Gallup hosts traditional events; dedicates new veterans cemetery

Each year, Memorial Day commemorations pull the community together as people reflect on and show their appreciation for the members of the military who serve their country past and present.

In Gallup, dubbed one of the most patriotic towns in America during the Rand McNally “Best of the Road” contest, it’s no different. Following the placement of wreaths at Hillcrest Cemetery and a parade, residents and visitors converged at the McKinley County Courthouse Square May 27.

 

COURTHOUSE SQUARE CEREMONY

The ceremony started with a moment of a silence for Sen. John Pinto, D-McKinley/San Juan, who passed away...

Sen. John Pinto, D-McKinley/San Juan, one of the nation’s longest serving Native American elected officials died May 24.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said, “Words cannot express the sadness we feel for the loss of a great Diné warrior who served our country as a Navajo Code Talker and in the New Mexico State Senate for many years. He dedicated his life to helping others and he changed the lives of so many people for the better.

We will miss his smile, his humor, and his love and compassion for the Navajo people. On behalf of Vice President Myron Lizer, myself, and our families, we offer our thoughts and condolences. May we take comfort in knowing that Honorable John...

Majority of McKinley County cases were dismissed

A recent report illustrates the many DWI arrests each week in McKinley County. Sometimes these DWIs result in tragedies. One crash in particular, on May 14, resulted in two fatalities.  Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in this case.

This recent report, the New Mexico DWI Court Monitoring Project, produced by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, shows in numbers and graphs how serious the problem has become in several New Mexico counties, McKinley in particular.

For starters, drivers who operate a vehicle under the influence or while intoxicated in McKinley County...

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...