Staff Reports

Details are still emerging as Gallup police investigate the shooting death of Lane Ortiz, 32, of Fort Wingate.

According to a GPD news release, Metro Dispatch received the emergency call at about 9:14 pm Monday. The caller reported hearing shots fired, and seeing a man, later identified as Ortiz, lying on the ground in the vicinity of the 500 block area of Clark Street in Gallup.

Ortiz had been shot multiple times, and was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries.

GPD Detectives are seeking information and witnesses, as no suspect(s) have been positively identified.

If you have any information on this incident, call Metro Dispatch at (505) 722-2002 or the McKinley County Crime Stoppers at (877) 722-6161. Reference Case # 22-5343. Crime Stoppers may pay a reward up to $1,000 for information relating to an arrest. Callers can remain anonymous.

Believe it or not, 11 percent of adult Americans stash cash under a mattress.  Another 10 percent store it in a cookie jar.  In fact, a 2012 Marist College survey revealed that more than three quarters of us hide money somewhere in the home.

Students at Gallup Central High School participating in the Graduation, Reality, and Dual-Role Skills (GRADS) class this fall have a better option – it’s called a bank.

A statewide initiative aimed at educating pregnant and parenting teens, GRADS students learn the ins and outs of healthy parenting with training on prenatal care, childhood development, economic independence, and a host of other valuable life skills in addition to their standard courses.

A new feature for this year’s class also provides an opportunity for students to open youth savings accounts, commonly known as YSA’s, at a local bank for both themselves and their children.

“Research suggests that  children with bank accounts perform better in school, are more likely to enter college, and grow to become more financially savvy adults than their peers who don’t have accounts” Central High GRADS Teacher Tomi Jaramillo-Campos said.  “This year we are thrilled to partner with First Nations Development Institute and Pinnacle Bank in Gallup to introduce banking to our student parents and their families.”

First Nations is a Native American led non-profit and has worked closely with the Gallup McKinley County Schools since 2010 to introduce financial literacy courses at all nine GMCS high schools, according to Ben Marks, a program officer with the Colorado based organization. With support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation First Nations is able to assist Central High with the new youth banking initiative as part of its Wellbeing in Student Health and Financial Self-Sufficiency (WISHSS) Project.

In addition to YSA’s, the program will facilitate financial literacy classroom lessons and workshops, employ an innovative social media platform to promote saving, and provide professional development resources for teachers at Central High.

The project kicked off Aug. 26 with an afternoon field trip to Pinnacle Bank during which eight students opened a total of 14 accounts for both themselves and their children.  Each account received an initial free deposit of $50 from First Nations.

For students that meet program requirements by passing all of their classes and making matching deposits totaling $50 of their own money, First Nations will make a second free deposit of an additional $50.

“I’m looking forward to managing my new savings account” GRADS student Dahlia Brown said, as she completed paperwork with assistance from Pinnacle staff. “I’d also like to open a checking account at some point, but for now I’m going to focus on saving so I can purchase supplies for my baby who is due in January.”

Another student, Leah Pinto, opened YSA’s for both herself and her two month old daughter.

“While opening our accounts the bank also showed me how to review my credit report,” said the eager high school senior who plans to save for a vehicle and college expenses. “I also made my first deposit today in addition to the free money!”

The WISHSS project will run the entire school year with the goal of opening a total of 60 YSA’s.  Marks explained that the YSA’s will remain under the custodianship of First Nations Development Institute until the end of the school year, which means students will not be allowed to make any withdrawals except for emergencies.

At the conclusion of the program, First Nations will remove itself as custodian and students will have several options for how to take ownership of their accounts.

Meanwhile, another group of GRADS students opened accounts. Future field trips will occur on an as needed basis for new students that enter GRADS during the year.

“I’m really excited to see student parents passionate about their education, children, graduation, and the future!” Pinnacle New Accounts Representative Heather Platero said, who not only assisted students on Wednesday, but also visited the school earlier in the week to explain banking services. “It’s always a pleasure to work with someone as special as a young person who sets and achieves their goals.”

N.M. plans for material-world application of natural resources

Escalante H₂ Power is taking steps to convert the Escalante Generating Station from a coal-fired to a hydrogen-fired plant. If the project is a success, it would create up to 270 MW of clean power, and more than 500 temporary jobs during construction as well as at least 60 permanent positions once it’s in operation. More than 100 people lost their jobs when the plant closed in Aug. 2020.

After the Escalante plant closed, Brooks Energy Company and Newport Gas, LLC, formed Escalante H₂ Power intending to make Escalante the first plant to be successfully converted from coal-burning to hydrogen-fueled.

A year later in Aug. 2021, Tallgrass Energy acquired a 75 percent membership in eH₂power from Brooks Energy Company. Although Tallgrass is now the majority member of eH₂power, the original goal to convert the plant to blue hydrogen power, remains unchanged.

Blue hydrogen power relies on decarbonized natural gas. The natural gas is reformed into hydrogen and CO₂, then the CO₂ is stored, or sequestered underground. Since the CO₂ is sequestered and hydrogen is a clean-burning fuel, power produced by the plant would result in very low emissions. Eventually, the plant could be converted to green hydrogen production, which would utilize renewable resources. At the moment it’s blue hydrogen conversion that is eH₂power’s focus right now.

Dwayne Phillips, the managing member of eH₂power and vice president of hydrogen at Tallgrass Energy, said that while there is plenty of research and planning still to be done, the good condition of the Escalante plant is a positive for the operation, since there are no repairs or complications associated with the project.

“The biggest piece with this project is making sure that we do the conversion correctly, Phillips said. “We have to make certain modifications to the coal-burning section of the boiler.

“In doing that, we’re being very meticulous in the modeling and the engineering behind that to make sure that all of the steps that should be taken are taken and evaluated in a very detailed perspective,” he said.

eH₂power aims for the plant to begin operation in 2025, about three years from the start of construction. Tallgrass Energy Corporate Communications Manager Scott Prestidge, explained why this timeline is realistic.

“There is a lot of work that goes into this project on the front end,” he said. “There’s a lot of analysis and planning, and it’s going to take time.

“This isn’t something that you can just flip the switch on,” he said. “You have to make sure you take all the right steps, do all the right things, and conduct that due diligence,”

In addition to the conversion itself, decisions are still being made about details such as where to store the sequestered CO₂. Phillips estimated that the teams have another 6 to 7 months of evaluation and planning, looking at pieces like the economics, scope, timing, and schedule of the project. The final decision to begin the construction and modifications will take place after this stage ends. Phillips is optimistic that eH₂power will complete the project successfully.

“Our confidence level within eH₂power improves every day,” Phillips said. “As we understand things more, whether it’s the modeling or the data sets that tell us about the condition of the asset, we’re encouraged.

“There’s a high likelihood today [for the project’s completion],” he said. “That likelihood improves with every step of the process that we’re going through.”

If the conversion of the plant is a success, the plant will not only create new jobs but also help establish New Mexico as a leader in clean hydrogen energy.

“We believe [the Escalante plant] will be one of the cleanest producing power plants not only in New Mexico, but in North America,” Phillips said.

By Rachel Pfeiffer
Sun Correspondent

Sheriff's Office: "We need witnesses to come forward" - Undersheriff James Mairoano

One man is dead after an alleged parking lot fight at T&R Feed and Rope Center turned deadly Feb. 12.

The suspect, now identified as Nelbert Billy, 20, of Manuelito, N.M., was initially arrested on Navajo Nation land for an unrelated charge. He has since been arrested and charged in McKinley County with one open count of murder.

McKinley County Sheriff’s office deputies responded to the “fight call” at 2:30 pm.

Undersheriff James Maiorano said before deputies arrived on scene they were notified that Delbert Billy, 41, of Manuelito, N.M., was sitting in a grey pickup truck in the parking lot. When deputies arrived, medical personnel were already tending to the victim.

Witnesses to the fight saw Billy leaving the scene and followed him.

“With their help the suspect was apprehended by Sheriff’s deputies on Navajo Nation land,” Maiorano said. “The suspect was turned over to Navajo Police who arrested him on unrelated charges.”

The victim, Delbert Billy, later died at the hospital. Sheriff’s office officials are trying to confirm whether the two men are related.

“At this time, it is unclear what led to the altercation and subsequent stabbing however the Sheriff’s Office is diligently investigating this case,” he said.

Although there were witnesses that came forward and helped to apprehend the suspect, the investigation is ongoing.

And investigators need more witnesses to come forward to help complete the puzzle. Call (505) 863-1410 and ask to speak with Investigator Anthony Ashley.

This is a developing story. Check Gallup Sun’s website and Facebook page for updates.

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