Memorial Day officially kicked off the 33rd annual Gallup Summer Nightly Indian Dances, sponsored by the City of Gallup. A growing tradition, the dances are held each year at the Gallup McKinley County Court House Plaza with various Native American tribes performing dances and songs.

Running everyday until Labor Day, beginning at 7 pm, for one hour, audiences get a close up view of various Native American traditional dances. Aside from the returning locals from the Gallup surrounding area, tourists from abroad are entranced as well by the performers and the significance of the dances.

Each year, more songs are added to the program according to Director Teri Frazier.

“This year...

Newcomer attempting to unseat an incumbent

TOHATCHI – Serving in a key position on the Gallup-McKinley County School Board has given Kevin Mitchell a birds-eye look at how schools around McKinley County function. That means Mitchell is up front and personal when it comes to things like academic performance and dropout rates.

There are a lot of good things within the system and then there are some that require more attention from school-board members, parents, and even students themselves, Mitchell hinted at during a recent Democratic political forum in Gallup. The forum was conducted by McKinley County Democratic Chairwoman Mary Ann Armijo.

Education is on Kevin Mitchell’s mind...

Former county manager weighing an effort to ‘fry bigger fish’

Having successfully worked as McKinley County Manager for 18 months, not to mention a previous six-year stint as the executive director of the Gallup-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce, Bill Lee now seeks the District 3 seat on the McKinley County Board of Commissioners. The seat includes Gallup and Gamerco.

Lee left the county post in recent months  to run for office without any potential for conflicts of interest, and returned to the local Chamber, but this time as CEO.

“I think I have the experience to do a very good job as a commissioner,” Lee said. “It’s not about trying to fry bigger fish. I have dealt...

INCUMBENT IS A RETIRED EDUCATOR

KIRTLAND – Sharon Clahchischilliage is a trailblazer, plain and simple. In a political area historically dominated by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate, the Ivy League-educated Clahchischilliage is a long-time Republican and the first Navajo female elected to the District 4 House of Representatives post in the history of the New Mexico Legislature.

“I’m running again because there is a lot of unfinished business in District 4,” Clahchischilliage said. “I want to finish what has yet to be done.”

Clahchischilliage said the issue of utility infrastructure is big and important in District 4. Improvements to school-bus roads...