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IS THIS YOUR DOG?

Found senior Jack Russell terrier, near Puerco, wearing red collar. Call 1 (808) 227-8278

Vacant Red Lion Hotel to be turned into apartments

Friday, 24 December 2021 05:05 By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

Housing in Gallup continues to be an issue, but the city is taking one step forward in trying to change that.

During the Planning and Zoning committee meeting Dec. 8, Director Clyde Strain presented an ordinance to the committee to allow apartments to be built within Heavy Commercial and General Commercial Zone Districts.

“We feel that [this ordinance] is necessary for the city to tackle a couple of problems; one is the housing shortage of course, and the other is just to repurpose those vacant buildings and vacant hotels, put them to a good use that’s needed in town, rather than boarded up,” Strain explained.

In an email to the Sun, Strain stated he was in contact with a...

Blown away

Friday, 24 December 2021 05:04 Staff Reports

The shed where the dog sleeps. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alex Grey

This shed belonging to Alex Grey at 709 West Mesa in Gallup blew over at 3 am Dec. 15. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alex Grey

What happened to Alex Grey and his canine friend Ghost on Dec. 15 was a perfect demonstration of the importance of bringing animals inside during harsh weather.

Alex Grey’s dog, Ghost generally sleeps outside in a 12x12 shed. But at 3 am Dec. 15, that shed at 709 W. Mesa disappeared. Grey said he went outside and the shed was gone. It was actually nearby. Grey said the wind picked up the shed and threw it over the fence into an alley even though it was bolted to a concrete slab.

Fortunately, Ghost slept inside the house that night.

School has gifts for GPD

Friday, 24 December 2021 04:59 Staff Reports

Beverly Jonkman, teacher at Rehoboth Christian Elementary School. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rehoboth Christian Elementary School

Rehoboth Christian Elementary School students shake hands with Gallup Police officers during a holiday visit to the school Dec. 14. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rehoboth Christian Elementary School

Gifts for the Gallup patrol officers from Rehoboth Christian Elementary School students. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rehoboth Christian Elementary School

Two classes at Rehoboth Christian Elementary School invited members of the Gallup Police Department for a holiday visit Dec. 14.

Mr. Solomon Sun and Mrs. Beverly Jonkman’s fourth and fifth grade classes had gifts for all the patrol officers, including heavy-duty winter gloves, candy, and handmade cards.

The celebration was part of their Community Builders program in which they learn to contribute to their community and also learn about the criminal justice system as Justice Warriors.

Harm reduction is the focus of a new public safety program

Friday, 24 December 2021 04:56 By Molly Ann Howell Sun Correspondent

The new program is known as ‘LEAD’

The Gallup Police Department has started a new program that tackles low-level, non-violent crimes like shoplifting, loitering, and trespassing.

The department kicked off the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program on Nov. 16. LEAD is a pre-arrest diversion program rooted in harm reduction.

Nicole Lujan, the project coordinator for LEAD, explained how it works. After an officer makes an arrest, they can refer the person to the program. The project’s case manager Vaughn Awelgate then meets with the individual. Awelgate tries to help them by getting them the resources they need. The hope is that with resources, the crimes will stop. The...

Octavia Fellin welcomes author James McGrath Morris

Friday, 24 December 2021 04:55 By Cody Begaye Contributing Editor

Book signing, discussion for ‘Tony Hillerman: A Life’

The Navajo Nation is a region that one author thought was rich with story potential, an author whose name has, for better or worse, become synonymous with the region: Tony Hillerman.

After his first novel, “The Blessing Way,” was published in 1970, Hillerman went on to write 17 additional volumes chronicling the cases of Navajo Tribal Police detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.

The books were both critical and commercial successes, earning Hillerman an Edgar Award and a distinction as a “Grand Master of Crime Fiction” by the Mystery Writers of America. By the time of his passing in 2008, more than 20 million copies of...