The ceremonial is still rebounding from two years of sharing control of the event with the state tourism department. Former Ceremonial Director Dudley Byerley, who worked hard to reclaim the Ceremonial’s independence, resigned at the beginning of January having accomplished that goal. He said he’ll still help from the sidelines as a volunteer but won’t have an official role.

Other board members have been serving month-to-month since last year’s event to keep the ball rolling, and nonprofit president Kyle Tom is angling for the director job.

The same bill from last year’s state legislative session that returned the Ceremonial to local control also gave the McKinley County...

Artists and other participants eager to get their entries in for the 102nd Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial this year will have to wait a little longer as the new process for appointing the GITIC association board plays out.

Although board members who have been serving in recent years are eager to get premium books and entry schedules out, the board is in a holding pattern until mid-March because there are more candidates than seats and a new selection process.

By Holly J. Wagner
Sun Correspondent

SUPERINTENDENT NOT SURPRISED BY DRUGS IN COMMUNITY

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared substance misuse a public health emergency in September. In response, the New Mexico Department of Health issued a public health order. As a part of that public health order, the NMDOH decided to do wastewater testing for drugs at public high schools, and the results are now available to the public.

The New Mexico Environment Department oversaw the testing. In an interview with the Sun, Jonas Armstrong, the director of NMED’s Office of Strategic Initiatives, said that testing at Gallup-McKinley County Schools high schools was completed on Dec. 12, 13, 14, and 19.

 

WHAT THE RESULTS...

Gallup electric utility customers are eligible for a rebate on certain energy efficient refrigerators through a  program offered by the City of Gallup.

Charles Nourse, Electric Department Director, and staff are asking the community to apply for the rebate to  further enjoy the benefits of energy efficiency. If approved for the rebate, customers will have a $100 credit  applied to their utility account.

“Fridges are one of the heaviest consumers of energy,” Nourse said. “In addition to the savings consumers can realize throughout the year, this rebate is another great incentive to make the switch to energy efficient fridges.”

According to the Energy Star federal program, an...