Chihuahuita due for city council help

By a vote of 5-0, the Gallup City Council decided to spend potential grant funds to restoring roads in the historic neighborhood of Chihuahuita, which has been waiting for help with its water drainage for years.

The funds are from the imminent 2020 Community Development Block Grant funding cycle, and the Gallup City Council discussed the plans at their Jan. 28 meeting.

The Chihuahuita neighborhood, particularly a stretch of Logan Avenue, has dealt with stormwater drainage challenges for years, which has resulted in flooded yards and basements. Residents currently have no means of preventing these issues.

The city previously held two public hearing sessions on Jan. 7 and Jan. 21 to solicit public input on the next CDBG project.

Angelina Grey, associate planner for the New Mexico Northwest Council of Governments, spoke about several publicly proposed projects at the meeting.

“A project will be submitted to the state CDBG program where it compete[s] for federal funds to improve public infrastructure,” Grey said.

On a summary of the meetings attached to the agenda, there were 11 proposed projects.

Grey highlighted three eligible projects to the city council: the drainage issue in the Chihuahuita neighborhood, Gallup Housing Authority’s water-main replacement, and the Gallup MainStreet Program.

Dist. 4 Councilor Fran Palochak voiced her support for the Logan Avenue project.

“I’ve been a councilor for four and a half years, and I’ve been asked by this [Chihuahuita] neighborhood to fix the drainage problems,” she said. “It’s been a constant problem.”

Palochak mentioned a former longtime resident who had been asking the city for the past 25 years to address the drainage problems.

“I suspect it is an eligible project [area],” Palochak said. “I’m saying it’s about time we invested money into the area. It’s an old neighborhood with kind people who deserve to have nice streets with drainage that works.”

Dist. 2 Councilor Allan Landavazo also advocated for the Logan Avenue project. He recalled a time about 13 years ago when he, Henderson, and the Gallup Fire Department ran some water down the street to see how the street elevations responded to water flow.

“It’s been a challenge for a long time, dating back to before I was on the council,” Landavazo said. “I remember going through that exercise and knowing we had a project staring us in the face, but not having money to get the project done. This is a good opportunity to move forward and make some improvements out there.”

Dist. 1 Councilor Linda Garcia also added her support.

“I remember in the ‘90s, we came to the city council [to ask for help], but nothing came to fruition, so I hope we can get this started and complete,” Garcia said.

The city will have to gather the income information of residents in the neighborhood to confirm they meet one of the CDBG project objectives, Grey said.

Public Works Director Stanley Henderson confirmed the city has not conducted the income survey in the past.

“You have to go door to door and specifically ask residents about their salary, like a mini-census,” Henderson explained. “You cannot be a resident of public housing unless you meet that [income] requirement.”

When asked about potential costs for the Logan Avenue or water line projects, Henderson said both projects would carry a price tag of over $1 million.

“We’re talking reconstruction of the roadway, curbs, gutters, and sidewalks,” Henderson said. “If we’re in there, the utilities will need to be upgraded, too.”

Henderson also said projects could be divided into phases depending on how much funding they can receive from CDBG, and whether the city would then have to contribute the remaining funds to finish the project.

ABOUT THE GRANT PROGRAM

The CDBG project is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.

There are three objectives for the CDBG program. They must: benefit primarily low and moderate-income persons or communities, aid in the prevention of slum and blight, and address conditions that pose a threat to the health and welfare of the community.

The projects also have to comply with state and federal CDBG regulations and are limited to $500,000, according to Grey. But if there is a certified cost estimate in place, the funding ceiling is $750,000.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

From peeling oranges to picking themselves up when they fall

Each month, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe recognizes one local teacher within the Gallup area for his or her determination to help students go above and beyond. Prospective teachers are nominated by students who feel they deserve to be recognized.

Thedeous Tah, of Del Norte Elementary School, has taught in the Gallup area for over 20 years at a number of schools. But, he said this was not quite the career he imagined himself having when he started out.

BACKGROUND

Tah grew up in Church Rock and attended numerous schools in the region, graduated from the old Gallup High School, and then moved on to obtain an education degree from the University of New Mexico-Gallup.

“I really had no intention of ever becoming a teacher until I got stuck in a reading program and started out as a teacher assistant, and moved my way up to becoming a teacher,” Tah said Jan. 28.

This year marks Tah’s 24th in education, he said.

“After my first day in a special ed. classroom, I was worn out and beat down,” Tah said. “I said, ‘Lord, if this is what you want for me, let’s get it going. Let’s start this.’ And I’ve been in education ever since.”

WHY KINDERGARTEN?

Previously, Tah taught second grade, fifth grade, and preschool for about 12 years, and began teaching kindergarten in 2019.

“I’ve seen a lot of gaps coming up with students in their alphabets and numbers,” Tah said. “I thought it would be time to move down and help fill those gaps to prevent kids from struggling in school.”

Tah said a lot of his strategies for teaching kindergarten revolve around vocabulary, so he likes to incorporate a lot of local culture into his teaching.

“I do a lot of storytelling,” he said. “I teach using some Navajo stories, and some Zuni and Hispanic stories, too.”

Tah said the 22 students he teaches are having fun and learning, which makes the experience rewarding. His goal is to make sure they are all prepared to move on next fall.

“Hopefully when this year’s up, my kids feel more confident and strong, and feel they have the abilities to go on to first grade and become good readers and writers, and understand math,” Tah said.

Having taught on the north side of Gallup for nearly his entire career, Tah said he has witnessed multiple generations come through the classroom.

“Seeing my preschoolers come up, who are now adults and now have their own children, is really something else to see,” Tah said. “It’s rewarding to know the families from grandparents, to parents, to kids who have their own kids.”

BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT

The number one trait Tah hopes to instill in his students is a sense of independence.

“[It is] one of the rewards, watching them learning how to take small steps, like peel their own orange, advocate for themselves, speak up for themselves,” Tah said. “At the start of the year, a lot of students ask you to do a lot of things for them. But I teach them they don’t have to ask me for everything, that they can do it on their own.”

Tah also used an example of when students are on the playground, if they fall down and are not seriously hurt, to then pick themselves up and then come to him if they need nurturing or a bandage for any injury.

“I really want my kids to be independent and self-sufficient and take care of themselves,” he said.

HOW THE AWARD FEELS

“When I saw I first got selected for the award, I thought it was a friend playing a trick on me,” Tah said. “I thought, ‘who would nominate me for Teacher of the Month?’”

But when Tah arrived at school the next day, he was asked by the principal if he had checked his email because he had been nominated.

“[The nomination] shows I’m doing my job, whether I was nominated by my family or students or the community,” Tah said. “It shows the work I’m doing is leaving a positive impact for my community, whether it’s for kids from years ago or days ago. It tells me I’m doing something I should be doing and that I love.”

Tah voiced his appreciation for the many teachers, principals, and students he has worked with over the years to get him to this point.

However, there is one particular student that stands out, whom Tah points to as his biggest educator.

“One of my kids in special ed. who has Down Syndrome, his name is Carrad Benally,” Tah said. “When I first met him, he was about 5 years old, and he was the biggest influence on my education. I still see him, and think about how much he’s given me, how much he taught me to become passionate and just not give up on any student or myself.”

Interested in nominating your favorite teacher for Teacher of the Month?

Contact Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe at (505)722-5017 or stop by 306 S. Second St. in Gallup.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

Teen molested by Vanderwagon man

A young teenage boy is waiting for the school bus at his usual stop when a 66-year-old man pulls up and offers him a ride. No, this is not the beginning of a camp fire horror story, not even the story of elementary school staff teaching “Stranger Danger.” This is actually the beginning of a horrific incident that occurred to a local high school student April 21, here in Gallup.

The teenager, whose identity will not be released, later told police that he had accepted rides in the past from different individuals and did not think any harm would come to him. However, William Detwiler of Vanderwagon, NM had different plans for this young man.

Detwiler started asking the young man a lot of questions, according to the affidavit for arrest warrant filed by Gallup Police Department Detective Tasheena Wilson. After reportedly asking numerous personal questions, Detwiler asked the teen to remove his pants. The teen refused several times. But Detwiler persisted, the teen told police, and he got so scared he removed his pants.

He fondled the boy throughout the rest of the drive to the high school, an estimated four to five mile drive, and continued until they parked in the high school parking lot.

In respect of the teenager’s identity, the Gallup Sun will not disclose the bus stop location or the school.

The unidentified teen did manage to take out his phone and record the abuse. GPD Capt. Ricky White gave high praise for the act.

“It was awful brave of the young child to videotape the incident, it took a lot of courage, that’s what helped us with this case is what the child did,” White said. “And it was good investigative work by the Gallup Detectives.”

The teen was able to get out of Detwiler’s White Toyota SUV and go into the school where he informed the principal of what had happened. After police were called, Detwiler was called to return to the school. When he arrived at the school, he was wearing clothes that matched the video the teen had taken and he was a driving a vehicle that matched surveillance video that had been obtained by GPD Detectives.

Detwiler was taken to the Gallup Police Department and interviewed, to which he denied all of the accusations. When confronted with the video evidence, Detwiler admitted that it was him but that he didn’t remember “doing that.”

He was arrested and booked into the jail for Criminal Sexual Contact of a Minor and for false imprisonment. He was held on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.

According to the New Mexico courts website, Detwiler was released on April 22, the following day. A preliminary examination hearing is scheduled at Magistrate Court on May 6 at 8:30 am, in Judge Cynthia Sanders courtroom.

GALLUP - On Feb. 5, Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer and Second Lady Dottie Lizer joined hundreds of Navajo citizens, family members, and loved ones at a memorial service to honor the life and memory of Navajo Code Talker Joe Vandever, Sr. at the El Morro Theatre in Gallup.

During the service, Lizer presented a proclamation and a Navajo Nation flag to the family of Code Talker Vandever, and offered condolences on behalf of the Navajo people.

“As we mourn the loss of Navajo Code Talker Joe Vandever, Sr., we also honor and remember all his great sacrifices for our Navajo people and the entire country. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and community members as they lay him to rest,” Lizer said.

Code Talker Vandever was born on Feb. 5, 1923, into the Red Running Into the Water People clan, born for Two Who Came to the Water clan. He was married for 73 years to his wife, Bessie D. Vandever, who passed on Sept. 24, 2019.

Code Talker Vandever enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps in Santa Fe on March 26, 1943, and was honorably discharged as Corporal on Jan. 22, 1946. He served in northern Solomons, Bougainville, Emirau Islands, Guam, Marianas Islands, Okinawa, Ryukyus Islands, Occupation of Japan, and Occupation of China. In 2001, he received the Congressional Silver Medal for his service as a Navajo Code Talker in World War II.

During the service, Vandever’s grandchildren, Eric Nez, Shaylee Vandever, Petrina Vandever, Shelby Vandever, and Petulia Vandever, shared precious memories, teachings, and disciplines of their grandfather and grandmother.

“Our Cheii and Shimásání (grandfather and grandmother) encouraged us to be the best we can be and to contribute to the Navajo Nation and the world. He stressed the need for each of their 91 grandchildren to speak and value our Navajo language. He said our language and culture identifies who we are and it will protect us and make us stronger. We will greatly miss our grandparents,” grandson Eric Nez said.

Survivors include his sister Mary Vandever Delgarito; sons Gary, Tracy, Obie, Joe Jr., and Lester Vandever; daughters Beth Nez, Phegie Vandever Slim, Sheila Vandever Nez; 36 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents Emma and Walter Vandever; his wife Bessie D. Vandever; son Anthony Vandever; and grandsons Charleston, Antonio, and Travis Vandever.

“We thank God for the life of Navajo Code Talker Joe Vandever, Sr. In every aspect of his life, he was a loving and compassionate person who cared greatly for his people, his children, and grandchildren. His service and contribution to the Navajo Nation and country will be greatly missed and forever cherished and honored,” President Nez said

The burial for Navajo Code Talker Joe Vandever, Sr. is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 6 at 1:30 pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, N.M.