Garcia unopposed in D1

There were no write-in filings for city councilor District 1 or District 3, city clerk Al Abeita said.

“We did not receive any declarations for write-in candidacy,” he said. “We did not receive any withdrawals of candidacy, either.”

The candidate field for District 3 includes incumbent Yogash Kumar. Angela Chavez and Esco Chavez are also running for that seat. Angela Chavez has never held political office before. Esco Chavez is a former city parks and recreation director. Both Kumar and Esco Chavez are former city mayoral candidates.

Councilor Linda Garcia is unopposed in District 1. The deadline for write-in candidates to file was Jan. 24.

The election...

WINDOW ROCK – The Department of Health and Human Services notified President Russell Begaye Jan. 24 that the Indian Health Service signed an amendment with the Department of Veterans Affairs to extend the national reimbursement agreement for direct health care services through June 20, 2019.

The extension of the reimbursement agreement will continue to allow the VA to financially compensate IHS for direct health care provided to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans that are eligible for and enrolled in VA’s health care system.

“Our office will continue to advocate on behalf of our Navajo Veterans in facilitating the health care services that they need,” Begaye said. “We...

A waterline break that occurred near the corner of Aztec and Ciniza was repaired within a matter of hours Jan. 24. The break occurred around 8 am. Utility crews closed off the intersection to put a stop to the gushing water by repairing the line.

According to an email from Dennis Romero, P.E., of Gallup Utilities, forwarded to the Sun by City Manager Maryann Ustick, the line was repaired and placed back into service shortly before 1 pm.

Romero said the “break was in a 14-inch ductile iron line.”

He also said that a new line was installed in the area about 2010.

“This break was a 4-inch blowout in the older section of the line,” he said. “A clamp/patch was installed to...

GPD officer also on paid leave

The three deputies from the McKinley-County Sheriff’s Office that were recently placed on paid administrative lead are Joey Guillen, Johnson Lee and Richard Rangel, McKinley County Sheriff Ron Silversmith confirmed.

And each, but Rangel, was back at work on a full-time basis as of Jan. 23, the sheriff said.

“As far as a status update, that’s the latest that we have right now,” Silversmith said during a break at Tuesday’s McKinley County Board of Commissioners meeting. “I don’t have any information on the third deputy (Rangel).”

Silversmith said other deputies in the department worked extra hours to cover for the deputies that were on...