This isn’t the first article written about the Sunday afternoon event at Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, but if you haven’t been able to attend yet, you have to wait until next year. Nov. 29 was the 2015 finale of this Car Show, and 56 vehicles showed up to pack the parking lot in front of the popular coffee and sandwich stop in downtown Gallup.

The event will pick up again the Sunday following income tax day, April 15, and likely will not run as long as it did this year. The weather did turn a little frosty during the last couple of weeks and the fall winds didn’t make it any better.

“I don’t think we’ll run it this late next year,” said Camille’s owner James Rich. “Maybe October at the latest.”

Not that Rich or show organizer Fitz Sargent were disappointed with this year’s overall turnout, the first full year for the Sunday event. Averaging about 20 cars and trucks every Sunday brought others downtown for a look and a quick cup of coffee, a wrap, a small pizza or a delicious sugary treat.

“We had been closed on Sundays because we had nothing else to offer,” Rich commented. “With this added offering, we slowly worked up to actually making a profit, and also introducing new customers to what Camille’s offers.

“We appreciate the support of the Business Investment District, too. It was a nice mix of young kids and older seasoned veterans that put this over the top. They were helping each other and it became a very positive experience quickly.”

Fitz Sargent was given full credit by Rich for making this his brainchild, but Sargent has always been a car person and lives downtown as well.

“I’ve always been interested in doing things,” Sargent responded to the praise of Rich. “ People enjoy it! There is so little community fun!”

Maybe by next spring, other downtown businesses will have thought of ideas of their own to have a new influx of visitors during otherwise slow times. Put your brains to work, and see what you can come up with!

Story and Photos

by Tom Hartsock
Sun Correspondent

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The total number of positive tests for COVID-19 has reached 1,042 for the Navajo Nation as of Thursday – an increase of 121 positive cases since Wednesday, according to the Navajo Department of Health and Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in coordination with the Navajo Epidemiology Center. The report also includes 3,440 total negative test results as of Thursday. There is now a total of 41 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19. 

The 1,042 confirmed positive cases include the following counties:

• Navajo County, Ariz.: 306
• Apache County, Ariz.: 147
• Coconino County, Ariz.: 199
• McKinley County, N.M.: 203
• San Juan County, N.M.: 140
• Cibola County, N.M.: 13
• San Juan County, Utah: 12
• Socorro County, N.M.: 10
• Sandoval County, N.M.: 12

The Navajo Nation issued a new Public Health Emergency Order April 16, extending the 57-hour weekend curfew for two additional weekends in the month of April and closing essential businesses during weekend curfews due to community spread of COVID-19. The first weekend curfew will begin at 8 pm on April 17 and ends on April 20 at 5 am. The second weekend curfew will begin at 8 pm on April 24 and ends on April 27 at 5 am.

"Now is the time to prepare for the weekend curfew. If you have everything you need, stay home. If you need groceries, medication, or other essential items, send one person to the store or where ever they need to go and please use masks and protective gloves and wash or sanitize your hands as much as possible,” said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, who also noted that another Public Health Emergency Order will be issued to require anyone who enters a public facility to wear a protective mask and gloves before entering to help prevent the spread of the virus.

During a live Facebook update on April 15, Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer urged members of the Navajo Nation to be prudent with their stimulus funds and to save as much as possible due to the uncertainties of the ongoing pandemic.

“We urge everyone to stay local as much as possible. Please utilize local Navajo businesses as much as possible – they might not offer all of the products you need, but please consider buying local before traveling to border towns and putting yourselves at greater risk due to greater exposure to others. We will win this fight with COVID-19, but we have to do it together and everyone must be a part of the process,” said Lizer.

The Navajo Nation’s daily curfew remains in effect from 8 pm to 5 am and Navajo Police continue to issue citations for curfew violators. Nez and Lizer will host another online Town Hall to share COVID-19 updates beginning at 10 am on April 17 on the Nez-Lizer Facebook page.

For more information including reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer announced a new Public Health Emergency Order, extending the 57-hour weekend curfew for two additional weekends in the month of April and closing essential businesses during weekend curfews due to community spread of COVID-19. As of April 15, the total number of positive COVID-19 cases reached 921 with 38 deaths.

The first weekend curfew will begin at 8 pm on April 17 and ends on April 20 at 5 am. The second weekend curfew will begin at 8 pm on April 24 and ends on April 27 at 5 am.

“The previous 57-hour weekend curfew was effective in keeping people safe at home and we’re optimistic that the upcoming weekend curfews will produce even better results. Everyone needs to plan ahead for the weekend curfews, purchase what you need during the week, but do so in a safe manner. The projections are alarming, but the decisions and actions of the public are the biggest factor when it comes to the numbers of positive cases. We’re fighting hard, but it’s very disheartening when we receive reports of large numbers of our own people traveling and crowding stores in border towns. Everyone needs to do their part to educate their loved ones and to hold each other accountable if we want to bring down the numbers,” said Nez.

“God is with us at all times and that includes every moment of this pandemic. Our prayers are heard, but we still have to do our part to meet our prayers halfway. Let’s make smart choices for ourselves and our families and friends. Please stay home as much as possible and please stay safe. We love all of our Diné people and we are doing our best to fight for you every day, and we need your support by staying home,” Lizer stated.

Public Health Emergency Order 2020-006 states that all individuals shall remain at home during curfew hours except in the event of an emergency and as described below:

1.     This curfew does not apply to Essential Employees reporting to or from duty at an Essential Business that is exempted from closure below, provided that the employee must have official identification or a letter of designation from their employer on official letterhead which includes a contact name and number for verification.

2.     Individuals are still permitted to tend to livestock during Weekend Curfews. However, plan ahead to purchase hay and feed, if needed, as vendors will not be permitted operate to the public during the Weekend Curfew.

3.     Individuals are not required to remain indoors during Weekend Curfews, but must limit movement beyond the immediate area of a residence or home site.

4.     Additional Weekend Curfews may follow.

The public health order also outlines the following provisions for essential businesses:

Essential Businesses, including restaurants and drive-through food establishments, shall be closed. Hay and other roadside vendors must cease operations for the duration of the Curfew Weekend. This closure and cease operations requirement does not apply to Healthcare Operations, Essential Governmental Functions, or Essential Infrastructure Activities (as those terms are defined below). This closure requirement does not apply to gas stations and grocery stores, provided they comply with the following requirements:

5.     Gas stations may operate on a limited basis to meet the needs of essential employees reporting to or from duty and people traveling for emergencies only.

i.     Operating hours may only be between 7 am and 5 pm only during curfew weekends.

ii.     No more than 5 customers at a time may be in any retail area, and no more than one (1) person per family with exception of one accompanying caregiver for an elderly or disabled shopper.

6.     Grocery stores may operate on a limited basis for essential employees reporting to or from duty and for people with emergency needs only.

i.     Operating hours shall be between 7 am and 3 pm only during curfew weekends.

ii.     No more than 10 customers at a time may be in a grocery store, and no more than one (1) person per family with exception of an accompanying caregiver as described above.

7.     Gas stations and grocery stores shall:

i.     Monitor customer entry to maintain occupancy limits.

ii.     Maintain Social Distancing Requirements.

iii.     Regularly disinfect all high-touch surfaces and thoroughly clean retail store areas and employee work areas.

For more information including reports, helpful prevention tips, and more resources, please visit the Navajo Department of Health’s COVID-19 website at http://www.ndoh.navajo-nsn.gov/COVID-19. To contact the main Navajo Health Command Operations Center, please call (928) 871-7014.

Per the Declaration of a Health Emergency for McKinley County, Resolution No. MAR-20-029, which was approved by the McKinley County Commission March 17, and most recent information and guidance from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Office and the New Mexico Department of Health regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, April 6; McKinley County Government will continue limiting access to all county offices/departments.

For the safety and security of all employees and community members and to help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to practice safe social distancing, we will continue following the limited access schedule effective April 15 through at least May 1. Please understand the coronavirus pandemic is a very fluid situation and things, including this schedule, can change day by day. However, we will notify the public of any changes.

McKinley County Courthouse: All visitors/guests will be required to check in at the security desk on the first floor of the Courthouse. Security will then call the office/employee you are visiting and someone from that office will come and get the visitor.

• Treasurer's Office, Clerk's Office/Bureau of Elections, and the Assessor's Office/GIS will have the following hours:
  • Monday: 8 am - 5 pm: the offices will be open to the public but will be closed from 12 - 1 pm as staff transition in and out.
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: All elected offices will be closed to the public, however, staff will be working these days to make sure essential functions of each department continue and will be taking appointments as necessary; with provision Governor Lujan-Grisham as set and each office will have limited staff to comply with the 5 or less people in a single room or connected space.
  • Friday: 8 - 5 pm: the offices will be open, but will be closed from 12 - 1 pm as staff transition in and out
• County Manager's Floor (Third Floor)
  • Monday - Thursday 8 am - 5 pm: the offices will be open, but will be closed from 12 - 1 pm as staff transition in and out
    • There will be no public access to Manager's Floor during this time, however there will be limited staff working to make sure essential functions of the County continue and we will still be taking phone calls, answering emails and doing what we can under the current emergency.

All county offices, except the Treasurer's Office, Clerk's Office/Bureau of Elections, and Assessor's Office/GIS, will be closed on Fridays to give our Facilities Management Department enough time to thoroughly clean and sanitize all county facilities.