The McKinley County Board of Commissioners discussed a resolution about the locations of Election Day polling places for all upcoming statewide elections during their Aug. 18 meeting.

McKinley County Bureau of Elections Manager Marlene Custer spoke about the item.

“This resolution makes it so the [voting center at] Thoreau Fire Station will be moving to the Thoreau Public Safety Building,” Custer said. “And then all the rural precincts will be designated a voting convenience center.”

The next step is to ensure these voting locations have the capability to allow people to securely vote on Election Day.

“We are testing all of the sites now, like the Navajo Nation...

K9 officer recognized for service

The Gallup Police Department recently recognized an officer who had served with the force for eight years as he headed off to retirement.

That officer was Nero, a Belgian Malinois who had served in the department’s K9 program, alongside Detective John Gonzalez.

More than 20 people showed up at a ceremony Aug. 14 where Nero and Gonzalez were recognized and where Nero was officially retired.

Gallup Sgt. Terrance Peyketewa spoke with the Sun Aug. 19 about the ceremony and Nero’s history with the department.

“K9 officers [like Nero] are used mostly to locate persons or items,” Peyketewa said. “They are trained to detect when a person is...

McKenzie Begay

Aug. 5, 6:20 pm

Aggravated DWI

McKinley County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tammy Houghtaling was traveling eastbound on Highway 118 when she observed a silver Chevy headed west at a high rate of speed, about 56 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone. She turned around and began to follow the car.

After turning north onto County Road 5, Houghtaling conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, McKenzie Begay, 33, of Window Rock, Ariz. He handed over his insurance, registration and driver’s license. Then he said he was sorry for speeding.

Houghtaling noted a strong smell of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. She also noticed a passenger in the car.

As Begay exited the...

HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT

Gallup, Aug. 6

While on patrol near the intersection of Crestview Road and Highway 66, McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Salazar observed Franklin Warren, 45, of Gamerco, driving a motorcycle. Salazar said he recognized it by its color and knew Warren had a suspended license. He attempted a traffic stop.

The suspect then accelerated as he traveled westward, even passing a vehicle in the opposite lane. Salazar advised Deputy Johnson Lee if the suspect continued to travel west past his residence he would cancel the pursuit.

Warren did keep traveling westbound, so the pursuit was called off. Salazar suspected Warren had exceeded 130 mph as he fled.

An arrest...