U.S. back to business
Stores sell out of flags
Tom Purdom
Staff Writer
GRANTS — Every American flag for sale in Gallup and most
in Grants have been sold in a rush of re-fired patriotism being
played out in all parts of the state and nation.
Wal-Mart ran out of American flags in Grants and Gallup.
"We've heard that in Albuquerque there isn't an American
flag left for sale at any of our stores," Grants Wal-Mart
Store Manager Adam Gonzales said Friday.
American flags are still available at What-A-Bargain store, 705
W. Santa Fe Ave., Grants, but even that store has seen a rush
on the national symbol, said employee Maureen Savedra.
And in Gallup, Butler's Office Equipment and Supply Inc., a firm
which sells American flags, has none left. In fact, Ken Gossard,
floor supervisor, said, "We don't know of an American flag
left for sale in Gallup, they're all gone."
Gonzales said the Grants Wal-Mart supply went dry Thursday. While
the discount store giant is out of flags at the moment, it is
not out of patriotism. Gonzales said white ribbons of support
are being given out free at every Wal-Mart store in the nation.
"What happened in New York affected everybody in the United
States and in the world," Gonzales said.
Savedra said the run on flags began not long after the horrendous
attack on the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan and the Pentagon
on Tuesday.
It's much the same as during the Gulf War when American flags
began to sprout everywhere.
In Gallup, Gossard said Route 66 through town is lined with American
flags. "It's quite a sight," he said, adding that businesses
along the historic national route in Gallup contract with the
Lions Club to put up American flags.
Flags also sprouted in Grants along Main Street on Friday and
also all residential streets in the community had at least one
American flag billowing in the wind from a home. Many businesses
in Grants put out American flags on their own accord.
Gossard said Friday, "We ran out of flags this morning."
It isn't just a local thing either. The company which supplies
American flags to Butler's said it will be about two weeks before
shipments can be made.
Savedra said her store carries other flag-related items as well.
"We've always carried a good supply of flags," she said.
"We're known for selling flags and other stores are referring
customers to us."
For example, truckers are buying up flags wherever they can find
them to fly off their trucks.
"It's nice to see the patriotism," Gossard said.
Flags at all state, local and federal installations are being
flown at half-staff to honor those who lost their lives in New
York, the Pentagon and in an isolated farm field in Pennsylvania
where one airliner hijacked by terrorists crashed Tuesday.
Also called Old Glory, the American flag has a history. On June
14, 1777, Congress resolved that the flag would have 13 stripes
alternating between red and white with a union of 13 stars on
white on a blue field. The flag was officially announced Sept.
3, 1777.
The 13 stripes symbolizes the 13 colonies which originally made
up the United States and the 50 stars represent the 50 states
in the union. The Continental Congress decided on the colors with
the use of symbolism. White signifies purity and
innocence; red symbolizes hardiness and valor; and blue means
vigilance, perseverance and justice.
In 1818 Congress fixed the number of stripes through legislation,
but as new states were added, new stars would be added as well.
When the Mexican War erupted in 1846 ,the American flag had 29
stars. At the start of the Civil War in 1861 there were 34 stars,
including the states which seceded from the union. In 1898, at
the outbreak of the Spanish-American War there were 45 stars.
The 49th and 50th stars were added in 1959 and 1960 when Alaska
and Hawaii were admitted to the union.
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Flyers with beer ad upset teachers
Andrea Egger
Staff Writer
GALLUP — Teachers are upset at advertising flyers — containing
a beer ad — which teachers say they were encouraged to deliver
to students at Gallup High for the Red Rock Rampage at school several
weeks ago.
The flyers were by the World Wrestling Federation for the pep rally
and event held then at Gallup High. Beer ads aren't appropriate in
advertising for students, teachers said.
Sheila Sievers, math teacher at the high school, also said she found
it "offensive" that someone outside the school can come
in and advertise. A member of the McKinley County Federation for United
School Employees, Sievers argued that union members can't even leave
flyers for the union in school mailboxes.
Yet a for-profit company like WWF can come in and deliver whatever
it wants, including a beer ad, she said.
"The Bud ad was probably an oversight," Sievers said, but
she still isn't happy with the flyers in general.
Gallup High principal Mike Butkovich said the flyers were available,
but teachers were not required to pass them out.
"We didn't advertise it, didn't put it in the announcements;
we didn't talk about it," Butkovich said.
Assistant Superintendent Angelo DiPaolo said the availability of flyers
containing a beer ad was definitely an oversight. "We're not
condoning it; we just didn't have a chance to screen it," DiPaolo
said.
"I can understand the dismay regarding something advertising
beer," DiPaolo said.
He added that it was not proper for WWF to be selling tickets at the
high school. This will not happen again, DiPaolo said.
Sievers also was upset about incidents when the union came to new
teacher orientation in early August and put flyers on cars at Kennedy
Middle School. Administrators threatened to arrest the union members.
"I would've been arrested had I set foot at Kennedy," Sievers
said. "But WWF can come in and sell tickets."
DiPaolo said he didn't know about the problem at teacher orientation
and couldn't comment.
The flyers are just another bit of flack stacking up on teachers these
days, Sievers said. She added she's spoken to many qualified teachers
who are gathering their resumes because of the lack of caring and
mistreatment by Central Office.
Those teachers like the Gallup area and don't have a problem with
their social lives here, as Superintendent Robert Gomez used
as a reason for high teacher turn-over. It's not social life; it's
administration disrespect causing teachers to leave, she said.
The budget is not teacher-friendly, she said. Now they're trying to
take away teachers' preparatory hour, time slated to get ready for
the next day, she said.
DiPaolo said budget issues have to be deferred to John Samford, business
services director.
Sievers said Central Office administrators are putting "unreasonable
constraints" on principals to hire teachers who don't "cost
much" and consequently, often aren't qualified. Administrators
get big raises, which is disheartening to teachers, whose raises are
meager, Sievers said.
"Then they act surprised when it sends teachers away," Sievers
said.
But DiPaolo said administrators took a 6 percent raise this year,
while teachers had an 8 percent raise, as determined by the state.
He added that Superintendent Robert Gomez is coming up with a plan
to financially catch up teachers with out-of-district experience who
were hired before the district gave credit for 20 years of experience.
A history teacher at Gallup High, who asked not to be identified for
fear of retaliation, said Thursday that he wasn't as upset about the
beer ad as he was about the fact that advertising in general isn't
good for students, not even on Channel 1, the news-for-schools station
all district students watch.
"It's not appropriate with professional wrestling," he said.
Students don't have the option to "turn it off," he said
of advertising.
Regarding the union putting notices and flyers in school mailboxes,
DiPaolo said the mailboxes are for instructional information only.
"The mailbox policy we will follow. That's all I can tell you,"
he said.
Tom Payton, social studies teacher at Kennedy Middle School and president
of the union, said the union's only position on the Red Rock Rampage
flyers is that it's not fair that the union can't advertise when WWF
can advertise.
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Voters urged to pick up ballots
Tara Drolma
Staff Writer
GRANTS — If you are a registered voter in Cibola County and you
have not yet received a ballot for Tuesday's special election, chances
are your ballot is at the county clerk's office.
Cibola County Clerk Eileen Martinez said the Post Office has returned
about 3,000, or 23 percent, of the 12,842 ballots to her
office because they were undeliverable. In most cases the voter has
moved and ballots, unlike other mail, cannot be forwarded.
Ernie Marquez with the Automated Election Service — a division
of Ink Impressions, Inc., the company that is the state contractor
for election supplies — said 23 percent returned ballots is about
normal for New Mexico. He didn't say what the national average was,
but Marquez said he has worked in Nevada and the rate is about the
same there.
Marquez said the problem occurs because a voter often forgets to change
his voter registration when he moves. Even though he may continue
to vote, when a person votes at the polls his address is not checked.
By law the county clerk can not change a voter's address. The voter
has to submit a new voter registration application.
Martinez urges voters who have not received their ballots to call
or visit her office in the County Building at 515 W. High St. She
and her employees will find your ballot and you will be able to vote.
Cibola County doesn't purge voters who don't vote or whose ballots
are returned. Instead, Martinez said her office is logging in every
ballot that is returned with a date and time stamp and entering it
into a computer database.
After the election Martinez intends to send out a letter to each voter
whose ballot came back. Because letters can be forwarded, she is hoping
the voter will receive the letter and come down to her office to fill
out a new voter registration card.
Automated Election provides scanning equipment and software to the
county for its use during the election. Each ballot is logged and
scanned when it is received at the clerk's office. That way there
is a record of who voted. After the election, the equipment is returned.
This is the first time Cibola County has used a mail-in ballot. Martinez
said the commissioners chose to use this method because it is less
expensive than opening the polls.
The county has had severe budget shortfalls in the past year because
of the spiraling cost of prisoner care and it is hoping the revenues
from the tax increase will help offset those costs.
The capital outlay gross receipts tax would increase gross receipts
taxes in the cities of Grants and Milan by 0.25 percent.
That's an increase from the current rate of 6.8125 percent to 7.0625
percent. According to county figures, if the tax had been in place
last year it would have generated $398,421 in additional revenue.
The county infrastructure tax would increase gross receipts taxes
within Cibola County by 0.125 percent. According to figures issued
by the county, if the tax had been in place last year it would have
generated $40,000 in additional revenue for the county.
Martinez said Grants and Milan voters will vote on just the 0.25 percent
increase, while county residents will be asked to vote on both the
0.25 and the 0.125 tax.
To be counted the ballots must be received in the clerk's office by
7 p.m. Tuesday. The ballots can be mailed or hand delivered. In order
for the ballots to be valid, the voter must sign the certification
on the reverse side of the envelope and the proper postage must be
on the envelope. Instructions are included with the ballot.
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Bengal harriers victorious in return
to Chinle invite
Abelita Rose Freeland
Staff Sports Writer
CHINLE, Ariz. — The Gallup Bengal boys and girls cross country
teams remain undefeated after their third meet victory of the season.
In their their first appearance in five-years at the Canyon De Chelly
Invite in Chinle, the Bengal boys took first with 36 points and the
girls won with 45 points.
The Lady Bengals were led by senior Felicia Guliford who finished
with a time of 21:14, setting a new course record.
Guliford was supposed to be at a college interview this weekend in
Tennessee but after the terrorist incidents of this past week she
was able to make the race.
Page's John Scott won for the boys in 17:51 barely edging Bengal C.R.
Davis who battled to the very end to place second with a time of 17:53.
"CR is nursing his knee, but I think we both know he started
out too fast on the first mile. (But) he just didn't let the Page
runner take the victory, he made him earn it," head coach Curtis
Williams comments on Davis' race.
Boys
The Bengal boys had three runners place in the top ten along with
two Page, three Catalina Foothills and two St. Michael runners mixed
in the bunch.
Catalina Foothills had 61 points for second place, Page was third
with 64 and St. Michael had 122 points for the fourth position.
"The boys did well," said Williams whose team had a pack
time of 1:49 between their five runners. "I am pleased with the
way the boys ran as a pack. They ran well for the first two miles
and they kind of spread out on Goat Hill."
Coach Williams was referring to the last hill that spreads out about
200 meters from top to bottom.
Leif Lomeland of Page placed third in 18:57, Bengal Lonnie Williams
finished fourth in 18:57, Ben Reed of Catalina Foothills was fifth
in 19:09. In sixth was Bengal Aaron Yazzie in 19:14, St. Michael Cardinals
Chris Holgate (19:18) and Joshua Thompson (19:23) took the seventh
and eighth positions and Foothills finished the top ten with Chris
Heinfeld (19:17) and Morgan Caseman (19:28) in ninth and tenth.
Finishing the field for the Bengal boys were Kyle Benally (19:31)
in 11th and Ryan Dodson placed 13th in 19:42.
Girls
Even with several of the Lady Bengals top runners out from injuries,
the Bengals have shown the depth on their team taking the top place
led by Bengal standout Guliford.
"Even with three varsity runners out we were still able to prevail
and I am pleased with that," said coach Williams. "Felicia
had trouble with breathing at the top of Goat Hill but she was able
to set a new course record."
Guliford battled with Chinle Wildcat's Kristine St. Germaine the first
half of the course but it was Guilford who came out victorious. Guliford
beat St. Germaine by nearly a minute with St. Germaine taking second
in 22:11. That was 57 seconds behind Guliford.
"It was a good race the first half," said Lady Wildcat coach
Steve Keiser. "Felicia is a strong runner and she knows how to
take a race. Kristine kind of counters the other runner."
Ganado Lady Hornet Sharilyn Slivers took third in 22:29 and Tuba City
Lady Warrior Brandi Atene placed fourth in 22:37.
Bengal Jerri Martin took the fifth position in 23:30, Foothills' Laurel
Johnson (23:34) beat out Lady Hornet Jackie Sinquah (23:38) for sixth
place. Lady Bengal Michelle Hall was eighth with a time of 23:48,
Foothills' Alison Emslie (23:51) took ninth and Lady Bengal Melanie
Montano finished off the top ten in 23:54.
"Jerri Martin had an outstanding race. Michelle Hall really stepped
up. Melanie Montano missed Window Rock last week because of a cold
and missed three days of practice but she helped out," coach
Williams comments on his runners.
"We had some runners missing but that just shows the depth we
have on the varsity. We had to make some adjustments and I am pleased,"
Williams added.
Lady Bengal Savannah Benally was Gallup's fifth runner in 21st place
in 24:56.
Ganado bordered Chinle for second place with 82 points, The Lady Wildcats
had 84.
"This was one of our better races," said coach Keiser. "The
girls were kind of worked up with the home crowd and all but we ran
better. We are coming along and our times are improving."
The Lady Bengals were missing April Curley, Crystal Becenti and Roxann
James. Curley and Becenti will most likely be back this week in Farmington.
However, due to doctors orders James will be out for the next couple
of weeks.
Both Gallup and Chinle will meet again at the Farmington Invite this
Friday.
"We are going to run in New Mexico," said Keiser. "We
like to run in New Mexico because the courses and competition are
tougher and we like to see Gallup and Ganado."
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Navajos press to absorb Hopi
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
SHOW LOW, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation tried mightily Saturday to
convince the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission that the
Hopi Tribe has so much in common with its larger neighbor that both
should be placed in the same Congressional District for the next 10
years.
Much of the five-hour session was devoted to a parade of Diné
witnesses showing in great detail that the two tribes have almost
everything in common, only being separated by the federally originated
land dispute.
Navajo speakers also claimed that helping resolve the land dispute
would be aided by having the two tribes represented by the same person
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The commission held the hearing in the inter-active classroom of the
White Mountain Campus of Northland Pioneer College in Show Low with
people also commenting via modern technology from Kayenta, Polacca,
Winslow, Holbrook, Snowflake, St. Johns and Springerville. Along with
a hearing in Bullhead City, it was the last of 16 such hearings...
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McKinley to give $500,000 to Gallup, but with a catch
Bill Donovan
Staff Writer
GALLUP — The city of Gallup will be getting a $500,000 gift from
the county to help renovate the city's wastewater treatment plant,
but county officials say they expect something in return.
The money from the county is coming from the environmental tax and
not from the county's general funds. However, County Commissioner
Ben Shelly said he expects something from the city in return —
making some kind of provision for county residents who bring their
trash to town for disposal.
Shelly said the county felt that it could spare the money from the
environmental tax and when he talked to City Manager David
Ruiz, he told him that county residents would get some kind of break
in solid waste disposal...
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Navajo judgeships open
Jim Maniaci
Diné Bureau
WINDOW ROCK — Anyone qualified who wants to be a Navajo Nation
district court judge has until Oct. 12 to apply to the Administrative
Office of the Courts.
There are two vacancies, with Chief Justice Robert Yazzie to determine
which judges will be assigned to the 10 courts in the seven districts.
The positions became available when the Navajo Nation Council's
Judiciary Committee rejected permanent status for Sharon Johnson
of the three-court Ramah Judicial District and Chinle Judge Wesley
Atakai resigned, cutting off a removal hearing by the committee.
In the case of the Ramah district vacancy, the committee has extended
applications twice now, having accepted five potential applicants.
Once the committee selects a panel of applicants it finds acceptable,
it will send a short list to President Kelsey A. Begaye...
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Stock market takes plunge
NEW YORK (AP) — Scared investors sent stocks plummeting as
Wall Street resumed trading Monday for the first time since last
week's terrorist attacks. The resumption ended the stock market's
longest shutdown since the Depression.
At one point in early and very heavy trading, the Dow was down 629
points, dropping to 8,976 before the index regained some ground.
By midday, it was down some 518 points to about 9,087.
The early sell-off amounted to a 6.5 percent drop from the close
on the day before the attacks and pushed the average below 9,000
for the first time since Dec. 3, 1998, when it was 8,879.68.
The selling was expected in a market already fragile because of
poor corporate profits and outlooks. Fears that the nation is headed
toward war, plus the attacks' devastating effects on the airline
industry, added to the gloom...
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Ganado, MV capture tourneys
Volleyball roundup
Staff reports
LAKESIDE, Ariz. — Ganado, last year's Class 3A state runnerup,
remained perfect at 24-0 as the Lady Hornets captured its second
tournament title in two weeks with a first place showing at the
3A East Invitational at Blue Ridge over the weekend.
Defending state champion Monument Valley also grabbed its second
straight tournament title in two weeks after outlasting Tuba City
during the finals of the Page Invitational.
Ganado at 3A East Invite
"We went out and served well," Ganado coach Jerome Burns
said. "The girls are excited about coming out on top at Blue
Ridge and at Payson. Melissa (Peterson) had a great tournament.
She blocked everything that they hit..."
The Flume Trail
Stan Bindell
Special to the Independent
STRAWBERRY, Ariz. — The Flume Trail is one of ht prettiest
in Arizona and a naturalists dream, but for people who have never
been there the first question is: What the heck is a flume anyway?
Flume, not hte most common word, is an artificial channel for a
stream of water. Hey, this just might be the best way to get the
water piped from Lake Powell to the Navajo and Hopi reservations.
This flume, which was built in 1916 and has made the list of the
National Register of Historic Places, carries water from Fossil
Springs to the Irving Power Plant. Thanks to Fossil Springs and
the flume there is water everywhere.
Part of Fossil Creek is at the beginning of the trail, waterfalls
are found along the trail and the large swimming hole of Fossil
Creek is at the end of the four mile trail. Hikers will find the
flume above, below and along the trail...
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Deaths
Juanita M. Hernandez
GAMERCO — Services for Juanita Hernandez, 61, will be held at
6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Rollie Mortuary-Palm Chapel. Burial will
follow at McDowell Memorial Park, Marion, N.C.
Hernandez died Sept. 12 in Gallup. She was born April 26, 1940, in
Marion.
Survivors include her husband, Frank Hernandez Sr. of Gallup; sons,
Frank Hernandez Jr. and Eddie Hernadez, both of Gallup; daughter,
Kieva Tedesco of Gallup; and six grandchildren.
Hernandez was preceded in death by her parents, Tate and Nora Baucom.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Scott Allen Carey
GALLUP — Services for Scott Carey, 23, will be held at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 18, at Rollie Mortuary.
Carey died Sept. 11 in Roswell. He was born Sept. 22, 1977, in Gallup.
Carey graduated from University High School, Roswell, in 1996, after
attending Gallup schools. He worked with Murphy Builders Inc. and
was employed with Mt. States Pecans in Roswell at the time of his
death. He played Gallup league baseball and football. His hobbies
included fishing, hunting and golf.
Survivors include his parents, Edwina Vigil, Joe Miera of Gallup,
Jeff and Robin Carey of Roswell; brothers, Tony Torres of Gallup and
Cody Carey of Roswell, and Robert Kerns, Joey and John Miera; sisters,
Shannon, Jessica Kerns and Christina King; grandparents, Cynthia and
Jimmy Analla of Gallup and Ethel and Roland Carey of Sun City, Ariz.
Carey was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Cansada and
Edwin Fluke, Venna and James Analla, Wilhemina and Simon Vanderwagon
and Alfred and Ena Carey.
Pallbearers will be Cody Carey, Tony Torres, Mike Carey, James Analla,
Glen Cresto, Rick Murphy and Shaun Mraz.
Rollie Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
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