Red Rocks Care Center HAS history of violations

Nothing could have prepared a Gallup family for what they allegedly found a day after they left a 93-year-old loved one at the Red Rocks Care Center in Gallup.

Dorothy Kein-Monahan was admitted to Red Rocks, 3720 Church Rock Rd., on Sept. 12 after an August surgery at the Gallup Indian Medical Center to remove her gallbladder.

Serena Penaloza, Kein-Monahan’s granddaughter, said the family hoped the staff would help aid their grandmother in her recovery. But when they returned to the facility the following day, they allegedly found Kein-Monahan wearing clothes that neither fit nor belonged to her, and she was not fully dressed...

Friends, colleagues remember Matt Wright fondly

Matt Wright, who retired after 20 years with the Gallup Police Department, died this past weekend after a short bout with cancer. He was 53.

“It was a shock to hear of his passing,” Gallup City Manager Maryann Ustick said. “He was so young.”

Born and raised in Gallup, Wright spent most of his adult life with the Gallup Police Department, rising from the ranks of patrolman to serving, at various times in his career, as a detective and public information officer.

He headed the department’s SWAT team for a while and at the time of his retirement was a lieutenant in charge of the department’s narcotics unit.

“He was probably...

DOH recommends flu vaccines for everyone 6 months and older

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health announced the first laboratory confirmed cases of flu of the 2018-2019 season Sept. 18. All three persons, ages 8, 11 and 13 years old, live in Quay County and reported no recent out of state travel.

“We encourage New Mexicans to get their seasonal flu vaccination – the sooner the better,” Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher said. “The exact timing and duration of flu season changes year-to-year, but flu activity often begins to heighten in October.

The DOH recommends everyone six months of age and older get the flu shot every year, especially people...

The New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash on Interstate 40 around mile-marker 56, between Gallup and Grants Sept. 16 at about 5:30 pm.

The initial investigation indicated a 2013 Ford was traveling east on I-40. The rear passenger tire blew out on the vehicle causing it to enter the dirt embankment where it began to roll.

The female passenger, Michelle M. Arnold, 51, of Grants, sustained fatal injuries, and was pronounced deceased on scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

The male driver, who will not be identified, was 59, and also from Grants. He was airlifted from the scene with unknown injuries.

Alcohol does not appear to be a contributing factor in the...