Staff Reports

On Sep. 23, President Russell Begaye and Sharon Pinto, Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo regional director, signed an agreement that placed 86.68 acres of fee land into trust land status according to the 1974 Navajo Hopi Land Settlement Act.

“Converting the land that the Navajo Department of Transportation (NDOT) is built upon has been a long time coming,” Begaye said. “The Office of the President and Vice President greatly appreciate the coordination of this effort between the Navajo Nation, the BIA and the Navajo Hopi Land Commission.”

Principal Civil Engineer for NDOT, Darryl Bradley said NDOT has been looking forward to this signing.

“I’d like to...

Victim reportedly stabbed 19 times

By Bernie Dotson

Sun Correspondent

A Gamerco man remained in jail at the McKinley County Adult Detention Center Sept. 23 on a $15,000 cash-only bond after being charged with robbery, aggravated battery, and tampering with evidence, according to an arrest warrant.

Troy Pinto, 43, is the primary suspect in the Sept. 17 stabbing of Elbert Smith at a location behind Home Depot at 530 Kachina St. Smith told Gallup police detectives that he’d been drinking at the Home Depot location with two males and a female. Each was Native American, according to the warrant.

Smith said the two males jumped him and stole his wallet, cell phone, clothes and $14 in...

‘If we can make ‘em laugh or cry, we can make them think’

Along with film-fest staples like screenings and Q&A sessions hosted by filmmakers, the Gallup Film Festival rolled out the proverbial red carpet for celebrities and live-music acts alike – and afforded an opportunity for local folks to hobnob with entertainment’s finest.

One of the festival’s featured music acts included a Sept. 18 evening performance by Gary Farmer and his troublemakers. Farmer’s band, Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers, has released two CDs, Love Songs and Other Issues, 2007, and Lovesick Blues, 2009.

Before the show, the Sun sat down with Farmer and discussed music, acting, Native...

No opposition to either action

 

On Sept. 20, the McKinley County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a mental-health contract for Elizabeth Terrill of Gallup, whose work deals with detainees at the McKinley County Juvenile Detention Center on Hassler Valley Road. The action took place at the regular commission meeting. Donna Goodrich, MCJDC director, briefed commissioners on the matter.

“This is basically about renewing a contract,” Goodrich told commissioners. “That’s pretty much it.”

McKinley County Attorney Doug Decker explained that Terrill’s contract has been in place for more than a year. Terrill is paid via Medicaid.

Decker said Terrill’s work...