Former National Football League star quarterback Jake Plummer is the scheduled speaker for the 27^th annual Gallup Rotary Banquet at Red Rock Park in February, officials confirmed. The announcement was made Oct. 26 at the weekly Gallup Rotary Club meeting.

The event is one in which scholarship awards are given out to area high school students.

“[Plummer] will be the featured speaker at our Feb. 9, 2017 affair,” Sammy Chioda, a local restaurateur and Gallup Rotary member, said. “We’re excited to host Jake Plummer.”

Chioda noted that Gallup Rotary awarded more than $33,000 to some 18 high school recipients last year. He said Gallup Rotary is set to equal or better that feat this year.

A second-round pick from Arizona State University, Plummer played for the Arizona Cardinals, the Denver Broncos, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. In 1998, Plummer started all 16 regular season games for Arizona and led the Cardinals to an upset win against the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs, which was Arizona’s first post-season victory since 1947.

Chioda noted that past scholarship banquet speakers have included Lou Holtz, Bill Walton, the late Tom Landry, Drew Pearson, Mean Joe Greene, Ronnie Lott, Tom Flores, and Tim Brown, among others. He said through 2016 more than $385,000 has been awarded to area students by the Gallup Rotary Club.

Chioda said February’s affair includes a meet-and-greet, a silent auction, a dinner, and the presentation.

Since leaving the NFL in 2006, Plummer has worked as a studio analyst for the PAC-12 Network.

Rotary International is a service organization with the purpose of bringing together professional leaders to provide humanitarian services and promote peace around the world.

By Bernie Dotson

Sun Correspondent

Fitness buff, FORMER city councilor honored

Friends, city and county officials, and members of the late Cecil Garcia’s family gathered Oct. 14 at the city fitness center at 700 Old Zuni Road — which was renamed the Cecil Garcia Fitness Center last November — to honor the Gallup native and former city councilman with a bronze memorial.

“He was rigorously honest in everything he did,” Joe Milosevich, who, although not in the same class, attended high school with Garcia and was his friend over the years. “If you were ever backed into a corner, he was the best guy to have with you.”

The Gallup City Council approved the renaming of the city fitness center at the request of Milosevich and former Gallup Mayor, City Manager, State Representative, and City Finance Director John Peña.

The bronze plaque bears the Nov. 15, 2015 date — the day council members OK’d the new facility name.

Peña, a close friend of Garcia’s for many years, said he worked out with his friend daily over the past decade or longer.

“He was definitely a workout warrior,” Peña said. “I can’t remember too many times when he wasn’t here working out.”

The Memorial

“For his dedication to health and fitness in Gallup and his timeless efforts to improve this facility for the benefit of the citizens of Gallup,” the 12-by-18-inch plaque reads.

The plaque sits atop a cemented structure to the north of the main entrance of the fitness center.

Everyone in attendance spoke of Garcia’s commitment to fitness and good health. Former Gallup mayor and attorney Bob Rosebrough said he knew Garcia for about 40 years.

“We met, essentially, through sports, through basketball,” Rosebrough said. “We stayed friends for a very long time.”

Garcia died Oct. 15, 2015. He served the city council from 2011 through 2015, and was the grandson of a former Gallup city councilor who served during Gallup’s early years.

Garcia’s widow, Debbie, thanked the city and those in attendance for the dedication.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

New Mexico State Police officers investigated a fatal car crash on I-40 near Gallup Aug. 29. A woman from California, Raina Lopez, died in the crash. Her vehicle was towed from the scene by a Gallup tow company.

In early September 2016, New Mexico State Police officers received a call from Lopez's family in California. They stated someone had been using Ms. Lopez's credit cards at various locations in Gallup after she died.

NMSP officers conducted an extensive investigation revealing that two suspects, Bryan D. Burrola, 40, and Amy M. Lucero, 36, both of Gallup, were the ones who used Lopez's credit cards after her death. Both suspects lived together in a motor home on the property of the tow company that had towed Ms. Lopez's car.  Bryan D. Burrola was an employee of that tow company at the time of Lopez's crash.

The suspects used the credit cards to purchase over $3,000 worth of items, including new tires, auto parts, and cell phones. NMSP officers obtained a warrant for a search on Sept. 15, and Amy M. Lucero was found to be in possession of one of Lopez's credit cards on that date.

Both suspects were charged with numerous crimes including credit card fraud and possession of a stolen credit card.  NMSP officers arrested both in Gallup on the morning of Oct. 19.

When officers arrested Mr. Burrola, they discovered he was also a sex offender and had recently moved without updating his address. That same date the McKinley County Sheriff's Department charged him with failing to register as a sex offender.

Officers from the New Mexico State Police Uniform Bureau in Gallup handled this entire investigation.

Jobs expected to be plentiful as $4M project unfolds

Members of McKinley County’s business community, along with city and county officials, gathered Oct. 17 for a groundbreaking ceremony related to the $4-million Gallup Energy Logistics Park.

Gallup Land Partners, LLC, and the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation announced that the first phase of the project is set to start within seven to 10 days.

“This is an exciting day,” Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney said in opening remarks. “This is a wonderful opportunity for those of us in this community.”

Next up is the construction of the project’s first phase – which includes the laying of some 11,000-square-feet of rail track that will connect the existing BNSF Railway loops.

Robert Roche, the proprietor of GLP, said for the past four years the project has gone through the required design, permitting, engineering, and funding hurdles.

“This is just the first phase,” he said. “We will show them why they should invest in this community.”

Jacob Bracken, a manager at GLP, said the project will bring many jobs, at various levels, to Gallup and McKinley County.

Both Bracken and Roche said at least 20 employees are “needed to start work right now.”

Ean Johnson, a Phoenix-based economic development representative from BNSF and member of the GGEDC board of directors, told the near 100 people gathered at the Gallup Cultural Center to hear the announcement that there is no other project along the Southern Trans of BNSF.

Patricia Lundstrom, a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives and the executive director at GGEDC, said it’s a matter of time before the full project comes to fruition in January 2017. She said the project entails six phases.

“This is definitely progress,” Lundstrom said. “This is the beginning, and there is a lot more work yet to do.”

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent