Certain businesses now qualify for federal and state benefits

On Sept. 8, New Mexico MainStreet and the New Mexico Historic Preservation Division announced that Gallup’s original commercial area is the state’s newest National Register historic district. The 12-block area has the highest concentration of historic commercial buildings in Gallup, with roots in Native American and Route 66 cultures, coal mining, and the arrival of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad in 1881.

“To be a part of this, your building has to be at least 60 years old,” Louis Bonaguidi, owner and operator of City Electric at 230 W. Coal Ave., said.

Bonaguidi is president of Gallup’s 36-block Business...

Four area candidates vying for $74K-plus job

With daily business at McKinley County on the rise, there is a definite need for an additional managerial employee. That’s the idea behind the county’s recent job search for a deputy county manager.

“We’ve never had this position here before,” McKinley County Attorney Doug Decker said. “We have had some positions that do what an assistant county manager would do. This is a position that needed to be filled.”

Decker said a job advertisement closed Sept. 2.

McKinley County Human Resources Director Dezirie Gomez said four people applied for the job: Robert Griego of Gallup, Brian Money of Gallup, Chester Carl of Arizona, and...

On Sept. 24, “Spotlight: A Public Discussion about Faith, Journalism and Protecting Children from Sex Abuse” will be held from 6:30 to 8 pm, at Gallup’s El Morro Theatre, 207 W. Coal Ave. The event is held in conjunction with two free screenings of Spotlight, the 2015 Academy Award-winner Best Picture of the Year.

The public is invited to attend the panel discussion and public Q&A. Panelists include Terry McKiernan, of Boston, the founder of BishopAccountability.com and a consultant to Spotlight; Phoenix attorney Robert E. Pastor, who represented 18 clergy sex-abuse claimants in the Diocese of Gallup’s bankruptcy case; Gallup attorney Billy Keeler, who has represented Navajo...

Council members need not physically attend meetings;

can call in

The Gallup City Council unanimously approved a communications measure Sept. 13 that allows council members to attended regular meetings via telephone or other communication equipment under circumstances that make it otherwise difficult for a member to physically attend a meeting.

The matter was introduced by City Attorney George Kozeliski, who said the ordinance goes into effect in about a month.

“It will be an ordinance in 30 days after it is posted by the city clerk,” he said. “I assume it will be in effect the second meeting in October.”

Kozeliski said as long as there is a quorum of three members of the...