Kinlichee man killed by vehicle
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — An 82-year-old Kinlichee Chapter man died last
Thursday in a pedestrian-vehicle collision, according to the Navajo
Criminal Investigations Department.
He was identified as John Wilson, who lived about five miles east
of the chapter house. Window Rock district detectives did not
reveal the information until Wednesday.
Wilson, wearing dark clothing and a black baseball cap, was walking
in the westbound lane of Arizona Route 264 at Mile Post 467 at
the Summit about 10:10 p.m. when he was hit by a westbound vehicle.
Navajo police did not file any charges against the driver.
The driver told officers she pulled over and stopped after hitting
something. An unidentified driver behind her also pulled over
and told her she had hit a pedestrian. They summoned help and
Wilson's son, Navajo officer Leroy Wilson, identified him at the
scene.
Detectives believe the elder Wilson had been drinking, argued
with a relative who lives east of the collision scene and was
walking west to another relative's home in the Kinlichee Chapter.
Gang-related assault
A boy, age and hometown not listed, was arrested on unspecified
tribal charges, after an allegedly gang-related assault by four
people on a 40-year-old Window Rock resident last Friday.
Tribal detectives are joining with the FBI to prepare the case
for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix to pursue charges under
the Safe Trails Task Force, aimed at prosecuting serious reservation
crimes in federal court since tribal judges can impose maximum
sentences of only a year in jail and a $5,000 fine for each charge.
According to the Window Rock district detective's report, the
youth had dried blood on his hands when arrested, but claimed
it was his own. The circumstances of the arrest were not listed
in the report, nor were the charges.
The victim, Calvin Henry Curley, was taken to the University of
New Mexico hospital in Albuquerque. His injuries were not listed
in the report.
One of Curley's neighbors rescued him when four people jumped
him at his home, next to the St. Michaels subdivision in Window
Rock, shortly before 2 a.m. Friday. When the man and other neighbors
approached, the quartet of assailants fled while yelling a gang
name.
The man told detectives he saw and heard Curley and his spouse
argue, then the assailants showed up a few minutes later.
Truck burned
An alcohol-induced domestic situation Monday resulted in a 36-year-old
Sanders man being arrested on unspecified tribal charges after
he burned a man's pickup truck about 1.5 miles northeast of Fort
Courage in the Houck Chapter.
Window Rock detectives said Martin Yazzie, 36, of 13 Antelope
Wells in Sanders, tried to get into the home of Mamie Gouber,
where his estranged wife, Elvera Yazzie, 31, was staying as it
was her mother's home.
Martin Yazzie yelled at his wife to come outside so he could beat
her up, then he threatened to burn down the house. Gouber, Harry
Lowe of Manuelito Canyon and the Yazzies' five children fled the
house and hid nearby.
They told detectives they saw the suspect torch Lowe's pickup
truck, which was destroyed.
Detectives did not say where they found the suspect, nor when,
to arrest him.
Tribal curfew ignored
Navajo police say they are receiving complaints about the tribal
youth curfew being ignored and want to remind business owners
and parents of the Navajo law, which has been part of the criminal
code since 1995.
Curfew violations occur when a child a boy or girl age 17 or younger
is outside the home without his parents or guardians, except during
an emergency or "returning home without delay or loitering
from a community, school or other activity attended with permission."
The curfew is from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and
midnight to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Tribal law says Indian parents can be arrested and/or fined up
to six months in jail and/or $500. An Indian child convicted of
violating curfew is deemed to be delinquent. The sentence for
non-Indians is up to a $500 civil fine and possible exclusion
from the reservation.
The current law has been on the books since Oct. 27, 1995.
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Push on to reduce council size
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Only five Navajo Nation Council delegates had signed
a petition as of Wednesday to hold a special session for the council
to set a referendum about reducing the tribal legislature to 24 members.
Of the five, two are from the Fort Defiance Agency and three from
the Eastern Agency.
Initiated by Delegate Edison Wauneka (Crystal, Red Lake, Sawmill Chapters),
the petition would need the signatures of 45 delegates for Speaker
Edward T. Begay and the Ethics-Rules Committee to call the special
meeting.
In a flyer to his 87 colleagues, Wauneka said that a referendum committee
has been formed to amend Title II, Chapter 3, Section 102 of the Navajo
Nation Code to read:
"A. The Navajo Nation Council (is) the lawmaking body of the
Navajo Nation and shall consist of 24 delegates. This Section 102
A shall be approved and shall not be amended unless approved by (a)
majority vote of all registered voters in all precincts.
"B. All powers not delegated are reserved to the Navajo people."
The changes would replace the council as the governing body of the
tribe with the council as lawmaking body and would reserve all powers
not specified to the people rather than the council, similar to the
U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment.
Delegates who signed the petition to have the special session are
Lawrence Morgan (Iyanbito and Pinedale chapters), Young Jeff Tom (Mariano
Lake and Smith Lake chapters), Harry J. Willeto (Ojo Encino and Counselor
chapters), and Freddie Howard (Bird Springs and Tolani Lake chapters).
With his move, Wauneka would become the first to get a referendum
on a ballot under a resolution that the council tabled until July's
summer session.
If the council approves that resolution it would lower the level of
voter approval needed for a measure to pass from a majority of all
registered voters (43,580 of 87,158 people) to a majority of the votes
cast in the election. Virtually all requests for a referendum would
still have to go through the council, since the current standard of
30 percent of registered voters would be retained.
It also would continue his decades-old attempt to shrink the size
of the council that now has 88 members.
Last year the council approved a referendum Wauneka channeled through
the Board of Election Supervisors. In the May primary several sizes
were listed, from 110 to 24, and 24 garnered the most votes to advance
to the general election.
What the general election ballot should say erupted into a battle
between the board and the legislative leadership backed by Chief Legislative
Counsel Steve Boos and Attorney General Levon Henry that resulted
in the council stripping the board of its duties for not holding the
election as originally scheduled.
Wauneka and others tried to sue the council to prevent the September
election but were stopped by the Sovereign Immunity Against Suit Act
that begins with a requirement of 30 days' notice before a suit could
be filed (and several more months before replies are required) and
the council reset the voting date from Aug. 1 to Sept. 5.
While voters who cast yes ballots for the 24 size prevailed by a more
than 2-to-1 margin, the referendum failed because of Title 2's requirement
of yes votes by a majority of registered voters.
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Archers plan 'big game' hunt
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — For those who have never hunted African lions on the
side of Mount Taylor, now is your chance.
Well, there is a lion all right, but it is a 3-D target, as are an
elk, deer, bear, mountain lion, wild turkey, wild pig and other targets.
They are part of the eighth annual Fathers Day 3-D Shoot being sponsored
by the Malpais Archery Club and the Broken Arrow Archery Club, both
local clubs.
Last year the event was held, but not in Cibola National Forest because
of the extreme fire danger, so attendance suffered. However, even
with fewer shooters last year some 120 archers still showed up.
Aaron Dean, president of the Broken Arrow Club, said the shoot is
a two-day event with a fully guided elk hunt on a private ranch on
Mount Taylor being given away as the door prize.
"We're hoping to get a lot more (shooters) than we did last year,"
Dean said. "So far we've had inquiries from all over New Mexico,
Colorado, Arizona and even Nevada."
Registration begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Two rounds will be shot Saturday and one round on Sunday. The 3-D
bow shoot is open to all avid bowmen and bow-women, accomplished shooters
and not so accomplished shooters in categories from 6 years old and
younger, ages 7-12, ages 13-17, and adults ages 18 years and over.
One of the 8 year olds won the elk hunt last year, Dean said.
Range finders are not allowed, nor are broadheads and blunts, but
binoculars are allowed.
The shooting begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. A concession stand will
handle the eating and beverage needs of the event and camping will
be available.
"Just remember that if you plan to camp, all National Forest
Service fire restrictions are in place and will be strictly enforced,"
Dean said.
3-D Bow Shoots are one of the nation's fastest growing family sports
which gets about as close to hunting and bow shooting situations as
one can get without actually shooting a live animal. All targets are
life-sized plastic targets.
For actual bow hunters, 3-D shoots are one of the best ways to build
the icy nerves and steady hands needed while hunting and the moment
of truth crops up suddenly.
In hunting situations, as well as 3-D shooting, bowmen and bow-women
are better off being over-prepared than not prepared enough in the
shooting skills department. Shooters also get an excellent opportunity
to learn range estimation on animals, something which is vital to
a successful hunt and 3-D shoot.
The shooting is done under the most realistic hunting conditions possible.
"The whole purpose is to go out there, have some fun, and improve
your hunting skills," Dean said.
For additional information call Dean at (505) 285-5772 during the
day and (505) 285-6104 during the evening.
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Game called because of weather
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
THOREAU — The Giants and Titans were left tied at 2-2 in the
Senior Division of the Thoreau Little League before the game was called
due to the weather conditions on Wednesday evening.
With two outs at the top of the first inning, the Giants rallied to
score two runs.
With one batter on base from a walk, Gordon House followed with an
RBI double and stole home.
Clayton Saunders struck out for the last out.
The Titans were held in the bottom of the first inning with the first
three batters out.
Dewayne Moore flew out to center on his first pitch and Mike Mann
struck out swinging. Ethan Siedschlag grounded out to pitcher House
for the last out.
Both team held each other in the second and third inning.
The Giants had only one hit in the two innings from House and left
no runners on base.
The Titans had two hits from JC Cotant and Dewayne Moore and left
three runners on base.
Without a ninth batter the Titans automatically got an out but they
battled back at the bottom of the fourth to tie the game.
Wacey Cotant led off but grounded out to second base.
David Taylor took a base on balls and stole his way to third. Doug
Moore also took base on balls and later stole home on a wild pitch.
A sacrifice by JC Cotant tied the game before Nathan Morales grounded
out to third.
The game was left tied at 2-2 and it was unknown when the game would
be continued.
Dewayne Moore was the pitcher for the Titans and so far had four strikeouts,
two walks and allowed three hits.
Gordon House pitched for the Giants and had three strikeouts, three
walks and two hits.
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Blue Jays, Dodgers get wins
Michael Peretti
Staff Sports Writer
GALLUP — Despite 14 batters striking out in the game, including
the last five in a row, the Blue Jays were one better, striking out
15 and were able to hold on and get a 4-2 win over the Pirates Wednesday
night at the Pee Wee Reese Field at Ford Canyon in the 11 & 12
year old division.
In the late game the Dodgers pulled out a 8-4 win over the Ft. Defiance
Red Sox.
Blue Jays 4, Pirates 2
Pirate pitchers Alex Becenti and Ismael Resendiz combined to strikeout
14 Blue Jay batters, but gave up six costly hits with runners in scoring
position.
The game was a pitching battle throughout, with the score tied 0-0
until the top of the third. The Blue Jays were finally able to break
through in the third when Chad Murril got a one out single...
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County tables 'comp time' policy
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — High-ranking officials in McKinley County who have been
putting in long hours to do their work may soon face the possibility
of not getting any more compensatory time.
Changes in the county's personnel policy, which are now being reviewed
by the county commission, would end the practice of giving supervisory
personnel in the county comp time or overtime.
The question was raised Tuesday by McKinley County Sheriff Frank Gonzales
as the commissioners were considering whether to adopt the new policy.
Gonzales asked the commission to table the policy while looking over
some concerns that were brought up by police officials who reviewed
it. One of the concerns centered around an elimination of comp time
for his supervisory officers...
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McKinley boy has hantavirus
SANTA FE (AP) — A 10-year-old child from McKinley County has
been diagnosed with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome,
New Mexico's second confirmed case this year, the state Health Department
said Wednesday.
The child has been hospitalized in Albuquerque. The case was confirmed
by testing done at the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences
Center.
An investigation of potential exposure sites will be conducted,
the Health Department said.
Hantavirus is carried by rodents, particularly deer mice, and is
usually contracted by inhaling dried particles of their urine, saliva
or feces...
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Cold weather doesn't stop Byerley, other riders
Santiago Ramos
Staff Sports Writer
CHURCH ROCK — It didn't matter that the temperature had quickly
plunged near freezing with a clear, cold night sky and gusty winds.
On a torrid hot streak, Gallup high school cowgirl Chelsee Byerley
thawed out the barrel racing field with a sizzling 16.951 second
run to win the opening round Wednesday night during the 53rd Annual
Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock State Park.
Byerley, who was coming off the heels of capturing the New Mexico
state barrel racing and pole bending titles during last weekend's
High School State Finals Rodeo, posted the only sub 17-second clocking
among a field of 35 to grab first place money for the first go round.
Barrel racing will have three go rounds and an average while the
other seven events will have only a long go.
The Lions Club Rodeo continues tonight with performances at 7 p.m.
the next three nights. On Saturday night there will be a Final Four
Rideoff for the three rough stock events: bull riding, bareback
and saddle bronc with the winner pocketing $750...
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Judge to rule on money owed Navajos
by Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday said she
will decide how Utah officials need to account for millions of dollars
in a trust fund for Navajo Indians in the state.
The trust fund, established by Congress in 1933, pays the tribe
royalties for oil drilled on tribal land in San Juan County.
About $62 million has gone into the trust fund since wells on the
reservation began producing oil in the 1950s.
The Navajo Tribe has sued the state, claiming that mismanagement
and shoddy accounting has cost the tribe $142 million, including
interest...
High winds snap poles, cut power
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Electric company employees worked all night to restore
power to San Rafael, Zuni Canyon and parts of Grants after high
winds broke power poles and lines.
San Rafael, Zuni Canyon area and parts of Grants were without power
from about 8 p.m. Wednesday until early morning after high winds
snapped three power poles in the area behind the Driveline Shop
and the Cibola Sands RV Park on State Route 53.
Downtown area residents experienced a power outage between 5:30
a.m. and 6:15 a.m. today when a line broke in front of the Continental
Divide Electric Cooperative on High Street as crews turned the power
back on to the San Rafael area.
Ray Carpenter, a lineman for the electric co-op, said the 40-foot
poles were sheared off at about 5 feet. Each pole carried four lines
and had to be completely replaced...
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Deaths
Charlotte Nelly Guerra
GALLUP — Memorial services for Charlotte Guerra, 81, will be
held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 15, at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. The
Rev. Gary Bickner will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest
Cemetery.
Guerra died June 10 in Gallup. She was born Jan. 1, 1920, in Mentmore.
Survivors include her son, Richard Guerra of Gallup.
Guerra was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Charlotte
Kallenbach, and son, James Arthur Guerra.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
George K. Toledo
ANTELOPE LOOK-OUT — Services for George Toledo, 78, will be held
at 11 a.m. Friday, June 15, at New Testament Holiness Church. The
Rev. Samuel Walker will officiate.
Toledo died June 11 in Crownpoint. He was born Dec. 12, 1922, in Crownpoint
into the Towering Rock for the Zia Clan.
Toledo was employed as a laborer and carpenter with the BIA and the
Navajo Tribe. He was a silversmith and worked for the
railroad. He also served on the planning committee and supervised
various chapter projects. His hobbies were working with
livestock and being a handyman.
Survivors include his wife, Bernice Perry Toledo of Crownpoint; sons,
Sam P. Toledo of Crownpoint, Sampson K. Toledo of
Cortez, Colo., and Daniel K. Toledo of Gallup; daughters, Cecelia
Antonio of Gallup, Janys Toledo of Farmington, Gerniece
Dee of Chinle, Ariz., Gloria A. Toledo, Berna A. Toledo and Susie
A. Toledo, all of Crownpoint, Caroline A. Cates of Las
Cruces and Nyssy Toledo of Ogden, Utah; sister, Helen Ramone of Smith
Lake; 26 grandchildren and eight great-
grandchildren.
Toledo was preceded in death by his son, David K. Toledo, and sister,
Mary Nez Begay.
Pallbearers will be Sampson K. Toledo, Daniel K. Toledo, Gloria A.
Toledo, Caroline A. Cates, Susie A. Toledo and Nyssy
Toledo.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Marjorie L. Blackgoat
COYOTE CANYON — Services for Marjorie Blackgoat, 50, will be
held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 15, at Rehoboth Christian
Church. Pastor Jake Yazzie will officiate. Burial will follow in Rehoboth.
Blackgoat died June 11 in Gallup. She was born Jan. 26, 1951, in Fort
Defiance, Ariz.
Blackgoat was employed with Coyote Canyon CHR, Catholic Indian Center,
was a salesperson at Indian Jewelry Traders,
dietician for RMCH and employed with Wingate Elementery School as
an educational assistant.
Survivors include her sons, Nathan J. Blackgoat and James R. Blackgoat,
both of Coyote Canyon; daughters, Sophia Platero
of Gallup and Zerlina Blackgoat of Coyote Canyon; mother, Rose D.
Livingston of Gallup; brothers, Dennis Livingston of
Kirtland, Nelson Livingston of Albuquerque, Leo Livingston of Pinedale,
and Johnson Livingston of San Francisco, Calif.;
sisters, Louise Daye of Breadsprings, Mary J. Cody of Pinon, Ariz.,
Lucinda White of Pinedale and Pauline Livingston of
Manuelito; and three grandchildren.
Blackgoat was preceded in death by her husband, James Blackgoat; brother,
Crystal Livingston; and father, Raymond
Livingston.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Livingston, Nelson Livingston, Leo Livingston,
Riley Yazzie, Bennie James and Christopher Hale.
The family will receive friends and relatives after the burial services
at Rehoboth Fellowship Hall.
Cope Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
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