The Gallup McKinley County Schools Board of Education thanked state legislators who supported GMCS and their students throughout the school year at the board’s May 20 meeting.

The board was most pleased with the help during the debates over state impact aid during the New Mexico legislature’s regular session in March.

“This was a fight of all fights this year,” GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt said. “When [the Legislature] was bringing up impact aid, it was going to be a battle.”

Impact aid is a federal funding source for rural schools that exist mostly on tax exempt land, such as tribal lands. Schools in cities like Albuquerque receive more tax support from the city, but...

County Commission takes no action to ban fireworks

The discussion of a possible ban on certain types of fireworks picked up where it left off during the McKinley County Board of Commissioners’ recent regular meeting.

As discussed at the May 7 meeting, the Board of Commissioners heard the regional drought conditions read by County Fire Chief Jason Carlisle. At that time, Carlisle stated McKinley County was under moderate drought conditions, and the danger of severe drought would not impact Gallup.

During the May 20 meeting, Carlisle said that the recent weather maps showed severe drought danger in McKinley County had decreased since the previous meeting.

“The county is in moderate...

Scholarship winner cries into burger when he finds out

The Gallup McKinley County Schools Board of Education started their recent meeting by taking time to recognize the only Gates Millennium Scholar from GMCS this past school year.

Granite Louis, a senior from Navajo Pine, was commended for being given the award at the board’s May 20 meeting.

“This is a significant accomplishment,” Hyatt said during the meeting. “Very few students receive this scholarship.”

The Gates Millenium Scholarship is a full-ride scholarship that will apply to both undergraduate and graduate studies, Hyatt said.

“We’re excited for him and grateful we have students like this who excel in the...