Skandera ready to lower the boom on Gallup

The New Mexico Department of Public Education appears adamant that the Gallup-McKinley County School Board comes up with a corrective action plan to right its past and current shortcomings. The premise was outlined in an Aug. 22 letter from Paul Aguilar, deputy secretary of finance and operations at PED, to School Board President Priscilla Manuelito.

“In an open meeting on Aug. 15, discussion around the Johnson O’Malley Program Agreed Upon procedures report resulted in the board stating they do not accept or ‘honor’ the report because the board did not approve of the auditor and claimed that the auditor is biased,” Aguilar...

New Gallup Police Department Chief Phillip Hart spoke to more than a dozen members of the Gallup-McKinley Chamber of Commerce Aug. 17 at the invitation of the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber set up the session so the business community could get to know the new police chief.

At the meeting, Hart shared new departmental ideas and goals about safety and security measures for the community.

“It went well,” Bill Lee, chamber executive director, said afterward. “It was a good chance for the business community and others to meet our new police chief.”

Hart touched on topics ranging from citations to the importance of crime prevention to GPD promotions. The...

Hart looks out for fellow officers

Gallup Police Department Chief Phillip Hart promoted four officers in a formal ceremony held Aug. 26 at the El Morro Theatre at 207 W. Coal Ave.

Several dozen officers, family members, and friends gathered at the theater to honor the officers who have moved up in the ranks. The promotions come at a time when the police department is going through some senior departmental retirements.

“Each of these officers is deserving,” Hart said. “They’ve earned the respect of everyone in the community, most of all their fellow officers.”

Hart said at least one of the promoted officers has already begun serving in the new position, and the others are...

Could park be ready in 2017?

The Gallup City Council unanimously supported a funding plan to build a public skateboarding park near the Gallup Cultural Center along Historic Highway 66.  The matter was an agenda item at the Aug. 23 regular city meeting and was introduced by City Public Works Executive Director Stan Henderson.

“The project is running its course,” Henderson told council members. “Tentatively, we’re looking at construction to start at some point in 2017.”

The council vote was for a resolution connected to a state funding agreement in the amount of $195,000. An associated resolution confirms the city’s acceptance of the agreement and designates a city...