Between a new board, trouble finding coaches, disruptive parents and poor sportsmanship, it has been a tumultuous year for the Gallup Amateur Baseball Softball Association.

However, the most heart wrenching part of the season has been the half dozen concession stand burglaries that have hurt the league, the youth, the Community Pantry and the various groups using the stands as a way to raise funds for their own youth groups.

Kevin Menapace, president of the league, said thieves are stealing from the kids. He explained that the league was renting the concession stands in order to have money to pay umpires and to pay for tournaments and other things for the youth of the community.

For the past three weeks, the league has not been charging rent in order to help the various organizations with the loss that they have sustained. He said that the suspects are damaging the concession stands, breaking doors or other entryways in order to get into the structures and steal the food as well as pots and pans and popcorn machines.

“If they are in need of food, they could go to the Community Pantry and do it the right way,” Menapace said.

Menapace also said that this has occurred at least six times at various concessions stands throughout the city. He estimates the damage and the loss to be between $5,000 - $7,000.

“It seems to be happening during the weekends,” he said.

He added that the City of Gallup has been extremely helpful and expedient in getting new doors and  security gates on the structure.

Hilda Kendall, of the Jim Harlin Community Pantry, said that the new security measures have not stopped the break-ins and that the thieves are quick and are getting good at the burglaries.

“We’ve been broken into twice and they have taken inventory, the third time they weren’t successful, but they did heavy damage to the door,” she said. “We’ve lost about $800 in inventory.”

Because the Pantry participates in the program Eat Healthy, Play Hard, the employees are passionate about the youth of the community, offering their concession stand products at cost and free healthy snacks to the players.

The pantry has resigned themselves to hauling all of their inventory to and from the concession stands for the last few weeks of the season, and they are no longer leaving products at the stands.

“They are hurting their community,” Kendall said. “For us, this was about our community, this was not a fundraiser.”

The Community Pantry received a $100 donation from Dr. Lawrence Andrade, who serves as Vice President of the GABSA board.

They also received  three bags of donated candy from an unnamed parent of a player.

Anyone wanting to make a cash donation can take it to the Community Pantry. Checks and money orders can be mailed to P.O. Box 520, Gallup, NM 87305. Candy donations can be taken to the concession stand at Father Dunston Park at Park Avenue and Fourth Street for one more week.

Another sad victim of these burglaries is Raye Ann Wicketts, the sole proprietor of three of the concession stands. The cost and profit are her sole responsibility and income. Wicketts said that she has operated various concession stands for 19 years and after the burglaries she is not sure if she wants to continue.

She has suffered a loss of almost $2,000.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever do it again,” she said.

She has even gone as far as staying in her vehicle all night long to watch various concession stands and hopes to catch the culprits and help bring them to justice.

“I’m going to catch them,” she said adamantly.

She also said that there is no one to blame, and that the city is doing their part to replace damaged doors quickly. She also said the police collected evidence at at least one burglary that will help to prosecute the burglars once caught. She now removes all of her inventory out of the concession stands, as the Community Pantry does.

Wicketts said that the thieves have a tool/saw that they are using to gain access to the structures and are using it again and again, which makes her believe that it is the same people committing the burglary at each stand.

Gallup Police Department Capt. Rick White said the police are watching the areas more closely.

“We’re patrolling the area more often,” he said. “But we need the citizens eyes and ears. Call us if you see anything.”

Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to $1,000 for information on the suspects. Anonymous tips can be called into (505) 722-6161. In progress crimes should be reported to 911 or Metro Dispatch (505) 722-2231. Anyone having information on the people responsible should contact GPD Detectives at (505) 863-9365.

Some of the top business minds in Gallup and McKinley County met three days this week to look over plans for economic development, discuss the pros and cons of doing business in the immediate area and become more informed with regard to the possibilities of growing this community.

The training session, that took place June 8-10, was sponsored by the Greater Gallup Economic Development Company in downtown Gallup.Sectors represented included city, county, tribal and chapter governments, hospitals, schools, universities, utility companies and many local business owners.

Kent Wilson, retired owner of Four Corners Welding and Gas Supply and current Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Gallup said, “For the first time in over 50 years, Gallup has an opportunity to grow because it has land and resources.”

He was excited to see so many leaders and concerned business people working together for the benefit of Gallup and McKinley County.

The top three concerns identified by the group were: leadership development, creative economic development strategies and infrastructure.

This forum was the first step in addressing the leadership development part of the concerns. City Councilor Linda Garcia said about the first day of training, “It was intense. It’s like taking an economics class.”

A small part of the infrastructure problem was addressed with the passing of the Capital Outlay Projects bill, which allocated $4.5 million to Gallup for the Allison Road Bridge project.

In total, the bill allocatesnearly $12 million to the Gallup and McKinley County area. Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup and Executive Director of the GGEDC, was pleased that all parties were able to work together to get the bill passed.

“We were able to do 60 days worth of work in four and a half hours,” she said.

Lundstrom further explained that with the completion of Highway 491, and the $1 billion Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, Gallup is ready for economic development.

“Having water is like gold now, especially in the Southwest,” she said.

Adding to those resources is Interstate Highway 40 and the BNSF Railroad. In a handout addressing the planned Gallup Energy Logistics Park, the GGEDC lists future opportunities that could be available: natural resource transloading, cross-docking and light manufacturing. All of these opportunities are dependent upon the quality and quantity of transportation resources available.

The Gallup Energy Logistics Park is planned for the west side of Gallup on the land purchased from Gamerco Associates by the Gallup Land Partners. Transloading is the process of bringing resources into Gallup by truck and transferring them to railcars or vice-versa. Direct truck-to-train transloading is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Cross-Docking is a logistical plan that transfers products from one source to another whereby little or no storage time is required. Loads received from various sources would be directly transferred into another transportation medium with the same destination.

As a result of her work with the logistics park, Lundstrom was honored with The Excellence in Economic Development Award for 2015 by the Site Selector’s Guild. The guild is a group of international site selection consultants who provide education, networking and services to those involved in the industry. They are some of the top advisors who will be sending potential businesses to look at Gallup for new industry.

State Support

As a part of the event, Barbara Brazil Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department gave a presentation regarding incentives available to New Mexico businesses. Brazil said the department is in good shape.

They are working with a 28 percent increase in funding that is allowing them to work with Main Street programs, job development and new technology.

Brazil reported there are five business incubators around the state that are partnering with localities to ensure success with their new businesses. One such partnership is that of Santa Fe and the Zuni Pueblo. She said the Santa Fe incubator runs an extremely successful program.

One of the things that makes New Mexico very competitive in attracting new or relocating businesses is the fact that the state is run with a balanced budget. This gives new companies confidence they will benefit from the incentives they are promised. Other positive aspects of doing business in New Mexico include the reduced corporate income tax, workforce training programs and extremely low property taxes.

Brazil said manufacturing is growing in New Mexico. Ernst and Young recently ranked New Mexico as the best state in the west to develop manufacturing businesses because of the incentive package the state offers.

Two programs that are available to Gallup and McKinley County businesses are Job Training Incentive Program and Local Economic Development Act. Both will pay up to 70 percent of training fees for employees in rural areas for the first six months of their employment. Restrictions apply, but the savings can help ensure success to a new business.

LEDA funding is available for land, building and infrastructure. A project must be attached to the allocation of these funds. This incentive requires the private sector to invest in the project. The State negotiates performance measures such as job creation goals and project completion dates that will be attached to the funding to safeguard a solid return on the investment. Any business interested in these incentives can refer to the New Mexico State Economic Development website.

Bill Lee, county manager, said it takes collaboration between agencies and the private sector to make economic development happen. That is happening during this training session.

“Economic development is not an overnight process,” he said. “Five percent of all deals across the country get done. It is a long process. You have to be patient and stay the course.”

Alice Perez will officially take over as director of the Jim Harlin Community Pantry on June 1. She hopes that with a “combination of passion, a great team to work with and community support it can turn into one of the best pantries in the state.”

A 35 year resident of Gallup, Perez and her husband, Max, have raised four children here.  They have four grandchildren and one on the way.

Perez takes over a pantry that was started in 1999. The pantry has had its challenges, but has a strong foundation. With only nine employees, seven of whom are part time, the food pantry contributes to the needs of over 3,000 individuals or families each month. It depends on volunteers and the dedication of their employees to get the job done.

Perez would like to see revenues increase so they can service another 3,000 needy families in the area and so her staff can become full time employees. Perez has worked in community service jobs most of her adult life. She has worked as a UNM Program Coordinator, secretary at the schools in Gallup, and most recently as a secretary for the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce.

“Every position I’ve ever held has been a community-based position,” Perez said.  She added jokingly, “I don’t see any reason to change that at this point in my life.”

Perez worked with many non-profit organizations and special events while employed with the chamber of commerce. She started as secretary, moved into administrative assistant, was promoted to Vice President, COO, and then was moved into the position of office director when new chamber director David Hinkle was hired.

While working for the chamber, Perez completed courses through the Institute of Organizational Management. Perez says the school is a four-year program that basically teaches you how to run a non-profit organization.

When asked why she decided to make the move, Perez responded, “I went into it (the new administration) with enthusiasm and the ability to work for somebody else. But I saw my vision changing. When I saw my vision was not on track, I knew it was time for a change.”

Perez became a member of the pantry’s board of directors in January. In February she learned that Tim Kelly, the current director, would be stepping down. She says she started investigating the job at that point.

“I investigated the position prior to applying for it,” she said. “At that point, I knew it could go nowhere but up.”

When she takes her position on Monday, Perez will sit down with her staff and start the process of looking forward. “There are ways that we can reach out to more people, both clients and donors,” Perez said. “My passion for the community is what inspired me to become involved with the pantry.”

The pantry is a multi-layered organization.

The staff is passionate about their responsibility to their clients. Hilda Kendall has been working for the pantry for 10 years. She says some of the greatest things she has seen is when families are able to get on their feet and no longer need the services the pantry provides.

“I love my job,” she said. “It’s about the people in the community. Someone might not see, know or understand why people are in need – we know.”

The staff sees many of their clients who have moved away from the system express their gratitude for the help they received from the pantry. Kendall explained, a lot of people come back to volunteer, some even send donations with thank you letters. Our clients want to work. Many times, when they finally get jobs, they give back.

The pantry has a data base that gives the pantry information about their clients and helps them serve the needs better. Not only does the data base help to prevent fraud and misuse of the system, but it also helps the staff procure the right resources for the people they are serving.

Kendall explained some of the special programs offered by the pantry at this time.

EMERGENCY BOXES

With a referral, from another agency such as Casa San Martine, Work Force Solutions, or Catholic Charities, a family or individual can receive a 25 pound box of dry goods to help them get back on their feet. Emergency circumstances might include unexpected vehicle repairs or medical costs.

FRESH PRODUCE

Clients can pick up fresh produce every week between Tuesday and Friday. The produce distribution does not have an income base requirement. This program is designed to encourage a healthier lifestyle for all the pantry clients.

SENIOR CITIZENS

Many of the senior citizens taking advantage of the food pantry are on a fixed income. Many of them are on disability. Kendall explained that those on disability may be living on less than $800 per month. They have to pay rent, utilities and medical bills with that check. Most of their clients also receive food stamps but those benefits are minimal.   To prevent them from having to choose between food and medication, the food pantry steps in.

Another problem the pantry is seeing is grandparents, who are on a tight budget, suddenly needing to raise their grandchildren. These grandparents can’t send their grandchildren away, so the need for assistance becomes even greater.

VETERANS

If they qualify, the food pantry gives veterans a commodity box and fresh produce. They also supply Thanksgiving turkeys for them.

FOOD FOR KIDS

This is the elementary school backpack program that sends healthy foods home with children on the weekends. Many of these children live with parents who work multiple jobs. The foods that are sent with them are healthy, easy to open and need no preparation. Many times these students don’t get a meal on the weekend. The only meals they eat are the ones prepared by the schools. Unfortunately, there is no program that helps these children in the summer.

Currently, there are 20 elementary schools taking advantage of this program. Each school is allowed to refer 24 students to receive the backpacks. The cost of the program is $3,500 per school, per year. Schools are responsible for picking up their food items from the pantry and packing the backpacks.

The holiday breaks are always a concern for the pantry. The Gallup Lions Club has pitched in to buy extra food items to help students get through the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.

Other special programs include the Baskets of Brotherhood that is sponsored by the Gallup Rotary Club. In November, the Rotary Club fills boxes at the pantry with supplies needed to make a special Thanksgiving meal. These boxes are distributed to pantry clients.

Donations for the pantry come from across the United States. Americans for Native Americans, based in Doylestown, PA and Meals From The Heartland in Des Moines, IA are some of the pantry’s largest contributors. There are local businesses and organizations that also donate to the pantry and all those donations are appreciated.

One of the problems the pantry faces is that people are willing to donate food, but they don’t donate a lot of money. Overhead is expensive: salaries, utilities and building upkeep. Kendall explained the roof of the pantry is in need of repair or replacement. At this time, there are no funds to help with that problem.

During a tour of the grounds, Perez observed and listened to the pantry employees. Each person was confident in their job and knowledgeable about how they fit into the system. Perez says her goal is “to take something good and make it 10 times better.”