No matter what they did, or how much time they have to serve, once released, McKinley County Adult Detention Center’s former inmates must overcome obstacles and consciously change patterns to avoid what landed them in jail in the first place.

While incarcerated, some don’t want help or feign it. But, the local jail does give inmates choices via self-help styled groups and classes. Some are secular, others religious-based.

These type of programs work on reducing recidivism, and the stereotypical notion that jails are breeding grounds for trouble. A place where inmates spend their days in a cell marking their time on the wall one slash at a time, or exploring ways to get into even...

McKinley County Board of Commi­ssioners gave the Office of Emergency Management the green light to receive the Hazardous Material Emergency Preparedness Grant that will help them to prepare for large scale disasters.

The $95,200 HMEP grant enables the OEM to conduct and prepare for a hazardous materials disaster in the city of Gallup and around McKinley County.

“This grant allows us to conduct hazardous materials exercises and prepare for a hazardous disaster in the city and around the county,” Dimas said.

The HMEP grant is from the Department of Homeland Security and is split 80/20; 80 percent coming from the Federal Government and 20 percent tapped from county, local...

Sterling Long was scheduled for extradition from Navajo County Jail in Holbrook, Ariz. to McKinley County Adult Detention Center to face multiple felony sexual assault charges, but before that could take place he was released on a $50,000 cash only bond Sept. 24.

According to the affidavit for arrest warrant, Long molested and performed oral acts on a 9-year-old girl. The girl’s mom was at work during the time of the incident and was counting on her boyfriend Long to take care of the kids.

The mother told the Gallup Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division that they had just moved, and were staying at a local hotel while waiting for utilities to be turned on, according...

Multiple injuries sustained in crash

Deputy Merlin Benally of the Gallup McKinley County Sheriff’s Office clocked a speeding vehicle at 104 mph in a posted 45 mph zone. According to the report, he was working a DWI Task Force on westbound Historic 66 approaching Toltec.

The vehicle, driven Kelly King, 37, of Gallup, sped past Benally’s patrol car and passed the Shell gas station, at Exit 26. The vehicle then passed the New Mexico State Police Office, at a high rate of speed and Benally turned on the emergency lights in pursuit of the vehicle, the report stated.

At the 27 mile marker, the speeding vehicle passed a truck and drove up behind another dark colored GM truck. According to...