Vote limits public comment

The Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education put into place a time limit on how long members of the public can speak at school board meetings. The act took place at the May 15 regular Board of Education meeting at school district headquarters on Boardman Drive.

The vote to go to the change was 4-1. Kevin Mitchell, school board vice president, was opposed to the change, suggesting the move challenged openness and free dialogue.

“I would like to stick to the five minutes that we are allowing our community members and students to voice their concerns to the board,” Mitchell said. “We need to be able to hear from everyone in the community and...

The McKinley County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a plan for improvements to Johnson Road. The act took place at the May 9 regular meeting and was met with enthusiasm from people who utilize the road.

Commissioner Bill Lee attended the meeting via telephone due to the fact that he was out of town. His comments were in favor of improvements. There was no immediate timeline or cost placed on the improvements.

“It has been about 50 years that this road has needed improvements,” Eloise Johnson told board members. “It’s named after my dad, Jack Johnson. It is such a relief to see that this is actually becoming a reality and I want to thank you for doing this. I’m...

One person died and two others were sent to an area hospital in a May 10 two-vehicle crash along Interstate 40 in Cibola County, officials said.

Carl Christiansen, public information officer with the New Mexico State Police, said at around 1:41 pm that a Ford pickup truck was hit by a commercial vehicle near mile marker 95 which is about five miles east of the I-40 Cubero exit.

Christiansen said a preliminary investigation indicates that both vehicles were traveling east on I-40 during inclement weather and with limited visibility. There was heavy rain in the area at least two days last week.

“There weren’t very good conditions in terms of weather,” Christiansen said. “That...

City Librarian: ‘They had fun’

And they said it wouldn’t last.

Jeffrey Benham, an Albuquerque-based illustrator of comic books, has witnessed the changing trends in the comic book industry throughout the years – even before he became a comic book aficionado decades ago.

Benham, a member of the northern New Mexico group, “7,000 B.C,” an organization that provides opportunities for comics writers and artists to develop their styles and storytelling abilities, while promoting an understanding of the cultural significance of comic art through seminars and workshops, was at the Children’s Branch of the Octavia Fellin Library May 13 in a two-hour educational event for...