Spring, summer rodeo plans are shaping up

After successful pandemic rebounds last year, Gallup’s rodeos are gearing up to build on that success with events as big or even bigger this year.

The Eighth Annual Best of the Best Rodeo will be back June 21 to 24. It’s a unique family event, an open rodeo for junior high and high school competitors. Last year’s event saw 400 contestants, most of them traveling with their families.

“It does bring in some pretty fantastic contestants because our payouts are larger than other events,” organizer Walt Eddy said.

Keeping that number steady is a challenge though.

“Every year you lose a fourth of your kids,” Eddy explained...

Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, was not expecting to be removed from her position as chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, but that’s exactly what happened on the first day of the new legislation session Jan. 17.

In an interview with the Sun, Lundstrom confirmed that the new Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque, stripped her of her title during an evening floor session on committee assignments.

Two weeks following the removal, Lundstrom said she is still shocked by the decision.

“I think generally speaking I’m still incredibly disappointed because there’s so many things I could contribute to that committee,” she said. “[I’m] very...

The alleyway between Aztec Avenue and Coal Avenue to Second Street will be closed starting Feb. 13 and ending on Feb. 24, as long as the weather permits.

Murphy Builders will close the alleyway, but traffic will still be open to travel on Coal Avenue. Murphy Builders will demo a section of the road to install a drop inlet on Second Street. This will reportedly improve drainage at this intersection.

The city is asking vehicle and pedestrian traffic to utilize alternative routes to access businesses, or call businesses directly for alternate access instructions. they're also asking people to exercise caution near the active construction zone.

For more information contact the city at...

District superintendent argues media outlet didn’t do their research, created their own narrative

When a non-profit online publication published a series of articles claiming that Gallup-McKinley County Schools is responsible for the majority of the state’s expulsions of Native American students from schools, GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt spoke out against the accusations.

The Dec. 21 article from the publication alleged the district has a quarter of New Mexico’s Native American students, but it also had “at least three-quarters of Native student expulsions in the state during the four school years ending in 2020.”

The article went on to explain that the reporter...