Gallup Sun

Still higher than the national rate

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.2 percent in November, down from 6.5 percent in October and down from 8.5 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in November was 4.2 percent, down from 4.6 percent in October and down from 6.7 percent in Nov. 2020.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 38,000 jobs, or 4.8 percent, between Nov. 2020 and Nov. 2021. All gains came from the private sector, which was up 39,400 jobs, or 6.4 percent.

The public sector was down 1,400 jobs, or 0.8 percent. Most private sector gains were in the private service-providing industries, which were up 31,500 jobs, or 6.0...

Camille’s Teacher of the Month Award goes to a teacher who focuses on Indigenous students

Each month, Camille’s Sidewalk Café recognizes one local teacher within the Gallup area for his or her determination to help students go above and beyond. Prospective teachers are nominated by students who feel they should be recognized. This month, Zowie Banteah of Zuni Shiwi Tsana Elementary School is the recipient of the Teacher of the Month award.

Banteah teaches fourth grade at the elementary school and has been a teacher for almost 19 years.

In an interview with the Sun, Banteah said she became a teacher because she wanted to give back to her community.

“I’ve always felt it was...

A resident at Sagebrush Apartments, 650 Dani Dr., heard gunshots fired early in the morning on Aug. 23 and called Metro Dispatch.

When Gallup Police Officer Joe Roanhorse arrived, he was told the suspect was headed south on Dani Drive. Other witnesses told Roanhorse the suspect was seen in a local field. Several other officers arrived and began searching the area described.

Another officer met with one of the witnesses, who stated he saw the suspect attempting to burglarize their vehicle and when they confronted them, the suspect pulled a handgun on him.

Officers searched the open park and found fresh foot tracks throughout the park. After a search of over an hour, officers found and...

A call came into Metro Dispatch on Aug. 23 stating someone had pulled a gun on them near Rocket Liquors, 1717 S. Second St. They said two males made threats and one of them appeared highly intoxicated.

A Public Service Officer responded to the calls and advised Gallup Police that both men were in the vicinity.

When he arrived, Officer Daniel Brown, he found one of the suspects, Marc Yazzie, 36, of Gallup, outside BPL Plasma, at 1706 S. Second St. He told Yazzie to get down on the ground and Yazzie complied. Another officer at the scene searched Yazzie and found a 9 mm handgun, but no ammo belts. Brown ran the handgun’s serial number through Metro Dispatch and was told it was...