On the evening of the June Arts Crawl, despite the dark looming rain clouds above and the wind kicking up now and then, Second Street was seated with anxious people awaiting a ribbon cutting ceremony.

This ceremony, held June 13, debuted the new El Morro Second Street Events Center while giving a nod to the technological upgrades made to the historic El Morro Theatre.

Master of Ceremony and Gallup’s General Services Director Rick Snider welcomed everyone to the event, and local singer and artist Tawnya Gomez sang the national anthem.

Mayor Jackie McKinney gave a short speech and lauded those involved with the project.

“Gallup residents can be proud of how the city is growing...

Bates shares story about his feline office companion

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. – If Furrball was a Navajo Nation government, she would have received a raise for outstanding work.

But she does have the unofficial, official title of Navajo Nation Office of the Speaker Mouse Catcher.

Or maybe it should be Mouse Killer.

Speaker LoRenzo Bates said Furrball came to his office when he was speaker pro tem.

Bates became pro tem in April 2014, after the council placed then Speaker Johnny Naize on administrative leave with pay for not maintaining his “good standing” qualification to be speaker.

Naize’s good standing came into question after the tribal Special Prosecutors filed criminal...

As in many journeys, the story lies within the steps and not within the destination. John Higgins, dressed in a Rio West Mall T-shirt and a Buffalo Bills cap, left Gallup June 9 determined to accomplish his goal.

This was day 100 on the road and about 250 miles was all that was between him and his destination.

But, before he left Gallup he shared what prompted him to walk across the country.

Higgins, 34, started his journey in Tampa, FL, and will finish at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon after walking more than 2,500 miles through 11 states. Higgins said he has traveled to other countries but has never seen the United States.

“I wanted to see America at three miles per hour,”...

Thunderbird Supply Company started in a motel as a side job. There was down time in the motel season, so Don Cosper, owner of the Thunderbird Motel would buy turquoise, cut and cab it and sell it out of the motel.

Since then, Thunderbird has grown into a thriving business with locations in Gallup, Albuquerque and Flagstaff. The operation includes retail, wholesale and mail order for local silversmiths and crafters as well as for jewelry dealers around the United States and countries around the world.

Danny Thomason, general manager, has been with Thunderbird for 37 years. He says he worked in all areas of the business before he became the general manager. He speaks fondly of the...