Thoreau trash problem, Page 2 Chinle hires coach, Sports Page 1

GALLUP, NEW MEXICO 87301 PHONE (505) 863-6811 PER COPY 50¢©2012 THE GALLUP INDEPENDENT CO.http://www.gallupindependent.com

FridayMay 25, 2012

Number 155 Volume 125

SeniorSeniorbaseballbaseballSports Page 1Sports Page 1

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Abq dealerwins bid for sheriff’svehicles

Gallup bar to be razed

Brian Leddy/IndependentThe city council recently voted to condemn the oldEsquire Lounge on Historic Highway 66. The buildingwas the site of a killing a couple of years ago.

City: Esquire Lounge presents threat to public healthBy Bernie DotsonStaff Writer

GALLUP — The old Esquire Loungealong West Historic Highway 66 is insuch a state of disrepair “that it is unsafeand unfit for human occupancy and athreat to the public’s health, safety andwelfare,” Community Planner C.B. Straintold the Gallup City Council Tuesday.

Strain, whose department handlescode enforcement, said despite numerousattempts by code enforcement personnelto reach John Waylon and Mike Radose-vich, listed as the Esquire’s owners, noaction has been taken to correct matters.Strain said he believed that at least one ofthe owners might even be incarcerated or

having legal problems, which mightexplain the unreturned telephone callsfrom the city.

The Esquire is one of about a dozencommercial and residential propertieseither demolished or slated for demolitionby the city.

“This has been a problem property forquite some time,” Strain told councilmembers.

Strain said the city’s Building andZoning, as well as its Code ComplianceDivision, have determined that the struc-ture, which sits at 811 W. Historic High-way 66, is so ruined, damaged and dilapi-dated and covered with ruin, rubbish,

By Babette HerrmannStaff writer

GALLUP — The McKinley County Com-mission voted to approve the procurementdepartment’s recommendation to purchaseseven new Ford Expeditions with policeequipment for the McKinley County Sheriff’sOffice at a cost of $236,425 during their publicmeeting May 1.

However, that deal was nixed when BobTurner Ford, of Albuquerque, the awardee outof five bidders, informed the county via theirattorney that the price did not include the costof the camera system the county wantsinstalled in the vehicles as part of the policeequipment package.

It was a deal breaker, so instead of sending

Chinle coupleclaims $1MPowerball win

ALBUQUERQUE. (AP) — A northeast-ern Arizona couple has come forward toclaim a $1 million Powerball prize fromNew Mexico lottery officials.

Patrick and Sharon Yazzie of Chinle wonthe prize in the March 31 game.

They didn’t discover it until May 15when Sharon Yazzie retrieved old tickets tocheck against winning numbers posted atthe lottery’s website.

The Yazzies waited another 10 days toclaim their prize, telling only one relativeabout it.

They plan to use their prize to pay bills,build a home and make investments.

The Yazzies purchased their winningticket at a store in Black Hat, west ofGallup.

It’s the third $1 million Powerball prizewon in New Mexico since the game re-launched in January. Previously, the prizefor matching five white balls was $200,000.

Vida Volkert/IndependentKnown as the king of the trails, the Continental Divide Trail is the longest and most remote trail in the nation. It runs through fivestates, including New Mexico. In New Mexico, the CDT extends for 775 miles, meandering natural and historic landscapes suchas the Gila Wilderness, El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area, the 1,000-year old Zuni-Acoma trade route, andthe Cibola National Forest.

Hiking the Continental Divide: An epic journey

By Vida VolkertStaff writer

EE L MAPAIS NATIONAL MONUMENT — A recent April afternoon, ayoung weather-worn woman walked into El Malpais National Monu-ment’s Visitor Center and asked for water for her mule. The woman was

covered in dust, and her auburn hair was tousled — a wind-blown mess, ElMalpais Park Guide Phillip Brown recalled.

“She had a dusty trail, but a breezy smile,” Brown said about the woman.“In a good western way, she looked gorgeous.”

Photos courtesy Krystele Bodet Krystele Bodet, 36, and her mule are hiking on thepath of the Continental Divide Trail. They started inSilver City in early April and made a stop in El Mal-pais National Monument Visitor Center April 23.

By Bernie DotsonStaff Writer

GALLUP — For parents of children in spe-cial education programs, the need to understandtheir rights is critical, state education officialssaid.

The New Mexico Public Education Depart-

ment announced Thursday a release of a guidethat outlines parent and student rights availablein the Navajo language. The two-year transla-tion effort is the result of work and funding byPED and Education for Parents of Indian Chil-dren with Special Needs. Both PED and EPICSworked with community members and translat-ed the parent and child rights from English to

written Navajo along with an audio version. PED Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera

spoke at an event at the NMPED Indian Educa-tion Division Northwest Bureau office inGallup.

“I know that every child in New Mexico canlearn and deserves the opportunity to do just

See Journey, Page 5

NN Boardseeks way to attractcandidatesBy Arlyssa BecentiDiné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The need to makecertain that every vacant chapter position isfilled was discussed Thursday during theNavajo Board of Election Supervisors meet-ing.

Within the five agencies there are 757elected positions, and as of Tuesday therewere 670 application packets issued to per-spective chapter candidates.

“But only 168 are the only ones whohave actually filed for positions,” NavajoElection Administration Executive DirectorEdison J. Wauneka said. “We aren’t evenhalf way with the numbers of positions thatare available.”

Time is running out for communitymembers to submit their applications to runfor the open positions before the May 30

More than 700 positions,less than 200 applicants

See Esquire, Page 5

See Translation, Page 5

See Candidates, Page 5

See Bid, Page 5