Red Rock Park getting some long overdue TLC

It has been a longtime coming due to labor shortages, supply chain issues and the ongoing quest for funding, but Gallupians will finally start seeing improvements to Red Rock Park.

Now with some state money in hand, McKinley County is making some changes to make the park tidier and more user-friendly. The county took over park management from the city in August 2022.

“All these years, all we’ve ever done with the park is Band-Aid the facility,” Gallup Mayor Louie Bonaguidi said at the time.

The county almost immediately increased full-time park staff from three people to 10 just for maintenance and daily operations. Assessments and day-to-day experience since then have revealed issues with most buildings as well as other areas.

“The mayor says it’s a diamond in the rough. They just forgot to shine it,” Commissioner Robert Baca, District 3, said. “It’s run down. It needs a lot of love.”

Baca said the county received funding for the park from the state legislature, but it’s not enough.

The county commissioners had their Oct. 10 meeting at the park so they could look in on progress, size up what needs to be done and prioritize to squeeze as much as possible out of the money, which is about $5.5 million now, with another $4 million request pending.

Some things are already under way, like renovating the kitchen in the main building and installing a new roof there and on other buildings. Soon the dilapidated old Dancers Quarters will be razed. The HVAC in the main building has undergone an assessment and estimates are pending.

Commissioners will each list their top five priorities for the park and funnel them to County Manager Anthony Dimas. The things that make all three lists will go to the top of the priority list.

“We’re looking at all of it as a whole and trying to narrow it down, sort it out,” District 1 Commissioner Danielle Notah, whose top priority is making the park accessible to everyone, said.

Fortunately, some things will make all of their lists. One feature that’s sure to be welcome to visitors is renovated and new restrooms. Two will have to be torn out and replaced, six more will be refitted. The bathrooms, holdovers from the 70s, will get a better gender balance out of the deal.

For example, the west arena men’s room now has seven urinals, four standard stalls and one stall with disabled access; the women’s room has six standard stalls and one accessible stall. After renovations, the men will have 10 urinals, two standard and one accessible stall; the ladies will have 16 standard and two accessible stalls.

The east arena restrooms will go from five urinals, five standard and one accessible stall in the men’s room to four urinals, one standard and one accessible stall; the women’s room will go from three to five standard stalls and from one to two accessible stalls. All will have baby changing tables.

Notah was glad to hear there will be more “family” stalls for disabled users and those who need help because of age or ability.

“Besides accessibility, my other priority is restrooms,” she said. “I wasn’t always a commissioner. I’m also a member of the public. It just goes back to the quality of life. People deserve to go to Red Rock and have a good time.”

District 2 Commissioner Walt Eddy is known for his rodeo trail cred. He’s been glad to see improvements to the holding and competition areas, especially new bucking chutes that were replaced for the Junior Nationals event, but it’s still a long road ahead.

“I was in amazement of what we have and do not have,” he said. “Gallup is the only arena I know that doesn’t have a shaded area. The upper section of the south grandstand was a priority for all of us ... I have been on the bandwagon for quite some time but I think it’s going to happen now.”

On the wish list for the long-range future, commissioners would like to see the park used for non-equine events.

“I’m not a rodeo guy,” Baca said. “I know that’s pretty much what we have had out there. That place has so much potential for other things.”

Notah agreed.

“Red Rock is predominantly used for rodeos. We could expand that for a lot of other things like concerts,” she said. “I’m pretty excited with the direction Red Rock Park is going and think in the future people will really enjoy it. It’s been a long time coming.”

By Holly J. Wagner
Sun Correspondent

Superstar DT was fourth in nation in QB sacks last season

NAVAJO, N.M. – Nabahitachiini Nez, a student athlete at Navajo Pine High School, is the latest area athlete to be accepted to play at the Down Under Sports Tournament in Australia. The annual tournament takes place over the summer and includes student athletes from all over the world.

A graduating senior, Nez, 17, was a standout defensive tackle for the Warriors for four years. He played offensive when necessary, but Nez anchored a Warriors team which was at times short-handed and overmatched.

“I was totally shocked. I was surprised,” Nez said of getting the chance to go to Australia. “It’s a great opportunity. I am honored to be an ambassador of not only my community and state, but also our country.”

Nez, who wants to study engineering in college, could go down as the best football player ever at Navajo Pine, located on the Navajo Nation and a 20-minute drive north from Window Rock, Ariz., the capital of the Navajo Nation. Pine is a Division 1-2A school that ended the past season with a 1-11 record, which was par for the course for Warriors’ football teams over the years. Nez is considered a local hero and a “can’t miss” prospect by most scouting agencies.

In every sport, there is that one player that simply stands out from the rest of the team. The 6-feet-4 inch tall, 286 pound Nez, was fourth in the nation in quarterback sacks this past season. Nicknamed “Bona,” Nez recorded 41 solo tackles, 69 total tackles, 35 sacks and 22 quarterback hurries for the 2015-16 football season. Toward the end of the 2015 football season, Nez led the nation in sacks.

William Nez, Bona’s father, said his son is being recruited by a host of Division I and II schools, among them Texas A & M, New Mexico Military Institute, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, Brown University in Rhode Island, Willamette University in Oregon and Western New Mexico University, among others.

“I don’t want him to go to college just to play football,” William Nez said. “It’s important that you get a good education while there. Right now he’s leaning toward (New Mexico Military Institute).”

Bona agreed, saying that he’s established a relationship with NMMI coach Drew Thatcher. “I like what I see in the school. If I need help academically, I can get it there. At a bigger school, that may not be possible.”

But for right now the Nez family wants to put its focus with getting ‘Bona’ to Australia for the sports tournament. “One of the things I’m going to do is sell raffle tickets,” the younger Nez said of potential fundraising. “It’s going to cost over $3,000, but I think I will be going.”

Nez, who began playing organized football in Gallup’s Tony Dorsett Youth Football League, said he was selected to go Down Under because of his on-the-field accomplishments the past few years. He said he’s never been out of the United States, but looks forward to meeting new players and coaches and friends.

Charlton Long, athletic director at Navajo Pine High, said Nez is the first Warriors student athlete to go on such a long trip. He said such a trip is something he knows ‘Bona’ appreciates.

“Everybody’s very happy for him,” Long said. “He’s had four different football coaches since he’s been here. He’s got the athleticism. He’s got the intelligence. We will help him get there in every way that we can.”

Nez said he’s actively looking for sponsors to make the Australia trip, which takes place from June 24 to July 9 and after Nez plays in New Mexico’s annual all-star football game near Albuquerque. He said he’ll be accepting financial donations and contributions over the next month.

The Down Under Sports Tournament includes competition in football, cheerleading, wrestling, volleyball, golf, cross-country, basketball and  host of other sports.

Miyamura High School wrestler Bennie Baca, 17, was selected to go. Baca has said that he’ll spend the rest of this year fundraising to make the trip in 2017.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent

Sammy ‘C’ a candidate for Sports Hall of Fame

Local and much beloved radio personality Sammy “C” Chioda has been nominated as a potential inductee into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame for his tireless coverage of local, high school sporting events during the course of his career.

Chioda also heads the youth Tony Dorsett Football League, and has spent about 30 years broadcasting cross country track meets, which he feels persuaded the anonymous individual(s) to nominate him for the prestigious award.

While the nomination is flattering, nominees require a vote of confidence from the public at large. The Hall of Fame allows each voter to vote one time for their favorite nominee on Facebook and on their website.

“It’s an affirmation for all the work you do and the love you have for sports,” Chioda said. “TDFL and cross country was a big factor.”

TDFL was launched by Chioda in 1996, and youth ages 6-13 commence competition at the end of August, and end the season at the close of October with the Four Corners Youth Football Championship.

“We had 18 teams from Albuquerque that played here last year,” he said.

Chioda said prior to Millennium Media coverage of cross country, the sport didn’t garner much fanfare at all.

“We took the lead and really elevated the sport,” he said. “When you do that stuff you become known to the families.”

Decades later, the now 63-year-old Chioda has racked up countless hours on the airwaves, only breaking from his employer, Millennium Media, to attend college at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces to earn his business degree.

He has picked up more than a handful of awards along his radio journey, which began in Gallup some 50 years ago at KYVA radio.

While many teens ponder who they want to be when they grow up, this wasn’t the case with 14-year-old Sammy Chioda. He knew who he wanted to be, and that was a radio broadcaster.

So, as a young man, he chased his dream, and some radio veterans from KYVA decided to give the young and enthusiastic man a shot at pursing his passion.

And Chioda’s passion for the projects he takes on is illustrated by the multiple awards he has received during the course of his career, including induction into New Mexico Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame and the Navajo Nation Athletic Hall of Fame.

He’s been the recipient of broadcasting awards, volunteer of the year, service awards and the support behind the Rotary Club scholarship banquet, which raises thousands of dollars each year to help deserving high school students with college funds.

Meanwhile, the road to induction remains competitive, as only seven of the long list of nominees receive the honor of inductee. Championship MMA fighter Holly Holm is one of many distinguished individuals rounding out the list.

“I am very humbled because this is affirmation for the effort that you put forth,” Chioda said.

To place a vote for Sammy Chioda, visit the NM Sports Hall of Fame on Facebook, and on the web at: www.nmshof.com

By Babette Herrmann
Sun Editor

Nine-member advisory board recruited

With Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services CEO Robert Whitaker departing the job Oct. 29, the hospital may be entering a new phase.

Whitaker started the job April 15, 2022, and announced his resignation Oct. 5.

The hospital board of trustees credits him with helping to improve staff and community relationships and leading the initiative to transition the hospital to a Critical Access Hospital, a change that is under way and expected to be completed later this year. As a CAH, the hospital will get better reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid patients and will be able to offer short-term skilled nursing care for recovering patients aged 65 or older.

The board was expected to receive a list of possible interim CEO candidates from Community Hospital Corp., which still has a management contract with the hospital, and to choose from among them.

“The Board has initiated a search and will begin the process of replacing the CEO next week,” Board Vice Chair Genevieve Robran said. “The Board of Trustees would like to thank Robert for his service and assure the community that the management of RMCHCS is in place and that there will not be an interruption of patient care.”

How long that person will be in the position is an open question. The CHC contract ends in May, and the board hasn’t yet made a decision on whether to continue the management contract, transition to a consulting or supply relationship or sever ties. The contract requires that the board give six months notice for any major change, so a decision should be coming soon.

“The most important thing that we come back to is patient safety, the welfare of our patients,”  Board Secretary Dr. Warner Anderson said.

At its Sept. 27 meeting, the board approved two new members – Skyler Stevens, who’s a faculty lecturer and teacher of anatomy and physiology in UNM-Gallup’s Mathematics, Physical and Natural Sciences Division; and Ian Koons, CEO and co-founder of digital cardiac health platform Karoo Health.

CITIZEN PANEL FORMED

Meanwhile, Community Health Action Group has recruited nine members for a community advisory board with a goal of smoothing and improving hospital services and building better relationships in the community.

“In an effort to help bridge the divide between hospitals, healthcare systems, and community members who seek those services, this advisory group has been organized to provide a formal mechanism for integrating the voices of the community into the hospital and healthcare system,” Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce Program Director Lori A. Parra said. “It is our hope to provide the community’s perspective in a manner that will help to improve processes, services, environment, patient communication, and other matters as they arise.”

The new panel includes voting board members local business owner Brett Hartline; retired physician Frederic Held; associate English professor Tracy Lassiter; retired health service worker Anita Muneta; Family Nurse Practitioner Jean Proper; community outreach coordinator JayLyn Randles; and Recovery Center Operations Manager Maura Schanefelt.

Advisory (non-voting) board members are physical therapist Greg Kirk, CHAG leader Dr. Connie Liu and Parra, who worked together on recruiting and setting up the panel.

“Everyone is really positive and they want to be a part of solving our health care problems locally,” Liu said. “I think we came up with some diversity in experience and thinking, people with experience in various aspects of health care, which will also be helpful.”

The advisory group hasn’t had their first meeting yet, but that’s the next step, Parra said.

“Following initial meetings, we will get to work finalizing our by-laws as a team and begin prioritizing next steps for the group, including building those essential collaborative relationships with the RMCH Board, RMCH administration and community stakeholders,” Parra said.

After getting organized, the panel hopes to meet informally with the RMCH board to establish a relationship and focus its efforts.

“It’s an opportunity to see what we can do,” Liu said. “We have an enthusiastic group of people who want to do constructive things.”

By Holly J. Wagner
Sun Correspondent