New policy goes into effect for 2021/2022 school year

MCKINLEY COUNTY — A new tobacco-free policy at Gallup McKinley County Schools is getting recognized by the New Mexico Department of Health Tobacco Use Prevention and Control program.

The GMCS Board of Education voted June 14 to adopt a comprehensive, tobacco-free school policy, joining 14 other school districts across the state in using 24/7 campaign guidelines.

David Tompkins, TUPAC Community Health Initiatives Manager said seeing Gallup McKinley County Schools adopt the 100 percent tobacco-free policy is a huge win for the campaign.

“Lives are on the other side of this work, and we are thankful for the district’s...

FARMINGTON —Navajo Nation leaders met with U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., at the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry  Headquarters to hear issues regarding the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project and the proposed Chaco Protection Act.

NAPI officials welcomed members of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, Sen. Luján, his constituents, Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer, and Navajo Nation Washington Office Executive Director Santee Lewis on July 1, before discussing the shortcomings on the operations and maintenance of NIIP.

NIIP was established to irrigate 110,630 acres of farmland on NAPI in 1962. It is federally owned, operated, and maintained by NAPI through Public Law...

CHINLE, Ariz. — Four dogs joined the Navajo Police Department K-9 program on June 28.

Orcan, Rakky, Gecko, and Xensi have all completed their first training course at the Adlerhorst International LLC Police K-9 Academy in Jurupa Valley, Calif. and made their first trip to Chinle, Ariz. June 24, with a stop at Canyon de Chelly, Ariz. to get their department photos taken.

The department’s K-9 Unit experienced a temporary hiatus after two dogs retired from police services.

The dogs are originally from Europe and were selected by the Adlerhorst International, LLC trainers, where they were brought to the California training facility.

In May, the K-9 Unit officers traveled to the...

Three people dead

A five-vehicle collision took the lives of three people.

On June 25, around 10:30 pm, the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office dispatched deputies to Mile Marker 63 on Interstate 40 westbound, about 40 miles east of Gallup after a caller reported a multiple vehicle collision with injuries and possible fatalities.

According to the Undersheriff James Maiorano III, two semi-trucks and three cars were involved in the crash.

The investigation is still ongoing, but deputies believe the driver of one of the tractor-trailers, who is not being identified at this time, was approaching a traffic backup due to a collision being handled in the construction zone in the roadway...