The Gallup City Council discussed several grant awards from the Lodgers’ Tax Grant, which supports tourism and events, at the Oct. 9 regular meeting.

The Red Rock Balloon Rally Association would receive an additional $35,000, and the Friends of Hubbell Native American Art Auctions would receive an additional $4,100.

As of Sept. 26, there was $143,445 available for grants in city funds.

City Tourism and Marketing Manager Jennifer Lazarz spoke for the item. She said Balloon Rally funding was increased in order to grow the event. The available funds had been stagnant for nearly 20 years, she said.

“They want to target crews and crew opportunities,” Lazarz said when asked about...

The McKinley County Board of Commissioners held its regular commissioner meeting on Oct. 2.

At the meeting, Loline Hathaway, of the Ya-ta-hey Water and Sanitation District, requested a $25,000 loan for a new monitoring well.

Potential issues facing the district included moving the well on property the district does not own, as well as changes in terrain, and making sure financial audits are clean.

County Finance Director Sarah Keeler said funds for the project would have to come from the Environmental Gross Receipts Tax lease.

In addition, Keeler said there’s a $75,000 grant from the NM Environment Department to acquire land to plan, design and construct water system improvements...

FIGHTING FRIENDS

9/30, Gallup

A fight between friends ended with an arrest for an outstanding bench warrant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gallup Police Department Patrolman Brandon Salazar said he was dispatched around 8:30 pm on Sept. 30 to America’s Best Value Inn at 2003 W. Highway 66 because of a fight in progress.

When he arrived on scene, he found Aaron Mescale, 27, of Gallup, and another man, who had a sizable amount of blood on his collar and neck. Both  individuals admitted they had been fighting.

Mescale said his friend pulled his hair and punched him, so it became an issue of who started the fight. Witnesses said the other man seemed to be the one who...

A man was pronounced dead on the scene Oct. 4 after he was struck by a train. Gallup Police Department officers were called out to the area across from Denny’s, 3810 E. Hwy 66, just after 10:30 pm in regards to a train-versus-pedestrian collision.

GPD Captain Marinda Spencer told the Sun Oct. 11 the deceased, a Native American male, was identified as Terry Marvin, 50.

“[It’s] still unknown why he was on the train tracks,” she said.

According to Spencer, the driver of the westbound train reported seeing a person on the side or rail of the tracks. He blared his horn to alert the individual, who did not move and was eventually struck by the oncoming train.

Marvin died on the...