THOREAU – On Christmas day, Council Delegate Edmund Yazzie (Churchrock, Iyanbito, Mariano Lake, Pinedale, Smith Lake, Thoreau) who represents several of the local communities, and Thoreau Chapter officials distributed toys to over 100 local youth on Christmas Day.

According to chapter president Lester Emerson, the Navajo Nation Office of Youth Development in Crownpoint and the Thoreau Chapter contributed the toys for the first annual toy distribution.

Delegate Yazzie has previously noted that there has been a rise in the number of suicides among youth in the local area in recent months and that the toy distribution is one way of bringing positivity to the youth and...

The New Mexico Department of Health reminds New Mexicans that it’s not too late to get vaccinated against the flu. Colds and the flu tends to spread more during this time.

This past week, the New Mexico Department of Health has seen an increase in influenza-like illness activity, but influenza activity is likely to increase during upcoming months. With most of the flu season still to come, getting a flu vaccination now can still protect you from illness this season. Information to date shows that this season’s vaccine is a good match to protect against the types of flu currently circulating in the United States, including New Mexico.

“Getting a flu vaccination every year is the...

Here is the list of top ten baby names in New Mexico in 2015 as compiled by the Department of Health’s Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics:

Females

1. Mia

2. Sophia

3. Isabella

4. Ava

5. Olivia

6. Emma

7. Sofia

8. Abigail

9. Aria

10 Emily

Males

1. Noah

2. Elijah

3. Liam

4. Michael

5. Josiah

6. Alexander

7. Gabriel

8. Aiden

9. Jacob

10. Daniel

*Provisional data

Mr. Trib Choudhary who is a professor at UNM Gallup and Zuni campuses, won our “Teacher of the Month” honor and took the time to sit down with me and answer some questions.

I always love it when I see that interviewing someone is a requirement for kids in school. When you sit down and ask someone questions about their life, you never know what you’re going to get. It could be a life-changing experience, and sometimes the hidden treasures that people have never told unless someone asked them about it.

In our interviews with local teachers who were nominated by their students, I have learned so much about their passion – teaching, and am also able to give them some recognition...