Will too many cooks spoil the mutton stew? Some City Council members are concerned that efforts of the state-sponsored Intertribal Ceremonial Office may overshadow the traditional events put on by the Gallup Inter Tribal Indian Ceremonial Association.

Tension is centered on two things: the unity of the Ceremonial, and marketing for its events. The ICO brings the heft of a $400,000 special appropriation in state tourism funds for the event and marketing. Part of that money, plus $75,000 the city put up from Lodger’s Tax funds, is to be used to promote both groups’ events evenly, but not everyone is sure that will happen.

“We want to be sure that each and every event will be...

Centennial celebration plans in the works

Visitors to this year’s Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial in August will find new attractions alongside old favorites as the event celebrates its 100th year.

Details are still firming up, but organizers are seeking to balance traditional events like the rodeo, parades, wine tasting, pow wow and pageants with new items this year including a Native Film Festival and a Native Skate Jam.

Two groups are working to put on the Ceremonial: the local Gallup Inter Tribal Indian Ceremonial Association, which has put on the event for a century, and the state tourism department-sponsored Intertribal Ceremonial Office, which joined the efforts last...

Out of the mouths of babes …  comes the inspiration for the Keep Gallup Clean & Beautiful Board’s Earth Day Challenge, and everyone can play.

KGCB is asking Gallup businesses and residents to follow the example of Gallup McKinley County Schools’ recent Earth Day Challenge initiative.

At the suggestion of science teacher and KGCB board member Mike Condrey, the district issued a challenge to all schools to see which one could pick up the most trash in the community around its campus.

In the hope of expanding on that success, KGCB is asking residents and businesses to do the same over Earth Day weekend, April 22 and 23. The challenge is for businesses to send out employees, and...

Improved drought conditions lead to lift on firework ban

Fireworks are making a comeback to McKinley County for Cinco de Mayo this year.

McKinley County saw severe drought conditions in 2021. The U.S. Drought Monitor is released by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As of April 1, 2021, it showed McKinley County in the D3 and D4 intensity zones.

These intensity zones show areas where fire damage is extreme, irrigation allotments are decreased, vegetation and native trees are dying, federal lands are closed for fire precautions, burn bans...