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Sunday, Apr 28th

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Features

A family band makes it big

Friday, 19 May 2023 04:18 By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

From an early age, Rippy Bryan Williams tried to instill a love of music into his two daughters, Lilly and Lola Williams. But he had no idea that showing the girls music from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s would lead to them wanting to start their own band. But that’s exactly what happened, and now six years later “Rippy and the Sillyettes” is still going strong.

In an interview with the Sun, Rippy said that his daughters’ favorite artist growing up was Frankie Valli. And when Lola was eight years old, Rippy took her to see him perform.

At the meet-and-greet after the show, Valli signed a CD for them, and that’s when Lola told him “When I grow up, I want to be like...

Starry night for students

Friday, 19 May 2023 04:18 By Dee Velasco

JFK Middle School hosts a Star Party

Moon parties and star parties are something that John F. Kennedy Middle School is famous for hosting every year, even enticing local stargazers with yummy s’mores.

However, this year’s star party, which was initially planned for the month of January, was canceled due to bad weather. As luck would have it, JFK middle schoolers still got their chance at hosting another star party with the help of a few friends. By fate, the event moved forward on May 8 with the help of local teachers collaborating with “friends in high places.”

It all began with local teacher Michelle Brown — a fifth grade teacher at Del Norte Elementary in Roswell — ...

New police chief, same mom

Friday, 19 May 2023 04:17 By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

Toadlena-Pablo finds a work-life balance in new role

Now that she is officially Gallup’s Chief of Police, Erin Toadlena-Pablo has a whole new set of responsibilities. But she also has the responsibilities of being a mother.

Toadlena-Pablo is a mother to six children: eight-year-old Jayace, 16-year-old Emily, 22-year-old Kymberly, 23-year-old Kiana, 26-year-old Kobe, and 29-year-old Joshua.

Just because most of her kids are older and out of the house doesn’t mean Toadlena-Pablo doesn’t still face the challenges of motherhood. She said the hardest part about being a mom is when the kids leave the nest. In an interview with the Sun, she recalled when her first child, Joshua...

Muggles come out to ‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake’

Friday, 12 May 2023 03:53 Gallupsun Staff

Sarah Piano, the regional director for Big Brothers Big Sisters Mountain Region said over 400 people participated in the Harry Potter-themed ‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake’ event this year, and they were able to raise about $98,000. Photo Credit: Jenny Pond

Big Brothers Big Sisters Community Outreach and Fund Development Coordinator Idajean Mangum dressed up as Professor Dolores Umbridge in honor of the “Harry Potter” theme for the 2023 ‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake’ event: “Muggle Mania.” Photo Credit: Jenny Pond

Eighty teams participated in this year’s ‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake’ event this year. Yonnie Chee was a part of the Hilton Garden Bowling Team. Photo Credit: Jenny Pond

Eighty TEAMS DUELED it out April 29

‘Women of the Wild West’

Friday, 28 April 2023 05:50 By Dee Velasco For the Sun

Guests see their story in one-woman show

Students and community members were treated to a one-woman musical theater show April 7 at the UNM-Gallup Zollinger Library.

The show, called Amazing Women of the Wild West starring actress/singer Van Ann Moore, portrays different women in that time period. Moore, who has performed internationally, researches, writes, and stars in her own one-woman shows, which are performed for high school students. She prepares her stage set to make her show visually appealing to make her character stand-out. In the April 7 show she used a Spanish-style decor to fit with the story.

Moore said she tries to connect with the audience so that they can understand...