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

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 crash and seatbelts were properly utilized.

The crash is still under investigation with no additional information currently available.

By Cody Begaye

Sun Correspondent

The Gallup City Council closed the Best of the Best Timed Event Rodeo project for 2018 at the regular meeting on Sept. 11.

The 2018 Best of the Best Rodeo was held June 27-30 at Red Rock Park and offered seven timed events for the country’s top junior and senior high school rodeo athletes.

Patty Holland, chief financial officer for the City of Gallup, spoke about how the turnout at the event saw a 30 percent increase from the previous year, which shows that the rodeo is growing and becoming successful.

The revenue received from the Best of the Best event is $327,766.17, while the expenses tallied to $268,166.87 for a gain of $59,599.30.

Holland said the rodeo account is currently over budget in both revenue and expenditures. A budget adjustment of $24,295 in revenues and $57,168 in expenditures would be required to close the project so they can move onto planning next year’s event.

District 2 councilor Allan Landavazo took a moment during the meeting to congratulate Holland and the rest of the event team on a job well done.

“It is becoming the premiere youth rodeo in the country,” Landavazo said. “It’s exciting that Gallup is recognized in that circle.”

Mayor Jackie McKinney seconded the praise given to the event team, citing how the event went from taking an annual loss to now making magazine covers and bringing support to local businesses.

“It’s a great group of people,” he said of the event organizers. “[The event] is going to max out the facility [it’s held in]. In the next few years, it’s going to happen.”

The item was approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

By Cody Begaye

Sun Correspondent

The Gallup City Council approved a five-year Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan during the regular meeting on Sept. 11.

The State Department of Finance and Administration requires governments to develop an ICIP as a means of defining development needs and identifying funding sources. The ICIP is also used in funding government projects by analyzing proposed capital outlay bills during the State legislature sessions.

Public Works Director Stanley Henderson provided a list of tentative projects for legislative funding:

• East Nizhoni Boulevard Reconstruction Project
• Public Safety Building Construction Project
• Senior Center Construction Project
• Coal Avenue Commons Construction Project
• Police Vehicles Procurement
• Indian Hills Ball Park Lighting Reconstruction Project
• Playground Of Dreams Reconstruction Project
• Calle Pinon Storm Drainage Improvements Project

District 4 Councilor Fran Palochak requested a stretch of West Aztec Avenue be included in the ICIP. She said the recurring floods on that street during monsoon season is a safety concern that must be addressed.

District 3 Councilor Yogash Kumar seconded the shift in focus to Aztec Avenue. He said the Calle Pinon storm drainage system can be tabled in exchange.

Mayor Jackie McKinney said the senior center construction project should be one of the higher priorities, and suggested work on the Octavia Fellin Public Library be added to the list as well.

The council ranked the projects by the order in which they should be addressed. The East Nizhoni Boulevard Reconstruction Project was named highest priority. The public safety building, Coal Avenue, police vehicles and Aztec Avenue drainage projects were also listed in the top five.

Mayor McKinney said over time, the council will do all they can to ensure each project receives the attention it warrants.

“We’re going to fight for them all,” he said.

The item was approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

Staff Reports

ALBUQUERQUE – Daniel Jimmy Morgan, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Mexican Springs, N.M., pled guilty Sept. 13 in federal court in Albuquerque to a voluntary manslaughter charge.

The FBI arrested Morgan on Aug. 3, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing a Navajo man on the Navajo Reservation in McKinley County on July 29, 2016.

According to the criminal complaint, Morgan killed the victim by kicking the victim in the head and hitting him in the back and knees with a sledgehammer.

Morgan was indicted on Aug. 23, 2016, and was charged with second-degree murder.

According to the indictment, Morgan committed the offense on July 29, 2016, in McKinley County.

During the Sept. 13 proceedings, Morgan pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter.

In entering the guilty plea, Morgan admitted that on July 29, 2016, he killed the victim by striking the victim in the head and chest with the intent to cause serious bodily injury.

The Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety arrested Morgan on tribal charges on July 30, 2016. Morgan was transferred into federal custody when he was arrested by the FBI on Aug. 3, 2016.

Morgan has been in federal custody since that time and will remain detained until his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.  At sentencing, Morgan faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease.