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...

PHOENIX –Derrick Haskan, of Kayenta, Ariz. and a member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan on Jan. 23 to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Haskan had previously pleaded guilty to second degree murder.

The case involved Hasken crashing his truck into a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Hasken had a blood alcohol content of over .20 and was driving in excess of 85 MPH, without any braking action, 2 seconds prior to impact. Hasken killed two people in the vehicle as a result of his conduct, both victims were also members of the Navajo Nation.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal...