Every year the New Mexico Public Education Department names a “Teacher of the Year.” This year, the award went to Zuni Public School District third-year science teacher Dr. Roy Basa.

Basa’s family, members of the NMPED, members of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, and state officials all attended the Dec. 18 ceremony to honor Basa.

At the ceremony, Sen. George Muñoz, D, spoke highly of Basa.

“Every person has at least one teacher who changes his or her life for the better. From visiting with his students, it is clear Dr. Basa is that teacher for many students in Zuni,” Muñoz said. “Dr. Basa is a creator of leaders and opportunities. This recognition is not only...

Each month, Camille’s Sidewalk Café 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.

This month’s award went to Greg Cavanaugh, a teacher who works for the Gifted and Talented program at two Gallup-McKinley County Schools middle schools – JFK and Gallup. He also spends some time at Tope Turpen Elementary.

 



PATH TO GALLUP

Cavanaugh grew up in a family of teachers – his mom was a teacher at a school district in Michigan while he was growing up and his father was a college professor. He said they encouraged him to go...

These stories are not in a particular order, but were chosen based on their impact on Gallup and McKinley County as a whole.

In some cases, the stories were chosen because of the amount of time a writer spent on them. Some are fun community-based stories, but they still hold impact.

 



LAST SEEN IN GALLUP

Forty-five people are listed on the FBI’s “Indian Country Cases” webpage, which asks for the public’s assistance on the multitude of missing persons cases involving Indigenous people. Indigenous people experience violent crimes at a much higher rate than any other group in America and are often reported missing.

In the May 19 issue of the Sun, reporter Holly...

SANTA FE — January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and an opportunity to raise awareness about how people can protect themselves by getting screened. Cervical cancer screenings can help detect abnormal (changed) cells early, before they turn into cancer. Most deaths from cervical cancer could be prevented by regular screenings and follow-up care.

Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, which is the lower, narrow end of the uterus. Everyone with a uterus is at risk of cervical cancer, but it occurs most often in individuals over the age of 30 years old.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus. HPV is a common virus, and at least half of sexually active...