only stare at the car without saying anything.

Salazar asked Barragan Alejo if anything illegal was in the car, such as heroin, meth, cocaine, or large quantities of marijuana.

When he responded to the meth question, Barragan Alejo gave a nervous chuckle and looked back at the car before saying no. When asked about marijuana, he responded with a simple “no.”

According to Salazar’s report,

Jonathan Jairo Barragan Alejo Barragan Alejo denied his request to have the car searched, and he kept asking questions as if the car was being tracked. Salazar began to believe that the young man was involved in criminal activity, so he detained him and put him the back of his patrol car.

When Salazar took the car’s keys from Barragan Alejo, he noticed a medallion on the key ring with a cross on it with the patron saint Jesus Melvarde on it.

According to Salazar, Jesus Melvarde is the “narco-saint” often worshipped by people of Hispanic cultures involved in criminal organizations.

After he received a warrant from the District Judge, Salazar was able to search the Ford Fusion. He found two large black trash bags full of marijuana and a suitcase which had three plastic bags of marijuana inside it in the car.

In total, Barragan Alejo had over 34 pounds of marijuana in the car. Salazar took Barragan Alejo to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center for booking. He was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Barragan Alejo’s preliminary examination is scheduled for March 30.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Shoplifting to support a drug habit?

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

A

n Albuquerque man wa s about to be charged with shoplifting, but then the police found fentanyl on him, so he received another charge for that.

On March 15, around 4:27 pm, Gallup Police Officer Christopher Dawes was dispatched to the Home Depot 530 Kachina St., in reference to a shoplifting call.

When he arrived at the

store, the employee pointed out the alleged thief to Dawes.

Edwa rd Begay, 3 4, f rom A lbuquerque, wa s sit ti ng behind a stack of bags.

When Dawes spoke to the employee, he explained that Begay had been trying to swipe a card to pay for his items, but when it didn’t work, he began to walk out without paying.

Accord i ng t o Dawe s’s report, Begay stole a pair of Husky gloves and a Reinforce cable light. The employee said that the items cost almost $43 in total, and that the store

wanted to press charges.

When Dawes approached Begay, he was wearing a black purse around his neck. When he did a pat down on the suspect, Dawes found a pocketknife in Begay’s right pocket.

Dawes took the knife away.

Dawes handcuffed Begay and put him in the backseat of his patrol car. He called Metro Dispatch and learned that Begay had two active warrants for failure to comply with his probation. Dawes arrested Begay for the active warrants.

A fter he arrested him,

Dawes went to check out Begay’s black purse. He found a small green container, and when he shook it he heard some things moving around in it.

Dawes asked Begay what was in the container, to which Begay replied, “the blues.” He then explained that that meant fentanyl.

Ga llup Na rcotic Agent Lionel Desidero confirmed that Begay had 10 fentanyl pills on him at the time of his arrest.

Begay was charged with possession of a controlled substance and shoplifting,

Edward Begay and Dawes took him to the McK i n le y C o u n t y A d u l t Detention Center. His preliminary examination is scheduled for March 30.

Copper thieving duo get the shaft

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent wo men led police on a chase through Gallup after absconding with some copper w i re from Gallup’s streets department headquarters.

at the scene, a city employee explained that a small black SUV was seen near the electrical storage yard. The employee said he saw the two men take the wire off the spool and load it into their vehicle before leaving the area. .

Andrew Howe A nd r ew Howe, 31, of Gallup, and Shawn Denney, 44, from Gamerco, face larceny charges for allegedly going after a spool of precious metal paid for with taxpayer dollars.

It all started on March 11, around 5:03 am, when Metro Dispatch received a call from a city employee regarding two men loading up some copper wire from the streets department, 840 Warehouse Ln. When Gallup Police Officer Philamina Chischilly arrived

Shawn Denney As Chischilly began to ask the employee for more detail about the black SU V, the employee pointed to a black SUV heading west near the railroad tracks. According to the report, Chischilly watched the SUV get onto Allison Road.

Officer Iris Pinero told Chischilly that she was in the area and available to help. The vehicle was stopped south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 491 and Chino Loop.

Chischilly asked the driver,

T

Howe, where they were coming from, and he told her they were coming from the west side of Gallup. The passenger, Denney, said they were heading home.

The repor t states that Chischilly noticed there was a thick wire rolled up in the back of the SUV. She estimated that it was 25-30 feet long and about an inch and a half thick.

The officers detained the

two men and placed them in the back of their patrol vehicles.

Meanwhile, Metro Dispatch told Chischilly that Denney had a warrant for his arrest.

While Chischilly was briefing Sgt. Terrance Pekeytewa on the incident, Howe admitted to her that he had taken the wire off the spool outside of the gate of the streets department building.

The city employee arrived at the scene and identified Howe and Denny as the copper thieves. He estimated that the stolen wire is worth $2,000.

Howe and Denney were taken to the Adult Detention Center and booked for larceny.

Denney was also arrested for his outstanding warrant.

Both Howe and Denney had prel i m i n a r y he a r i n g s on March 23.

8)0 8JMMJBN 3PCFSU /FMTPO +S 8)"5 )PNJDJEF 7JDUJN 8)&/ .BZ 8)&3& *ZBOCJUP $IBQUFS "SFB NJMFT &BTU PG (BMMVQ /. /PSUI PG *OUFSTUBUF *G ZPV QSPWJEF JOGPSNBUJPO BCPVU UIJT DSJNF :PV DPVME SFDFJWF B SFXBSE GSPN UIF '#* BOE $SJNF 4UPQQFST GPS BT NVDI BT

$$$ 6,000.00 $$$

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

PUBLIC SAFETY

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

9

WEEKLY DWI REPORT Staff Reports Featured DWI Lamar Thompson March 11, 12:46 pm DWI (Third)

A call for a domestic dispute led to Lamar Thompson, 34, of Fort Wingate, being arrested and charged with a third DWI. G a l lu p O f f ic e r C i nd y Romancito was dispatched to Hidden Valley Apartments at 810 Patton Dr. after a woman called stating her boyfriend had been drinking and driving. Romancito arrived and

was flagged down by the caller, who pointed out the beige GMC Sierra truck her boyfriend, Thompson, had driven.

She told Romancito that Thompson had not returned to their residence since March 7. Earlier that day, the caller saw Thompson in the truck in a nearby drive-thru and tried to get his attention. He pulled the vehicle over and the two got into an argument before he drove off from the scene and she followed him to the apartment building.

After speaking with the woman, Romancito went to the apartment and knocked on the door. The owner of the apartment answered and said Thompson was in the back. Thompson appeared from inside shortly afterward, during which Romancito saw he had a metal object sticking out of his pocket, which turned out to be a box cutter.

Romancito told Thompson he was seen possibly driving while intoxicated and asked if he would perform the

Standard Field Sobriety Tests.

Thompson declined to take the tests but admitted consuming one beer earlier in the morning, as well as two shortly before Romancito arrived. Romancito placed Thompson in handcuffs to detain him for further investigation.

Thompson said he wanted to give money in his pocket to his girlfriend before leaving the scene. The amount totaled $772. Romancito transported Thompson to Gallup Police Department, where he also refused to give a breath sample.

She also noted signs of intoxication from Thompson including bloodshot eyes, a smell of alcohol, and swaying in place.

Metro Dispatch advised Romancito that Thompson had two prior DWIs. After the refusal for the breath test, Thompson was transported to the county jail and booked for DWI (third), driv ing with a suspended license, no insurance or registration, and having an open container in a vehicle.

NM residents lost nearly $13 million to internet crimes

The pretrial hearing is set for April 5.

Name: Curley Brook Age: 28 Arrested: March 6 Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Status: Pretrial hearing March 31 Name: Tammie Willie Age: 37 Arrested: March 4 Charge: DWI Status: Pretrial hearing April 7 Name: Theron Logg Age: 26 Arrested: Feb. 26 Charge: Aggravated DWI Status: Pretrial hearing May 5 Name: Tustin Daye Age: 30 Arrested: March 7

P

HOENIX – A man from the Navajo Nation has been sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for a murder that happened in 2020.

Joshua John Todecheene, 30, of Kayenta, Ariz. was sentenced on March 21 to 17.5 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release,

by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa. Todecheene previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.

M

ore than 2 ,6 0 0 New Mexico victims of internet scams reported losing almost $13 million in 2021, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint

10

Center.

The latest IC3 annual report listed 2,644 victims in New Mexico, with total losses of $12,761,850.

Business email compromise (BEC)/email account compromise scams accounted for $2.7 million in losses, followed by confidence fraud/

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

romance scams at almost $2 million.

“This report should be a wake-up call for everyone who uses the internet,” said Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the Albuquerque

NM RESIDENTS | SEE PAGE 12

Name: Konner Littlecrow Age: 18 Arrested: March 6 Charge: Aggravated DWI Status: Pretrial hearing April 5 Name: Dennison Billy Age: 31 Arrested: Feb. 25 Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Status: Pretrial hearing May 12 Name: Alycia Burnside Age: 25 Arrested: Feb. 19 Charge: Aggravated DWI Status: Motion hearing May 17

Kayenta man sentenced to 17.5 years in prison Staff Reports

By Frank Fisher FBI Albuquerque

Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Status: Pretrial hearing March 31

In February 2020, after an argument with the victim, Todecheene left the scene of the argument, returned with a rifle, and shot the victim in the chest, killing him. Todecheene and the victim are both members of the Navajo Nation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Div ision of Public Safety conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kiyoko Patterson, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

Check out our FREE access community website! www.gallupsun.com PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS

STATE & REGION

PNM iproactively seeking information on emerging technologies Staff Reports

A

L BUQU ERQU E – The Public Service Compa ny of New Mexico is issuing two requests for information on energ y resou rces and emerging technologies that could help the company toward its carbon-free goal.

Accord i ng to a pres s relea se PNM sent out on March 22, the fi rst request will help identify potential future generation resources that PNM could place into service in the 2028 to 2033 timeframe.

Through this request, the

company will collect information on resources that PNM could pursue to install up to 600 milliwatts of generating resources.

This Future Generation r e q u e s t fo r i n fo r m a t io n is desig ned to encou rage resources that have long-lead development activities so they are ready to be considered in future requests for new resources.

The second request seeks emerging technologies that PNM could consider in its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan; a 20-year resource outlook that PNM develops with

community partners every three years. The information collected through this request will aim to support PNM in its transition to 100% carbon-free electricity.

Both requests for information are being pursued with a June 15 deadline, with supplemental information due by Sept. 15, and respondents are welcome to respond to either or both as appropriate.

However, the information requested is very distinct for each submittal as described in the requests for information, and responses will only be considered for the

request in which a response is submitted.

REGISTRATION AND RESPONSE SUBMITTALS These requests for inform a t ion w i l l be m a n a ged through a PNM Supply Chain S ou rc i n g s it e ho s t e d by SciQuest, an affi liated entity of Jaggaer.

T h e i n s t r u c t i o n s fo r respondents document for each request for information are provided as non-confidential documents on the PNM websites identified below: • https://bids.sciquest.com/ apps/ Router/ PublicEvent?

CustomerOrg=PNMResources • https://www.pnm.com/rfp In order to preserve transparency in the process and facilitate equal consideration to all respondents, respondents must not contact any PNM employees or agents of the company in regard to these requests for information. All communications are to be conducted through the PNM Supply Chain Sourcing site.

AG Balderas secures $1.7 million settlement for NM consumers Staff Reports

S

PUBLIC SAFETY

6WRS E\ *DOOXS 7$ WR VOHHS VKRS IXHO XS RU GLQH

Attorney General Hector Balderas the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of its products, thereby deceiving consumers into believing they were getting much bigger discounts than they actually received.

A s pa r t of t he a g ree ment the company admits no wrongdoing, but has agreed to injunctive terms that prohibit Livingston from engaging in this behavior in the future.

Livingston will be mailing notices to consumers who may be entitled to refunds over the next few months. Consumers who have purchased hearing aids from Livingston in recent years are encouraged to reach out to the Livingston location they purchased from to ensure that their mailing address is up to date.

+RXU &RQYHQLHQFH 6WRUH *DPH 5RRP /DXQGU\ 5RRP +RW 6KRZHUV

, +Z\ ([LW : +LJKZD\ *DOOXS 10

ZZZ WD SHWUR FRP

$Q\ QLJKWV

0RQGD\ WKUX 7KXUVGD\

'DLO\ :HHNO\ $QG 0RQWKO\ 'HSRVLW UHTXLUHG DW &KHFN ,Q

:HHNO\ 5DWH

'D\V

7$ 0RWHO

+RXU 7UXFN 6HUYLFH 6KRS

&RXQWU\ 3ULGH 5HVWDXUDQW

ANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a $1.7 million settlement with Livingston Hearing Aid Centers, a Texas-based hearing aid retailer with locations throughout New Mexico, on March 23.

Balderas’s Consumer and Env ironmental Protection Division led the effort to investigate Livingston’s business practices, resulting in an agreement that distributes $1.4 million in restitution to hundreds of defrauded consumers and secures $300,000 worth of free hearing aids and other assistance for at-risk populations throughout the state.

“This settlement ser ves as a warning to others that take advantage of our most vulnerable, especially those that are poor, elderly, or who do not speak English as a fi rst language,” Balderas said.

“Retailers engaging in deceptive business practices in New Mexico will not be tolerated.”

Balderas’s office alleges that Livingston charged hidden fees, refused to accept returns, ran deceptive advertising, and falsely inf lated

1HHG WR SUHVHQW FRXSRQ IRU PRWHO UDWHV *RRG RQO\ DW 7$ LQ *DOOXS 10

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

11

NEWS

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

RMCHCS announces new CEO Robert Whitaker Staff Reports

T

he Rehoboth McKinley Chr ist ia n Hea lt h Care Ser vices Board of Trustees

is pleased to announce that Robert A. Whitaker, MPH, MBA, will ser ve a s Chief Executive Officer, beginning April 15. This announcement comes after the months-long

coordinated recruitment effort between the RMCHCS Board of Trustees and Community Hospital Consulting.

The announcement comes on the heels of demands made

by McKinley County commissioners. One of which was to fi nd a full-time CEO or else face losing their lease with the county.

Hiring a CEO is at the top of the checklist of things that the commission and county officials wanted the hospital to make a reality in order to keep their lease going with the county.

W h itaker comes to RMCHCS and Gallup from Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas, where he has been ser ving as Chief Executive Officer since 2020.

Pr ior, he ser ved a s Chief Operating Officer for the facility from 2015 to 2016.

Ac c o r d i n g t o a n ew s release, Whitaker brings several years of experience as a successful hospital CEO/ Administrator with a focus on operational and fi nancial performance, collaborative process improvement, and

RISE AIMS | FROM PAGE 6 screen printer and nonprofits supporting vehicle donations and STEM education.

“We have not yet had a Comcast RISE recipient from Gallup or McKinley County, however the current application round doesn’t close until June 17, 2022. I have high hopes that we’ll have a winner from the Gallup area in that round,” Julianne Phares, Comcast New Mexico director of external affairs, said.

Winning applicants may qualify for services in creative production and marketing or a technology makeover, free with the possible exception of taxes and other fees.

NM RESIDENTS | FROM PAGE 10 FBI Division. “What is particularly heart-breaking is the large number of our older New Mexico residents who were victimized. The FBI is working

12

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

medical staff relations.

His top priority will be to continue to lead the financial improvement plans laid out by the hospital Board a nd Com mu n it y Hospit a l Consulting, while developing new initiatives that advance RMCHCS as a healthcare destination for the region.

“We are very excited for Robert to join our hospital leadership team and become an integral part of our community,” Steve McKer na n, RMCHCS Board Chair, said.

“We appreciate all the hard work, dedication and support from our Board directors and

hospital leadership during the past few years. Together, we commit to our steadfast mission to make a profound and lasting difference in the health and quality of life for all people in the community.”

Whittaker’s executive leadership roles prior to Southwest Medical Center CEO include: CEO for critical access hospital Kiowa District Healthcare a nd its cli n ic, located i n K iowa , K a n s a s; CEO for Hamilton County Hospital, Syracuse, Kansas, where he led turnaround efforts preventing hospital closure; and A s s oc i a t e Ad m i n i s t r a t or for two Un iver sa l Hea lth Ser vices’ hospitals, Valley Hospital Medical Center and Centennia l Hills Hospita l Medical Center, both in Las Vegas, Nevada.

W h it t a ker e a r ne d h i s Bachelor of Science degree in Industr ia l Engineer ing and his Master of Business Ad m i n i st r at ion f rom t he University of Houston, and his Master of Public Health degree from Yale University.

He and his wife Amy have five children.

Applicants must provide information about themselves and their businesses, including revenue, history, how their services impact the community, unique aspects or selling points, social media use, how they use technology and a video pitch.

The tech makeover includes computer equ ipment a nd Internet, voice and cybersecurity services for 12 months.

Applications for marketing assistance are targeted to include advertising and marketing consultations with Effectv marketing research and creative teams to gain insights on how to grow the business; or a turnkey production of a 30-second TV commercial, plus

a media strategy consultation; or a 90-day media placement schedule.

The program is open to businesses that are independently owned and operated, not a franchise location; at least 51% owned and operated by someone who identifies as Black, Indigenous, a person of color or female; registered to conduct business in the United States; have been operating for at least a year; and are within the Comcast Business or effective service area footprint.

Winners will be announced July 26, Biederwolf said.

RISE applications are available online at https:// www. c o m c a s t r i s e . c o m / rise-apply/

overtime to identify and stop these scammers, but the public can help us by immediately reporting suspected criminal internet activity to ic3.gov.”

According to IC3, New Mexico residents older than 60 made up the largest share of

victims and losses by age group: 671 victims reported $5,599,703 in losses.

New Mexico’s 2021 total nu mber s show a notable

Robert Whitaker

NM RESIDENTS | SEE PAGE 14

HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Earthweek: Diary of a Changing World Week ending Friday, March 18, 2022

By Steve Newman

Hornet Sex Traps T he i nv a s i ve Asia n gia nt hornet that has in recent years ravaged honeybee hives in parts of British Columbia and Washington could possibly be wiped out for good with “sex traps” developed by U.S. and Chinese researchers. Writing in the journal Current Biology, they say key ingredients in the sex pheromones of the “murder hornets” can be put into traps, luring the males from the queens and preventing them from mating. Test traps have proven successful, attracting only males. “In two field seasons, we were able to rapidly collect thousands of males that were attracted to the odor,” said biologist and co-author James Nieh.

Earthquakes A temblor off northeastern Japan killed at lea st 5 people, derailed a bullet train and knocked out power as far away as Tokyo and beyond.

• Earth movements were also felt in greater Hong Kong, the northwestern Philippines, cent r a l Ca l i for n i a a nd south-central Alaska.

Farming Shift Researchers have developed a map that shows where the world’s major food crops could successfully be moved to combat climate change and greatly reduce the need for irrigation. Writing in the journal Na t u r e C om mu n ic a t io n s Earth & Environment, they

5.1 4.1

7.3

4.1 6.4

+114° Dampier, W. Australia

-82° Vostok, Antarctica propose expanding agriculture around the corn belt in the American Midwest and south of the Sahara desert.

This would allow vast tracts of farmland in Europe and India to revert to their natural ecology, allowing CO2-eating forests to grow back in the process. By cultivating crops in places where the scientists believe that rainfall would provide all the needed moisture, water resources could be more targeted to the planet’s thirsty and growing human population.

Gorilla Thirst

Gombe

a healthy body temperature range,” said Edward Wright of the Max Planck Institute.

Deluge Aftermath Australian he a lt h ex p er t s warn that there will likely be a rise in serious mosquito-borne disease, along with more bites from snakes and spiders, as the catastrophic i nu ndat ion i n t he sout heast subsides. New cases of Japanese encephalitis have already been reported, prompting authorities to expand vaccinations, especially for pig farm

Billy

workers and their families due to their increased chances of getting bitten by infected mosquitoes. With funnel web spiders being discovered in more homes around the flood disaster zones, anti-venom manufacturers have stepped up production as a precaution.

Vanishing Ice Fresh data f r o m N A S A’ s ice -mon itor i ng Cr yoSat-2 a nd IceSat -2 spa ce craft reveal that the sea ice surrounding the North Pole is thinner and disappearing

more quickly than previously thought. Using radar and lidar, the satellites can measure the thickness of the ice with a resolution of about a half-inch.

With that data, a new report says that the Arctic Ocean has lost about a third of its winter sea ice cover over the past 20 years. Scientists say ice that once did not melt over the summer has lost an average of about 1.5 feet in thickness just since IceSat-2 began operating in 2019. This shrinking leaves only much thinner seasonal ice, which melts completely each summer.

Tropical Cyclones Cyclone Gombe lef t a t le a s t 15 people dea d i n Moza mbique a nd 7 other fatalities in neighboring Malawi after roaring ashore as a Category-2 storm.

• Tropica l Stor m Billy churned the Indian Ocean.

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

C l i m a t e change is causing East Africa’s two endangered mountain gorilla populations to have to drink more frequently, which seems to make the primates especially susceptible to the region’s warming climate. The rainforest dwellers typically get most of their hydration from the food they eat. But the warmer weather in recent years has caused them to become more reliant on water from streams, puddles and even swamps. “In these conditions, drinking water likely helps to maintain

The recent and “frightening” Arctic sea ice melt could mean the Arctic will become ice-free each summer by 2035. Photo Credit: UAF/ Adrienne Tivy HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

13

OPINIONS

Community group looks forward to new RMCH leadership To the Editor: The Community Health Act ion Group (CH AG) i s cautiously optimistic about the recent developments at RMCHCS, including the hiring of a new CEO, Robert Whitaker, and the County’s initial commitment to ensure increased transparency and accountability by the Board of Trustees.

We look forward to working with Mr. W hitaker to rebuild the community’s trust

in RMCH. However, it is still gravely concerning that management of the hospital has been wholly outsourced to CHC Consulting, with the CEO, CFO, CNO and Director of Human Resources all being employed by CHC. Since taking over the hospital 1.5 years ago, CHC has not prioritized community needs, patient safety, or staff culture and retention.

Instead, under CHC’s leadership, patient access has been

severely compromised, >65% of nurses and >40% of permanent physicians have resigned, and the hospital has faced unprecedented fi nancial losses.

Termination of the management contract between CHC and RMCHCS (which does not expire for another 2 years) is the only way to begin to rectify the situation and to allow RMCH leadership to serve the community, not cor porate interests.

County Commissioners’

have an obligation to follow through on their important, bold decision with specifics that will result in meaningful change.

CHAG has proposed reasonable mea sures to pro vide sorely needed taxpayer accountability and oversight with regard to hospital operations. We recommend the reconfi guration of the Board of Trustees to be majority representative of the community and the formation and implementation of a Community Advisory Board.

Both of these recommendations are standard practices for the governing boards of small, rural hospitals.

Together, we must remain vigilant in our quest for a community-forward, patient-cent er e d , f u l ly f u nc t ion i n g hospital.

NM RESIDENTS | FROM PAGE 12

''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 14

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

decrease from the previous year, with an almost 50 percent reduction in losses.

In 2020, 3,427 victims in New Mexico reported $23,903,594 in losses.

Part of the decrease is attributable to the reduction in BEC losses. In 2020, that scam accounted for more than $9.9 million in losses.

Nationally, the 2021 report includes information from 847,376 complaints of suspected internet crime — a 7 percent increase from 2020 — and reported losses exceeding $6.9 billion.

In addition to statistics, the IC3’s 2021 Internet Crime Repor t conta i ns i n for mation about the most prevalent internet scams affecting the public and offers guidance for

Connie Liu Readers, please sign our petition at RMCHisOurHospital. org.

CHAG Core Committee (primary author, then alphabetical) Dr. Connie Liu, MD/PhD Rose Eason Dr. Caleb Lauber, MD/MBA Dr. Kathy Mezoff, MD Brett Hartline Jean Philips Sara Pikaart, RN Dylan Solomon, RN Gwen Wilson, PA

prevention and protection. It also highlights the FBI’s work combatting internet crime, including recent case examples.

Finally, the 2021 Internet Crime Report explains the IC3, its mission, and functions.

The IC3 gives the public a reliable and convenient mechanism to report suspected internet crime to the FBI. The FBI analyzes and shares information from submitted complaints for investigative and intelligence purposes, for law enforcement, and for public awareness.

By reporting internet crime, victims are not only alerting law enforcement to the activity but aiding in the overall fight against cybercrime.

To report an online crime or view IC3’s annual reports and public service announcements, visit ic3.gov

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

OPINIONS

Are you comfortable with the risk you are taking?

I

“Risk can be a hard concept to calculate, remember, it is not a calculated risk if you haven’t calculated it.” Lawrence Castillo ‘Layin’ it on the line’

By Lawrence Castillo Guest Columnist

n the 2009 -2010 NFC Cha mpionsh ip Ga me, the Minnesota Vikings and the New Orleans Saints were tied 28-28 late in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings close to field goal range. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre took the snap,

Dine Local Restaurant Guide Please Support Local Businesses We have the best Burgers & Wings in Gallup!

(505) 722-9311

Offering DINE-IN & TAKE-OUT! Give Us A Call!

Hours:

1981 NM-602, Gallup, NM 87301

7E REç"ACK çç

Tuesday- Friday 11 am to 7 pm Saturday 11 am to 5 pm

rolled to his right, and saw about 30 yards of open field in front of him. Even though he had injured his leg in the third quarter, all Favre had to do was lurch forward for 10 yards, fall down, and have a fi rst-and-10 inside field goal range.

Instead, Favre reverted to what has made him a legendary hero (and sometimes a GOAT ) many times in his Hall of Fame career. He planted his foot and threw cross-field where Tracy Porter intercepted him at the 22-yard line. At that moment, Minnesota’s fine season, Favre’s great comeback, and Vikings fans’ hope for a Super Bowl were thrown away. The Saints ran out the clock and kicked a field goal on the fi rst possession of overtime.

What happened? In a pressure situation, with everything on the line, instead of making the high percentage play, a superstar did what felt familiar and comfortable – not what was safe.

You see the analogy coming.

Quarterbacking a football team and managing your retirement portfolio are wildly different activities. It is doubtful that we will ever achieve a “Brett Favre” status within your success. Yet, a failure on our part to “read the field” could be more devastating to a family than the shock and disappointment felt by the players, coaches, and fans after that heart-breaking loss.

It is common for us as individuals to be the “quarterback.”

If that’s the picture we are projecting, who is the head coach and team owner? Making all of the decisions in your planning can be very difficult, but help is often needed.

We have moments when we cannot handle any more risk (take the fi rst down!). We know we do not want to lose another dime (just get me into a good field position!). It does not make any difference if you are convinced you can choose the stocks, funds, IPO’s, REITs,

Lawrence Castillo or whatever will right their portfolio and make you look like a hero. Most of us may not be ready to take that step with you.

During that game, there were m i l l ion s of people watching. Some of those people were former NFL players.

Some were Hall of Famers.

Some were even Ha l l of Fame quarterbacks. But, when Favre planted his foot, there was no one on the planet more comfortable than he was. A lifetime of training, conditioning, practice, big games – even Super Bowls, had prepared him for that throw. It was the most comfortable thing in the world until Tracy Porter.

We may have the knowledge

LAWRENCE CASTILLO | SEE PAGE 20

ç $ISCOUNTç

'IVEçUSçAç#ALLçFORç$INE )Nç ORç#ARRY /UT ç çxç ç ç

&RPĠ MRLŨ XƖ IRU EUHDNIDVƜ OXQFŊ RU GLQQHU > E )+!! R^ (+!! a^ 7 )+!! R^ )+!! a^ DRe )+!! R^ '+!! a^ 4HANKȩYOUȩ FORȩYOURȩPATRONAGE ȩ% !ZTECȩ!VENUE 'ALLUP ȩ.-ȩȩ

$INEȩ ȩ)N ȩ ȩ#ARRY /UT

5RXWĠ 'LQHU %JOF *O BOE 1BUJP 4JUUJOH JT OPX PQFO 0S $BMM GPS 1JDL VQ PS %FMJWFSZ .PO 4BU BN QN & )JTU )XZ (BMMVQ /.

4VOEBZ $MPTFE ȩ ȩyȩ ȩ OPINIONS

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

15

COMMUNITY

Coal Avenue spruce-up to continue all summer

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

I

n a few weeks, the intersection of Coal Avenue and Second Street may look a bit like a bomb went off. The explanation is more mundane, and the end result should be a big downtown improvement.

The big ditch is part of the Coal Avenue Commons project, and will make Coal Avenue between First and Second streets look like it does between Second and Third streets, with ADA-compliant sidewalks, new benches, landscaping and lighting and a new signal at the intersection of Coal Avenue and Second street.

The fi rst phase of the project was fi nished last July. The new phase will give the area a unified, more inviting look.

“We’re trying to make it like an attraction for downtown that benefits the businesses,” said Planning and Development Director C.B. Strain. ”The more

time people spend downtown, the more money they will spend downtown. The businesses will benefit and the city will benefit.

It’s a project that we hope takes off and will allow people to do a lot more and better things downtown.”

But it’s going to get worse before it gets better, and the full construction project will last through the fall, Strain said, as crews work to replace water, sewer and drainage lines under the street, then rebuild the street and sidewalks. Some of the old pipes date back to the 1920s.

The intersection portion will take two to three months.

When that’s completed, crews will work down Coal Avenue to First Street for another six or seven months – less if everything goes well and there are no surprises.

During construction that block of Coal Avenue will only be accessible to pedestrians, and the city is working to provide parking on Aztec Avenue

Eastern view down Third Street shows off the improvements from the Coal Avenue Commons project on Aug. 6. File Photo for affected businesses, City Manager Maryann Ustick said.

T he con st r uct ion may also push the Arts Crawl over a block for a month or two, and will re-route the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial parade in August.

The new signal at Second and Coal will have what public works types call “scrambling,” which accommodates pedestrians who want to cross the intersection diagonally instead of corner to corner across one street at a time.

“It allows for pedestrian

travel in all directions,” Strain said. “It’s supposed to make it safer plus more pedestrian friendly.”

The City Council awarded the $3.5 million contract for the project to Murphy Builders at its March 22 meeting.

Funding will come 95 percent from NMDOT, with the city putting up $175,000 in matching funds. A precise construction schedule will be available in a few weeks, Strain said.

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 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

COMMUNITY

‘Infi nite Storm’ provides some beautiful imagery

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

RATING:  OUT OF  RUNNING TIME: 98 MINUTES T hi s feature f rom Bleeker Street Media opens at theaters in Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 25.

There have been a great many movies based on adventurers getting themselves stranded in the wilderness, leaving them isolated and warding off impossible conditions to reach safety. “Infi nite Storm” is yet another of these survival tales.

Based on a true story, it follows a pair of individuals atop a mountain caught in a blizzard. Although the plot itself is a familiar one, the feature does provide solid performances and unique depictions of the central characters, making it distinctive enough to garner a recommendation.

Pam Bales (Naomi Watts) is a Search and Rescue Team member who lives near Mount Washington, New Hampshire (home to the highest peak in the Northeastern US).

Despite reports of a possible snowstorm, the seasoned, well-prepped figure decides to take a hike up the mountain.

After several hours, conditions worsen and Bales considers leaving.

But after noting sneaker tracks in the snow, she feels compelled to find the individual and warn them of the danger. After encountering her own troubles in the poor conditions, she eventually crosses paths with a barely conscious, uncommunicative and frostbitten indiv idual whom she calls John (Billy Howe). Despite his protests a nd r e si s t a nce over her efforts, she battles to get him down the mountain.

For the first 20 minutes, everything is played in a simple and minimalist manner.

We witness an average, routine day in the life of Bales, walking trails and taking in the sights.

The feature is beautifully photographed, w ith some truly spectacular images of the mountain and park. In fact, the movie almost serves COMMUNITY

Naomi Watts plays the lead in ‘Infinite Storm,’ a survival tale about a woman getting stuck on a mountain during a snowstorm. Photo Credit: Bleeker Street as a pretty travelogue for the region (while set in the US, it was actually shot in Slovenia).

There is a comment made late in the film about there being beaut y in even the worst aspects of life, but the movie is almost too attractive at times. The gorgeousness on display and occasionally glossy lighting doesn’t always communicate how harsh and gritty the situation is.

Still, tension does arise as the weather turns. Bales herself runs into trouble and then must deal with the surprisingly difficult John. The movie is unique in that John is something of a mysterious and frustrating character, getting the two into more trouble instead of being thankful for

the assistance.

It’s an interesting dynamic, as Bales tries to maintain some semblance of positivity while going through the ringer with unappreciative company.

This adds tension as the two leads go through some harrowing events. And, despite the fi lm being set on an open and snowy mountain, there is even an unusually claustrophobic moment or two during one nasty fall.

A nother plus is that in many movies with a similar theme, there are awkward e x p o s i t i o n a l e xc h a n g e s between characters in which

they share their history and backstory. This movie doesn’t try to squeeze in any inauthentic dialogue between the leads. John is consistently unfriendly, while Bales is too busy trying to lead them out of danger to share personal details about herself.

Instead, the feature waits to explain more about John’s motivation and why Bales is so determined to save his life.

Had the two opened up to each other while on the mountain, it all would have come across as corny. Thankfully, the fi lm takes a quieter approach, which is more effective and

ends up delivering a bigger emotional punch.

W h ile ba sed on a rea l event, anyone who has seen these types of fi lms won’t be surprised by many of the physical challenges the protagonist has to endure. Still, “Infi nite Storm” delivers some striking imagery, a few tense moments and at least offers a different approach to the persona l interactions between the characters stuck in a blizzard. For those seeking out a nature survival fi lm, it is enough to make it a trek worth taking.

V ISIT: W W W. CINEMASTANCE.COM

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

17

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for March 25, 2022

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

W

elcome to another look at Blu-ray a nd DVD highlights headed your way. There’s plenty of interesting and unique material in this edition that is both new and old. 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! 6:45: A man decides to tr y a nd revitalize his strained relat ionsh ip by taking his girlfriend on vacation to an island resort.

Immediately upon arriving, the pair are surprised at how deserted the place is.

After looking around town, they discover that the locale not only has a violent history, but that there is also a strange time loop present. The two

must overcome their personal problems to help each other break a horrible cycle of events.

Reaction towards this independent horror picture was more positive than negative. A group of write-ups called the movie intriguing but ineffective and suggested that it lost momentum as it progressed.

Still, the overall consensus was the leads were very strong and that their performances helped sell this disturbing and chilly picture. It stars Michael Reed, Augie Duke, Thomas G. Waites, Remy Ma and Armen Garo.

D R E A M I N G HOLLYWOOD: After years toiling on a screenplay involving miscreants and social outcasts, an eccentric ex-con decides to take his finished work to Hollywood.

His pitch doesn’t go well and every executive in town rejects the project. To make ends meet, the protagonist is forced to take a job working for a local crime outfit. His frustration turns to rage when he discovers that someone has stolen his script and is shooting it.

He decides to seek revenge and turn parts of his violent screenplay into reality.

This picture was recently released on streaming platforms and is now debuting on disc, but there are only a couple of online reviews available. Some called it a rip-off of a Quentin Tarantino picture that simply didn’t measure up, while others liked the homages and found it amusing. The cast includes Turk Matthews and Mark Eliot.

FOR THE LOV E OF MONEY: In this thriller, a woman walks away from a successful but highly illegal billion-dollar family business.

After spending years living as a single mom, the lead’s past catches up with her when her teenage daughter’s life is threatened by the organization. The protagonist agrees to assist them, but also decides to use the opportunity to take control of the operation and eliminate those who have been threatening her loved ones.

There aren’t many notices available for this title and

LOOKING FOR CHANGE?

BUILD YOUR CAREER AT SRMC

OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL AREAS AVAILABLE NOW

APPLY AT

Hiring NOW for Operating Room Areas, Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and Inpatient Units

WHY WORK FOR SRMC? Relocation Assistance

Shift Differential & Holiday Pay

Retirement Match Dollar for Dollar

Generous Paid Time Off Plan

Tuition / Education Reimbursement

SRMCUNM. HRMDIRECT.COM

Career Advancement Program / Facilities Expanding Quickly Family Friendly Workplace

Join our staff to find out why we’re rated as a top workplace and designated as a Level III Trauma Center!

WANT TO TALK?

LEVEL III

TRAUMA CENTER

Schedule a time that works for you!

Contact Sandi Ceglar if you would like additional information at aceglar@srmc.unm.edu

PUTTING U FIRST By

18

Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

DELIVERING MORE

the few that have appeared haven’t been complementary.

They contend that the feature is routine, predictable and corny, also noting that several of the main performers have a stronger background in the music industry and aren’t the best of actors. Keri Hilson, Katt Williams, Rotimi, Keith Sweat, Jazzy Jade, Jason Mitchell, D.C. Young Fly and Cedric Pendleton headline the feature.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY: The highest profi le release of the week is this Oscarnominated period thriller.

It follows a ma n on the run from the law. He starts working for a traveling carnival, where he picks up tricks of the trade and develops his own act as a clairvoyant.

A fter tr ying to bra nch out on his own and using his skills to grift money from the wealthy, he soon fi nds himself in grave danger when one of his schemes goes awry.

Ba sed on t he Wi l l ia m Lindsay Gresham novel (which was previously adapted to film in 1947), the press gave this version high marks. A small contingent didn’t think it was as effective as the original feature, stating that it was overlong and slow-moving.

However, most enjoyed the performances, thought it was visually spectacular and liked the underlying themes about greed and selfi shness. It features Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Ron Perlman, Toni Collette, Mary Steenburgen, Willem Dafoe, David Strathairn and Richard Jenkins.

RISE OF THE MACHINE GIRLS: Inspired in part by the 2008 Japanese cult fl ick “The Machine Girl” and its sequels, this foreign-language feature is set in a lawless future where the wealthy pay top dollar for replacement organs.

In order to help their poor parents, two sisters are forced to sell off body parts to a harvesting ring. A hitman crosses paths with the pair and decides to help them get payback for the horrible things that have been done to them. He fashions a series of elaborate attachable

weapons that they begin using to wipe out the cr imina l organization.

There aren’t many reviews available for the picture in this part of the world and those that have appeared have been negative. They suggest that the film is hampered by a low-budget and, despite the concept, isn’t outrageous enough to entertain cult movie fans. Kanon Hanakage and Yûya Ishikawa star in the feature.

BL ASTS FROM THE PAST! Those looking for something a little older will have no shortage of titles to choose from this week.

Arrow Video are premiering the award-winning Japanese feature “To Sleep So as to Dream” (1986) on Blu-ray for the fi rst time outside of Japan.

It’s a silent film involving a detective hired by an actress to fi nd her kidnapped daughter. The movie was very well received at festivals and made a big impression on Japanese fi lm fans.

This Special Edition features a new restoration of the image and a featurette on the conversion process, a filmmaker and lead actor commentary (recorded back in 2000), a movie expert commentary, a discussion with a cast member and expert on Japanese fi lm culture (who also serves as a narrator for Japanese silent fi lms when they are screened in public), fragments of silent shorts that inspired the movie, stills, trailers and more!

They are also presenting the Shaw Brothers picture “Come Drink with Me” (1966) as a Special Edition Blu-ray.

After the Governor’s son is taken hostage by bandits, a mysterious figure with a sword is sent to retrieve the youngster. To the surprise of the villains, it is soon revealed the skilled fighter is a woman.

The disc comes with a fi lm historian commentary, multiple interviews with the lead as well as other co-stars, a lengthy 2003 documentary on the wuxia genre, in addition to publicity materials for the feature and other movies.

Blue Underground are presenting a remastered Special Ed ition of “Daughters of Darkness” (1971) on Blu-ray.

This is a vampire feature about COMMUNITY

a Hungarian countess and protégé who attempt to s e duce a nd turn a vacationing couple at a seaside resort.

The Blu-ray image comes from a 4K restoration and the disc arrives with three commentaries (one with the co-writer/director, another with the star and a third featuring a critic), interviews with the stars, as well as the director and co-producer. You’ll also get a ton of publicity materials for the movie.

Recently, the same distributor put out a phenomenal 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray set of the Robert Forster/Fred Williamson independent action picture, “Vigilante” (1982). Now, they are delivering a Blu-ray only edition for those who don’t have the more elaborate home set-up. It comes with all the same bonus goodies from the previous edition.

M V D Visual are presenting a C ol le c t or ’s Edition of the low-budget hor ror f lick “Bryan Loves You” (20 0 8) on Blu-ray. It’s about a psychotherapist who moves to a small Arizona town and discovers that most of the residents belong to a cult.

This disc has a 2008 director commentary and a new audio track recorded by the fi lmmaker in 2022, as well as interviews with cast members George Wendt, Tiffany Shepis, Daniel Roebuck and Brinke Stevens. “ T h e Flight of the Phoenix” (1965) i s an Oscarnominated disaster picture about a cargo plane that crashes in the Sahara. With food and water running out, the crew have to figure out a way to get to safety.

Criterion are presenting the movie on Blu-ray with a 2K picture restoration. Extras include a conversation with a scholar alongside fan of the movie and director Walter Hill (“The Warriors,” “48 Hrs.,” “Streets of Fire”) talking about the picture, COMMUNITY

a discussion with a biographer about co-star James Stewart and his experience as a pilot, as well as a trailer.

with upgraded image quality.

Interested parties should take note that there is no Blu-ray included in this release.

Those who belong to the Disney Movie Club have a bi g r ele a s e this week with the animated classic, “Snow White and the Seven D w a r f s ” (19 37 ). T h i s i s a n 8 5 t h A n n iver sa r y Ed ition that includes a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Code for the fi lm.

While the details haven’t been sent my way, you can be sure that it’ll be jam-packed with extras as well. And if you aren’t a member of the Disney Movie Club, just be patient, some of their higher profile titles often end up arriving on store shelves a few months down the road.

Icarus Films are putting out a Blu-ray of “Alain Resnais: Five Short Films” (1949-1957), which, as you might have guessed, is a collection of shorts made by the French filmmaker early in his career before moving onto features like the Oscar-nominated “Hiroshima Mon Amour” (1959).

Kino are always good for some interesting Blu-rays.

This week sees the release of the romance “Back Street” (1941), the Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire musical “Blue Skies” (1946), and the Gary Cooper/ Shirley Temple drama, “Now and Forever” (1934). All three titles feature new 2K masters of the image, fi lm historian commentaries and trailers.

They are also presenting the recent David Cronenberg drama “Eastern Promises” (2007) as a 4K and Blu-ray set (you can also purchase the Blu-ray on its own). This London-set film stars Viggo Mortensen as a gangster who crosses paths with a midwife who knows a damaging secret that could cause trouble for his employers.

The director of photography approved and color-graded this edition. It also comes with a new interview with the screenwriter and all of the previously released extras from earlier editions.

If you enjoyed the thriller “Fatale” (2020) with Hilary Swa n k, M i ke Colter a nd Michael Ealy, Lionsgate are making it available as 4K Ultra HD and digital package

Speaking of 4K upgrades, they also have “The Hunger G a m e s : Ultimate Steelbook C o l l e c t i o n” containing all four mov ies in the series that were made between 2012 and 2015. This set contains 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray discs of each and every movie along with plenty of extras. This one is being listed as a Best Buy Exclusive, so you’ll have to head over to their website or store to get it.

Speaking of box sets, Paramount have severa l 4K 50 t h A n niversa r y “ T h e Godfather Trilogy” box set. It includes “The Godfather” (1972), “The Godfather: Part II” (1974), “The Godfather: Part III” (1990) and the recently reedited take on the third chapter in the series, which is now titled “ The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone” and features a few new elements.

T he pict u re ha s been remastered and all of these classics look better than ever.

You can pick up a 4K Ultra HD edition, a Blu-ray version, and even a Limited Collector’s Edition containing a book… seriously, whatever set up you may have at home, you’ll be able to find a version that suits you. Naturally, it comes with all kinds of bonuses that can’t all be listed here. But in addition to all of the previously released content, there are new extras included.

Powerhouse are a UK-based Blu-ray distributor whose products typically can’t be screened on North or South American Blu-ray players. This week, they have licensed a few of their titles for both the UK and US markets.

So, you can now pick up a Region A playable Blu-ray of the classic Mexican horror flick “La Llorona” (1933) and a Limited Edition of the Australia n bushranger flick, “Mad Dog Morga n” (1976), st a r r i ng Dennis Hopper in the title role.

They are also presenting “The

Phantom of the Monastery” (1934) and a Limited Edition of the western, “A Time for Dying” (1969).

All of these titles include new image restorations, commentaries, inter views and other bonus features. It’s great to see this company (who take great care with their films, much like Arrow Video, Blue Underground and other indie distributors) releasing discs in North America.

A not her a m a z i ng out fit, Ronin Flix, have a Bluray of the horror/comedy, “Modern Vampires” (1998). It follows a descendant of Van Helsing hunting the undead in Hollywood. Most missed this flick during its original run, but it does feature an incredible cast that includes Casper Van Dien, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Gabriel Casseus, Kim Cattrall, Cra ig Ferg uson, Nat a sha Lyonne, Natasha Andreichenko, Robert Pastorelli, Udo Kier and Rod Steiger.

The 2K master was struck from director Richard Elfman’s personal fi lm print. He is interviewed for the release and takes part in a commentary track with lead actor Casper Van Dien. The disc also comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer.

Shout! Factory also have a new title in their Select line. It’s the disaster fl ick “The Core” (2003), which features a group of scientists who have to save the Earth from total destruction by drilling down to its center and setting off an explosion to get the planet spinning

again.

The feature stars Aaron E ck h a r t , H i l a r y S w a n k , Stanley Tucci, D.J. Qualls and Richard Jenkins. Apparently, the movie was given a 4K restoration from the original camera negative for this Bluray release. The disc has a director commentary, deleted and extended scenes with commentary, a look at the special effects and also comes with publicity materials.

VCI are presenting a Bluray called “Mexican Horror Classics: Double Feature” that includes “El Escapulario” (19 57 ) a n d “ L a d r o n d e Cadaveres” (1968) in high defi nition.

Finally, Warner Archive are presenting the James Cagney WWI feature “Captains of the Clouds” (1942) as a made-toorder Blu-ray that can be purchased exclusively through Amazon.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS! With the exception of one Disney exclusive, it’s a little quieter than usual for kid’s releases.

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” 85th Anniversary Bluray/DVD (Disney Movie Club Exclusive) ON THE TUBE! Here are all of the week’s TV-themed releases. “ D e x t e r : New B lo o d ” (Showtime) Blu-ray “Dr. Death” (Mini-Series) Blu-ray and DVD V ISIT: W W W. CINEMASTANCE.COM

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

19

TRANSPORT VAN | FROM PAGE 4 the van off the right shoulder and drove through the rightaway fence, continuing north through an open field. Once Hall got to the Old Route 66 pavement, Cibola Cou nt y Sheriff and State Police, used their vehicles to pin the van in place so Hall could no longer flee.

Defeated in his escape efforts, Hall was taken into

COLLEAGUES PAY | FROM PAGE 7 ago. We walked the streets together. Arts Crawl, meeting the people, meeting at his home…It’s bittersweet because I’m going to miss you,” she said.

“Time marches on and we’ve got to let you go, but you will always be in my prayers. You did a great job. He’s a good,

LAWRENCE CASTILLO | FROM PAGE 15 and experience but being all things in all situations just

custody and the two other inmates were transferred to different vehicles for transport to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center. No injuries to the inmates were reported at the time of the incident.

Hall was being transported to McKinley County Adult Detention Center to be booked on a shoplifting warrant. He also possessed a warrant for failure to appear in Cibola County for the original charge of aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

He also is facing federal charges for assault on a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon.

According to a U.S. District Court criminal complaint, Hall got into a confrontation with U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents on March 15, when he and his passenger identified as “M.S.” was approached at Route 66 Travel Center, fueling up a truck that was stolen in Grants the day before.

Instead of complying with

agents demands to get out of the truck, he charged at one agent, striking his vehicle.

“In response, the victim agent discharged his service fi rearm at least [once], striking Hall,” the complaint states.

From there, Hall struck a gas station patron’s car with the stolen vehicle, and M.S. fled on foot.

Meanwhile, Hall faces a laundry list of state charges, adding to his career criminal resume –– a decade-old rap sheet that includes kidnapping,

aggravated assault, forgery, and burglary just to name a few.

The Ber na lillo County Sheriff’s Office is handling the incident and the crimes that took place at the 66 Pit Stop, and Cibola County Sheriff’s Office is handling the crimes that took place in Cibola County, and they took Hall into custody as well.

The deputy involved sustained minor injuries from the physical altercation, Maiorano said.

humble intelligent man and he’s stood that way the whole nine years.”

Councilor Fran Palochak praised Kumar’s broad business expertise and willingness to help others. “You’ve sparked that light within me to learn more about economic development. I want to know the ins and outs so I can do what I can as a councilor to help them. We want to bring more businesses

to Gallup and we want to be business-friendly and you’ve shown us how to do that,” she said. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a mentor to me.”

Councilor Michael Schaaf said, “It’s been a pleasure and honor to serve with you. You bring a lot to the city of Gallup and I appreciate it and the citizens of Gallup appreciate it.

Thank you.”

Kumar thanked his colleagues and the community as he recalled his council experience.

“When you first start out it is a difficult position. Everything you want to do is shot down, or you can’t do this, can’t do that.

You have to work your way up, like most things. You have to prove yourself and have an understanding of things. I’ve been blessed because I’ve been

in the business side of things,” he said.

“We can’t always agree on everything, and that’s OK to disagree. We leave that behind. That was one item on an agenda and we move on because we respect each other.

That’s what it takes. To live in a community you have to respect everybody for what they do.“ And with that, Kumar made his fi nal motion to adjourn.

isn’t possible any longer. We all need a “Coach” to make sure we call the correct play.

The disappointment over a lost opportunity while “going for field position” will be nothing

compared to the fury if you try to “force a throw” they did not want you to make in the fi rst place.

In plain English, we should never be comfortable with risk

unless we know and understand all your options.

L aw r e n c e C a s t i l lo i s a member of Sy n di cat ed Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to 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 link: https://annuity.com/ lawrence-castillo-newsletter/ Syndicated Columnists is the sole provider of this material, both written and conceptual, for this column. All rights reserved.

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

(505) 722-8994

20 Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

NEWS

CLASSIFIEDS

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

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

AUTO SALES Gurley Motor Company

Amigo Automotive Center

2018 Ford F150 XLT 4WD Less than 25,000 miles!

V8 Engine and equipped with heated seats! $44,995

EXTRAS – $5 PER WEEK, PER ITEM: TEXT BOX, HIGHLIGHT, ALL CAPS, BOLD, AND/OR PIC/LOGO

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

2020 Ford Edge Titanium AWD Fully Loaded with Leather Interior, Sunroof, Heated Steering Wheel, Heated and Cooled Seats and more!

Only 27,000 miles!

Priced at $38,995

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

2020 Ford Escape SE FWD Only 25,500 miles!

Blue Advantage Certified!

Priced at $29,295

Pre-Owned 2020 Toyota Camry Mileage: 27,237 Stock # J21182A

2018 Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited Final Price: $32,268 Condition : Used Body Type : Sport 4X4 Transmission: Automatic Ext: Color : Gray Stock# 22011A

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 Pre-Owned 2022 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks Edition Engine: Premium Unleaded l-3 1.5L Transmission: Automatic Mileage: 238 Stock#: TP2233 Amigo Toyota 2000 S. Second St. Gallup, NM 87301 (505) 722-3881 AmigoToyota.com BUY/SELL I buy old vinyl records!

45’s & LP’s.

I make house calls.

Also buying vintage recording studio & radio broadcast audio gear.

Jason 512-785-8714 FOR RENT DOWNTOWN 2 bedroom/ 1 bath at $1100 a month April Rental Downtown Area: 1 bedroom/1 bath furnished apartment at $1450.00 a month.

Hospital Area: 3 bedroom/ 2 bath.

Email berlinda@gallupliving. com for application.

repainting of exteriors and interiors of housing units; repair or replacement of sinks, toilet bowls, showers, tubs and fixtures, screen doors, windows electrical light fixtures, etc. as needed; repair and/or replacement of water heaters and appliances. Successful applicant must be able to; determine materials, tools and equipment needed to perform each task; and work on site with minimal supervision. Must be able to read, write and complete required reports.

Successful applicant should have significant experience in performing the tasks listed above. Current Driver’s license required. Must pass background check. This is a non-exempt fulltime position.

Applications are available at the Gallup Housing Authority located at 203 Debra Drive in Gallup, NM 87301, or can be requested and submitted by email at: GHA.Main@ galluphousing.com. DEADLINE TO APPLY: Positions Open Until Filled Gallup Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ***

HELP WANTED

Gallup Sun is hiring!

ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST - In this full-time career-track position, the selected candidate will manage existing and new client accounts - You’ll work with office staff on special sections and publications - Proven customer service and/or sales experience required.

Must be dependable, friendly, and positive - Salary + Bonus + Allowance. Pay DOE - Email cover letter, resume, and three professional references to: gallupsun@gmail.com. ATTN: Publisher Babette Herrmann CLASSIFIEDS

Responsible for maintenance of buildings, facilities, grounds, and light equipment. Performs some carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and other repairs in response to Tenant Work Order requests and/or results of inspections of units by HUD or other State and Local Agencies.

Performs minor repairs and maintenance on mechanical equipment or machinery. Duties include but are not limited to;

POSITION Case Manager DEPARTMENT Juvenile Substance Abuse Crisis Center (JSACC) FOR BEST CONSIDERATION DATE April 7, 2022 Applications and additional information regarding positions can be found on the County web site www.co.mckinley.nm.us Dezirie Gomez, CPO Human Resource Director *** McKinley County is now accepting applications for the following positions: POSITION Grants Specialist DEPARTMENT Grants/Contracts FOR BEST CONSIDERATION DATE March 31, 2022 Applications and additional information regarding positions can be found on the County web site www.co.mckinley.nm.us.

Job Vacancy Announcement Maintenance Technician Gallup Housing Authority

McKinley County is now accepting applications for the following positions:

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

Dezirie Gomez, CPO Human Resource Director *** McKinley County is now accepting applications for the following positions: POSITION

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 22

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

21

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 21 Administrative Assistant DEPARTMENT Metro Dispatch FOR BEST CONSIDERATION DATE March 28, 2022 Applications and additional information regarding positions can be found on the County web site www.co.mckinley.nm.us.

Dezirie Gomez, CPO Human Resource Director *** Cooks Wanted 505 Burgers & Wings Need: Great Cooks, comes with great pay. Apply in person at 1981 State Rd. 602 *** Accounts Specialist Come join our team at the Gallup Sun as an Accounts Specialist. You’ll help our existing and new/potential ad clientele, and assist us with upcoming special sections and promotions. You’ll also help fill in with front and back office duties as needed.

Candidates must have proven customer service or sales experience. Must be punctual, reliable and possess a great work ethic. Computer and typing skills required.

Salary/bonus/allowances. Pay DOE. Email cover letter/resume to Publisher Babette Herrmann: gallupsun@gmail.com *** Bookkeeper The Gallup Sun is seeking an experienced, contracted bookkeeper with QuickBooks online experience, including payroll. Must also possess experience and expertise using New Mexico’s online GRT filing system. Email: gallupsun@ gmail.com

LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the McKinley County Board of Commissioners will hold a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 5th , 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Among the items to be addressed will be the Adoption of an Ordinance concerning the Local Economic Development Act with a Regional Industrial development project. The Ordinance will have a title similar to: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN APPLICATION FOR AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT ENLARGING AND EXTENDING THE CITY OF GALLUP & #39’S UTILITY SYSTEMS AND OTHER NEEDED UTILITIES TO THE McKINLEY COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARK LOCATED ON CARBON COAL ROAD AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN INTER- GOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN NEW MEXICO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND MCKINLEY COUNTY. This meeting will be held “InPerson” -- Adhering to the Social Distancing Protocols in effect for the meeting day -- including room capacity limits, mask requirements and other safety practices issued by the Governor’s Office due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the requirements of the Open Meetings Act allowing members of the public to attend and listen to meetings of the quorum of the governing body. This meeting will be held in the Commission Chambers, Third Floor of the McKinley County Courthouse, 207 West Hill, Gallup, New Mexico.

A copy of the proposed Ordinance can be obtained from the office of the County Manager, and the County Clerk’s office. A copy of the agenda will be available 72 hours prior to

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GALLUP SUN! Three Convenient Delivery Options Snail Mail: __ 1 yr. $59.95 __ 6 mo. $29.95

*Home Delivery: __ 1 yr. $45 __ 6 mo. $25 *Gallup metro area only

Name: ________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________ City/State/Zip: _________________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ (for billing purposes only) Mail Check to: Gallup Sun, PO Box 1212, Gallup, NM 87305 Fax: (505) 212-0391 • Email: gallupsun@gmail.com Credit Card #: __________________________________ Exp: ________ 3-4 digit code: ________ Billing zip: _________ Pay By Phone: (505) 722-8994 The Gallup Sun is distributed weekly, on Fridays. Forms received after Wednesday, the subscription will start the following Friday.

the meeting in the Manager’s Office and the County Clerk’s Office. Either of the documents can be sent electronically upon request. Auxiliary aides for the disabled are available upon request; please contact Shawna Garnenez at (505) 863-1400 at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to make any necessary arrangements.

All interested parties are invited to view.

Done this 23 rd day of October 2022 McKINLEY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS /S/ Billy Moore, Chairperson Publication date: Gallup Sun, March 25, 2022 *** ELEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF MCKINLEY STATE OF NEW MEXICO In the Matter of the Estate of

JOHN MACIAS, Deceased No. D-1113-PB-2022-00014

Representative 104 East Aztec Avenue Gallup, New Mexico 87301 (505) 722-4463

NOTICE TO CREDITORS JENNA LEE MACIAS has been appointed Personal Representative of the Estate of JOHN MACIAS, deceased.

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

Date: 3/22/22 JENNA LEE MACIAS By: James J. Mason Attorneys for Personal

We believe in ideas.

We believe in passion.

We believe in dreams.

We believe in you.

www.nmhu.edu

22 Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun

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

Published by: Gallup Sun March 25, 2022 April 01, 2022 April 08, 2022 *** ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS NOTICE TO BIDDERS Public notice is hereby given that the Gallup-McKinley County Schools, Gallup New Mexico, desires to purchase the following: UVD Robot Maintenance, Service, Repair, & Parts Agreement ITB-2022-48GH NIGP Commodity Code(s): 20424, 20524, 46548, 53046, 93881 As more particularly set out in the BID documents, copies of which may be obtained by downloading from the GallupMcKinley County Schools Bonfire eBidding website: https://gmcs.bonfirehub.com/ portal/.

Sealed bids for such will be received at the Procurement Office until 2:00 PM (MDT,

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 23 CLASSIFIEDS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR MARCH 25 - 31, 2022 FRIDAY, MARCH 25

COMPOSTING 101 4 pm on OFPL’s Facebook page or Zoom.

Learn about the benefits of incorporating compost into your garden.

Request a Three Sister’s seed packet using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online.

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 26

WE READ, WE TALK BOOK CLUB 2 pm on Zoom. OFPL’s Book Club is reading This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 8631291 for more information.

HOPE GARDEN SEED STARTING PARTY 1 pm-3 pm @ 1130 Hasler Valley Road (The Community Pantry Hope Garden). As the ground starts to thaw, and the weather warms , it’s time to celebrate the coming of spring by starting seeds!

Join the Hope Garden staff to learn the basics of seeds starting. Materials and seeds will be provided, all are welcome.

GALLUP 9TH ST. FLEA MARKET 9 am-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.

MONDAY, MARCH 28

CREATIVE CORNER – PAPER ZOETROPE 4 pm on YouTube and OFPL’s Facebook Live. Create a sequence of drawings or photographs to show the progression of movement over time with a pre-film animation device called a Zoetrope.

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

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

PIZZA 9 & ROTARY FUNDRAISER FOR UKRAINIAN RELIEF EFFORTS All Day @ 1300 W. Maloney Ave. Pizza 9 will be donating 100% of its profits to Rotary District 5520 and their Ukrainian relief efforts. Online Donations Are Also Being Accepted At https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund

FREE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAININGS 1 pm-4 pm on Zoom. The city is hosting free monthly behavioral health trainings. The presenter will be Art Romero, MA, LPCC, MAC. The presentations are open to the community members with the target audience being Behavioral Health Providers that work with Substance Use. CEUS will be offered. For more information and to register go to https:// www.gallupnm.gov/civicalerts. aspx?AID=1007.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30

GROW A GARDEN 12 pm on OFPL’s Facebook page or Zoom. Learn the fundamentals of starting your own garden, tips, and tricks to have a successful growing season. Request a Three Sister’s seed packet using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online.

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

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: FEMALE EMPOWERMENT 2 pm on OFPL’s Facebook page or Zoom. Join author Daniel Vandever and illustrator Corey Begay for a presentation and reading of Herizon, a story that details the journey of a young Diné girl as she helps her grandmother retrieve a flock of sheep aided by a magical scarf.

In an age that has seen the election of the first female Vice President and the first Native American Secretary of the Interior, Herizon speaks to the power of the moment and honors progress and persistence during Women’s History Month.

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,

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 22

through online meeting software.

LOCAL TIME) on April 5, 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. Public Bid Opening shall be conducted

Dated the 25th Day of March, 2022 By: /S/Charles Long, President Board of Education Gallup-McKinley County School District No. 1 BID ISSUE DATE: March 25, 2022

CALENDAR

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING WITH COUNCILOR LINDA GARCIA, DIST. 1 6:30 PM-8:30 PM @ Gallup Senior Center (607 N. 4th St.).

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 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.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, first-served basis using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online. This week we will be making spring flower cupcakes. For more information email: bmartin@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

SAVE THE DATE TUESDAY, APRIL 5

REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING 9 am to 11:30 am @ 207 West Hill Ave. FRIDAY, APRIL 8

ARTIST TRADING CARDS 4 pm @ @ OFPL’s Main Library (115 W. Hill Ave.) to make Artist Trading Cards. Artist Trading Cards or ATCs are miniature pieces of art that are traded by artists around the world. Learn how to make your own ATC with an interactive workshop inspired by Courtney Cerruti’s Creative

Published by: Gallup Sun March 25, 2022 *** PUBLIC NOTICE The Gallup Housing Authority is updating its PHA five-year plan and annual plan in accordance

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

ART CRAWL 7 pm to 9 pm @ Downtown Gallup Come celebrate the first Art Crawl of 2022! Come experience local and professional art, artist demonstrations, gallery openings, live music, hands-on crafts, and games for the kids. Food and craft vendors and so much more!

ART NM! 2 pm to 5 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123 W. Coal Ave.).

Print a postcard with artist Dana Aldis, enjoy live music

by McManus & Juda, and help create an instant mural! (Free community event!)(ART NM! is a statewide celebration of New Mexico arts and culture sponsored by Creative New Mexico and happening in 8 communities this April.)

‘WALKING IN GALLUP’ 7 pm to 9 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123 W. Coal Ave.). Show Opening: Walking in Gallup

by Guest Curator Armond Antonio. A show of painting, photography, and found object sculpture that humanizes the experience of homelessness and spotlights the systemic issues that contribute to the injustice.

MONDAY, APRIL 11

GMCS SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 1 pm-2 pm @ SSC 640 Boardman Dr. TUESDAY, APRIL 12

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.

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

GUEST CURATOR TALK: ARMOND ANTONIO 6 pm In person @ART123 Gallery (123 W. Coal Ave.) and LIVE on gallupARTS Facebook page. Armond Antonio discusses everything from the issue of homelessness, to social justice art, to curating a gallery show.

with the requirements set forth in the Housing Quality and Work Responsibility Act of 1999. The plans along with supporting documentation will be available for review at the Administrative Offices of the Gallup Housing Authority located at 203 Debra Drive, Gallup NM thru and up to April 15, 2022, during normal business hours. On April 15,

ONGOING

GALLUPARTS EXTENDS HOURS 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@gallupnm. gov or call (505) 863-1291.

RMCHCS UPDATED VISITOR POLICIES Due to the recent downward trend of COVID-19 cases, RMCHCS has reinstated its visitor policy. The visitor policy supports two people per family member who have passed the coronavirus screening. Visitors must be 17 years old or older.

Visitors must show documentation of COVID-19 vaccination.

For more information visit

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.

2022, at 9:00am, the Board of Directors will conduct a public hearing to entertain any written or verbal comments that the public may have. Written comments or questions may be addressed to Richard F. Kontz, Executive Director.

Published by: Gallup Sun March 25, 2022

Gallup Sun • Friday March 25, 2022

23

0

MOST GMC MODELS

%

APR

FOR VERY WELL-QUALIFIED BUYERS1 220 S. FIFTH • GALLUP, NEW MEXICO 87301 (505) 722-2271 • www.RicoAutoComplex.com

1

Length of contract limited. Some customers will not qualify. Not available with some other offers. Take new retail delivery by 4/4/22. ©2022 General Motors. All rights reserved. GMC®

24 Friday March 25, 2022 • Gallup Sun GMGW0542002_GMC_Rico_GallupSun_Mar22_10x13.indd 1

CLASSIFIEDS 3/15/2022 1:48:20 PM