Back in the spring of 2016, Rosanne Morrissette was seeing her dreams of advancement in the Gallup Police Department become a reality as she was promoted to lieutenant.

But then Phillip Hart was selected to be the new police chief and her dreams became a nightmare as she found herself pitted against one of the department’s most powerful individuals.

Over the next two years, she became involved in an internal struggle that led to her filing suit against the department, coming under investigation and being placed on administrative leave. Finally, she learned earlier this week that she had been fired after serving 17 years as a police officer for the city of Gallup.

Her attorney...

‘Hold harmless’ reduction puts dent in coffers

In mid-May, a special meeting of the Gallup City Council focused on the preliminary budget adoption for Fiscal Year 2019.

City manager Maryann Ustick shared a PowerPoint presentation outlining the total city budget, key revisions from the draft budget on the general fund, and funding for various projects highlighted as corrections or additions to the budget.

“The total budget is over $99 million and that includes all of our enterprise funds, transfers and grants. Pretty soon, it will be at $100 million,” she said.

Ustick focused on the general fund and said it was the most challenging part of the budget due to the $800,000 in...

Allsup’s liquor license approval gets some flack

Gallup Housing Authority held a public meeting at Arnold housing on May 25 to address incidents of broken windows and loitering of individuals who pass through the housing unit daily, and the recent passage of the liquor license transfer to the local Allsup’s across the road.

GHA Executive Director Richard Kontz told residents in order to prevent future incidents “know who your neighbors are.”

“Maintain good order in your life so you can have peace and quiet in your community,” he said.

Kontz and others present at the meeting were upset about the approval of the liquor license, as it may increase alcohol-related...

Holtec, NRC hold meeting in Gallup

A meeting was held May 21 at the Downtown Gallup Conference Center regarding the possibility of nuclear waste being transported through Gallup and parts of the Navajo Nation by Holtec International.

The nuclear waste would be placed at proposed nuclear waste storage site in southeastern New Mexico in Lea County between Hobbs and Carlsbad.

Along with Holtec, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission was on hand as well for the public meeting to gather feedback on what features they should study to determine the environmental impacts of a proposed nuclear waste storage site.

This is part of the beginning of likely a three year process to determine...