A welcoming presence whose light shines on


Lidio Rainaldi, who died last month at the age of 90, was more to Gallup than a returned state senator. Rainaldi was a force of nature across the state and in the local community.




EARLY SERVICE

Rainaldi was born in Gamerco in 1929, the son of Ugo and Rosina Rainaldi. His parents came from Italy in 1915, when his father found work in the local coal mines. Rainaldi graduated from Cathedral High School in 1947.

He attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, and was drafted into the U. S. Navy where he served as a yeoman for four years during the Korean War. The yeoman is a clerk who records the ship’s activity.

When he...

Sergeant Padilla-Begay becomes a lieutenant

Family, friends, and colleagues of Gallup Sergeant Melanie Padilla-Begay gathered at the Magistrate Court Jan. 3 to watch as she was promoted to lieutenant.

Captain Erin Toadlena-Pablo spoke about Padilla-Begay’s path through the ranks, and how they influenced one another throughout the years.

“She didn’t want to put in for her testing, and I said, ‘Where are you going to go from here?’” Toadlena-Pablo said. “She’s thinking retirement, but she has a lot of knowledge and abilities that need to be tested, and why not [have] Gallup Police Department benefit from that?”

Toadlena-Pablo shared the memo she wrote to...

RMCHCS Chief Medical Officer urges vaccines as flu spreads

The New Mexico Department of Health says that influenza B is now widespread across New Mexico and is anticipating increased activity for weeks to come. As the 2019-2020 flu season grows stronger, the department reports seeing elevated levels of flu in the southeast section of the state, which is unusual for this time of year. The illness is caused mostly by Influenza B/Victoria viruses After Influenza B, the A (H1N1) viruses are the next most common in metro regions,  but they too, are increasing in proportion to other flu viruses.

Flu symptoms may include rapid illness onset with fever, cough, sore throat, headache, and/or...

Candidates vie for four positions

The unofficial list of candidates for the March 3 Municipal Officer Election has been released.

Candidates for Mayor

1. Louis O. Bonaguidi

2. Charles Van Drunen

3. Yolanda E. Ahasteen-Azua

4. Jayson Gomez

5. Sammy Chioda

Candidates for Dist. 2 (East Side) City Councilor

1. Michael W. Schaaf

2. Roger Allan Landavazo

Candidates for Dist. 4 (West Side) City Councilor

1. Francisca “Fran” P. Palochak

2. Levi Franklin Saucedo

Candidates for Municipal Judge

1. Janell Griego

2. Earl Andrew Yearley

3. Jackie D. McKinney