Gallup Sun

Still plenty of fan-loving, over-the-top, speed-filled action

Rating: «« out of 4 stars

Running Time: 136 min.

After eight movies and a set up for more sequels after the close of The Fate of the Furious, I’ve frankly run out of “family” jokes to open my reviews with (instead, I’ll just suggest playing a drinking game based around the number of times it’s referenced). As a result, by now everything about this franchise feels pretty familiar. The latest installment does deserve a bit of credit, however, for being a slight improvement over the previous edition (at least, by my estimation).

This time out, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) has moved to Cuba and is living happily...

Welcome back to another look at highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. There’s some really interesting stuff coming out, including everything from Best Picture nominees to small genre pictures. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

Believe - In this faith-based drama, a small town business owner faces a tough economic crunch along with other members of his community. He’s forced into a difficult decision; should he keep his company’s profits for himself or use them to fund the town’s annual Christmas pageant. The press did not respond to this picture. While they stated that it was...

Group finally making some headway

Liz Hannum, the executive director of MainStreet, briefed the Gallup City Council on the progress of MainStreet at the March 28 city council meeting. And, Rose Eason, the executive director at GallupArts, briefed council members on the progress happening at GallupArts at the same meeting.

Neither subject called for formal council votes. They were listed on the meeting agenda as information items and were introduced via visual aids.

Hannum told council members that for the past five months there is growth at MainStreet. MainStreet, per se, is part of New Mexico’s Economic Development Department. Hannum said becoming accredited by New Mexico...

Honey Chavez loves her job as a first grade teacher for Uplift Community School in Gallup. And it’s likely that her kind, open and honest demeanor played a part in her being nominated, and winning, Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe teacher of the month.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” she said, when she learned that she was the teacher selected. “My students were so happy for me.”

Finding out that she was being honored was just the shot in the arm Chavez needed, as the news brought forth some bittersweet feelings as Uplift, a K-8 charter school, faces imminent closure at the end of the school year.

“It came at the right time,” she said. “Everyone is doing their best to keep...