Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

Jewelers Create NavajoInspired Stamps

E FRE

Story Page 16 VOL 3 | ISSUE 118 | JULY 7, 2017

HOUSE OF LOVE Manuelito Children’s Home provides a haven for kids.

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Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

NEWS

NEWS Manuelito Children’s Home provides safety net for Native kids

By Babette Herrmann Sun Editor

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ocated on the west end of town, the Manuelito Children’s Home is off the beaten path, possibly forgotten about by some locals.

But anyone traveling the far west side of Gallup on Interstate 40, the signage is clear, the name painted large on the backside of the sprawling circa 1970’s gymnasium.

South of the gymnasium, which

is often mistaken for the home itself, lies a little slice of paradise for the 16 children, ages 7 to 19, that call Manuelito Children’s Home – home.

The children don’t live in a dormitory, they reside in spacious ranch style houses, one each for the boys and girls, plus a relief house – where the young residents reside while their house parents take a break from work.

“This is not a juvenile facility … a place where bad

kids go,” Superintendent Jim Christian said.

T he serene ca mpus is located along a circular drive, with one facility that serves as the educational hub – Gallup Christian School. MCH is sponsored by Gallup Church of Christ. It began as what Christian called a “preaching mission” about 58 years ago at the Manuelito Chapter on the Navajo Nation.

It was 1959, and times we’re challenging. Not all of the

The Manuelito Children’s Home needs your donations. Folks that head to Wild Thing BullRiding July 7 and 8 will receive this reminder. reservation folks embraced the church’s Christian message. The area, mired in poverty, became a second chance for children in need. Taking in needy children shifted the church’s overall mission to that of a children’s home.

By 1964, the homes at the current location at 12 Theta Street were built.

A nd providing a stable environment for children that Christian said often arrive at the home behind in school, or suffering from behavioral, emotional, and/or social problems, is the organization’s top mission, in addition to providing spiritual teachings and support via Church of Christ.

Ch r ist ia n sa id M HC receives no government funding, but must meet stringent state requirements.

“We are completely privately funded,” he said, adding that it cost about $1 million annually to keep the campus afloat.

Each home has a set of “house parents” – a mom and

MANUELITO | SEE PAGE 13

Dylan, Kiah, Quentin, Ali, JJ, Max and house parents Jim and Jennifer Wilson. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura

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Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

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Veterans moving into Ford Canyon Senior Center building

By Tom Hartsock Sun Correspondent

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allup Mayor Jackie McKinney made it official on June 30 at the general meeting for Veterans Helping Veterans by presenting the key to the now vaca nt Ford Ca nyon Senior Center to Dave Cuellar, the head of the largest and most active veterans’ group in Gallup.

“The city removed the office furniture and the dining tables and chairs,” McKinney said.

“We left the pool tables, and kitchen equipment and utensils.” McKinney also mentioned that he had discussed with the Department of Veterans Services in Albuquerque the probability of installing a permanent Veterans Service Officer in this building. The permanent office will be able to better assist the large number of vets in applying for

property tax exemptions and waivers, and license plates while providing services for homeless and at-risk veterans, and many other programs.

There are many such programs to assist veterans and all vets are encouraged to check with the VSO to determine eligibility.

I n o t h e r n ew s a b o u t vetera ns, Stepha n Tobey, announced that the local job fair for veterans held at the Rio West Mall had produced 47 jobs to date. Totals will not be available for another week or two. One hundred and thirteen jobs were provided last year during Tobey’s Fourth Annual veterans’ job fair. To supplement those numbers, UNM-G announced that the local school had presented seven Associate degrees to veterans in May, the highest number ever to date.

Several fundraising drives are currently underway for the

The vacant building in Ford Canyon, which had been the home of the Southside Senior Center, will now be used as the site for Veterans Helping Veterans, the largest veterans organization in Gallup. Photo Credit: Tom Hartsock group to be able to purchase a 20 foot by 30 foot American

Flag to be placed on an 80-foot pole just off Hasler Valley Road. According to Cuellar, this flag when placed will be quite noticeable for travelers on I-40 and for most residents of Gallup. The hilltop where it will be situated is approximately 100 feet high and the all weather flag will be enhanced by solar lights at night.

The veterans group has currently raised over $9,000 through raffles and donations, with one individual, Donald Kline, bringing in about $4,000 he collected from businesses in

Thoreau and Gallup. The need is around $14,000, according to Cuellar. Thunderbird Supply, w ith locations in Ga llup, Flagstaff and Albuquerque, was holding raffles for jewelry-making equipment but totals had not been tabulated fully. A son of one local veteran, Leo Torrez Jr., was spearheading the local drive which had collected around $1,400 for the flag and several hundred dollars for operational expenses for the group. It is hoped the flagpole will be installed by the end of the summer.

This hill, located on the North side of Hasler Valley Road, will soon host an 80-foot flagpole at the top, with a 20 foot by 30 foot American flag. Veterans Helping Veterans is currently raising money for this project through contributions. Photo Credit: Tom Hartsock

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Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

NEWS

Closing arguments filed in lawsuit against Gov. Martinez

By Andy Lyman NM Political Report

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awyers for the Santa Fe Reporter and Gov. Susana Martinez have submitted written closing arguments in a long-running court battle over public information and records.

The Repor ter sued Martinez in 2013, alleging she and her staff discriminated against the paper by refusing to communicate with its journalists and violated the state Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) by refusing to turn over records related to pardons, her schedule and other public business.

T he paper’s at t or neys argued that the stonewalling began, ironically enough, after publication of a cover story critical of the administration’s lack of transparency.

T he u nusua l ca se ha s received w ide at t ent ion, including from numerous state and local news organizations and from the Columbia Journalism Review. A victory for the newspaper could set

new transparency standards for New Mexico state government; a win for the governor would mean some vindication for an elected official who has touted hers as “the most transparent administration in state history.”

A three-day bench trial in the courtroom of state District Judge Sarah Singleton of Santa Fe concluded in April, setting the stage for both sides’ lawyers to sum up their cases in writing.

In his closing arguments, Martinez’s contract lawyer, Paul Kennedy, argued that the

lack of communication from the governor’s staff was a workload problem, not a form of discrimination. Further, Kennedy said, the governor’s office did not violate IPRA and said any delays in turning over records were the result of an understaffed and overloaded workforce in her office.

The Repor ter’s law yer, Daniel Yohalem, argued that the governor’s office lacks comprehensive pol icies for responding to records requests and that the governor’s office did not show enough proof that its staffers

Court blocks President Trump’s roll back of ‘Methane Rule’ AG CALLS IT A ‘WIN’ FOR NEW MEXICO Staff Reports

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L BUQU ERQU E – At tor ney Genera l He c t o r B a ld e r a s released the following statement regarding the decision of a federal appeals court July 3 to block President Trump’s decision to delay an EPA rule curbing methane emissions from new oil and gas operations: “New Mexico schoolchildren deserve to be properly compensated for the oil and gas extracted from our state and they deserve to breathe clean air in the Land of Enchantment.

The federal appeals court blocking President Trump’s roll back of the Methane Rule is a win for New Mexico families, businesses and our environment. My office will continue NEWS

to fight to hold the Trump Administration accountable when they try to harm New Mexico children and families.”

Attorney General Balderas inter vened to support the BLM’s 2016 rule reducing venting and flaring of methane from oil and gas production on federal lands, against challenges brought by industry and other states in federal court in Wyoming. New Mexico is home to the largest methane hot spot in the nation.

New Mex ico At t or ney General Hector Balderas and former California Attorney General Kamala Harris also previously filed a motion to intervene in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Roya lties a nd Resource Conservation Rule

did not timely respond to both requests for comment and records. Yohalem also argued that public comments from key government staffers show discriminatory views held by Martinez’s administration.

K e n n e d y s a i d the Re­porter didn’t adequately prove the 2012 Martinez cover story resulted in her office shutting off communication with the paper. The two events, he argued, were “not close enough to support an inference of causation.”

Yo h a le m a r g u e d t h a t by publ icly refer r i n g t o the Reporter as a “left-wing tabloid,” former administration spokesman Enrique Knell was

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NM Attorney General Hector Balderas case, in order to defend the commonsense rule and secure the environmental and fiscal benefits it will provide to New Mexican families.

On New Mexico’s federal public lands, the value of vented and flared gas not currently subject to royalty payments towards New Mexico public schools is an estimated $6.7 to $8.1 million per year.

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indeed showing a bias against the paper.

Kennedy dismissed Knell’s comment, but conflated the

ARGUMENTS | SEE PAGE 10

Gallup Sun Publishing, LLC Publisher/Editor Babette Herrmann Advertising Raenona Harvey Correspondents Tom Hartsock Calendar Editor Lealia Nelson Photography Ana Hudgeons Ryan Hudgeons Knifewing Segura Design David Tsigelman On the Cover: Top Right: Jewelry crafted by ‘House of Stamps’ students.

Main: Residents of Manuelito Children’s Home. Photos

by Knifewing Segura 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: 102 S. Second St., Gallup, NM 87301 The Gallup Sun, pending USPS number 1, is mailed weekly.

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Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

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As court knocks down methane rule stay, industry and regulators eye the Permian Basin

By Laura Paskus NM Political Report

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federal cour t has thwarted plans by the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to suspend an Obama-era rule tracking and cutting methane pollution from the oil and gas industry.

L a s t m o n t h , E PA Administrator Scott Pruitt suspended his agency’s implementation of the rule, which was opposed by the American Petroleum Institute, the Texas Oil and Gas Association and the Independent Petroleum Association of America. But on Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with six environmental groups and granted

New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Aubrey Dunn an emergency stay of Pruitt’s suspension. In their opinion, the appeals court judges wrote that Pruitt’s suspension of the rule was both “unauthorized” and “unreasonable.” They overturned it, calling it arbitrary,

capricious and in excess of the agency’s statutory authority.

Jon Goldstein, director of regulatory and legislative affairs for the Environmental Defense Fund, said the court decision could have a big effect on New Mexico, particularly in the southeastern part of the state. “There is a tremendous amount of new drilling and new activity going on in the Permian Basin—$13 billion in investments since the first of the year,” Goldstein said.

By lifting Pruitt’s stay on the EPA’s methane rule, the court’s decision “will help ensure methane pollution from all those new rules will not just go up into the air in New Mexico.”

He also acknowledged that it’s still up to Pruitt to actually implement the rule. “It’s a big victory, but the battles remain

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Ryan Flynn, New Mexico’s immediate past Environment Department secretary, and current head of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, testified at a U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing. Photo Credit: Courtesy of NMPR to keep this rule in place,” Goldstein said. “And we’ll keep fighting those going ahead.”

Now, he said, California and New Mexico are also opposing U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s delay of a similar rule from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. On Wednesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued the Department of the Interior, saying its delay of the BLM methane rule was illegal. Like with the EPA rule lawsuit, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas signed onto that suit against the Interior Department. “ T he wor s t I’ve s een anywhere” Methane is the same gas that bakes your cookies and heats your home. It’s also a greenhouse gas that contributes to the planet’s warming.

The EPA’s methane rule, along with the BLM rule Zinke recently suspended, were both designed to limit the amount of methane escaping into the atmosphere at oil and gas wellheads and stations as well as along pipelines. Equipment leaks from malfunctioning or improperly installed components are among the largest sources of methane and other pollutants—like benzene and formaldehyde, both of which cause cancer—from the oil and gas industry.

Anyone who has driven along Highway 550 in recent years, especially near Nageezi and Lybrook, has seen oil field flares burning off methane and other gases. It’s trickier to envision what fugitive emissions and leaks look like, but there are specialized cameras that pick up greenhouse gases like methane as well as toxic chemicals like benzene, butane, xylene and about a dozen others.

The nonprofit Earthworks purchased a Forward Looking In fra Red, or F LIR , ca mera to document oil and gas field pollution as part of its Community Empowerment Project. Recently, Gulf Region Organizer for Earthworks Oil & Gas Accountability Sharon Wilson traveled to the Permian Basin where she documented emissions from wells, storage tanks and processing plants in Eddy and Lea counties. Wilson is specially trained and certified to use the FLIR camera, which is independently verified, to detect emissions.

Climate change is a huge concern, she said, pointing to international studies that show methane is 86 times more powerful at warming the planet than carbon dioxide. Methane also brings “hitchhiker” gases with it, she said.

“Eight grown men have died recently from on-site exposure to these hydrocarbon fumes, so imagine what they might do to a toddler playing in the backyard downwind,” Wilson said.

“One of my videos was used in a peer-reviewed paper to show that the emissions traveled 23 miles away causing a spike on the state air monitor.”

What she saw in New Mexico alarmed her.

“The emissions I saw in the Permian are the worst I’ve seen anywhere,” she said. “And I’ve been to something like 15 states.”

ACCIDENTS AND DELAYS So far this year, the oil and gas industry has reported 635 energy field spills, incidents or

AS COURT KNOCKS | SEE PAGE 12 NEWS

Husband arrested for allegedly murdering wife

By Babette Herrmann Sun Editor

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Zuni man that claimed a medicine woman led him to the location of his wife’s body was arrested June 29, on first degree murder and tampering with evidence charges.

According to police interviews listed in the affidavit for arrest warrant, Javin Pablito allegedly killed his wife Mary Pablito on May 13, 2016. The two reportedly got into an argument as they traveled in their white 2015 Jeep Altitude. That argument turned deadly for the wife and mother of five children.

Her body was discovered three days later at the intersection of Allison Road and Maloney Avenue, on the south side of the retaining wall. She was 31.

It took some time for Gallup Police Department to unravel the web of lies involv ing this case. When officers first responded to the scene on May 16, 2016, Javin Pablito was playing the part of the griefstricken husband, embracing his wife’s lifeless body.

From initial observation, Mary Pablito had some apparent trauma to her head, bruising to her face and possible laceration as there was blood on her. A later examination of her body also revealed bruising in the rib and armpit areas.

Gallup Police Department Det. Rosanne Morrissette

Javin Pablito reviewed evidence at the scene to determine whether Mary Pablito was the victim of a vehicle vs. pedestrian accident.

As that was ruled out as a possibility, the pieces of the case started to come together.

The arrest warrant states that a medicine woman reportedly told Javin Pablito that his wife was by a “brick wall and some standing water.” So, on May 16, 2016, he gathered some friends and drove to the area of Maloney and Allison. While a friend began to search the area for clues, Javin Pablito found his wife’s body almost immediately after they arrived on the scene.

But only Javin Pablito returned to the home between 8:30 - 9 pm. He told the sitter that he and Mary got into an argument and she walked away from him “at the intersection by the Zuni Metro Dispatch Center,” the warrant report states.

Next, he said he headed to the dam in the Black Rock, Zuni area and sat there for about 30 minutes before heading back to the location he dropped his wife off at. He then headed to El Sabino store in Vanderwagen, N.M., telling investigators that he headed in that direction because he thought his wife may have headed to Gallup on that chilly night.

But the story didn’t add up for investigators. Javin Pablito’s jeep didn’t show up on

DISAPPEARANCE Javin Pablito told detectives that a family friend was watching their children while the two went out to dinner at about 7 pm on May 13, 2016.

The late Mary Pablito

The curve where Allison Road and Maloney Avenue intersect – the area where Mary Pablito’s badly beaten body was discovered on May 13, 2016. File Photo video surveillance of the intersection at Zuni Metro Dispatch, and interviews with people in Javin Pablito’s circle cracked at his credibility. And DNA swabs taken of blood from the vehicle confirmed that it was Mary Pablito’s blood.

W h i le Jav i n Pabl ito remained tight-lipped, someone in his circle did talk. The arrest warrant states that he beat Mary Pablito up and left her on the side of the road in Gallup on May 13, 2016.

The reason? “… To be free of Mary Pablito and felt like she would not leave him alone otherwise,” the arrest warrant states.

Mary Pablito leaves behind three boys and two girls, ages 2 to 15.

Her sister Diane Jones said she’s feeling a mix of emotions now that Javin Pablito is behind bars, but feels like she’s starting the mourning process

all over again.

“I wish that I was able to give my sister a hug and celebrate, but I can’t,” she said. “We continue to ask for prayers for Mary and her kids.”

Javin Pablito remains in custody at McKinley County Adult Detention Center as of July 6, on a $25,000 cash only bond. He has a preliminary examination scheduled at 8:30 am on July 12, in Magistrate Judge Apr il Silver sm ith’s courtroom.

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Suspect at large in double homicide investigation Staff Reports

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A NDER S, A r i z . – Apache County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to a home on Del Rio Road in Sanders, Ariz., after receiving a request for a welfare check at about 7:54 p.m. on July 1. Family members were

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Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

Crime scene investigators take photos and collect evidence from the area surrounding the home of Robert and Martha Sorensen on Del Rio Drive in Sanders, Ariz. Photo Credit: Courtesy of David Tom NEWS

AG Balderas announces Tiguex Park double murderer to stay in prison Staff Reports

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L BUQU E R QU E At tor ney Genera l He c t o r B a l d e r a s announced July 5 that the Supreme Court of New Mexico agreed with the Office of the Attor ney General’s Criminal Appeals Division and affirmed Carlos Carrillo’s convictions for the 2011 murders of Christopher Kinney and Lyndsey Frost.

The victims were found shot to death i n their truck near Tiguex Park in

Carlos Carrillo

Red Rock man pleads guilty to assaulting federal officer Staff Reports

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L BUQU E RQU E – Michael Nakai, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Red Rock, Ariz., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting a federal officer.

Na ka i wa s cha rged by criminal complaint in Oct. 2 016 , w it h a s s a u lt i n g a tribal police officer of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety who was commissioned as a Special Law E n fo r c e me nt O f f ic e r by the BIA’s Office of Justice Services. According to the complaint, Nakai assaulted the officer by kicking the officer in the face following a traffic stop. Nakai subsequently was indicted on Nov. 15, 2016, and was charged with assaulting a federal officer on Oct. 9, 2016, in San Juan County, N.M. During today’s proceedings, Nakai pled guilty to

the indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Nakai admitted that on Oct. 9, 2016, he assaulted a federal officer by kicking and striking the officer in the head while the officer was arresting him for driving under the influence of alcohol.

At sentencing, Nakai faces a ma ximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Nakai remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI a nd the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Div ision of Public Safety.

A s s i s t a nt U. S . A t t or ne y Michael D. Murphy is prosecuting the case.

Staff Reports

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L BUQU E RQU E – At tor ney Genera l He c t o r B a l d e r a s joined a coalition of 19 states July 6, in suing the U.S. Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos for abandoning critical federal protections for students that were set to go into effect on July 1, 2017.

The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court, alleges that the Department of Education violated federal law by abruptly r e s c i nd i n g it s B or rower Defense Ru le wh ich wa s designed to hold abusive higher education institutions accountable for cheating students and taxpayers out of billions of dollars in federal loans.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos The rule was finalized by the Obama administration in November 2016 after nearly two years of negotiations, following the collapse of Corinthian Colleges, a national for-profit chain.

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AG BALDERAS | SEE PAGE 11

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testimony. Finally, the Court held that there was sufficient evidence to support the murder convictions.

“This case shows how 21st century tools are critical for investigating and apprehending criminals who commit the most heinous acts,” Balderas said. “Thanks to critical cell phone evidence – and the hard work of our police and prosecutors from the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office – Carlos Carrillo will remain in prison for these brutal murders.”

AG Balderas sues DeVos, Trump administration for abandoning student protections

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Albuquerque. The Supreme Court affirmed the admission of testimony from an employee of Cricket showing a record of 83 cell phone calls between the defendant and Kinney in the hours before the shooting and evidence showing the location of every cell phone tower in Albuquerque.

The Court also held that testimony regarding how cell towers operate and interact with cell signals to locate the origin of a cell phone call is scientific or technical evidence that requires expert

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ARGUMENTS | FROM PAGE 5 political agenda of a local political action committee, which provided documents to the paper, with political views of the paper itself.

The now defunct Independent Source PAC gave emails to the paper, which Kennedy claimed led to the lawsuit.

Knell’s comment, Kennedy argued, “connotes the admitted bias of the source Plaintiff used for the subject matter of its lawsuit, not any bias on the part of Mr. Knell himself.”

During Knell’s testimony earlier this year, he attributed his “left-wing” comment to the lawsuit coming out of “left field.”

Kennedy also said t he l a ck of com mu n ic a t ion bet we en K nel l a nd the Reporter stemmed from a scantily staffed governor’s office, noting that K nell’s “persona l circumsta nces” prevented him from responding to press inquires in a timely fashion. Kennedy said Knell’s lack of responsiveness to the Reporter staff was due to a death in Knell’s family, a commute from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and childcare obligations.

“So it would have been impossible for Mr. Knell to respond right away to detailed questions on every single bill that passed, much less all the potential legislation which did not pass,” Kennedy wrote about Knell’s workload in early 2013.

Kennedy also said the governor’s office didn’t respond to Reporter staff because Knell’s communication style with the news media differed from that of his predecessor, Scott Darnell.

Dar nell, Kennedy said, “devoted more time to staying in the office responding to e-mail and did not travel by the press rooms during the legislative session.”

Part of Yohalem’s argument, both in the courtroom and in the written closing, was that there were numerous, documented instances in which Knell sent seemingly unsolicited emails to journalists at other organizations while ignoring emails from Reporter staffers.

During his testimony, Knell said he often walked the halls of the state Capitol building, where reporters would ask for

comment on certain issues.

Ken nedy poi nted back to that testimony and said the Reporter staff could have communicated with K nell had they frequented the press gallery.

During testimony earlier this year, Pam Cason, the governor’s former records custodian, said when she received IPRA requests she contacted pertinent staffers and asked them to retrieve responsive records.

During the trial, Yohalem questioned Cason and others on the office’s policy for searching and retaining records. Key staffers such as Chief of Staff Keith Gardner and Darnell, who became a deputy chief of staff, said in their testimony that they would delete ema ils they deemed “transitory,” or not related to official business.

T h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n’s “legally deficient IPRA procedures,” Yohalem wrote in his closing argument, “resulted in a systematic failure to retain, maintain and produce public records contained in emails.”

Kennedy argued the governor’s staff should not be ex pec t ed t o keep em a i l records, saying “an e-mail message from 49, 73, or 500 days earlier may no longer exist in a person’s e-mail account if the copy of the message residing in that particular account was deleted during that 49, 73, or 500-day period.”

Kennedy also chalked up the delays to a “busy fire and flood season in 2013.”

He a rg ued t hat Ca son herself was not out of the office during major events like wildfires or floods, but that “scheduling and communications staff” she relied on to retrieve documents were.

Kennedy also cited the IPRA compliance guide that states “a records custodian may need assistance from other staff members to complete a search, and the office is not expected to disrupt its normal operations in order to respond to IPRA requests.”

The case is far from over.

Both sides are expected to submit written rebuttals this week. It’s unclear exactly when a final ruling is expected, but Judge Singleton and the lawyers made clear during the trial that whichever side loses plans to appeal.

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not stand by while New Mexico students fall victim to predatory, out-of-state education companies seek to harm them and drown them in unnecessary debt. Thousands of New Mexicans are still suffering the effects of these predatory practices from for-profit institutions we have already shut down, and our office continues to seek and secure financial relief for those students.”

In May 2017, Secretary DeVos announced that the Department was reevaluating the Borrower Defense Rule. On June 14, the Department announced its intent to delay large portions of the Borrower Defense Rule without soliciting, receiving, or responding to any comment from any stakeholder or member of the public, and without engaging in a public deliberative process. The Department simultaneously announced its intent to issue a new regulation to replace the Borrower Defense Rule.

In a short notice published in the Federal Register, the Department cited pending litigation in the case California

A s sociat ion of P r ivate Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) v. Betsy DeVos as an excuse for delaying implementation of the Borrower Defense Rule. State attorneys general argue in their lawsuit that “the Department’s reference to the pending litigation is a mere pretext for repealing the Rule and replacing it with a new rule that will remove or dilute student rights and protections.”

L a st mont h, At t or ney General Balderas joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a motion to intervene in the CAPPS case in order to defend students and taxpayers from the challenge to the Borrower Defense Rule brought by the plaintiffs – a trade association representing many for-profit schools.

Additionally, without the protections of the current Borrower Defense Rule, many students who are harmed by the misconduct of for-profit schools are unable to seek a remedy in court. The Borrower Defense Rule limits the ability of schools to require students to sign mandatory arbitration agreements and class action waivers, which are commonly used by forprofit schools to avoid negative

publicity and to thwart legal actions by students who have been harmed by schools’ abusive conduct.

Today’s complaint asks the Cour t to declare the Department’s delay notice unlawful and to order the Department to implement the Borrower Defense Rule.

The Depa r tment of Education’s negotiated rulemaking committee helped develop the Borrower Defense Rule – in large part as a result of state and federal investigations into for-profit schools such as Corinthian Colleges. Under the rule, a successful enforcement action against a school by a state attorney general entitles borrowers to obtain loan forgiveness, and enables the Department of Education to seek repayment of any amounts forgiven from the school.

The coalition involved in today’s lawsuit includes the attorneys general of New Mexico, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Mar yland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

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11

AS COURT KNOCKS | FROM PAGE 6 accidents in New Mexico. The state’s Oil Conservation Division (OCD) tracks the reports, which Jeremy Nichols, climate and energy program director with WildEarth Guardians, recently put into a digital map.

“It’s great that OCD provides that information and is being transparent about what’s happening on the ground,” he said.

“It’s stuff everybody should know about and be on top of because even little incidents are a big deal. Releases, fires, these are all public health and welfare issues.”

According to Nichols, as development and hydraulic fracturing ramps up, especially in the Permian Basin, people should be concerned about development’s impact on the air, water and lands.

Tracking the accident and release data and compiling it into a map, Nichols said “confirmed our shock that it’s like the wild west out there [in southeastern New Mexico.].”

T h is week, Wi ld Ea r t h Gua rdia ns is cha llenging the U.S. Bureau of La nd Management—which oversees federal mineral leases in the area, including those beneath some private lands—to cancel its upcoming lease sale. That sale, scheduled for September, is for more than 15,000 acres in southeastern New Mexico.

“It’s crazy to see all this is happening,” he said of the 635

Screenshot of FLIR video of the Jal Processing Plant in Lea County, NM. accidents and releases so far in 2017. “It’s not like every one of these is newsworthy, but with more than 600 so far this year, that continues to beg the question: is it truly worth it, for this state and this state’s energy future?”

Industry has a clear answer to that question: yes.

Last week, New Mexico’s immediate past Environment Department secretary testified at a U.S. House Subcommittee on E ner g y a nd M i ner a l Resources hearing. The topic was access to oil and gas development on federal lands. Ryan Flynn, who now directs the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association (NMOGA), called the BLM’s “regulatory uncertainty” industry’s greatest challenge today.

In his testimony, Flynn pointed out that with the leadership of Gov. Susana Martinez, New Mexico has since 2011 successfully implemented regulatory reforms on energy and the environment and drastically decreased the amount of time required to grant air quality permits and applications for permits to drill (also known as APDs).

Flynn also praised Interior

Secretary Zinke and said his success in turning around major challenges at that BLM will “have a profound impact” on New Mexico. Flynn continued: While the rest of New Mexico’s economy struggles to gain a foothold, the state’s oil and gas industry remains a bright spot. Strong leadership at the state level has helped New Mexico’s oil and natural gas industry remain strong over the past few years, yet the state has not fully realized its resource development potential due to problems at the BLM. Flynn estimated that the BLM’s “delays” for approving permits and “administrative problems” causes federal royalty losses of more than $1.5 million a day and New Mexico severance losses of about $831,000 daily.

W h i le d i s c u s s i n g t he Permian Basin, Flynn noted that as of mid-June there were 59 drilling rigs in New Mexico versus 309 in Texas. He largely dismissed the fact that far more of the basin lies within Texas, and focused instead on the length of time it takes the BLM to approve permits.

The state of New Mexico, he said, takes only 45 days to approve right-of-way permits and only 10 days to approve applications for permit. Meanwhile, he said the BLM Farmington Field Office has taken 500 days to approve applications. In the Carlsbad Field Office (CFO) in the Permian Basin, Flynn said operators wait an average of 250 days for an APD and more than a year for a right-of-way permit, though “[c]ompanies that diligently follow up on applications with CFO staff can achieve shorter wait times.”

“For tunately,” he sa id, “Secretary Zinke and his staff have recently begun giving the Permian Basin the attention it deserves.”

Operating in New Mexico does provide one “distinct advantage” to operating in Texas, Flynn said—in royalty rates. Companies are required to pay only 12.5 percent royalties for operating on federal lands in New Mexico versus 25 percent for Texas fee land.

HIGH PLAINS DRILLER Even in a state like New Mexico, which is extremely dependent on revenues from oil and gas, rhetoric on development tends to fall along party lines. But that’s not always the case.

12

Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

Map of the Permian Basin.

Recently, Republican State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn announced his office is changing how the New Mexico State Land Office will handle renewals or new requests from oil and gas companies seeking to drill for fresh water beneath state lands. Eastern New Mexico cities like Hobbs and Portales also have easements to drill for water.

The new policy doesn’t prohibit companies from applying for an easement to drill, Dunn said. Instead, it requires more documentation, including hydrological information.

Oil and gas accounts for about 90 percent of the revenues collected by the State Land Office, Dunn said, and that includes more than $540 million for Fiscal Year 2017.

“To the state economy, that’s a big deal,” he said. “But when we looked at this water issue, I think there are other resources they can use other than the Ogallala potable water.”

The Ogallala, part of the High Plains Aquifer system, sits beneath eight states, including New Mexico and its levels have been dropping for more than five decades due to overpumping.

“I’ve heard about the Ogallala all my life, and these issues,” he said. “I had an uncle who farmed near Plains, Texas, that sold his farm in the ‘70s because of the drop in the Ogallala. This has been going on a long time.”

Dunn said he started watching it more closely last year, after hearing from towns and cities like Portales where officials are worried about running out of water.

Then, last June, Dunn’s office tried to withdraw seven water rights applications for wells planned for State Trust Lands. Those applications had been filed with the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer by a private company, GUS H20 LLC, to pump 700 acre-feet of

water per year from wells on state lands. That company has sued Dunn’s office and is represented by attorney Brian Egolf, the Democratic Speaker of the state House of Representatives.

NM Political Report reached out to the Office of the State Engineer, but received no response. The state’s top water official, Tom Blaine, worked with Flynn at the New Mexico Environment Department before being named State Engineer by Martinez in 2015.

The state is well aware of the region’s water problems.

Late last year, New Mexico approved a regional water plan that acknowledges some of the challenges. Planners estimate the region could experience serious water shortages during future droughts. The projected shortfall between supply and demand is between 94,000 and 166,000 acre feet a year.

Because Lea County has no permanent streams or lakes, more than 99 percent of the county’s water comes from underground sources, mainly the Ogallala. Meanwhile, the county has more than 19,000 active oil wells—and demand for water will continue to rise as drilling does.

Balancing the needs of farmers and ranchers with those of the oil and gas industry involves walking a fine line, said Dunn.

The State Land Office, he said, is tasked with providing income for schools and hospitals and conserving lands in the longterm. “Conserving doesn’t mean you don’t do anything with it, you have to actively manage the land, in my opinion,” he said. The oil and gas community is not happy with his decision, Dunn said. “What we’re trying to do is what’s right,” he said.

“In the long-term, New Mexico is going to have to protect its water resources.”

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MANUELITO | FROM PAGE 3 dad that provide structure and activities for the young residents.

Hou se pa rent Nor ma n Atchison works and lives in “Cottage 3” with his wife Cathy.

The demanding and rewarding job is close to his heart as he grew up at MHC. He came back to the home to “give what was given to me,” he said.

Office Printing Book Nook Teaching Supplies (505) 722-6661 1900 E. Hwy 66 Gallup, NM Atchison travels the country to conduct fundraisers and to collect food and nonfood items from donation drives.

“I speak and raise money for the home,” he said.

While some children may come into the home, totally detached from their families, others remain attached, Christian said, spending weekends away with grandparents or other family.

House parent Norman Atchison stands with resident Monica, who Supt. Jim Christian said is excelling in her studies. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura NEWS

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“We want them to know where they came from,” he said.

Ch r istia n ha s lived i n Gallup for 31 years, and said his own rocky childhood made him feel a strong connection to MHC. “I feel this is where God intended me to be,” he said.

“Everything worked so easy for me to be here and do it.”

WILD THING & GIVING For the past 23 years, Wild Thing Championship BullRiding event has served as a major fundraiser for the home.

Both children and staff team up to handle the parking and concessions.

Christian said on average the organization nets somewhere between $10k - $12k.

But, the children’s home needs the community’s help year-round.

Donations can be submitted via PayPal at www.mnch. info or mailed to: PO Box 58, Gallup, NM 87305. MCH can also use paper products, such a paper towels, toilet paper, and hygiene items for the children.

To donate or for more information call: (505) 863-5530.

Resident Quentin poses for a quick photo. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura

Resident Dylan and Supt. Jim Christian. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

13

OPINIONS The real value of our public lands

By James Jimenez

C

amping is one of this nation’s great equalizers. Whether you camp with the latest, most expensive gear, or you hang a tarp and sleep in the bed of a pickup truck, there is a camping style to fit most every budget. It continues to be, for many families, one of the cheapest ways to vacation and enjoy the great outdoors. Camping is becoming an equalizer in a different way, as more and more racial and ethnic minorities are pitching tents.

A recent survey showed that of the one million U.S. households that went camping for the first time in 2016, nearly 40 percent were either Hispanic (13 percent), African American (12 percent) or Asian American (14 percent). Non-white campers now comprise more than a quarter of all campers—an increase of more than 100 percent since 2012. Much of this shift is due to millennials, who make up a growing share—now 38 percent—of households that are active campers, according to the survey.

This is a welcome trend for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that the more people who feel a connection to the land, the more effective our conservation efforts will be.

Spending time outdoors is also associated with better mental and physical health. This is also a trend that the National Park Service has actively been encouraging because, for far too long, Americans of color have been significantly less likely to

James Jimenez enjoys a recent trip to Zion National Park in Utah. Photo Credit: Courtesy visit national parks than their white counterparts.

Unfortunately, these gains are in danger. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke recently announced that he wants to privatize our national park campsites. There are a lot of problems with this—primarily that prices will very likely be raised. Also, there is generally much less accountability when private companies run government programs. It becomes not only more difficult to determine

just how our tax dollars are being spent, but there is also more room for subtle forms of discrimination to take place. By definition privatization means an economic focus on the use of public lands rather than a conservation and equity focus.

Sec. Zinke’s desire to privatize public campgrounds is just one small symptom of a bigger illness that has this presidential administration in its grip—the illness of commodifying everything and anything

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that can, in any way, be made to profit someone. We’re seeing this with the appointment of a for-profit schooling supporter to run the nation’s Department of Education. We’re seeing this with the appointment of someone who owns stock in for-profit prisons to run our Department of Justice. And we’re seeing it in the president’s edict to review the 27 national monuments created since 1996 under the Antiquities Act. Trump claims he wants to return control of these lands over to “the people.” But the reality is that he’s more interested in being able to turn control of these lands over the industries that would profit from their exploitation.

Our nation’s public lands have great value. These pristine landscapes feed our souls when we spend time in them.

The ecosystems they protect are necessary to the health of our planet. And, yes, they have monetary value in the tourists they bring to the communities near them. Our national parks

will continue to enrich us as long as we preserve them. But if we let them be commodified, they will lose their value.

Once the oil, natural gas, and valuable minerals have been pumped, blasted or dug out of the ground, the landscape is spoiled by derelict oil rigs and slag heaps, and the streams and rivers have been polluted with toxic run-off, the land will be of value to absolutely no one.

Some things a re more important than profits: the silence of a meadow at day break; the sight of the Milky Way over the pitch-black desert; the smell of pine needles under a summer shower. Every American has the right to experience and be enriched by these wonders for themselves. As stewards of this land, we must protect our national parks and monuments not just for ourselves, but for those who will follow us.

James Jimenez is executive director at New Mexico Voices for Children.

OPINIONS

The vital role of NM Educational Retirement Board

By Jan Goodwin Executive Director of NM Educational Board

B

oth of my parents are retired educators, so my family understands firsthand the importance of secure retirement benefits for educational employees. The New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (NMERB) plays an important role in the lives of our 46,000 retirees and 60,000 active members. They and the Legislature have entrusted NMERB with providing secure retirement benefits to all of New Mexico’s public educational employees and their beneficiaries.

I consider this a sacred trust. Personally, I never want to diminish benefits for our retirees, nor do I like adjusting the plan.

T he NMERB Boa rd of Trustees and I have consistently taken a proactive position to ensure that future retirees have the benefits they deserve, have earned and substantially contributed toward in the fairest and most realistic way possible.

Earlier assumptions for the plan never anticipated the increasing life spans of our retirees, the stagnating number of educational employees to pay into the plan (the number of New Mexico educational employees paying into the plan was virtually the same on June 30, 2000 and June 30, 2016), nor the two downturns in the financial markets that took place so close to each other in the early years of the 2000s.

That is why in 2015 we began using “generational mortality,” which recognizes all the future expected increases in the lifespan of our members immediately. And that’s why in April the board voted to decrease our long-term earnings assumption from 7.75 percent to 7.25 percent. While those watching the stock market have seen significant increases in returns in recent years, financial experts and our own advisors tell us we cannot expect that trend to continue.

We are pleased with the earnings of 11.8 percent on investments, net of fees, for the 12 months ended March 31, but as fiduciaries to our member

beneficiaries, we must take a strictly realistic view of future performance.

Also, contributions in the NMERB plan, like that of most public pension plans, have been too low to sustain the fund.

Most of our members pay 10.7 percent of their compensation toward their retirement benefit -- one of the highest employee contribution rates in the country. This is higher than educational employees in neighboring Colorado and Texas where educational employees pay 8.2 percent and 7.7 percent, respectively.

The median employer contribution rate was 14.8 percent as reported in a recent national study, compared to New Mexico’s employer contribution of 13.9 percent. Many other states, including Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada and North Carolina have made a commitment to pay the actuarially required contribution rate to ensure that their retirement plans will be 100 percent funded within 30 years or less.

The board and I strongly believe that part of our duty as trustees is to use the most

realistic and conser vative assumptions in valuing our liabilities. Because of these changes, it will now take about 84 years for the NMERB retirement pool to be fully funded.

The plan is currently 61.5 percent funded, making it below the median funding level of 73.7 percent for public pension plans as of June 30, 2015. Keep in mind that we have sufficient assets to pay benefits for many years to come so there is no cause for alarm.

Last week we met with a group of educational employees, employers and retirees to explain why NMERB’s assumptions have changed. We will conduct a series of town hall meetings this fall across the state to discuss these changes with our members and seek ideas on possible long and short-term solutions.

We will focus on ways to get to full funding. These will include hard but honest discussions of whether contributions should increase from the state or employees and measure future retirees’ goals for what income replacement level they expect in retirement

and cost-of-living increases.

We anticipate there may be some creative ideas for ways to further secure the future for teachers and all educational employees.

NMERB plans to analyze these recommendations, along with financial reform models in other states and actuarial data, and bring forward a recommendation to the 2019 Legislative session.

It is time for New Mexicans to have an honest discussion on what our priorities are. We are beginning this discussion with NMERB members, though we know a final decision will rest in the hands of the New Mexico State Legislature and the Governor at that time.

How important are our children and the people who teach them? A well-educated citizenry is one of the requisites for sustainable economic growth.

Now is the time to determine our reach toward making a commitment to our children and the people who teach them.

Jan Goodwin is Executive Director of the New Mexico Edu c ati o n a l R etire m e nt Board.

Haatiishaa aaldi nei? (Autoimmune Disease)

By Greg McNeil

B

efore delving into the mystery of autoimmune disease, let’s make a few things

clear.

First, human beings were not designed to be sick.

Second, illness is not the natural condition for human beings or any native creature on the planet. Every living creature has a “spring, summer, fall and winter” season of life but disease as we have come to know it today should not be considered a normal part of the life cycle.

WHAT IS IT? Autoimmune represents a broad spectrum of diseases with over 89 million people affected.

At the time of this column there are at least eighty-eight (88) different diagnosis for autoimmune conditions that affect different tissues in the body.

Lupus, colitis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, psoriasis, cardiovascular (heart), seizures, chronic fatigue syndrome, Hashimoto, OPINIONS

inflammatory bowl and rheumatoid arthritis are just a few of the diseases associated with autoimmune conditions.

When food comes out of the stomach and into the small intestine that doesn’t belong in your body your immune system gets activated and triggers inflammation. The key thing to understand is your body’s reaction to something you consumed that has proved harmful.

HAATIISHAA AALDI NEI? Diabetes is a disease of the technological world and for many; particularly the poorer among us find it difficult to understand. Let me use diabetes as an example of an autoimmune disease and shed more light on the subject. First, the body has a natural defense system that keeps it healthy and alive against, disease, viruses and bacteria. If we take in food or other substances from our environment that our bodies are allergic to our self-defense or immune system kicks in.

Second, once the immune system kicks in the body will produce symptoms (coughs, stuffy nose, headache, weight gain etc) associated with the food, medicines, and other substances consumed as an early warning single to the individual.

If we ignore the body’s warning signals sickness, illness and disease will occur. The elevated sugar level is the early warning signal that the body is under attack.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE? Correct and useful information is always the best place to start. Since the majority of autoimmune diseases that impact our area (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver) can directly be attributed to what we consume, gaining a better understanding of how food and artificial substances affect the body is critical to our health.

For instance, weight gain is

often attributed to excessive calories when the real culprit is the chronic inflammation triggered by foods the individual is unaware they are allergic too.

The great news about autoimmune diseases such as diabetes we have the power to stop it.

Coach G Greg McNeil is a StrongFirst Instructor, Professional Strength & Conditioning coach, Licensed Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Life Coach, Author, and the owner of Gallup School of Strength (www. gallupschoolofstrength.com)

Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

15

COMMUNITY Local artisan Lyndon Tsosie holds stamp retreat

By Dee Velasco For the Sun

L

yndon Tsosie, local and internally renowned Nava jo a r tist, held a retreat “House of Stamps,” the last week of June, for budding and experienced jewelry makers to learn about the art of Navajo stamping and to create their own masterpieces.

The Navajo silversmith stamping tools are handmade, and the stamping faces look clean and crisp, from 2 7/8” to 4 1/8” long.

Back in the day, Native Americans were resourceful, and made their tools from all kinds of found objects, such as rebar, old files, rasps, railroad spikes, and valve stems.

Artisans hand cut and file the patterns onto the face of the shaft. It’s one thing to be a great silversmith, but it adds a whole different level of skill when you are also making your own crafts using these stamping tools.

Tsosie launched the House of Stamps program about two years ago. They sell to about 25 countries and have a following of non-native jewelers from around the world who love the stamps.

The retreat was held June

Jamie Hamilton from Kansas. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura

Carol Hendrickson from Georgia. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura

26 - 30, with five participants from all over the country. The cost of the retreat was $2,600, which included hotel accommodations, meals, and classes to learn about the stamps. Tsosie, along with two instructors held the retreat at the Gallup Downtown Conference Center with classes beginning at 9 am.

“This class is the first annual with participants who come from all over the United States; who are members of the House of Stamps club,” Tsosie said. “We have about 2,200 hundred members and five of them choose to come to this retreat

of St. Paul, Minn., who started buying the stamps online a year ago, was intrigued with the feel of them and wanted to get the full experience of Navajo stamping. Ritsche who has her own company, Starlite Crystals & Reiki, loved the whole experience.

“The feel of these stamps are energetic and absolutely dynamic and the integrity and character of the company was something that I respected and I wanted to help with this retreat,” Ritsche said. “It’s a learning experience and we all learn a lot from each other and

to learn stamping, and feel what it’s like to use the stamps.

The classes included working on projects such as a riveted bracelet and pendant that the participant will get to take.”

“We teach them the history of the stamps, how they came to be known as “Navajo stamps” and how the Navajos use them in their jewelry, from 1850 up to today,” Tsosie added.

Along with Tsosie, two other instr uctors from Minnesota and Missouri came down to be a part of the Lyndon family.

Instructor Karen Ritsche

Allen Marquette and Beth Witt look over the Navajo stamp making tools. Photo Credit: Knifewing Segura

16

Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

I (would) love to do it again at home on a smaller scale. This is the most fun I had in a long time, being here in this part of the country … everyone has been so friendly. I love it. It’s a learning experience and we all learn a lot from each other and I love to do it again at home on a smaller scale.”

Beth Witte, of Bland, MO., also came to help as an instructor, started buying stamps about two years ago. She uses the stamps as therapy, and says

LYNDON | SEE PAGE 19

Lyndon Tsosie organizer and teacher of the Navajo stamp class. Photo Credit:Knifewing Segura COMMUNITY

Fracking and Earthquakes, what is our experience?

By Michael Daly For the Sun

T

here ha s been a good deal of concern regarding the effects of hydraulic fracturing, “fracking” and oil industry pumping into injection wells to dispose of fluids associated with industry operations.

With this in mind we did some research to see what effects are being reported in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Arizona and more broadly to see what other researchers are reporting.

THE FRACKING PROCESS Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” has been used in oil and gas wells for many decades. It involves injecting chemical laden water at high pressure into geologic formations to extract oil and gas. The pressure injects water containing chemicals and sand. When the pressure is removed the sand particles remain in the small fractures keeping them open and allowing the flow of oil and/or gas.

What is a recent development in the area of fracking is the technique of horizontal drilling. There are many relatively thin layers of petroleum bearing rock formations that are now economically available for drilling due to the ability to drill the well horizontally along these formations. This true revolution has made it possible for the U. S. to be the only country in the world to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7%. It has also made us energy independent and has substantially lowered the cost of gas worldwide.

However the whole process is not without some negative consequences.

The fracking process itself involves high pressure injection of fluids and sand. The process is distributed over a large area and only very seldom causes small earthquakes. Small is in the sense that we don’t feel them or hardly feel them at the ground surface. This is because the fracking pressure is distributed over a long distance.

But the process sometimes uses millions of gallons of water which must be disposed of later. This water and water

Fracking site in Warren Center, Penn. pumped as part of other oil and gas well operations is usually pumped deep underground into injection wells.

INJECTION WELL OPERATIONS The source of the water is basically from two sources.

First many existing oil and gas wells produce water in addition to the desired oil and gas. In the past this water was usually placed in evaporation ponds for disposal. But much of this oily water is collected and taken to an injection well for disposal.

State agencies when approving these injection wells require that the waste water is pumped

in a formation deep underground, way below formations that contain good quality water to prevent contamination and in locations far from population centers. In some areas there are few problems associated with this process as in northwest New Mexico [see below]. In other areas, notably in Oklahoma, geologic activity and conditions are such that the injected fluids cause manmade earthquakes.

MAN-MADE EARTHQUAKES FROM FRACKING, INJECTIONS Man-made ear thquakes of this ty pe are triggered

Conventional Deposits Oil well Non­conventional Deposits Natural gas

Rock oil

Reservoir water

Coal Seam

Deposit of Coal Seam Gas

Impermeable Seal rock Gas tight Reservoir rock

Proppants, e.g. silica sand Natural gas, trapped in rock pores By pressure enlarged or created rock cracks COMMUNITY

Tight Gas Deposit

Oil shale

Shale Gas Deposit Gas

when a large amount of waste water is injected in one place which is exactly what injection wells do. In Oklahoma’s case, they have an enormous number of wells, some 4,600 injection wells and geologic conditions that can encourage earthquakes. The largest earthquake ever recorded in Oklahoma had a Magnitude of 5.6 and is believed to have been caused by an injection well.

For additional information about man-made earthquake in Oklahoma, Google “Artificial Quakes Shake Okla homa, Witze”. The author, Alexandra Witze received the 2016 David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism from the American Geophysical Union for this well written article.

The State of Oklahoma has now established a 10 kilometer [3 mile] buffer zone around injection wells. The hydraulic fracturing process, by contrast, is rarely associated with an earthquake and never has been tied to an earthquake greater than Magnitude 4. Magnitude numbers are not linear. In fact a Magnitude 5.6 earthquake which can cause damage to structures is 250 times stronger than a Magnitude 4.0 earthquake, which probably won’t be felt more than a few miles from the epicenter location of the earthquake.

MANMADE EARTHQUAKES IN GENERAL In a recent study, geologists from Durham University in the United Kingdom compiled what is considered the most complete database to date of

FRACKING | SEE PAGE 19 Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

17

Governor announces fifth straight year of record-shattering tourism number 34.4 MILLION TRIPS TAKEN IN 2016, GROWTH DOUBLES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE

S

A N TA FE — Gov. Susa na Mar tinez announced 34.4 million trips were taken in New Mexico in 2016 – shattering the previous record set in 2015 of 33.4 million. New Mexico is a leader in tourism, with trips to the state growing at double the national average.

“A record number of people are visiting New Mexico and that means more money being spent in our communities – large and small,” Martinez said.

“It is so exciting that more people than ever before are getting to experience what we already know: New Mexico is the best place in the world to enjoy natural beauty, vibrant culture and – of course – our incredible food.”

Overall, trips to New Mexico have grown 15.4 percent since 2010. In addition, 2016 is the largest single-year increase in visitation since the introduction of New Mexico True as the state’s tourism marketing brand in 2012.

The tourism industry continues to be a leader in job growth, with another 2,600 Leisure and Hospitality jobs added in 2016 – a 2.8 percent increase since last year and an 8.6 percent increase since 2010.

“New Mexico True brings attention to what is ‘true’ about our state’s vibrant culture and heritage; the things that set us apart from every other state in the country,” Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Latham said. “Through the use of

breathtaking imagery and stunning videography, we’re able to showcase the experiences that consumers are hungr y for, opening their eyes to New Mexico as the best destination for culinary travel, outdoor adventure, a nd abundant cultural opportunities.”

NM Governor Susana Martinez

Gallup City Council Endorses Gallup Film Festival Staff Reports

T

he Gallup City Council on June 27 una nimously passed a proclamation in support of the 2017 Gallup Film Festival scheduled for September 14-16 in the downtown on West Coal Avenue.

“This is our fifth year of the film festival,” said Knifewing

Segura who directs the annual event. “In our first year we had three film submissions.

Each year we offer something new.”

The prominent film to be screened at this year’s festival is Light Dancing Production’s ‘The Watchman’s Canoe’ written and directed by Barri Chase. Actors Roger Willie and Adam Beach are featured

in this film about a fair-skinned Native American girl who struggles to fit in with her peers on an Indian reservation.

The film festival has nearly 60 submissions for this year’s end of summer three- day event. Some of the 19 categories include comedy short, animated short, short, drama feature, documentary feature, and foreign feature.

Few of last year’s winners include The Rebound, Honor Riders, both documentar y features, Monster Slayer, a language preservation film, winner of four awards, including best actor Kenton Kaulaity and best actress Shelby Dayzie.

Two foreign film submissions in 2016 were Twin Stars, winner of three awards, and BitterSweet, winner of two awards.

Winner of four awards in last year’s drama feature is Te Ata meaning “bearer of the morning.”

T he 2016 f i l m fest iva l debuted language preservation as a new category in support of culture and language.

New categories for this year are SciFi fantasy and web-series new media.

Filmmakers, producers, writers, storytellers, directors, musicians, and talent are expected to be a part of the three-day event.

T he f i l m fe st iv a l t h i s year will start on Thursday, September 14, with most of the features to be shown at the historic El Morro theatre.

On Sept. 16, the City of Gallup will block West Coal Avenue bet we en S e cond and Third streets for vendors, booth displays, music, entertainment.

Tickets for the film festiva l w ill be ava ilable in August through the film festival website: www.gallupfilmfestival.com and at the Gallup Downtown Conference Center locate at 204 West Coal Ave.

Check out our FREE access community website! www.gallupsun.com Knifewing Segura and Beverly Newman, owners of Gallup Film Festival. Photo Credit: Hawk Segura

18

Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

COMMUNITY

FRACKING | FROM PAGE 17 man-made earthquakes. The scientists spent a year looking through records stretching back to the 19 th century.

Their database lists 715 earthquake sequences, each consisting of as many as several hundred earthquakes. Their conclusion was that manmade earthquakes are grossly under-reported [http://bit.ly/ triggered-quakes-abstract].

This report was presented at the American Geophysical Meeting in San Francisco in December 2016 and recently reviewed in the Journal EOS in February 2017.

Their study catalogs manmade earthquakes from four

LYNDON | FROM PAGE 16 the connection of the feel of the stamps was a good spirit and the symbols of the stamps are ancient that connect with one’s soul that will helps transform her work.

“I just want to get these stamps into others hand and see what they can do for others,” Witte said. “I wanted to learn more and especially from an artist such as Lyndon, it has really opened my eyes ... it’s a really great product and COMMUNITY

general sources 1. Su r fa ce oper a tions, like quarrying, building structures and dams, 2. I nj e c t i n g s u b stances into the earth’s surface, such as wastewater disposal, 3. Removing material from the subsurface including mining operations and pumping water for irrigation, and 4. Explosions from underground nuclear tests.

They found the most common cause of manmade ea r thquakes accounting for one-third of all man-made earthquakes cataloged were caused by mining processes, mostly small ones.

But occasionally there can be

everyone has been so wonderful. I really don’t know why I jumped on board with this retreat but I knew I just wanted to.”

Participant, Ginny Elliott, of Van Buren, AK., got involved with the retreat to learn more about these unique stamps.

Elliott, who is a Kindergarten teacher had been buy ing stamps as a hobby wanted to learn more about the stamps.

Having worked with letter stamps and necklaces found this type of stamp fascinating.

“When they posted it online

catastrophic consequence. In 2011 the small town of Lorca i n Spa i n wa s completely destroyed killing 10 people following a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. According to the report, this earthquake was caused by decades of ground water being removed for irrigation.

They found that more than 100 mines in China reported seismic events larger than magnitude 4 and in Germany an earthquake of magnitude 5 occurred after a 2 square mile area over a potash mine collapsed killing three people. They report that most earthquakes triggered by mining processes are very small, ranging in magnitude between 2 and 4.

Another source of earthqua ke s i s g rou ndwat er removal. They report that in 2011 a magnitude 5.1 earthquake destroyed a town in Spain killing 10 people. The event was tied to decades-long removal of water for irrigation.

The next most common cause of man-made earthquakes in their study, about 20%, was caused by dams which can force water into fault zones. The largest dam-associated earthquake they listed was a magnitude 5.7 event at the Aswan High Dam in Egypt.

A not her exa mple t hey report is the Koyna Dam in India which impounds about 2.4 million acre-feet of water apparently causing a magnitude 5 earthquake every five years.

But dams certainly don’t neces sa r i ly cau se ea r t hquakes. Navajo Dam in northwest New Mexico is the third largest earth filled dam in the U.S. A check with the National E a r t h q u a ke I n for m a t ion Center’s records [https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/ search/] indicate that there has never been a measured earthquake near the dam since its construction in 1962.

Sa n Jua n County, New Mexico contains one of the largest gas producing areas in the nation with thousands of wells and an area where there has been active hydraulic fracturing of wells for decades. A search of the State’s Oil and Gas website [https:// wwwapps.emnrd.state.nm.us/ ocd /ocdper m it t i ng // Dat a / Wells.aspx] shows there are at least 40 active injection wells in San Juan County. A search

of the National Earthquake I n fo r m a t io n C e n t e r ’s record s for Sa n Jua n County for earthquakes larger than Magnitude 0.5 for the last ten years shows only one earthquake. This is identified as a mining explosion and is located near the Burnham Mine south of Fruitland, NM. Looking at the Navajo Reservation in Arizona, the Earthquake Information Center shows 9 ear thquakes in the last ten years.

One event, Magnitude 2.8, is identified as a mining explosion and is located at the site of the Black Mesa Coal Mine southwest of Kayenta, AZ. Six other small earthquakes ranging in size from Magnitude 1.6 to 2.8 are located south of Page Arizona ranging in depth from the ground surface to as deep as 24 km were found. These are likely from natural causes. There was one earthquake located about 10 km south of Tuba City Arizona at a depth of 5 km, and finally one about 6 km northwest of Cameron Arizona also 5 km deep. So for this portion of the Navajo Indian Reservation we find one small man-made earthquake from mining operations.

What we can see from this is that man has been causing small earthquakes for a long time and these usually cause little or no problem. On the other hand some caution is advised. Oklahoma has done this with a 10 kilometer [3 mile] buffer zone.

A check of the data from the Earthquake Information Center in Golden Colorado shows that there have been no earthquakes associated with fracking or injection wells in San Juan County NM or in NE Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation for the last 10 years.

I knew immediately I wanted to be a part of it, I had some work with stamps but doing more designs with these has been wonderful and the learning has been great,” Elliott said. “How the stamps make you feel and if you get a chance to participate in it you should, the working of them and learning of the Navajo culture is great, it has given me growth personally.”

Julie Teeples, of Cortez, Colo., heard about it online and found the House of Stamps as she was searching for supplies, and started watching

Tsosie on YouTube demonstrating his stamp work. Being a professional artist herself, Teeples found this as a whole new medium, being only several hours away she hopes to visit House of Stamps more often.

“It was amazing to see the work and get first hand … it was something that meant a lot and that is why it brought me here,” Teeples said. “I used to tool leather work and now I do silversmithing and I wanted to hone in on Navajo stamps, and this is just great. It’s wonderful

and this week has gone by so fast that I am going to miss it and it has been a great feeling.”

Teeples said she plans on making more trips to learn from Tsosie.

Tsosie will be holding a semi-annual stamp retreat or four retreats a year. Next one will be in October slated for 10 participants with two spots open.

For more information on House of Stamps, 310 Mesa Ave, Gallup, House of Stamps/ House of Lyndon Gallery at (505) 399-1894.

FOUR CORNERS AREA EARTHQUAKES

Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

19

A surefire crowd-pleaser: ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ RATING: ««« OUT OF 4 RUNNING TIME: 133 MIN.

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

W

e’ve seen si x Spider-Man movies in the past 15 years. That’s six and we’re not even counting his appearance in Marvel’s recent Captain America: Civil War. With two of these films being origin stories, one might be understandably reticent to see yet another take on the character (although based on the people around me at the preview screening, I may be the only who feels a bit burnt out). I can report, however, that Spider-Man: Homecoming is an enjoyable feature and surefire crowd-pleaser that will entertain most viewers.

Perhaps the wisest decision made is to completely forgo the familiar origin story and introduce Peter Parker (Tom Holland) as a young high school student who already possesses superpowers. Not only is the character going through an extra awkward phase in life because of his transformation, but he also has to deal with being a social outcast.

Of course, he also feels undervalued by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who has all but ignored the kid after taking him on as an intern.

Frustrated by days of dealing with little more than petty crime and giving out helpful street directions, Parker finally sees a big opportunity after encountering a nasty group of illegal arms dealers led by Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture (Michael Keaton).

As mentioned, this version manages to put a bit of a new spin on events by making its lead younger, less experienced and at times dealing with situations that are over his head.

While it probably could have gone even further to overwhelm Parker by really putting the screws to him, the movie still does enough to make him an underdog. Holland is an empathetic lead as well, veering between enthusiasm and joy at his unusual condition, as well as awkwardness with others in his age group and annoyance at not being taken seriously.

Also helping tremendously is Keaton as the villain. His plight as an out-of-work foreman who has been forced into underground arms deals does add some sympathy to his character. Yet, he is also an intimidating presence when pushed to his limits. There’s a great sequence in a car that really allows the actor to exude menace with some pointed looks and verbal threats. His work is so good that one wishes the movie offered more opportunity for him to interact with the various heroes.

However, it isn’t all perfect.

Some of the humor and banter 207 WEST COAL GALLUP 505.863.1250 www.elmorrotheatre.com Facebook @elmorrogallup

MOVIE TICKETS $5 AT ALL TIMES CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER FREE WITH ADULT FOR FILMS

Both Marvel and Sony studios merged on this Spidey reboot, and it paid off. Unlike the camp and over-the-top computer-generated imagery usually associated with superhero flicks, this film rocks with a solid story line – along with the other razzle dazzle.

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures between the teenagers is hitand-miss and these kids don’t feel nearly as nuanced as the leads. Again, they’re all likable if a bit underdeveloped. There’s the typical bully (Toni Revolori) and the lead’s cheerfully goofy friend (Jacob Batalon) who as written, seems a bit too dim. There are also plenty of moments of teen love with student Liz (Laura Harrier), as well jokes from a school eccentric Michelle (Zendaya). Some of the elements work better than others.

Not all of their interactions result in the intended laughs, although a few gags do hit the mark (a comment about losing students made by a teacher and a post-credits cameo gag are particularly funny). And while it works in the moment, I’m still not entirely sure about the Spidey-suit update. Unlike previous adaptations, it’s an AI costume that carries on conversations with the lead and gives him vital information. This addition works well enough but does feel very familiar,

almost as if one is watching a web-slinging Iron Man instead of the title character.

Despite some minor caveats, at the end of the day the movie works efficiently and certainly earns its place as a strong Marvel adaptation. SpiderMan: Homecoming is not the greatest superhero movie ever, but most of it works and when it really fires on all cylinders, it is a solid and effective superhero tale that will assuredly please any fans of the genre.

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20 Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

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DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for July 7, 2017

By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Nia Vardalos and George Lopez.

W

elcome back to another look at what is coming your way on Bluray and DVD. Just because there’s a holiday doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of new arrivals. You’ll find all the highlights below. So, if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

Awakening the Zodiac A down on their luck couple team up with a friend to buy a storage locker and sell the contents. What they find are actual 8mm film reels of the notorious Zodiac Killer murdering his prey. The group decide to solve the mystery themselves and locate the culprit... a very bad idea, as it puts their lives in danger. This independent suspense feature split the press. Almost all thought that it kind of fell apart at the end, but nearly half enjoyed the performances and creepy vibe enough to give it a pass. It stars Shane West, Leslie Bibb, Matt Craven, Stephen McHattie and Kenneth Welsh.

Car Dogs - This comedy/ drama involves a family-run car dealership and a rivalry between an overbearing father and his adult son. If the young man can sell 35 cars over a single business day, he can take over the business. But in his desperate pursuit to get out from under the thumb of his parent, will he go too far? There aren’t a whole of reviews currently online for this small indie title yet, but it does feature a whole lot of familiar faces. The cast includes Octavia Spencer, Patrick J. Adams, Chris Mulkey, Alessandra Torresani, COMMUNITY

Drone - The subject of this tale is a drone contractor and pilot who conducts secret missions for employers from his suburban home. He gets quite a shock when a mysterious Pakistani businessman shows up at his front door seeking vengeance for something the man did with the machinery. Notices for this thriller were mixed, with more negative reaction than positive. A portion felt the movie effectively raised questions about the effects of the technology, but more complained that the drama between characters didn’t work. It features Sean Bean, Patrick Sabongui and Mary McCormack.

Song to Song - The latest from eccentric director Terrence Malick (Badlands, The Thin Red Line, The Tree of Life) is a drama involves two intersecting love triangles. It’s all set against the backdrop of the music scene in Austin, Texas and the characters have some connection to the industry. Like all of the filmmaker’s recent work, reaction was completely split. Some loved the tone and feeling as well as the interpretive style taken, while others found its artsy freeform approach overlong and pretentious. So yeah, if you like the director’s work, you’ll enjoy it and if you don’t, then stay away. The movie stars Ryan Gosling, Rooney Mara, Michael Fassbender, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Holly Hunter and Val Kilmer.

Vincent N Roxxxy - After saving a woman from a brutal attack, two youngsters fall for each other and form a close romantic bond. They attempt to make a new start with their live, but violence and danger seems to follow them in life wherever they go. This independent drama didn’t get much love

from the press. There were a portion of writers who admired the performances from the two leads, but more didn’t feel the onscreen chemistry and described the movie as overly violent, slow-moving and tonally inconsistent. The cast includes Emile Hirsch, Zoe Kravitz, Zoey Deutch, Emory Cohen and Scott Mescudi (aka Kid Cudi).

The Zookeeper’s Wife - This biographical drama set during World War II tells the story of Warsaw zookeeper Antonina Zabinska. After being invaded

by German forces, she and her husband attempt to help out members of the Warsaw Ghetto and end up saving hundreds of lives in the process. Critics generally enjoyed this picture. There were some criticisms that the story was told in a very generic manner and as a result wasn’t nearly as powerful as it should have been. However, but the majority enjoyed the central performance and championed it as a low-key but inspiring story. It features Jessica Chastain, Johan Heldenbergh and Daniel Bruhl.

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Some interesting Blu-rays are arriving this week courtesy of Shout! Factory. A Shock to the System (1990) stars Michael

Caine as a friendly, put-upon businessman who keeps getting passed over for promotion while being treated poorly by his spouse. He cracks and decides to get ahead by wiping out the competition in various extreme ways. This cult flick arrives with extras too, including a newly recorded director’s commentary and interview, the film’s alternate ending, along with a stills gallery and a trailer. It should provide some diabolical funs.

They also are releasing a Bluray of the controversial thriller, Windows (1980). It features Talia Shire as a woman being stalked by a lustful female neighbor. The disturbing figure does some pretty horrific things to get closer to her obsession. The movie was directed by Gordon Willis (cinematographer of The Godfather) and features a score

by Ennio Morricone (The Good, The Bad and the Ugly). The disc includes a new high definition transfer from a film interpositive, as well as interviews with the actresses and producer, TV spots, a trailer and a stills gallery.

unappreciated housewife who is exposed to household chemicals and suddenly begins to shrink.

She’s kidnapped by some nasty scientists who want to perform experiments and befriends a gorilla over course of events.

The idea’s great, but I don’t recall it being nearly as good as it should have bee. Still, it might provide a nice nostalgia kick to the right viewer.

YOU KNOW, FOR KIDS! Not much in the way of kid’s entertainment this week, but here’s what is coming out.

A Stork’s Journey

ON THE TUBE! And here are this edition’s TV-themed releases.

Food: Delicious Science (PBS) Frontline: The Fish on my Plate (PBS)

If you like old Bob Hope movies, this is your week! Kino are putting out five titles starring the comedian. So you’ll be able to add Blu-rays of The Lemon Drop Kid (1951), My Favor ite Br unette (1947), Road to Bali (1952), Road to Rio (1947) and Son of Paleface (1952) to your collection. Can’t comment on the quality of the features, but at least they’re now available.

Universal Pictures have an unusual selection arriving on DVD in the form of The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981). This movie was released previously as a made-to-order disc, but it’s now getting an official release. It features the very funny Lily Tomlin as an

Homicide: Life on the Street: The Complete Series The Incredible Dr. Pol: Season 10 Mummies Alive: Season 1 (Smithsonian) Summ e r of D ream s (Hallmark TV-movie) Superstore: Season 2 When Calls the Heart: Heart of a Teacher (Lifetime)

Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

21

CALENDAR

CLASSIFIEDS CLASSIFIEDS WEEKLY RATES

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

26-50 WORDS: $10 51-75: WORDS: $20 76-100 WORDS: $30

EXTRAS – $5 PER WEEK, PER ITEM: TEXT BOX, HIGHLIGHT, ALL CAPS, BOLD, AND/OR PIC/LOGO Free classified: Limit one free ad per customer only. Second ad starts at $10, per 25 words.

EMAIL: GALLUPSUN@GMAIL.COM DUE: TUESDAYS 5 PM GALLUP SUN ARCHIVES

Need a past issue? $1.50 per copy. Note issue date and send check or M.O. to: Gallup Sun, PO Box 1212, Gallup, NM 87305. Subject to availability.

HELP WANTED The Gallup Sun is looking to hire a freelance writer or two with the desire to craft compelling profiles, Q & As, and in-depth news and feature stories. If you know how to take pics and/or shoot videos, that’s a plus, but not a deal-breaker. If you’re looking to write thought-provoking, long-form pieces for our cover, and you’re reliable and detail-oriented to boot, please send your resume and clips or links to clips, to: gallupsun@gmail.com The Gallup Sun is hiring independent contractor delivery drivers. Grants, Crownpoint, and Zuni routes available. Must have valid driver’s license,

clean driving record and proof of insurance. Call (928) 2004681 to set up interview appointment. Must bring copy of DMV printout. Reliable workers need only apply.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR JULY 7 - 13, 2017

$5 EACH. APPEARS ON GALLUPSUN.COM FOR FREE! EMAIL: gallupsun@gmail.com CALL: 505-728-1640 MOBILE HOME SPACES 3 BR MH’s with washer/dryer for rent. $670 plus deposit. Credit Check and Police Check. Quiet and safe. White Cliffs, 4 miles east of Gallup; Call Carmelita 505-870-4095.

MOBILE HOME SPACES Mobile Home Spaces – Single wide – any size $205/mo.

Double Wide $260/mo. Call Mike 505-870-3430 or Carmelita 505-870-4095.

HOMES FOR RENT Small unfurnished one bedroom house available July 1.

One year lease required. No pets.

Call (505) 863-4294 before 7 pm for information.

HOMES FOR SALE Cabin for sale in Zuni mountains, 20 minutes from Grants, NM. 78,000.00 or best offer.

For more info 505-240-2112 Prime hunting property (elkdeer) 2400 sq. ft. log home - 60 + acres.

All amenities on site – Fence Lake, N.M. 505-603-3636. www/terraaltanm.com/fencelake-cabin PLACE YOUR REAL ESTATE AD HERE! FIRST 25 WORDS FREE. LOGO and/or PHOTO

PUPPIES DACHSHUND PUPPIES FOR SALE. THE MOST ADORABLE PUPPIES YOU EVER SEEN. 8- WEEK OLD RED SHORTHAIRED PUPPIES ARE READY TO GO. CALL OR TEXT (405) 448-8794

FRIDAY July 7

GET UP AND GAME

Get moving with fun and active Kinect video games! 4 - 7 pm. Children’s Branch library, 200 W. Aztec Ave.

VINYL REIMAGINED – ART EXHIBITION

Local artist Raven Bright will exhibit Vinyl Art at Octavia Fellin Public Library throughout the month of July. Raven transforms vinyl records into captivating and colorful expressions using symbols, characters, and images. Raven is an award-winning artist exhibiting his work in a variety of venues in northern New Mexico. Humans of New Mexico, a non-profit group whose mission is to highlight and preserve the diversity of New Mexico’s population, recently interviewed Raven about his dance and art.

Raven Bright was born in Gallup, NM and is currently a student at Fort Lewis College. 115 Hill Ave. SATURDAY July 8

SERVICES Cleaning Made Easy!

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ART EXHIBIT

gallupARTS is excited to announce a retrospective of legendary local artist Be Sargent’s work, opening at ART123 Gallery on Saturday from 7 - 9pm (during ArtsCrawl). “25 yrs 25 wrks” will showcase one of Be’s masterpieces for each year of her career from 1993 to the present.

This show is a unique opportunity to observe how an artist’s style and creative process evolves over time.

It will be on view through August 5.

For questions call (505) 4882136 or e-mail executivedirector@galluparts.org

SUMMER READING PROGRAM: WILD SPIRIT WOLF SANCTUARY

At 2pm, staff from the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary will be visiting the Children’s Branch with wolf pups. 200 W. Aztec Ave.

CAMP ARTSCRAWL TALENT SHOW

On July 8, singers, dancers, mimes, and air guitarists show off your skills for a chance to win: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prize. 8-9 pm, at the intersection of 2nd and Coal. Sign up for a 5-minute time slot by emailing artscrawl@ galluparts.org or call (505) 488-2136. All ages and varieties are welcome for family-friendly acts!

MONDAY July 10

GADGET GARAGE TECHNOLOGY HOUR

One-on-one technology assistance. Bring in your personal devices to receive help from the library’s technology trainer. He’ll be answering questions and trouble shooting. This program is first come first serve.

5 pm - 6 pm, Octavia Fellin Public Library, 115 Hill Ave.

SUSTAINABLE GALLUP BOARD

The City of Gallup’s Sustainable Gallup Board, meets on first Monday each month from 3 - 5 pm at the Octavia Fellin Library. Community members concerned about conservation, energy, water, recycling & other environmental issues are welcome. Call Bill

Continued on page 23

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

Place an tribute in the Gallup Sun It will last the whole week and forever on GallupSun.com Easy form to fill out. Starting under $10.* Artistic, customized tributes available.

Phone: (505) 722-8994

Email: gallupsun@gmail.com

*Prepayment Required. Cash. M.O. Credit Card.

22 Friday July 7, 2017 • Gallup Sun

that The Gallup Housing Authority will conduct its monthly Board of Commissioners meeting to be held on Friday, July 14, 2017, at 1:00 PM MST, at the Gallup Housing Authority board room, 203 Debra drive, Gallup, New Mexico 87301. The agenda will be available to the public at the Gallup Housing Authority office.

All interested parties are invited to attend.

Gallup Housing Authority Gallup, McKinley County, New Mexico By:/S/ Alfred Abeita, Chairman of the Board CLASSIFIEDS

COMMUNITY CALENDAR JULY 7 - 13, 2017

CALENDAR

IMPORTANT CALENDAR SUBMITTERS

To keep the Gallup Sun, a free weekly newspaper for readers, effective Friday, Aug. 4 there will be a $5 flat rate charge for each calendar item. Thumbnail pic: $5. Prices based per issue. Cheap package rates available for multiple submissions. Civic and nonprofit events only. Prepayment required. For info., please call (505) 722-8994 or email: gallupsun@gmail.com show! Every Friday night from 7 - 9 pm. Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, 306 S. Second St.

Continued from page 22 Bright at (505) 722-0039 for information.

GALLUP-MCKINLEY COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY

RUNNING DINE BIKEYAH

July 10 - 17 join the Navajo Nation for the 7th Annual Running for a Stronger and Healthier Navajo Nation. For more information visit: www. nnsdp.org or call Eddie Scott Yazzie (928) 871-6553.

Wednesdays are low-cost Spay and Neuter Days, at the Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society. For more information, please call (505) 863-2616, or email: gmchumanesociety@gmail.com.

Location: 1315 Hamilton Rd.

TUESDAY July 11

GALLUP SOLAR

MAKER’S CLUB (6 AND OLDER)

Science and engineering for the whole family. 4 - 5 pm.

This month’s activity: LEGO STEM. Children’s Branch, 200 W. Aztec Ave. WEDNESDAY July 12

THURSDAY July 13

CRAFTY KIDS (ALL AGES)

ALL THINGS SOLAR

Gallup Solar is hosting free classes about all things solar Wednesdays from 6 - 8 pm at 113 E. Logan. Call (505) 7289246 for info on topics and directions.

Fun crafts for the whole family. Children’s Branch, 200 W. Aztec Ave. This week’s activity: Washer Mod Podge Necklace ONGOING

ARTSCRAWL

COMMUNITY ACTION EVENT

Join us for a FREE family fun and community action at the Gallup Community Center from 5:30 pm - 7:15 pm. There will be a free raffle, free games, and free food plus good discussion. Local organizations will join us to provide information about their services. Share your ideas and be part of the conversation on how we can promote economic success for women and children in Gallup and surrounding areas. Hosted by the Southwest Women’s Law Center.

TODDLER TIME (AGES 2 TO 4)

An active and energetic program for toddlers, featuring music, movement, rhymes, and stories. 10:30 - 11:30 am.

Children’s Branch, 200 W. Aztec Ave.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT FILMS

Ave. Popcorn provided. This week’s movie: Saturday Night Fever

Free weekly movie. Octavia Fellin Public Library, 115 Hill

ArtsCrawl is held the second Saturday of every month from 7 - 9 pm, downtown Gallup.

CITY OF GALLUP’S SUSTAINABLE GALLUP BOARD

Meets on the first Monday of the month from 3 - 5 pm at the Octavia Fellin Library (management room). Community members concerned about conservation, energy, water, recycling and other environmental issues are welcome. Call (505) 722-0039 for information.

COMMUNITY PANTRY

The Hope Garden offers organic produce for sale from 10 am - noon, Tue – Fri., 1130 E. Hassler Valley Road. All funds go to helping feed local folks. Call (505) 726-8068 or when visiting, ask for Vernon Garcia.

FRIDAY NIGHT HOOTENANNY

Gallup’s longest-running live

The nonprofit, Gallup Solar, is hosting free Solar 101 classes about all things related to off-grid solar systems on the first three Wednesdays of each month, 6 - 8 pm, at 113 E. Logan Ave. All welcome any week. No registration required. For info call: (505) 728-9246.

GREEN REVOLUTION

Through September 9, enjoy: Green Revolution. This Smithsonian Institution “Traveling Exhibition Service” uses recycled and repurposed materials to teach creative ways to reduce waste and conserve energy. Don’t miss this free exhibit full of hands-on fun for everyone at the Farmington Museum, 3041 E Main Street, during regular museum hours. For more information visit www.fmtn.org/FarmingtonMuseum or call (505) 599-1174.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Habitat for Humanity yard sales are held every Saturday, 9 am - noon on Warehouse Lane, weather permitting.

Volunteers wishing to serve on construction projects may sign up there or call (505) 722-4226.

K-3 PLUS: A SUPER START TO SCHOOL

Give your kids a “Jump Start” this summer. Program is available at all GMCS Elementary

Schools. For students who will enter Kindergarten and 1st-3rd Grades next school year.

Contact your local Elementary School for enrollment information.

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS

Overeaters Anonymous 12step meetings. Held every Saturday at 10 am. The First Methodist Church, 1800 Red Rock Drive. Open to anybody who has a desire to stop compulsive eating. Contact info.

(505) 307-5999, (505) 7219208, or (505) 870-1483.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY KEN HOFFMAN

Through July 22, experience the photography of Ken Hoffman. New Mexico: A Meditative State features 25 photographs Hoffman has taken throughout the state.

All of his photography is film based utilizing a Chamonix large format camera. Working exclusively in black and white, he develops and prints in his own darkroom. Nothing is manipulated digitally. This exhibition is free to the public with a SUGGESTED DONATION of $3 per person. For more information contact the Farmington Museum at (505) 599-1174 or online at www. fmtn.org/FarmingtonMuseum.

RECYCLING COUNCIL

McKinley Citizens Recycling Council is a local nonprofit working to increase recycling through education, community outreach, and partnership with local government agencies. MCRC meets the first Saturday of the month at 2 pm, at Red Mesa on Hill St. For more information, please call (505) 722-5142 or visit Recylegallup.org.

SUPPORT EARLY LANGUAGE AND LITERACY FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS!

Gallup McKinley County Schools is currently recruiting pregnant women and teens in McKinley County with children from birth to 5 years

of age. There are no income guidelines and services are free to ALL community members. Learn more about this opportunity by contacting BeBe Sarmiento at (505) 721-1055.

SAVE THE DATE

38TH ANNUAL COMMEMORATION EVENT

On July 15, join us for the 38th Annual Church Rock Uranium Tailings Spill Commemoration. 12 Miles North of Red Rock State Park. Sunrise prayer walk to the site, now a Superfund site. Red Water Pond Road.

GALLUP INTERFAITH GATHERING

On July 18, join the Gallup Interfaith Gathering. Bring food for a shared meal. Bring a friend! 151 State Highway 564 (Boardman Drive). Call (505) 290-5357.

GREAT MUDDY ENDURANCE RACES

On July 22, come out and experience the Great Muddy Endurance Races at the Gallup OHV/MX Park. There will be lots of mud, obstacles, music, food and fun for the whole family. Online registration: active.com. Registration packet pickup begins on Friday July 21 5-9 pm. Registration continues on race day from 6-7:30 am at the Gallup HV/MX Park. Free camping is available. Parking: $3. Call (505) 863-7136 or (505) 8637519.

IMPORTANT MEMO SUBMITTERS

To keep the Gallup Sun, a free weekly newspaper for readers, effective Friday, Aug. 4 there will be a $5 flat rate charge for each calendar item.

Thumbnail pic: $5. Prices based per issue. Package rates available for multiple submissions. Prepayment required.

For info., please call (505) 722-8994 or email: gallupsun@ gmail.com To post a nonprofit or civic event in the calendar section, please email: gallupsunevents@gmail.com or fax: (505) 212-0391. Deadline: Monday at 5 pm.

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

Must provide exact release date and mailing address.

CALENDAR

Send info. and check or money order for $1.50 to: Gallup Sun PO Box 1212 Gallup, NM 87305 *Based on availability.

Gallup Sun • Friday July 7, 2017

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CLASSIFIEDS