Gallup Sun • July 1, 2022

Gallup Navajo woman coaches Albuquerque men’s rugby club E E R F

July Rental Commercial Suites Please contact Gallup Living Rentals 309 E. Nizhoni Blvd. Gallup NM 87301 or berlinda@gallupliving.com

VOL 8 | ISSUE 379 | JULY 1, 2022

Story PAGE 4

A fresh, new beat?

INDIGENOUS CIRCUS Curley Taylor, Zydeco Trouble introduce music genre to Gallup ART PERFORMER TO SHARE SKILLS A WITH YOUTH

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

ccording to Louisanatravels.com, the early Zydeco music genre is a blend of Louisiana-French accordion music and Afro-Caribbean beats. It takes influence from Creole, Cajun, gospel and the blues, along with other genres. It almost always includes an accordion.

And now, Gallup citizens will be able to witness this style of music on July 2 at the Levitt Amp Concert Series, when Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble come to town.

Louisiana native Taylor has been around music all his life.

In an interview with the Sun, he explained that he was born into a musical family and that the drums was his first instrument. He began

playing the drums in his dad’s band, Jude Taylor and the Burning Flames, at 16 years old.

“Music was always around me,” Taylor said.

Taylor was able to tour with some of Louisiana’s musical legends, including CC Adcock, Steve Riley, John Hart, and CJ Chenier.

CURLEY TAYLOR | SEE PAGE 12

GALLUP HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAM

PUBLIC NOTICE UPCOMING INTAKE DATES FOR NEW APPLICANTS JULY 01, 2022 JULY 08, 2022 JULY 22, 2022 JULY 29, 2022

8 to 11 am.

8 to 11 am.

8 to 11 am.

8 to 11 am.

THERE will be NO INTAKE on JULY 15, 2022

PLEASE BRING a completed APPLICATION, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS, PHOTO ID’s, and PROOF OF INCOME. Please note: 1 bedroom waiting list is CLOSED until further notice. All other waiting lists remain OPEN until further notice.

If you have questions: please call (505) 722-4388 during office hours or send an email to: gha.main@galluphousing.com

GALLUP FUN!

rts A

nme Entertai

nt

Gallup Fun!

Stuff! d o unity o m G m l o e e C F

gallupARTS selects artist for residence program TEACHING KIDS THE ART OF CIRCUS PERFORMANCE

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

4 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

M

eek Watchman (Bit’ahnii, born for Ts’ah yisk’idnii) is a mother, aerialist, poet, and painter. She received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts in May 2016, and now she’s gallupARTS’s Summer 2022 Social Justice Creative-in-Residence.

From June through August, Watchman will be working at ART123 Gallery to develop a youth-focused Indigenous social circus curriculum that brings together aerial arts, creative writing, and the principles of K’e to help pre-teens and teens build self-esteem, develop trust, and establish a sense of belonging.

In an interview with the Sun, Watchman explained how she got involved in circus art and aerial work.

While she was attending IAIA, Watchman met a woman who asked her if she’d ever tried aerial arts, and she showed her a video of Crystal Worl, an Indigenous woman from Alaska. From that moment on, Watchman was hooked.

“It was the most beautiful, mesmerizing thing I’ve ever seen,” Watchman said. She was 26 years old when she discovered aerial arts, and she said she sees it as the answer she’d been looking for.

Now, s i x ye a r s l a t er, Watchman is still one of the few Indigenous circus art performers. Watchman said that

6

As a part of her project with gallupARTS, Meek Watchman is teaching a student about the circus arts for eight weeks. The student will eventually perform a piece showing off what she learned after the eight weeks. Photo Credit: Meek Watchman when she started, she was only the eighth Native aerialist in the world. Now there are several dozen, but Watchman is still trying to increase that number.

“Indigenous circus is brand new. I’m pioneering this art form,” Watchman said. “Circus art hasn’t been around very long in the area.”

The curriculum Watchman is currently building is something she hopes to take to colleges around the United States. She is currently doing research on things like safety,

injury prevention, knowing the body, and overall learning how to make sure her students don’t hurt themselves.

“With this program, I would love to travel around to other Native communities, to reservations, to Pueblo, to villages, which I have done in the past, just not with this curriculum that I’m developing,” Watchman said. “… [With] this curriculum my hope is that I would be invited to universities and colleges that have a large indigenous population and share this work that I’ve been doing for

Meek Watchman hangs upside down from aerial silks as she practices her craft of circus art.

She is currently creating a curriculum about circus art that she hopes to bring to universities around the United States. Photo Credit: Meek Watchman almost a decade now.”

When asked how circus art relates to the topic of social justice, Watchman explained that social justice is one of the

main reasons she got into circus art.

GALLUPARTS | SEE PAGE 8

WHAT’S INSIDE …

A&E CALENDAR See what’s going on around town

10 11 12 18 VA CLINC SAVED Clinic no longer at risk for closure

SAVING HORSES Equine horse rescue adds acreage

SAFETY FIRST County wins RAP awards

NEW NAVAJO POLICE 10 new officers sworn in

GALLUP FUN!

July 2022 A&E Calendar FRIDAY, JULY 1

FRIDAY NIGHT RIDES 12 pm to 8 pm. @ Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe (306 S. 2nd St.). On the first Friday of every month, join your fellow motor enthusiasts. Whether you have a classic, off-road, sports, truck, motorcycle...whatever it may be, bring it

Gallup Sun Publishing, LLC Publisher Babette Herrmann Administrative Assistant Valerie Smith Design Volodymyr Lotysh Contributing Editor/ Correspondent Molly Ann Howell Contributing Editor Cody Begaye Correspondents Rachelle Nones Holly J. Wagner Photography Ana Hudgeons Ryan Hudgeons Knifewing Segura On The Cover Left, aerialist Meek Watchman.

Photo by M. Watchman. Right, Curley Taylor, bandleader for Zydeco Trouble.

Photo by D. Boone

6 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

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.

over! Live music, raffles, games, and other fun activities (varies every event). And of course, great coffee, fantastic food, and good people.

MAD SCIENTISTS 3 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

These STREAM workshops explore Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics and discover an ocean of possibilities! This week they’ll be making “captain logs” inspired journals while learning about bookbinding. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

SATURDAY, JULY 2

LEVITT AMP CONCERT SERIES 6 pm @ Courthouse Square.

Come join the fun in the heart of downtown Gallup at this free concert series brought to you

THANK YOU ADVERTISERS Amazing Grace Personal Care Services, Inc. - 7 Amigo Automotive Group - 1 Bubany Insurance Agency - 12 505 Burgers and Wings - 15 Butler’s Office City - 16 City of Gallup Tourism & Marketing - 5 El Morro Theatre & Events Center - 7 Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial - 8, 21 Gallup Housing Authority - 3 Gallup McKinley County Schools - 2 Genaro’s Cafe - 15 Grandpa’s Grill - 15 Keller Williams Realty - 1 Levitt Amp - 10 NM Dept. of Health - 5 Octavia Fellin Children & Youth Library - 9 Pinnacle Bank - 14 Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services - 21 Rollie Mortuary - 13 Route 66 Diner - 15 Sammy C’s Rock N’ Sports Pub & Grille - 21 Thunderbird Supply Co. - 6 TravelCenters of America - 19 Western New Mexico University - 11 Wild Thing Rocks the Rock Productions - 24

by the Levitt Amp Foundation, Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District, Visit Gallup & the City of Gallup. This week Curley Taylor will be performing.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

POKÉMON GO JULY FACE-OFF 4 pm @ the Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). Zollinger Library will host a Pokémon! Go battle day. Join fellow Pokémon trainers for friendly matches, trading, or just to hang out.

Pit your team of three against others in our area and test your skills. This unofficial competition is open to everyone. For questions please call 505-8637531 or email markos@unm.edu.

and over a $26,000 payout each year. The Parking and Concession proceeds go to the Manuelito Children’s Home making it the largest Fundraiser of the year for them.

FREEDOM TRIVIA @ Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). Zollinger Library will have trivia questions about Independence Day and the Revolutionary War. Throughout the day, answer questions and receive some red, white, and blue rewards. For questions please call 505-863-7531 or email markos@ unm.edu.

BLOCK LETTER BOOK ART

12 pm to 8 pm, Downtown Gallup. Bring the whole family to the heart of downtown Gallup for the Free Family Fun Nights!

Nights include family-friendly music, an obstacle course, bounce house, climbing wall, and more!

3 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch 200 W. Aztec. Ave.) Join OFPL to transform simple wooden letter blocks into art using your favorite book covers, poetry, magazines, and more.

Register at ofpl.online by July 6 to receive a 13-inch letter of your choice. Email jwhitman@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 8631291 for more information.

FRIDAY, JULY 8

SATURDAY, JULY 9

FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT

WILDTHING CHAMPIONSHIP BULL RIDING 8 pm. June 8 and June 9 @ Red Rock Park (825 Outlaw Rd., Church Rock). #1 open Bullriding in the southwest!! Held at Red Rock Park every July, with some of the best bucking bulls in the business, huge fireworks,

ARTS CRAWL 7 pm to 9 pm @ Downtown Gallup. Come experience local and professional art, artist demonstrations, gallery openings, live music, hands-on crafts, and games for the kids.

LEVITT AMP CONCERT SERIES 6 pm @ Courthouse Square.

Come join the fun in the heart of downtown Gallup at this free concert series brought to you by the Levitt Amp Foundation, Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District, Visit Gallup & the City of Gallup. This week Lindy Vision will be performing.

INDIGITAL: INDIGENOUS DIGITAL ART SHOW OPENING 7 pm - 9 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123. W. Coal Ave.). An exploration of Indigenous-inspired NFT digital art forms featuring Christian Bigwater with guest artists Karl Jim, Talisa Reeve, and SAOE. MONDAY, JULY 11

ARTIST TALK: CHRISTIAN BIGWATER, KARL JIM, TALISA REEVE, AND SAOE 6 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123. W. Coal Ave.) and live streaming on gallupARTS’s Facebook page.

Learn more about the digital future of art, what the heck an NFT is, and how Indigenous artists are getting in on the action.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

TIMMY TELESCOPE SOLAR ASTRONOMY 12 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Learn about the sun, and how

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR | SEE PAGE 9

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

RATING:  OUT OF  RUNNING TIME: 87 MINUTES

Steve Carrell reprises his role as Gru in ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru.’ The movie features his attempts to join a group of supervillains, while the minions, including Kevin, Stuart, and Bob (all voiced by Pierre Coffin), get into their own shenanigans. Photo Credit: Universal Pictures who agrees to train Kevin, Stuart and Bob in order to help them take on large and threatening opponents. Seeing these small, silly creatures learn to practice martial arts and develop some physical strength is fun to witness and results in several laughs.

The clima x a lso looks sharp as several of the chara cter s squa re of f i n Sa n F r a n c i s c o’s C h i n a t ow n .

Mention is continually made of the important stone and its connection to animals of the

Chinese Zodiac. Of course, there is no shock that many of the more dangerous lifeforms ultimately appear, but thankfully the filmmakers also squeeze every bit of comedy out of the elaborate sequence by adding smaller wild creatures into the mix. It results in a new character that might be the cutest addition to the series.

This fi lm is a hit-and-miss endeavor a nd one wh ich doesn’t add a great deal to the story of Gru or his little

helpers. Still, the fi lm moves at a rapid pace and does earn a chuckle for every attempt that doesn’t hit the mark.

“Minions: The Rise of Gru” isn’t going to earn accolades for being the best animated feature of the year, but this reviewer did find it likable.

Families simply looking for a good time will generally be entertained by these vibrantly animated characters and their latest shenanigans.

V ISIT: W W W. CINEMASTANCE.COM

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

7

This animated film from Universal Pictures opens at cinemas on Friday, July 1.

The “Despicable Me” animated fi lm series started up in 2010 and has since become a massive movie franchise. One of the reasons for its success is the Minions, the central character’s group of unexpectedly cute and good-natured little yellow assistants.

T he s e u nu su a l bei ng s spawned their own successful spin-off prequel title in 2015.

This week sees the release of Minions: The Rise of Gru, which is a sequel to the previously noted fi lm.

Like most follow-ups, the events on display are a little less fresh and unique than they were in previous installments. However, it’s a pleasant animated feature that will deliver enough chuckles to a muse young audience members.

Truth be told, this effort could have been relea sed under either franchise banner, since it focuses on both the title characters and their boss. A nearly 12-year-old Gru (Steve Carrell) aspires to join the notorious “Vicious 6” group of supervillains led by Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin).

When Knuckles is usurped from his position by Belle Bottom (Taraji P. Henson), a new opening appears in the organization. Young Gru decides to apply, but his interview quickly goes south.

To prove his worth, the kid steals a powerful and precious stone from the Vicious 6. He soon fi nds himself being kidnapped by Knuckles and pursued by the rest of the group. Four Minions, including Kevin, Stuart, Bob and Otto (all voiced by Pierre

Coffi n) set out on a journey to retrieve the stone and rescue their boss.

The story is very simple and slight. Gru learns from his idol and the Minions travel cross country to locate him.

What follows are a series of scattershot jokes as the story jumps between a trio of plotlines with the characters gaining new experiences a s they reconvene in Sa n Francisco. These bits include a likable scene in which the yellow creatures discover that their unique body shape can help them move around town at a rapid clip.

But some of the humor is very broad and the verbal gags are blunt, at times landing with a bit of a thud. And the screenplay introduces an interesting Biker character (voiced by RZA), who falls by the wayside and is underutilized in the story.

This effort is set in the 1970s and the screenplay does make use of the time period to generate some laughs. There is a n enter t a i n i ng cred it sequence paying homage to James Bond movies of the era, as well as plenty of references to music, biker and kung-fu fl icks.

This is particularly evident in a comical subplot involving acupuncturist/kung-fu expert Master Chow (Michelle Yeoh),

GALLUP FUN!

‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’ won’t win awards, but it’s still a likable fi lm

GALLUP FUN!

8 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

GALLUPARTS | FROM PAGE 4 “The avenue that I like to focus on is social circus, which targets marginalized and at-risk youth to go into their communities and work with them,” Watchman said.

“The skills that you need to learn and the fundamentals of aerial skills are huge components of leadership and confidence and so many strengths and skill-building aspects of aerial skills.”

Along with creating a curriculum, Watchman is also teaching a student one-on-one in an eight-week class.

“I am truly excited for this opportunity to work with gallupARTS and address social justice w ith circus a r ts,” Watchman stated in a gallupARTS press release. “This summer I will be creating an aerial art studio in downtown Gallup that will host [an Indigenous youth]. The intention is to demonstrate how circus and aerial arts creates meaningful space that promotes growth and deep personal development in a young person’s life.”

T he prog ra m w i l l end with the student putting on a performance in late July/ early August that will show off what they learned from Watchman. Watchman also said the student will be incorporating poetry into the performance, and their spoken word piece that will reflect on what they’ve learned will be played during the performance.

Watchman said one of the reasons she wanted to teach circus art is because it’s not something that is readily available to people in America, e s peci a l ly bl a ck people, Indigenous people, and other people of color.

“While I was in Paris, I learned that European circus is something you’re born into, it’s something your family does, but here in the United States circus is something that’s in the top tier of athleticism, so it’s a very privileged sport and something that not a lot of people, especially marginalized people, black, Indigenous, and people of color, have access to,” Watchman said.

Rose Eason, gallupARTS Executive Director, is very

excited to have Watchman as the 2022 Social Justice Creative In-Residence. “gallupARTS is so excited to support Meek’s Indigenous social circus project for so many reasons,” Eason said in a press release. “Not only is Meek introducing our community to a new art form, she’s breaking ground by Indigenizing that art form. And through her work exploring the intersections of Diné perspectives and social circus, she’s opening up new possibilities for young people in our area.

Youth development is such an important, if often overlooked, social justice issue—when we’re talking about youth, we’re talking about our future.”

Watchman is only the second artist to be featured as gallupARTS’s Social Justice Creative In-Residence. Hannah Manuelito, a Diné photograph, was featured for the program in 2018. Manuelito’s project focused on taking photo graphs of all the matriarchs of her family. GallupARTS gave her the money to complete the project, and Manuelito also led youth workshops and artist talks.

“It wasn’t directly addressing the [Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women] issue, but it was right around when #MeToo was taking off, so it had a lot to do with the roles that women play in families and society, and the respect that the traditional Navajo value system has for women,” Eason said.

Eason said that the Creative In-Residence program was initially planned to be something the gallery did every two years, but then COVID hit. She said that the program could become an annual program if gallupARTS found enough funding. Right now Eason said she hopes they’re able to bring it back for 2024, but there’s no concrete plans as of yet.

GallupARTS gave Watchman a $5,400 stipend to help her reach her goals, with an additional $1,000 stipend for supplies. The funding is provided by the Western States Art Federation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For information about Watchman and her work, visit galluparts.org.

it is studied by scientists, with Timmy Telescope Solar Astronomy! Participants will create bracelets with UV-sensitive beads, and have a chance to safely view the sun using special telescopes and spectroscopes.

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

FRIDAY, JULY 15

BOOK COVER BOOK BINGO 4 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Discover classic literature, must reads, and more as OFPL has an afternoon of book cover bingo.

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

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AND SATURDAY, JULY 16

KICKER ARENACROSS & MUD BOG SHOW @ Red Rock Park (825 Outlaw

Rd., Church Rock). Don’t miss the high flying, bar-to-bar race action of the Kicker Arenacross & Mud Bog Show! Coming to Gallup for two nights on July 15 & 16th at the Red Rock Park Arena. Advance Tickets on sale now for *ONLY $8* SATURDAY, JULY 16

LEVITT AMP CONCERT SERIES 6 pm @ Courthouse Square.

Come join the fun in the heart of downtown Gallup at this free concert series brought to you by the Levitt Amp Foundation, Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District, Visit Gallup & the City of Gallup. This week Mozart Gabriel & Fox Royale will be performing.

FRIDAY, JULY 22

MARS ROVER EXPLORATION 1 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Learn about the Perseverance Mars Rover from an engineer who helped design it. Then, take on an engineering challenge as you design and build your own planetary rover out of pasta.

Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov

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

TEEN PAINT NIGHT 4 pm @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec. Ave.).

Learn how to paint with acrylics.

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

SATURDAY, JULY 23

how to care for these amazing animals! Ask questions and talk with park ambassadors. Email jwhitman@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

features car shows & cruises, hot air balloon mass ascensions, circus performers, live bands, food trucks and more! A schedule of events will be on the event website.

BERMUDA TRIANGLE ESCAPE ROOM

SATURDAY, JULY 30

12 pm to 4 pm @ the Rio West Mall (1300 W Maloney Ave.), behind the Hobby Lobby.

FRIDAY, JULY 29

LEVITT AMP CONCERT SERIES

NAVAJO RUG WEAVING

6 pm @ Courthouse Square.

Come join the fun in the heart of downtown Gallup at this free concert series brought to you by the Levitt Amp Foundation, Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District, Visit Gallup & the City of Gallup. This week DDAT will be performing.

ABQ BIOPARK 11 am @ the Main Library and Children’s Branch (115 W. Hill Ave. and 200 W. Aztec. Ave.) or online at OFPL’s Facebook page to learn all about King Penguins and other semi-aquatic animals living in the BioPark. Learn about their natural environments, what they like to eat, and

10 am to 2 pm @ OFPL’s Main Library (115 W. Hill Ave.).

Learn the fundamentals and techniques of rug weaving in traditional Diné style, including warping, carding and spinning.

Please bring your own weaving materials and/or projects. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

FRIDAY JULY 29, SATURDAY, JULY 30, SUNDAY, JULY 31

ROUTE 66 GALLUP FREEDOM RIDE FLIGHT & CRUISE You’re invited to downtown Gallup to enjoy Route 66 with the whole family. This event

Blu-ray/DVD Roundup for July 1, 2022

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

H

ello and welcome to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD.if you can’t make it out to the movies this week or need to stay out of public places, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

woman from the control of her pimp, violence occurs and the two protagonists end up

on the run from the mob and the law. It’s an effective film that benefits from a great cast

LEVITT AMP CONCERT SERIES 6 pm @ Courthouse Square.

Come join the fun in the heart of downtown Gallup at this free concert series brought to you by the Levitt Amp Foundation, Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District, Visit Gallup & the City of Gallup. This week the Taylor Scott Band will be performing.

END OF SUMMER X-STREAM PIRATE PARTY 12 pm to 4 pm @ Fox Run Golf Course (1109 Susan Ave.). Celebrate the end of summer with fun and prizes! OFPL has been collecting your activity logs all summer long for this special raffle. Enjoy food, games, a temporary tattoo parlor, a dunk tank, a mermaid Princess and more!

Explore oceans of possibilities with OFPL! Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information. that includes Christian Slater, Patricia A rquette, Dennis Hopper, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, Samuel L. Jackson and many more.

OCTAVIA FELLIN PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS

Tweens Who STREAM

BL ASTS FROM THE PAST! This edition is just as busy if you’re looking for something older.

Edible Lunar Scapes July 5th

Searching for Life?

July 12th

Investigating Clouds July 19th

Plastic Pollution Stations July 26th

Starts at 3:00PM y The Octavia Fellin Children & Youth Library 200 West Aztec Ave. Call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

9

Arrow Video may have the biggest title of the week with t hei r S p e c i a l Edition of the cult hit “True Roma nce” (1993). Written

by Quentin Tarantino (“Reservoir Dogs,” “Pulp Fiction,” “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and directed by Tony Scott (“Top Gun,” “Crimson Tide”), the story follows a young outcast who meets and falls for a call girl. When he tries to free the

Join us for interactive STREAM workshops to explore topics in Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Making.

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD: If this title sounds familiar, that’s likely because it was recently nominated for Academy Awards in the catego r ies of Best Inter nationa l Film and Best Original Screenplay.

It details several years in the life of a Norwegian woman in Oslo. Over this period of time, she attempts to figure out who she is and what she wants out of life, both personally and professionally. But her life is messy and complicated, leading to both disastrous and joyous moments.

As you might have already guessed, the movie received raves. Only a tiny handful of

reviewers didn’t get it, saying it was hard to discern the movie’s point and felt unfocused.

Everyone else suggested that the intent was to display a human life authentically, displaying all the lead’s strengths and weaknesses during her struggle. They also said it was beautifully acted. The cast includes Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum.

GALLUP FUN!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR | FROM PAGE 6

NEWS

NEWS

LOCAL NEWS

VA Clinic saved FEDERAL LEGISLATORS SHOOT DOWN COMMITTEE REVIEWING CLINICS FOR CLOSURE

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

V

10 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

eterans in Gallup, Las Vegas, N.M.; Raton, N.M.; and Española N.M. can breathe a sigh of relief today after a bipartisan group of senators said they won’t support appointments to the committee studying closure of their VA community-based outpatient clinics, effectively scuttling the mission.

“From day one, I’ve been clear that the process to close four veteran health clinics in New Mexico didn’t have my support,” Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., said. “It’s not what’s best for our veterans or those who support them. I’m proud to announce the Senate won’t be moving forward with the process. Our CBOCs will remain

open.”

The clinics were among 35 Veterans Affairs medical clinics across 21 states that were on the chopping block as part of a planned nationwide “rebalancing” of VA health care resources.

Veterans Helping Veterans and local legislators vowed to fight for Gallup’s clinic and the nearly 2,000 veterans who depend on it as their first contact for health care. Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Luján, along with U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., and Melanie Stansbury,D-N.M., New Mexico Department of Veterans Services Secretary Sonya Smith and Gallup’s city council objected to recommendations the VA provided for the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission.

While veterans will still have

to travel to Albuquerque for more complex services, the clinic will continue to provide primary care and specialty health services, including cardiology, laboratory and pathology.

“I am so grateful to our U.S. legislators and senators who listened to our pleas for help in keeping our local veterans clinic open,” City Councilor Fran Palochak, Dist. 4, who is a veteran herself, said. “We are eternally grateful for a favorable outcome. This clinic not only helps local vets, but veterans who live more than 100 miles away in the rural areas of McKinley County and the Navajo Nation.”

Dave Cuellar, founder of Veterans Helping Veterans, spent Tuesday afternoon meeting with Gallup Mayor Louie Bonaguidi, Heinrich, Smith and U.S.

Saturdays • 6 pm - 9pm • FREE • Bring a Chair MAY 21 – DANTE ELEPHANTE

JULY 2 – CURLEY TAYLOR

MAY 28 – TAYLOR ASHTON JUNE 18 – DEF-I

JULY 9 – LINDY VISION JULY 16 – MOZART GABRIEL & FOX ROYALE JULY 23 – DDAT

JUNE 25 – RAYE ZARAGOZA

JULY 30 – TAYLOR SCOTT BAND

JUNE 4 – SIDE PONY

Performance will be at the Historic El Morro theater

Rochelle Begay, nurse manager at the Gallup VA Clinic, gave VA Secretary Denis McDonough a tour during his trip to Gallup June 28. Photo Credit: Gallup VA Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough at the UNM-Gallup Student Services & Technology Center.

“All I’m interested in is treatment, service, care for veterans.

That’s what I worry about. The politics, the other [stuff], I don’t worry about,” Cuellar said. “They have a budget to work with and give us the best care, but don’t let the bean counters control how the providers provide medical care. That’s what’s been going on.”

Cuellar met McDonough before the forum. He said the two of them shook hands, and he said he put a lot of meaning behind that handshake.

“I told him, ‘that’s a sign between us that we respect each other and I won’t lie to you and you won’t lie to me,’” Cuellar said.

“I also challenged everybody else there to keep their word. Talk is cheap.”

Smith applauded the community’s work to keep the clinic open.

“We need to congratulate our congressional leadership and our governor for speaking up and saying the recommendations from the VA were not going to work in New Mexico, for obvious reasons,” she said. “I want to thank the community for speaking up and letting us know their thoughts, not only to share their concerns but to let us know what their recommendations are from the community. The first word in CBOC is community.”

Luján and Heinrich joined Senate Vetera n s’ A f fa i r s Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and senators Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Mike

Rounds (R-S.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) in opposition to the AIR Commission process approved

by Congress and then-president Donald Trump in 2018.

Among other things, the MISSION Act required the Department of Veterans Affairs to research, develop and publish a list of recommendations to modernize VA medical facilities and health care delivery, including through facility expansions, relocations, closures or changes in services. Without the Senate’s approval of the nominees, no commission will be established and the process as outlined by the Act will not move forward.

“We share a commitment to expanding and strengthening modern VA infrastructure in a way that upholds our obligations to America’s veterans. We believe the recommendations put forth to the AIR Commission are not reflective of that goal, and would put veterans in both rural and urban areas at a disadvantage, which is why we are announcing that this process does not have our support and will not move forward,” the group said in a joint statement. “The Commission is not necessary for our continued push to invest in VA health infrastructure, and together we remain dedicated to providing the department with the resources and tools it needs to continue delivering quality care and earned services to veterans in 21st century facilities, now and into the future.”

NEWS

Opening the gates to wild, surrendered, or abused horses EQUINE HORSE RESCUE ADDS CRUCIAL ACREAGE

By Rachelle Nones Sun Correspondent

horse owners requiring emergency feed, humane euthanasia, or gelding assistance.

“People need t o h ave resources available to help

W

ild, surrendered, or abused and neglected horses often find their way into the Four Corners Equine Rescue, a non-profit organization located in Aztec, New Mexico. Rescues are trained using the Natural Horsemanship philosophy of training without fear, pain, or forced submission—an ideal method for wild horses or horses wary of humans due to prior abuse or neglect.

“Usually the horses are thin and haven’t been taken care of,” FCER CEO Debbie Coburn said. “We get a lot of our horses from the New Mexico Livestock Board. They pick up the stray horses and if they can’t fi nd the owners, the horses come to the rescue. We also take in owner surrenders.

About 60% of our herd is wild.

Those usually come from the New Mexico Livestock Board.”

Due to an ongoing drought in the Four Corners region during the past eight years, wild horses have been under exceptional stress to survive.

“There’s not enough grass to go around. There is confl ict between the cattle and the horses and since the horses aren’t making any money,

FCER CEO Debbie Coburn with Ruby standing by (left) as she feeds Latte (right). Both are mustang horses. Photo Credit: FCER they lose. We are the only rescue trying to take care of this problem. There is not another rescue until you get to Albuquerque,” Coburn said.

In 2018, FCER purchased two additional acres of land less than a half mile away from their main property.

Complet ion of t he work required to develop the property’s facilities and pasture was set for the summer of 2023.

Despite setbacks and challenges presented by COVID19 lockdowns during the past two years, major construction work, including the installation of pipe fencing, has progressed.

Cur rently, volunteers a re

needed to help with painting, welding, moving panels to create temporary pens, setting up irrigation, and planting grass in the pasture.

Upon completion of the new facilities, FCER will be able to provide more rescues with a safe and secure space in which transformational healing can take place.

Opening the gates on a new property is a great step forward, but Coburn believes there is a genuine need for public education on proper horse care and additional resources.

She mentioned Albuquerque’s Animal Protection New Mexico as an excellent resource for

D

11

ue to pandemic-related staffing shortages and supply chain issues, the City of Gallup will not be hosting a fireworks display this year. City residents are allowed to use permissible fireworks within city limits obtained from approved vendors.

A few reminders when using permissible fireworks: When igniting, an adult must always be present, fi reworks

must be confined to areas that are paved, barren, or readily accessible to a source of water by the homeowner or general public. Fireworks must be ignited before 11 pm to ensure compliance with the city’s noise ordinance.

Also, the city would like to encourage the community to take advantage of other local events in the area during the upcoming week.

For a listing of these events, visit visitgallup.com File Photo

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

Gallup’s Fourth of July fi reworks show canceled Staff Reports

their horses,” Coburn said.

For more i n for m at ion about the Four Corners Equine Rescue, go to the website fourcornersequinerescue.com.

NEWS

McKinley County receives two Risk Awareness Program awards

By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

M

12 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

cKinley County was one of three counties recognized with a 2022 Risk Awareness Program Award during the 2022 New Mexico Counties 85th Annual Conference on June 16 in Albuquerque.

The RAP is a workplace risk control educational program that aims to reduce the frequency and severity of county claims through better risk awareness and safety practices.

McKinley County has been participating in the program for 14 years now. The county won an award acknowledging this achievement, along with another that celebrated the fact that the county’s auto claims have gone down by 24%.

The program helps train county employees on what to do in case of an emergency.

“It’s just good stuff to keep fresh in the mind of what we do policy-wise, this is best practices, this is what we do so we don’t have injuries, so we don’t have liabilities,” the county’s Risk Manager Andrew Rodriguez said in an interview with the Sun. “It covers issues that arise in workers’ comp, so slips, trips, and falls, and all those things.

It covers our general liability issues,” the county’s attorney Doug Decker explained.

Rodriguez noted that a lot of the topics covered by RAP can help the county employees outside of work as well.

“The good thing with the RAP program is that a lot of this stuff is not just work-related

New Mexico Counties Loss Prevention Manager Greg Rees, New Mexico Counties Loss Prevention Specialist James Chavez, McKinley County Attorney Doug Decker, McKinley County Assessor Kathleen Arviso, New Mexico Counties President Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover, and New Mexico Counties President Elect Valencia County Commissioner Johnathan Aragon all pose for a picture, with Decker holding the county’s award completing 14 yeas of RAP. Photo Credit: Susan Mayes things,” Rodriguez said. “If they tell you about driving safely in the ice, that’s something you can take outside of work as well as inside work. We want our employees to be safe all the time.”

Decker said he’s come to appreciate the ladder safety lesson that is a part of RAP. “The one I appreciate every year is ladder safety. Now you may be thinking ‘you’re an attorney, you’re never going to go on a ladder at work,’ that is true, but I do go on a ladder at

home, and after years of doing this I’ve seen that my ladder safety at home is much better,” Decker said.

The county departments review different material at different times, but it’s all about making sure the employees are as safe as possible.

“We want to establish a safety culture,” Decker said.

“Before we started RAP we would notice something that wasn’t quite right, but we wouldn’t tell anybody, and RAP teaches us ‘hey, say something.’”

CURLEY TAYLOR | FROM COVER

“Some people may not know what they’re about to experience. They’re waiting to see what’s going to happen, and I get a lot of joy out of putting a smile on their face,” Taylor said. “They didn’t know what they were going to get, but [then] they love it.”

The band will be performing as a part of the Levitt Amp Concert Series on July 2. The concert starts at 6 pm at the Courthouse Square. The event is free to the public.

“We’re looking forward to the whole city coming out and having a good time. Put your dancing shoes on, we’re gonna have a great time.”

While he was touring with Chenier’s band, he picked up the accordion.

In 2003, Taylor launched his own band, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. Now, almost 20 years and three albums later, Taylor said he’s excited to introduce the zydeco genre to Gallup.

“I’m looking forward to making new fans and making new friends,” he said.

Taylor said his favorite part of being a musician is introducing people to a genre they may have never heard before.

CITY APPROVES FUNDING FOR ONGOING TOURISM PROMOTION

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

G

allup’s primary guardians of tourism are funded for another year, after the city council passed a raft of tourism-related measures that will keep the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, Gallup Cultural Center and airport services humming.

Tourism is big business for Gallup, accounting for about a third of the area’s aboveground economy, according to Chamber Executive Director Bill Lee. That estimate probably falls short because of the money that changes hands in the underground artisan economy.

The council approved a $120,000 contract with the Chamber to keep the Visitor I n for mat ion Center open yea r-round ($75,000); a nd print a visitors guide for 2022 ($30,000). Funding also covers

City Councilor Linda Garcia, Dist. 1, has been appointed to the Gallup Business Improvement District Board. File Photo $15,000 in advertising and promotion services to attract visitors and increase tourism. The contract runs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023.

T he Ga l lup Cu ltu ra l Center has undergone a thorough refresh, and the council approved a $60,000 contract with the Southwest Indian Foundation to continue running the center. Services will

ADVERTISE IN THE SUN!

Gallup-McKinley Chamber of Commerce CEO Bill Lee. File Photo include museum curation and exhibit expansion; cultural programming and a youth program focused on live demonstrations of painting, weaving and other artisan showcases; development of new group tour programming; and strategic planning.

No t a b l y a b s e n t f r o m these contracts is the Nightly Indian Dance program next summer. The Cultural Center

contract includes dances at 7 pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through July this year, but hiring and managing dance groups next year will be subject to a separate contract and council approval.

In other tourism-related actions, the Council: • Accepted $7,200 reimbursement from the New Mexico Tourism Department to Gallup’s Tourism & Marketing Department. The money is part of a cooperative marketing grant that pays two-thirds of the cost for various activities, including crowdsourced photo and video management; a 12-month social content package; a video and still photo shoot; Google search engine management; and paid advertising to boost a traveler’s chances of discovering Gallup on Google. The city department also received a like match for advertising in Route Magazine.

• Approved a Fixed Base

NEWS

Keep ‘em coming Operator vendor to operate and maintain the terminal at Gallup Municipal Airport. The new contract will pay the city a percentage of profits from fueling and other services and will be finalized before Alliance Air begins daily passenger air service to and from Phoenix, Ariz., Aug. 1.

• Appoi nted Cou nci lor Linda Ga rcia , Dist.1, a nd Joseph Sanchez, owner of Red Rock Insurance Agency, to the Gallup Business Improvement District Board. The board had three vacancies after the terms of Steve Gurley and James Rich expired at the end of last year.

That leaves one open seat, and Gurley may rejoin the panel to fi ll it.

• A p pr ove d a r e q ue s t from the BID to close some streets and parking lots for the Freedom Festival event at the end of July; and a Special Dispenser’s permit for a beer garden at the Cour thouse Square July 30.

''A Tradition''

E FR E

• 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

13

Call the Sun at (505) 722-8994 for rates and sizes!

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

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

• Free, widely circulated newspaper in three counties.

• Strong following on web, social media • Competitive rates and package deals

• 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.

PUBLIC SAFETY

NEWS

PUBLIC SAFETY

Man reportedly hit a young girl, threatened a witness with a gun Staff Reports

A

man was arrested after he allegedly hit a young girl outside of a local gift shop and threatened the store owner with a gun.

On June 23, around 1:14 pm, Gallup Police Officer Darius Johnson was dispatched to 1506 S. Second St., Crazy Joe’s Store, because a man reportedly had a handgun.

When he arrived at the scene, Johnson met with the

manager of the store, who said a man wearing khaki-colored pants, a gray shirt, and red sunglasses pulled a gun on him.

The manager stated that he saw the man, who was later identified as Armondo Eddie, hitting a young girl, and yelling at her.

According to Johnson’s report, the manager walked to the front of his business and told Eddie, 38, to stop hitting the girl. Eddie allegedly started walking towards the store manager and began yelling at

him, although the manager couldn’t make out what he was saying.

Eddie pulled his shirt up to reveal a handgun in his waistline. The store manager said he feared for his life, and that’s why he called the police. He stated that a group of people, including Eddie, walked around the corner of Dine Grill, 1502 S. Second St., heading west.

Johnson was able to fi nd the suspect, Eddie, sitting in front of Four Corners Clinic,

1500 S. Second St., with two other people.

Johnson approached the three people, along with officers Matthew Strandy, Julio Yazzie, and Alana Bradley.

Johnson told the people to lay down on the ground, and he was able to handcuff Eddie.

Strandy found a black BB gun on Eddie, which the officer said looked like a real gun.

Eddie was arrested and transported to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center,

Armondo Eddie where he was charged with child abuse and aggravated assault. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 6.

Woman charged with child abandonment for driving drunk with a child Staff Reports

G

14 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

allup Officer Jarad Albert was parked in his patrol car near Ellis Tanner Trading Company, 1980 State Hwy. 602, about 7:11 pm on June 22 when a witness approached him and reported a drunk driver.

The witness said the driver was heading northbound into town, and that the vehicle was a silver car with heavy damage

to the passenger side. He said the car almost hit him, and that the woman driving tried to hide her face as she drove away.

A lber t sta r ted look ing for this alleged drunk driver, and while he was driving past Speedway South, 1730 S. Second St., he noticed a car that matched the description parked at one of the gas pumps.

He met Kayla Brown, 27, who he noticed had bloodshot eyes and he could also smell alcohol

coming off of her.

Brown slurred her words when she told A lber t she hadn’t been the one driving, but that the driver was inside the gas station. According to his report, Albert noticed that there was an open can of Truly hard seltzer in the passenger’s side door panel.

Albert placed Brown in the back of his patrol car. He then met with the woman who Brown said had been the one driving. The woman told Albert that Brown was the one who’d been driving, and that she had been the one drinking.

While Albert was speaking with the woman, he noticed that the woman had bloodshot eyes, slurred her speech while she was speaking, and he could also smell alcohol coming off of her.

Kayla Brown In his report Albert noted that both women appeared to be intoxicated, so he put both of them in the backseat of his patrol car. While he was walking around his patrol car, Albert allegedly saw a young girl sitting in the backseat of

the silver car.

Albert charged Brown with child abandonment and transported her to the Gallup Police Department while Officer Ryan Boucher stayed at the scene with the child so that a family member could pick her up.

Brown told Albert that she’d been driving around with her boyfriend before they got into an argument about drinking and he dropped her off at the Family Dollar, 2041 S. Second St. She said that she’d had two half pints of Black Cherry 99 vodka and a half bottle of Corona beer before she was dropped off.

The other woman came and picked her up, but Brown said that she hadn’t known she’d been drinking.

Brown’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 7.

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

Must provide exact release date and mailing address.

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

Staff Reports

Featured DWI Artencio Lynch May 11, 11:42 pm Aggravated DW I (Fourth) Failure to use turn signals led to a Gallup man, Artencio Lynch, 36, being pulled over and arrested for his fourth DWI. Gallup Officer Julio Yazzie wa s on saturation patrol near South Second Street and Nizhoni Boulevard when he saw a brown Kia Spectra dr iv ing southbound looking ready to pull off into the Family Dollar east of the road.

However, the vehicle did not

use its turn signal as it merged into the left lane, stopped momentarily, and then merged back into the right lane without signaling.

Yazzie followed the vehicle as it continued south on Second Street across the Highway 602 intersection and eventually stopped and parked incorrectly in the lot of Continental Divide Electric Cooperative at 2500 Hwy. 602.

The driver, Lynch, exited the vehicle and told Yazzie he was okay. However, he did not have any of the requested documentation aside from a New Mexico ID. Lynch said he had not consumed any drinks prior to driving, but he was swaying as he stood in place.

Lynch agreed to take the Standard Field Sobriety Tests.

He did not follow directions at fi rst, but then he performed poorly on the tests when he was able to complete them.

Based on his investigation, Yazzie determined Lynch was too impaired to drive a vehicle and placed him under arrest.

After doing so, Yazzie was advised by Metro Dispatch that Lynch had an active warrant for his arrest and a blood draw would be necessary.

The warrant was signed by District Court Judge Louis E. Depauli. After the blood draw was completed at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Ser vices, Lynch was transported to the McKinley County Detention Center and booked for aggravated DWI (fourth), driving with a suspended license, turning without signalling, as well as the active warrant. His arraignment hearing is set for July 18.

Name: Kenneth Spurlock Age: 35 Charge: Aggravated DWI Arrested: May 23 Status: Motion hearing on August 9

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

(505) 722-9311 Name: Erika Rayne Trujillo Age: 21 Charge: Aggravated DWI Arrested: May 12 Status: Motion hearing on August 9

PUBLIC SAFETY

WEEKLY DWI REPORT

Name: Shauntae Dale Chee Age: 22 Charge: Aggravated DWI Arrested: May 14 Status: Motion hearing on August 9

Name: Shaunee Marie Clark Age: 26 Charge: Aggravated DWI (second) Arrested: May 11 Status: Pre-trial hearing on August 4

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

ç $ISCOUNTç

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

Staff Reports

P

HOENIX – Last week, Ralph Yellow, 78, of Tuba City, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 240 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Yellow previously pleaded guilty to one count of

Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child.

Yellow admitted that in 2012 or 2013, he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a six-year-old child. The evidence also showed that Yellow engaged in sexual acts with other children for decades.

The crimes took place on the Nava jo Nation India n

Reservation, where Yellow is an enrolled tribal member.

The FBI, Navajo Nation Depa r t ment of Cr i m i n a l Investigations, and Gallup Pol ic e D e p a r t me nt c o n ducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

STAY UPDATED

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

> 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

15

https://www.facebook.com/Gallupsun

&RPĠ MRLŨ XƖ IRU EUHDNIDVƜ OXQFŊ RU GLQQHU

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

Tuba City man sentenced to 240 months for sexual abuse of children

INDIAN COUNTRY

NEWS

INDIAN COUNTRY

$18 Billion bi-partisan budget signed by Arizona governor with $55 Million allocated for the Navajo Nation Staff Reports

P

16 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

HOENIX, Ariz.

— Speaker Seth Damon and members of the State Task Force Sub-Committee of the 24th Navajo Nation applaud the signing of the historic $18 billion Fiscal Year 2023 budget signed into law June 28 by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey. The bi-partisan budget allocates $55 million for road infrastructure projects, veterans services, housing construction, tribal education programs, and the Kayenta judicial complex that was passed by the Arizona State Senate and House of Representatives the week of June 20.

Senator Theresa Hatathlie (LD7), Representative Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren (LD7), and Representative Myron Tsosie (LD7) worked with Governor Ducey, Senate President Karen Fann, House Speaker Rusty Bowers, and Appropriations Chairwoman Regina Cobb to push forward the funding priorities of the Navajo Nation in Legislative District 7. “ T he Nava jo Nat ion

appreciates the leadership of our Arizona delegation for working across the aisle with their Republican colleagues and Governor Ducey to approve this $55 million investment.

This budget was only possible because Senator Hatathlie, Representative BlackwaterNygren, and Representative Tsosie worked with community leaders, chapter officials, and at the grassroots level to identify these infrastructure projects. We commend their hard work and steadfast leadership on behalf of our schools, veterans, and Navajo families,” Damon (Bááhaalí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs, Tséyatoh) said.

House Bills 2858 and 2862 include funds for children, veterans, roads, public safety, housing, education, and the construction of facilities for Arizona tribes, including the following Navajo Nation projects: • Lukachukai Veterans Mu l t i - P u r p o s e C o m pl e x - $500,000 • Veteran Service Officers to provide services in rural

Naabik’íyáti’ State Task Force Members attend the 27th Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Photo Credit: OPVP communities - $2.2 million • Funding for tribal ceremonies funding for discharged tribal military members and those dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorders - $1 million • Highway 89 Roundabout in Page, Ariz. - $5 million • Loop Road improvements in Ganado, Ariz. - $1 million • N39 Road funding shortfall for Sweetwater, Ariz. - $6 million • N9402 Road improvements for Lupton and Houck, Ariz. - $10 million • · Judicial Complex in Kayenta, Ariz. - $2 million • Missing and Murdered Indigenous People funding for the Office of the Attorney General - $2 million • Tribal Child Trauma Training - $100,000 • Little Colorado Visitor Center - $1 million • Multi-Purpose Center for Teesto, Ariz. - $1 million • Community Center for Dilkon, Ariz. - $3 million • Navajo and Hopi tribal housing - $4 million • N a v a j o Te c h n i c a l University environmental laboratory in Chinle, Ariz. - $4 million • Diné College Student Center in Tuba City, Ariz. - $8 million • Funding for Indian education, language, cultural and historic preservation - $5 million “We prioritized community-based, shovel-ready projects, and programs that would help

our most vulnerable communities during this pandemic. Most of these projects have been years in the making and we give credit to previous state representatives and senators who were here before us,” Blackwater-Nygren said. “The $55 million is an investment to the Navajo people and my colleagues are proud to have pushed forward this state budget.”

The Arizona Legislature has historically overlooked its 22 Tribal Nations, pushing aside its priorities and citing state jurisdiction as a reason to not invest in tribal communities. According to Hatathlie and Tsosie, that narrative changed this budget session.

“Ou r st ate lea der s i n Arizona changed the narrative and fiercely advocated for our Navajo Nation priorities. In the spirit of bipartisanship, our Democratic and Republican lawmakers came together in the best interest of Arizona. We must remember their advocacy as our roads, veterans, young people, Native languages, and tribal colleges became a top priority,” Council Delegate Mark Freeland (Becenti, Lake Valley, Náhodishgish, Standing Rock, Whiterock, Huerfano, Nageezi, Crownpoint) said.

Freeland thanked Ducey for his part in signing the bill into action.

“We commend Governor Doug Ducey for signing the

state budget into law and making history for our 22 sovereign nations,” Freeland said.

The State Task Force SubCommittee has been working with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah leaders during budget negotiations to allocate millions in state funding for 110 Navajo Nation chapters. Members include Freeland, Vice Chairman Paul Begay, Council Delegate Per nell Ha lona , Delegate Herman Daniels Jr., Delegate Charlaine Tso, and Delegate Kee Allen Begay Jr. “The legislature also passed a historic $1 billion investment to secure Arizona’s water future that we hope will ensure Lake Powell and Antelope Point Marina are protected.

We must protect our water supply, strengthen our conservation strategies, and ensure clean water is available for future generations. The Navajo Nation commends our Arizona lawmakers for ensuring we get $55 million for our infrastructure and water needs,” Begay (Coppermine, K’ai’bii’tó, LeChee, Tonalea/Red Lake, Bodaway/ Gap) said.

In a prepared statement, Ducey added, “Over the last eight years, I’ve worked hand-inhand with the good women and men of the Arizona Legislature to tackle the challenges facing our state and pass policies to position Arizona as the land of opportunity. I am so grateful for their partnership.”

Ducey then went on to list some of the things that were accomplished this legislative session.

“This year’s legislative session is sure to be one to remember — and not only because of the historic bipartisan budget agreement. We took record revenues and invested in priorities that directly impact the lives of our fellow Arizonans: education, public safety, border security, health care, roadways paying off our debts, and saving for the future,” Ducey said.

Staff Reports

N

avajo Nation President Jonathan Nez joined U.S. Veterans Secretary Denis R. McDonough in Gallup on June 28 as he officially recognized the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration as a tribal veteran service organization that meets the criteria and standards to be accredited under the Tribal Representation Expansion Program, to assist veterans with benefit and pension claims. The Navajo Nation is the very first tribal nation to earn such recognition in the entire country.

Among many requirements that had to be met through the U.S. Veterans Affairs’ application process, under the leadership of Director James

Navajo Nation Veterans Administration Director James Zwierlein, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, U.S. Veterans Secretary Denis R. McDonough, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich at the University of New Mexico in Gallup June 28. Photo Credit: OPVP Zwierlein the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration had to demonstrate its capability, resources, and commitment

to maintain a policy to provide complete claims services to veterans. “ T h i s i s a m i le s t one

INDIAN COUNTRY

Navajo Nation Veterans Administration recognized as a tribal veteran service organization

Navajo veterans address U.S. Veterans Secretary Denis R. McDonough during a town hall held at UNM-Gallup June 28. Photo Credit: OPVP achievement for the entire Navajo Nation and a big step forward for Navajo veterans.

When the United States called upon our people to protect

and serve, our Diné warriors answered that call and kept

NAVAJO NATION | SEE PAGE 20

$4 million for 2022 Summer Youth Employment programs approved by the Navajo Nation Council Staff Reports

W

HEHSC Vice Chairman Carl Slater with the Rock Point Lady Cougars during this year’s Spring Session Recognitions. Photo Credit: OPVP The DCD provided the following breakdown of program allocations to five agencies: • Eastern Agency - just over $1 million • Fort Defiance Agency just over $974,000 • Shiprock Agency - almost $764,000 • Western Agency - just over $683,000 • Chinle Agency - just over $525,000 “Many of our students have been employed since May, so it was critical that we reimburse

17

Nation Council for passing this legislation and making our children a top priority this summer,” Eugene (Chinle) said.

Ch a i r m a n Da n iel Tso got a motion passed for a directive to the Division of Community Development, Office of the Controller, Office of Management and Budget, and all other Navajo programs to take necessary steps to expedite and prioritize the processing and implementation of the summer youth employment program.

their communities. Summer employment opportunities allow our students, whether in high school or college, to purchase school supplies, clothing, and any travel costs they may incur while returning to their campuses. The $4 million is an investment in the educational journey of our students,” Speaker Seth Damon (Bááhaalí, Chichiltah, Manuelito, Red Rock, Rock Springs, Tséyatoh) said.

Diné Customary Law is highlighted in Legislation No. 0066-22, which says that Navajo children must be provided with the education “to absorb wisdom, self-knowledge, and knowledge to empower them to make a living and participate in the growth of the Navajo Nation.”

The $4 million allocations will be deposited following the 50/50 funding distribution formula. The appropriation will be divided equally among all chapters, with 50% being divided proportionally using a percentage equal to the number of registered voters in each chapter.

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

INDOW ROCK, Ariz.

— During a two-day Special Session last week, the 24th Navajo Nation Council passed Legislation No. 0066-22, approving $4 million from the Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance for Summer Youth Employment Programs with 110 Navajo Nation chapters. Sponsored by Council Delegate Eugene Tso, the bill passed by a vote of 20 in favor and one opposed.

A motion by Vice Chairman Carl Slater passed with an amendment to allow funds to be utilized to reimburse chapters for their verified expenditures since May 2022 for summer youth employment expenses.

“Two years of this pandemic has impacted employment opportunities for our students, and this $4 million will put our summer youth programs on track. Our high school and college students deserve every opportunity to work, serve their communities, and gain some professional development experience. I appreciate the Navajo

our chapters properly. We need to ensure the annual budget reflects our summer youth employment programs so that chapters do not run out of funding in the future. Our students will benefit greatly from the summer program as they work to develop their resumes and learn critical skills necessary to be successful in the professional world,” Slater, (Round Rock, Rock Point, Tséch’izí, Lukachukai, TsaileWheatfields), said.

Speaker Damon certified the resolution June 24 and President Jonathan Nez has until July 4 to sign it into law. If no action is taken, it becomes Navajo Nation law. Chapters then need to pass support resolutions accepting summer youth employment funds, a requirement to meet compliance policies for the OOC and OMB. “The Navajo Nation Council supports our young people as they continue to grow to be the leaders we need tomorrow. I have always spoken about the seven generations and how our youth must return home to help

INDIAN COUNTRY

18 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

10 police officers graduate from Navajo Police Academy Staff Reports

C

ROWNPOINT, N.M. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and First Lady Phefelia Nez had the honor of attending the graduation ceremony to recognize and congratulate the Navajo Nation Police Training Academy Class 57, comprised of 10 Diné men and women who received their Navajo Nation Police badge during the event held at Navajo Technical University on June 18.

“Today is a very special occasion for the 10 men and women who are taking on the tremendous challenge of serving and protecting our people and communities,” Nez said.

“They are now our frontline warriors who will take on the risks and sacrifices to lessen the burden on our people. I am very proud of each and every one of the graduates and their families for completing the police academy training.”

Nez asked the people in attendance of the graduation to pray for the graduates.

Serving in the line of duty will be a physical, emotional, and mental challenge for you and your loved ones, but through prayer and the support from your families and fellow officers, I am confident that you will serve and protect our communities well. Together, we pray for their physical and mental health and for protection from any harm. Congratulations to the graduates of Class 57,” Nez

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and First Lady Phefelia Nez stand with the Navajo Nation Police Department’s newest 10 officers and senior training staff after their graduation on June 25, in Crownpoint, New Mexico. Photo Credit: OFPVP said.

Du r i ng h is rema rk s, President Nez also highlighted the recent steps taken to improve public safety including working with federal agencies to increase salaries to help recruit and retain Navajo Police Officers and increasing funds to secure additional K-9 units to help with drug busts and other criminal activities in various communities.

Last October, Nez also signed into law the Diné Action Plan, which uses the traditional Navajo planning model of Nitsáhákees (thinking), Nahat’á (planning), Iiná (action), and Siihásin (reflection) to help address public safety, violence, substance abuse, suicide, and missing and murdered Diné relatives.

Within the last year, the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety also created the Proactive Criminal Enforcement Program comprised of K-9 units, the Drug Enforcement Unit, and commissioned police personnel

that conduct field operations to uncover and stop or disrupt crimes related to drug use/sales, bootlegging activities, and violent crimes. In addition to federal funding, Nez authorized the allocation of an additional $500,000 to the Navajo Police Department to support the drug enforcement efforts and other public safety operations, which have led to multiple seizures of large quantities of drugs, alcohol, and illegal firearms and the arrests of violent offenders.

First Lady Phefelia Nez also congratulated the 10 new officers and spoke about the importance of supporting early childhood education and programs to increase crime prevention later in the lives of children.

As the First Lady of the Navajo Nation, she continues to work with and to support early childhood and care development advocates and agencies.

With their family members nearby, the graduates took the oath of honor administered by Navajo Nation Judge Leonard

Navajo Nation Police Officer Jay Jay Garcia has his badge pinned by a relative during the Navajo Police Academy graduation in Crownpoint, N.M. June 25. Photo Credit: OPVP Livingston during the ceremony.

The new officers include: • Jay Jay Garcia • Stetson Johnson • Elias Ramone • Antwan Gray • Nora Allen • Roberta Clitso • Shawvon Levi • Andrew Wauneka • Wyndham Largo • Arlin Manygoats Each of the 10 new officers successfully completed the 28-week police academy training in Chinle, Ariz. The academy trained the graduates to uphold respect, self-discipline, accountability, academic achievement, integrity, and professionalism.

Class 57 completed training in academics, firearms, emergency and non-emergency driving, defense tactics, crime scene management, de-escalation techniques, physical and mental conditioning, communications,

and others. The academy is also the only police training entity to integrate the Diné Fundamental Law, the Navajo Nation’s Criminal Code, as well as state and federal laws.

Navajo Police Chief Daryl Noon commended the graduates and noted that 32 cadet candidates began the academy last December and many soon learned that it was not a walk in the park.

“Today, stands true warriors before you. The seven months of training that you have received was intense, grueling, arduous, exhausting, but very high-caliber. The training you have received is second to none and it was all to prepare you for the road ahead. You have been pushed mentally and physically, you have been challenged to the

10 POLICE OFFICERS | SEE PAGE 20

President Nez, VP Lizer honor the life of Gold Star Mother Ada Holly Staff Reports

W

INDOW ROCK, ARIZ. – Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer offered their condolences June 28 to the loved ones of Gold Star Mother, Ada Holly, who passed away at the age of 93, in Salt Lake City, Utah, surrounded by family and friends.

“Our hearts and prayers a re w it h t he fa m i ly a nd friends of Ada Holly. Ada Holly

was a tremendous supporter and advocate for all Navajo Veterans. She advocated at the local, state and federal level to help veterans and their family,” Nez said.

He went on to pray for Holly’s family and friends.

“She was a compassionate and determined leader and was a grandmother and mother to many. On behalf of the Navajo people, we pray for her loved ones and may God comfort you during this difficult time,” Nez

Ada Holly said.

Holly was originally from Montezuma Creek, Utah and

she is survived by her children and grandchildren. Her late son was U.S. Army Corporal David Howard Benallie, who served as an Army Intelligence Specialist in Vietnam from August 1969 to October 1969. In May of 2006, Ada Holly traveled to Washington D.C. to visit the Gold Star Mother Headquarter and made a commitment to help all veterans on the Navajo Nation.

“Ada Holly was beloved by many, near and far. Throughout

her life, she was devoted to supporting our veterans. We will be forever grateful and humbled by her contributions and service. She will be missed and we pray for strength for the family, friends, and community during this time,” Lizer said.

The funeral was on June 29 at the Holly Family Cemetery in Ratherford, UT. The family is accepting donations via Zelle at (801) 734-0165 or at kolenyaholly@gmail.com, and Venmo at (@Kolenya-Holly).

OPINIONS

OPINIONS

Seven ways to improve 401(k) performance ‘Layin’ it on the line’

By Lawrence Castillo Guest Columnist

I

mprove 401(k) performance with these tips In addition to the below tips, make sure to fully understand asset allocation and the fees being charged. Many 401(k) plans have fees subtracted by the firm that invests and manages the account. If a client is 59 1/2 years old and still working at the same fi rm where the 401(k) is, the funds can be rolled to a self-directed IRA without any tax exposure.

This allows the client to select an asset allocation that might be more timely, especially as retirement age draws closer.

A 4 01( k) a t a for mer employer can be rolled to a self-directed IRA at any time. This tax-free transfer allows many more options for investing.

1. Be Informed: Be wellversed in all aspects of the current 401k plan. Employees

can advocate for changes they would like to see an employer adopt. If, for example, they would like to add an option to add a mutual fund, a call to a mutual fund company for information on choices might help.

2. Be Involved: If a company is considering 401(k) plan changes right now, this is the time for employees to make their opinions known.

The average company changes 401(k) plans more frequently than most employees realize, and those in charge are usually open to suggestions.

3. Be a Company Asset: Bef r iend i ng t he Benef it s Director may be the way to see changes implemented. They have greater decision-making clout and influence when it comes to the choice of company retirement plans. Providing information to the Benefits Director on how employees would like to see retirement options structured may help them craft a more responsive program.

4. Be Open to Help: Some employers have other groups that might assist in inf luencing change, such as an employer-sponsored group, or a union-if applicable. These groups have experience in helping employees advocate for change.

5. Be Willing to Try Grassroots Efforts: Consider starting a grassroots movement to advocate for change. It may sound trivial, but a petition with signatures of those employees who share common opinions on

changes in the company 401(k) plan might make an impression on the higher-ups. Negative feedback might be likely, but it might also be as likely to fi nd more like minded coworkers who are as ready for a change.

6. Be Patient: Nothing happens in an instant-especially major change like the adoption of a new 401k plan. Keep persevering until changes are addressed. Remember: today’s 401(k) plan will significantly impact the financial future of employees when it comes

Lawrence Castillo time to retire. 401k plans are designed for the benefit of employees, so make sure the plan delivers on its promise.

Lawrence Castillo is a member of Syndicated Columnists,

LAWRENCE CASTILLO | SEE PAGE 20

Letter to the Editor

Gallup VA will not be closing

T

Patty Lundstrom

19

Department of Veterans Affairs announced that they will not be closing these important clinics.

Our veterans have earned the right to specialized healthcare in their own communities and here in Gallup, we will defend that right. This Fourth of July, let’s celebrate this victory for our veterans and continue to fight for those who protect our freedoms.

Sincerely, Representative Patty Lundstrom (D-Gallup)

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

his Fourth of July, as we commemorate our nation’s founding, our community has much to celebrate and much for which we can be grateful. Gallup has long been proud to be known as the most patriotic small town in America. We earned that reputation, at least in part, because of the large number of veterans who call our community home.

We are honored that so many brave men and women who have served our country choose to live in Gallup. As friends and neighbors, we take our responsibility to support these veterans seriously. That’s why when the Federal department of Veterans Affairs proposed closing our local Veterans’ Clinic, as well as the clinics in Las Vegas, Raton, and Española, we came together to push back.

Thankfully, recently, the

NEWS

NAVAJO NATION | FROM PAGE 17 their promise,” Nez said.

Nez commented on the fact that before, many Navajo veterans had to travel far distances to receive VA benefits.

“For many years, our Navajo veterans have traveled long distances to file claims for federal VA benefits,” Nez said.

“Through the hard work of Navajo Veterans Administration Director James Zwierlein and his team, progress is being made and we are seeing results.

We a lso tha nk Secreta r y McDonough for his support and for coming to our region to hear from Navajo veterans.”

Zwierlein reported that five staff members under the Navajo Nation Veterans Administration are now accredited to process benefits claims for veterans.

Since May 2, they have taken in

LAWRENCE CASTILLO | FROM PAGE 19 a n a t io n a l or g a n i z a t io n

10 POLICE OFFICERS | FROM PAGE 18 brink of your limits, and beyond time and time again. Yet, you are here triumphant and ready,” Noon said.

“May God watch over and

and submitted 83 claims into the federal VA system. With the accreditation, the employees are able to represent the claims on behalf of the veterans. In the past, Navajo veterans had to travel to VA centers located off the Navajo Nation to submit claims.

Prior to the ceremony, Nez spoke about the importance of providing more expansive health and clinical services for Navajo veterans during a meeting held at the CommunityBased Outpatient Clinic, where many Navajo veterans go for health care services and treatment. The group also took a tour of the facility and met with the health care workers.

During the Secretar y’s visit, the federal VA announced that four Community-Based Outpatient Clinics for veterans in Gallup, Las Vegas, Raton, and Española in the state

of New Mexico will remain open. On March 14, the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission recommended the closure of the four CBOC’s, resulting from the 2018 VA MISSION Act, which required the Department of Veterans Affairs to research, develop and publish a list of recommendations intended to modernize VA medical facilities and health care delivery including through facility expansions, relocations, closures or changes in services.

Nez also joined Secretary McDonough, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., for a town hall at the UNM-Gallup campus, where they heard from veterans, members of the Navajo Nation Veterans Advisory Council, state leaders, and tribal leaders regarding health care and benefits claims and the need for

expansive care for traditional healing and mental health services. New Mexico State Sen. Shannon Pinto and Reps.

Wonda Johnson and Anthony Allison were in attendance to offer their support for veterans. Navajo Nation Veterans Advisory Council members were also in attendance including Billy Goodman, Gabriella Mehl, Ver n R. Lee, Linda Onesalt, and Elouise Brown.

In March, Nez and Zwierlein, who was selected last year to serve on the federal VA’s Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs, met with Congressional leaders to advocate for the establishment of the proposed veterans benefits outreach center and a veterans hospital that would provide clinical and mental health services to help Native American veterans with PTSD and other health care issues.

“I appreciate all of our Navajo veterans who came out to speak about their concerns and issues directly to Secretary McDonough and our congressional leaders. We also thank the Biden-Harris administration for keeping their word to have a seat at the table for the Navajo Nation. We have a lot of great momentum on veterans issues and we will continue working together to move forward to help our Diné warriors,” Nez said.

The group also visited the Gallup Indian Medical Center where they received updates on veterans health care and efforts to improve the health care system for Navajo people from Navajo Area IHS Director Roselyn Tso. Officials also spoke about efforts to construct a new hospital facility to replace the current Gallup Indian Medical Center.

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 l i nk: ht t ps://a n nu it y.com / lawrence-castillo-newsletter/

Syndicated Columnists is the sole provider of this material, both written and conceptual, for this column. All rights reserved.

protect each one of the new officers as they begin a new journey to protect and serve. The honor of becoming a law enforcement officer comes with great responsibility and challenges,” Vice President Myron Lizer said.

Lizer also prayed for the new officers’ safety.

“We pray that God gives them the strength, courage, and perseverance to endure the danger, stress, and adversity that is expected. Bring them home safely to their loved ones after each shift. We ask for prayers for our first responders and we honor them and all of their loved

ones,” Lizer said.

Also in attendance was Deputy Police Chief Ronald Silversmith, 24th Navajo Nation Council Delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton who chairs the Law and Order Committee, Na v a j o Pol ic e Ac a de my Coordinator Joshua Jeffery,

Navajo Police Lt. Donnie Kee, Navajo Technical University official Virginia Edgewater, and Navajo Technical University Provost Dr. Colleen W. Bowman who provided the keynote address.

20 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

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

2015 Jeep Patriot St#J21077A Great Gas saver Clean Now: $15,300

Ext. Color: Gray Stock # D22004B

AUTO SALES Amigo Automotive Center

2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Final Price: 53,756.00 Condition: Used Body Type: 4WD Crew Cab Transmission: Automatic

Pre-Owned 2017 Toyota Sienna AWD Engine: 3.5L V6 Gasoline Transmission: Automatic Drivetrain: AWD Stock#: TP21147A

Amigo Toyota 2000 S. Second St. Gallup, NM 87301

(505) 722-3881 AmigoToyota.com FOR RENT HOUSE RENTALS AVAILABLE: Hospital Area - 3 bed/2 bath

NOW HIRING Bartender Waitstaff Competitive Pay Good Work Environment Flexible Schedules Employment Advancement We are looking for Honest, Dependable, and Trustworthy persons.

Please apply at 1717 S. Second Street

JULY HOUSE RENTALS: Hospital Area - 3 bed/2 bath Indian Hill Area - 3 bed/2 bath Downtown Area - 1 bed/1 bath Downtown Area - 2 bed/1 bath 2 Commercial Property Suites AUGUST RENTALS: Indian Hills - 4 bedroom/3 bath Stagecoach Area - 3 bed/2 bath Email berlinda@gallupliving.

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 21

com for house rentals.

FOR SALE Buffalo robe coat with tail & hump.

L-Shaped office desk with cabinets above desk & drawers on each side. Excellent condition.

Contact info: Sharon (505) 870-9266 HELP WANTED Delivery Driver The Gallup Sun is hiring contracted delivery drivers for Friday delivery. Pay + mileage.

More hours available during the week for assistance with circulation. Drug test and background check. Current driver’s license, registration, and insurance required. Email: gallupsun@gmail.com *** PHOTOGRAPHER Are you an experienced photographer looking to dabble in some photojournalism? Or, are you a good photographer that’s looking to make some extra money taking pics? The Sun seeks a freelance photographer. If you have the time, we have the work. Must own a camera and have access to a computer to send photos and captions to the editor.

We will train the right person.

Email: gallupsun@gmail.com

LEGAL/PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Public Notice is hereby provided that the Gallup-McKinley County Schools is accepting competitive sealed proposals for: Online/Phone-Based TUTORING SERVICES for GMCS STUDENTS District-Wide K - 12 Multi-Year Agreement No. RFP-2022-73RB Commodity Code(s): 91838 As more particularly set out in the RFP documents, copies of which may be obtained by downloading from the Gallup-McKinley County Schools eBidding platform website https://gmcs.bonfirehub.com/ portal/?tab=openOpportunities Sealed proposals for such will be received until 2:00 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) on July 28, 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.

Dated the 1 st day of July 2022 By: /S/ Charles Long, President Board of Education Gallup-McKinley County School District No. 1 RFP ISSUE DATE: July 1, 2022 PUBLICATION DATES: July 1, 2022 (Gallup Sun) July 3, 2022 (Albuquerque Journal) *** STATE OF NEW MEXICO COUNTY OF BERNALILLO SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT CHILDREN’S COURT DIVISION IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION PETITION OF M AND T Petitioners.

No. D-202-SA-2022-64 NOTICE OF ADOPTION PETITION TO: Breann Gross and “The Unknown Birth Father of Baby Boy Gross”

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a Petition for Adoption has been filed by Petitioners in the above-entitled Court and cause on May 12, 2022. Petitioners are required to give Breann Gross, and “The Unknown Birth Father of Baby Boy Gross”, notice that the above- referenced Petition for Adoption was filed which requests a decree allowing them to adopt Baby Boy Gross born April 15, 2022 in Gallup, McKinley County, New Mexico to Breann Gross and “The Unknown Birth Father of Baby Boy Gross”.

PLEASE BE FURTHER NOTIFIED that pursuant to NMSA §35A-5-27 (E) (1978 Comp.), you have twenty (20) days from the date of service in which to respond to the Petition if you intend to contest the adoption with the Second Judicial District Court, Children’s Court Division, 5100 Second Street, N.W., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107. Your failure to so respond shall be treated as a default and your consent to the adoption shall not be required.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that pur-

suant to NMSA §35A-5-8 A. (1978 Comp.), the identity of the Petitioners shall not be made known to you, the biological parents, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties. Since there has not been any agreement between yourselves and the Petitioners, all information pertaining to the Petitioners has been modified to prevent disclosure.

CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 20

WITNESS the Honorable William Parnall, District Court Judge of the Second Judicial District Court, State of New Mexico, and the Seal of the District Court of Bernalillo County, New Mexico.

RICHMOND L. NEELY Attorney for Petitioners P.O. Box 25685 Albuquerque, NM 87125 (505) 243-3727 CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT By: Carla M. Garcia Deputy Dated: 06/03/2022 Published by: Gallup Sun July 01, 2022

CLASSIFIEDS | SEE PAGE 22

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

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

21

CALENDAR

CLASSIFIEDS | FROM PAGE 21 July 08, 2022 July 15, 2022 *** LEGAL NOTICE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Public Notice is hereby provided that the Gallup-McKinley County Schools is accepting competitive sealed proposals for: Re-Solicit Cultural Education Assessment Development & Curriculum Support RFP-2022-72BK Commodity Code(s): 78590 91838 92405 92416 92435 As more particularly set out in the RFP documents, copies of which may be obtained by downloading from the Gallup-McKinley County Schools eBidding platform website https://gmcs.bonfirehub.com

Sealed proposals for such will be received until 2:00 P.M. (LOCAL TIME) on July 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.

Unit Number: 204 The Gallup-McKinley County School Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive any formalities or minor inconsistencies, and/or cancel this solicitation in its entirety.

Dated the 1st Day of July 2022 By: /S/ Charles Long, President Board of Education Gallup-McKinley County School District No. 1 RFP ISSUE DATE: July 1, 2022 PUBLICATION DATES: July 1, 2022 (Gallup Sun) July 2, 2022 (Albuquerque Journal) *** NOTICE OF SALE

A NON-MANDATORY Pre-Proposal Conference will be held virtually on July 6, 2022 at 10:00 AM MDT. Please see the proposal documents as to how to request to attend.

of in order to satisfy a lien for delinquent rent and other related charges. The personal property is located at ADOBE SELF-STORAGE, 1708 South Second Street, Gallup, New Mexico.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the Self-Storage Lien Act of the State of New Mexico, Section 48-11-7, that the following personal property will be sold or otherwise disposed

Name and Last Known Address of Occupant: Kathleen Jones P. O. Box 373 Gamerco, NM 87317

22 Friday July 1, 2022 • Gallup Sun

FRIDAY NIGHT RIDES

12 pm to 8 pm. @ Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe (306 S. 2nd St.). On the first Friday of every month, join your fellow motor enthusiasts. Whether you have a classic, off-road, sports, truck, motorcycle... whatever it may be, bring it over! Live music, raffles, games, and other fun activities (varies every event). And of course, great coffee, fantastic food, and good people.

MAD SCIENTISTS

3 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.). These STREAM workshops explore Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics and discover an ocean of possibilities! This week they’ll be making “captain

logs” inspired journals while learning about bookbinding.

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

SATURDAY, JULY 2

LEVITT AMP CONCERT SERIES

6 pm @ Courthouse Square.

Come join the fun in the heart of downtown Gallup at this free concert series brought to you by the Levitt Amp Foundation, Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District, Visit Gallup & the City of Gallup.

This week Curley Taylor will be performing.

FAMILY STORYTIME

Join OFPL @ 2 pm on Saturdays inside the Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec. Ave.) for storytime activities, songs, rhymes, and readaloud stories every week!

This week’s theme is sea turtles. Age 0-4. Email bmartin@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more informa-

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

Description of Personal Property: Large wire dog crate, plastic gas can, military duffle bag, military cot, wooden stool, Coleman cooler, shovel, and numerous totes, bags, and boxes of items unknown.

Unit Number: 236 Name and Last Known Address of Occupant: Mandy Pinto P. O. Box 88 Zuni, NM 87327 Description of Personal Property: 2 VCRs, microwave, Zuni basket, Lapidary supplies, two

Coleman coolers, two window air conditioners, dog bed, child’s bicycle, typewriter, television, nightstand, end table, baby/ children’s toys, four 2x4s, large speaker, and numerous totes, bags, and boxes of items unknown.

The sale or disposition of the above property will be held on Tuesday, the 19th day of July, 2022, at the hour of 10:00 a.m., at ADOBE SELF-STORAGE, 1708 South Second Street, Gallup, New Mexico. The property can

be viewed at 9:00 a.m. the day of the sale.

The property is subject to the Occupant redeeming the lien prior to the sale.

This Notice is being published once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks.

Published By: Gallup Sun 1st Publication Friday, July 1, 2022 2nd Publication Friday, July 8, 2022

CALENDAR

Community Calendar JULY 1 - JULY 7, 2022 FRIDAY, JULY 1

OBITUARIES

Honor your loved one in the Gallup Sun for FREE. One headshot allowed!

tion.

TUESDAY, JULY 5

GALLUP 9TH ST. FLEA MARKET

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

MONDAY, JULY 4

CREATIVE CORNER – PAPER MACHE WHALES

4 pm virtually @ OFPL’s Facebook page. Learn to create tantalizing jellyfish with a trail of stingers using watercolor paper and paint. Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, first-served basis using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online. For more information email jwhitman@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

CHESS CLUB

4:30 pm @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Join the chess club at OFPL! Through the game of chess, members of the club are able to bond and improve their chess skills! Each Tuesday people can learn and practice chess theory and strategy together. Each Saturday a tournament will be held.

Prizes will be awarded! All ages are welcome, although this is targeted at the age 8-18 range. Participants do not need to attend every event.

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

TWEENS WHO STREAM

3 pm @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec. Ave.).

Join OFPL for interactive STREAM workshops. Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, first-served basis

using the Supply Request Form at ofpl.online. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6

POKÉMON GO JULY FACE-OFF

4 pm @ the Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). Zollinger Library will host a Pokémon!

Go battle day. Join fellow Pokémon trainers for friendly matches, trading, or just to hang out. Pit your team of three against others in our area and test your skills. This unofficial competition is open to everyone. For questions please call 505-863-7531 or email markos@unm.edu.

FREE FAMILY FUN NIGHT

12 pm to 8 pm, Downtown Gallup. Bring the whole fam-

CALENDAR | SEE PAGE 23

ily to the heart of downtown Gallup for the Free Family Fun Nights! Nights include family-friendly music, an obstacle course, bounce house, climbing wall, and more!

MIDWEEK MATINEE AT OFPL

3 pm every Wednesday @ OFPL’s main library (115 W. Hill Ave.). Weekly film screenings of award-winning, classics, documentaries, newly released, and specially selected films. This week’s film is “Dune” (2021).

KIDZ CINEMA

12:30 pm every Wednesday @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec. Ave.) for weekly family oriented film screenings. Movies are catered with ratings PG and lower. This week’s movie is “Finding Dory” (2016). Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

FAMILY STORYTIME

Join OFPL @ 11 am on Wednesdays inside the Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec.

Ave.) for storytime activities, songs, rhymes, and readaloud stories every week!

This week’s theme is boats.

Age 0-4. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 8631291 for more information.

THURSDAY, JULY 7

JULY FILMS: SCI-FI SUMMER

4 pm @ the UNM-Gallup Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). This month Zollinger Library is celebrating summer by screening sci-fi movies. The film screenings are free and open to all students and staff as well as the community. Popcorn available, first come first served. This week’s movie is “Ex Machina.” For questions please call 505-863-7531 or email markos@unm.edu.

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

4 pm Join OFPL in the Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec.

Ave.) 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 they will be making Mars helicopters. For more information email: bmartin@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291.

SAVE THE DATE FRIDAY, JULY 8

WILDTHING CHAMPIONSHIP BULL RIDING

All day June 8 and June 9 @ Red Rock Park (825 Outlaw Rd., Church Rock). #1 open Bullriding in the southwest!!

Held at Red Rock Park every July, with some of the best bucking bulls in the business, huge fireworks, and over a $26,000 payout each year.

The Parking and Concession proceeds go to the Manuelito Children’s Home making it the largest fundraiser of the year for them.

FREEDOM TRIVIA

@ Zollinger Library (705 Gurley Ave.). Zollinger Library will have trivia questions about Independence Day and the Revolutionary War. Throughout the day, answer questions and receive some red, white, and blue rewards.

For questions please call 505863-7531 or email markos@ unm.edu.

BLOCK LETTER BOOK ART

3 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch 200 W. Aztec. Ave.) Join OFPL to transform simple wooden letter blocks into art using your favorite book covers, poetry, magazines, and more. Register at ofpl. online by July 6 to receive a 13-inch letter of your choice.

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

SATURDAY, JULY 9

CHESS CLUB

12 pm @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Join the chess club at OFPL! Through the game of chess, members of the club are able

INDIGITAL: INDIGENOUS DIGITAL ART SHOW OPENING

7 pm - 9 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123. W. Coal Ave.). An exploration of Indigenous-inspired NFT digital art forms featuring Christian Bigwater with guest artists Karl Jim, Talisa Reeve, and SAOE. MONDAY, JULY 11

ARTIST TALK: CHRISTIAN BIGWATER, KARL JIM, TALISA REEVE, AND SAOE

6 pm @ ART123 Gallery (123.

W. Coal Ave.) and live streaming on gallupARTS’s Facebook page. Learn more about the digital future of art, what the heck an NFT is, and how Indigenous artists are getting in on the action.

CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE

OFPL will be collecting donations of new and gently used children’s books from July 11 through July 31 in conjunction with KOAT-TV’s annual New Mexico Children’s Book Drive. These books will be distributed to children around the state through schools and partner literacy organizations.

You may drop book donations off at the Children & Youth Library (200 West Aztec Ave.) or the Main Library (115 West Hill Ave.). Email pneilson@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

TIMMY TELESCOPE SOLAR ASTRONOMY

12 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Learn about the sun, and how it is studied by scientists, with Timmy Telescope Solar Astronomy! Participants will create bracelets with UV-sensitive beads, and have a chance to safely view the sun using special telescopes and spectroscopes. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

FRIDAY, JULY 15

BOOK COVER BOOK BINGO

4 pm @ the OFPL Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.).

Discover classic literature, must reads, and more as OFPL has an afternoon of book cover bingo. Prizes

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

FRIDAY, JULY 15 AND SATURDAY, JULY 16

KICKER ARENACROSS & MUD BOG SHOW

@ Red Rock Park (825 Outlaw Rd., Church Rock). Don’t miss the high flying, bar-tobar race action of the Kicker Arenacross & Mud Bog Show!

Coming to Gallup for two nights on July 15 & 16th at the Red Rock Park Arena.

Advance Tickets on sale now for *ONLY $8* ONGOING

POKÉMON GO GYM BATTLES

The Pokémon Go! Battle for Zollinger Library will heat up. During the summer, the Library will check which Pokémon team has control of the Library’s gym at 5 p.m. each weekday. The team in control will have their flag raised for 24 hours. For questions please call 505-863-7531 or email markos@unm.edu.

OFPL SUMMER HOURS

The Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.) will now be open every Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm. The Main Library (115 W. Hill Ave.) will remain closed to the public, but will still be offering curbside pickup from 12 pm to 4 pm. Both libraries are open from 10 am to 5 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and from 11 am to 6 pm on Wednesdays.

WE READ, WE TALK HYBRID BOOK CLUB

OFPL’s book club book for July is “Sankofa” by Chibundu Onuzo. Register online at oflpl.online for a copy of the book until July 30. Discussions will be held on Zoom or in person at the Main Library (115 W. Hill Ave.) in August.

Refreshments will be served!

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

OCEANS OF POSSIBILITIES SUMMER X-STREAM

youth library using the theme: “Looking Back, Moving Forward: Life After a Pandemic” Submission deadline is July 22. Visit ofpl.online for more guidelines. Email jwhitman@ gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

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 April 30.. 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. Visiting hours are Monday - Sunday 4 pm - 8 pm.

RMCHCS COVID-19 TEST/VACCINE/ BOOSTER CLINIC 12 YEARS OLD AND OLDER

ONLY those with certain immune deficiencies are eligible for the first and second boosters. Must wait four months out to receive the second booster.

50 YEARS AND OLDER

If you’re 50 years and older, you are eligible for a second booster, and must wait four months out to receive the next booster.

COVID testing is available for patients meeting testing criteria and who have established care with one of RMCHCS’sProviders. For individuals seeking to establish care, please see or call patient access clerk for more information. If you are not enrolled with RMCHCS, you must call College Clinic at 505-863-1820.

There’s something for everyone at the library all summer long! This year OFPL focuses on Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Math to inspire curiosity and creativity for kids and adults alike. Registration for RAPID COVID TESTS ARE SUMMER X-STREAM begins May 16 in-person at the library NOT AVAILABLE. or octaviafellinpl.beanstack. com Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863To post a nonprofit or 1291 for more information.

ART ATTACK CHALLENGE

Do you love making art?

OFPL is inviting youth artists to submit creative work in any medium to decorate the

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

23

MIGHTY CHONDRIA KIDS

CRAFTY KIDS

to bond and improve their chess skills! Each Tuesday people can learn and practice chess theory and strategy together. Each Saturday a tournament will be held.

Prizes will be awarded! All ages are welcome, although this is targeted at the age 8-18 range. Participants do not need to attend every event.

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

Gallup Sun • Friday July 1, 2022

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.

2 pm @ OFPL’s Children’s Branch (200 W. Aztec Ave.) for a STREAM workshop for kids and tweens (5-12).

STREAM workshops explore topics in Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. This week will be about coral reefs. Supply kits are available at OFPL on a first-come, first-served basis. Email bmartin@gallupnm.gov or call (505) 863-1291 for more information.

CALENDAR

CALENDAR | FROM PAGE 22