Officials say decrease is ‘seasonal’

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in April, unchanged from March and down from 6.6 percent a year ago, officials said.

In McKinley County, the unemployment rate was 7.8 percent for April 2016, which is a decrease from March’s 8.6 percent. In neighboring Cibola County — a 55-minute drive from Gallup, wherein Grants is the county seat — the unemployment rate for April was 6.1 percent. That figure was down from a 6.7 percent rate in March.

Monthly unemployment statistics are one month behind, due to the amount of time it takes to compile them.

“It’s definitely good news and it is also something that...

Incident occurred in Mossman

One person died June 7 in a Gallup house fire. Officials say the incident looks like an accident that does not involve foul play.

Gallup Fire Marshal Jesus Morales said firefighters responded to a back-room fire at 506 Julie Drive in Mossman. He said firefighters responded quickly, adding that the blaze was put out in a matter of minutes.

“That’s about all I can say at this point,” Morales said. “The matter was turned over to the police department due to the fact that there was a dead body found inside the home.”

Morales, who was part of the response team on the scene, said a middle-aged woman was found in a back room of the house near the...

BUSTED AT BURGER KING

6/12, Gallup

GDP Officer John Gonzales was dispatched to Burger King, 2400 E. Historic Hwy 66, in reference to a vehicle break-in. Mario Gordon was found seated in a black Ford Expedition bearing Arizona plates and a broken window. There was a rock on the ground. Gordon, 27, was arrested on charges of Breaking and Entering.

DISTURBING THE PEACE

6/8, Gallup

According to a police report, around 9:30 pm, GPD Officer Dominic Molina pulled Christopher S. Saucedo, 28, over for speeding. Saucedo immediately became aggressive and requested a supervisor.

When GDP officer Chris Molina arrived on the scene, he found Officer Dominic Molina, Saucedo, and Saucedo’s...

A Mentmore man remained behind bars June 16 after arrested on charges of breaking and entering; criminal damage to property; resisting; and evading or obstructing an officer, according to a police report.

Officer Chavo Chischilly of the Gallup Police Department wrote in a report that Marcus Spencer, 26, was the sole suspect in several downtown break-ins that began several minutes after 1 am on June 14.

Chischilly initially responded to an alarm at Richardson’s on Historic Highway 66, and ended up responding to broken glass reports at Wells Fargo (300 W. Aztec Ave.), Gallup Custom Tinting Inc. (110 S. Third St.), and The Rex Museum on Highway 66. A vehicle was also damaged.

Steve...