New Mexicans go to the polls June 7 for the primary election and to decide several local offices. Polling sites will be open from 7 am to 7 pm (see list of McKinley County sites below).

As a practical matter, most McKinley County races will be settled with next week’s election because all of the candidates are from one party. Winners will not be sworn in until Jan. 1, 2023, and their names will still appear on the November ballot, but as unopposed candidates.

County Races

County Sheriff candidates include one Republican, Elreno C. Henio of Thoreau; and four Democrats: Matthew K. Hughbanks, Francie L. Martinez, Paul R. Lucero and current undersheriff James Maiorano III, all of...

Gallup Special Olympics athlete Cameron Cheromiah was honored as the 2022 Special Olympics New Mexico “Athlete of the Year” at the SONM State Summer Games in Albuquerque on May 20.

Cheromiah was nominated for this award by Pam Burgess, one of his Special Olympics Gallup track and field coaches, and was recognized as the 2022 SONM Area 6 “Athlete of the Year” at the Area 6 track and bocce competition on April 30.

Some of the qualities that Burgess highlighted in her nomination was Cheromiah’s friendliness and sense of humor, as well as his willingness to lend a hand and make new athletes feel welcome.

“Cameron is a joy to be around,” Burgess said. “He works hard and...

SHATTERED GLASS

Gallup, May 22

A man broke into a local gas station, leaving broken windows and ending up with a cut up hand.

On May 22, around 4:45 am, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputies Harland Soseeah and Gavin Panteah were dispatched to the Gas Max, 516 U.S. Hwy. 491, because an alarm was going off at the business.

When he arrived at the scene Soseeah noticed that a window and two glass doors had been shattered. Panteah went into the business and found a man, who was identified as Stuart Castillo, 42, passed out inside next to the fireworks display.

Castillo had cuts on his left hand. The deputies soon found out he had warrants out for his arrest from the Farmington Police...

Gallup offers five different rebates for water-saving measures within the city:

Xeriscape Rebate – gives a utility bill credit of $25 for every 100 square feet of irrigated turf replaced with an approved xeriscape. Make sure to apply before doing the project to ensure proper credit.

Rain Barrel Rebate  – a $30 utility credit for installing two rain collection barrels.

High-Efficiency  Toilet & Showerhead Rebate – offers $100 for the first toilet, $75 for the second and $50 for the third changed out on a given home. Commercial property owners may get $75 for switching out any toilet model older than 1994.

HE Clothes Washer Rebate  – Gives $100 credit for replacing a...