Navajo tribe's police agency without permanent leader

Sunday, May 19th, 2013, 3:37pm

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - The Navajo Nation Police Department has gone five years having without a permanent leader.

The police chief's position has been vacant since April 2008 when Police Chief Jim Benally was put on paid leave.

Officials haven't given an explanation as to why Benally was placed on leave.

The Farmington Daily Times reports that the police department has had district commanders take turns filling in as police chief.

The tribe has no intention of filling the police chief position soon.

Part of the reason that the police chief's position hasn't been filled is because of its $63,500 annual salary.

Erny Zah, spokesman for the Navajo Nation president and vice president, says the salary is about half of what it should be.

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The White House came to the Navajo Nation today.

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 7:55pm

Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, gave the commencement speech at the Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint, NM.

Biden, an educator for 30 years, spoke to the graduates about tomorrow's challenges.

"College is a place that changes lives for the better. And tribal colleges are especially unique places," Biden said.

This was the second year in a row Navajo Technical College has been named one of the top 120 community colleges in the U.S.

The college has a graduation rate of 80 percent.

Today, Dody Begay was the first student to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in information technology.

"I think it'll leave a really good legacy the college has been really successful in many areas," said Begay.

Biden encouraged graduates to continue to grow and reach out to one another to make it in the real world.

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Couples Tournament at Pinon Hills Golf Course

Submitted by Briana Morfin on Wednesday, May 15th, 4:55 pm

The Piñon Hills Golf Course invites couples to the Couples Scramble Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 25 for a great day out with the one you love on the green.

The tournament tee times start at 9 a.m. with an entry fee of $40 per person, green fee and cart will not be included in that price. A pass holder will have a cart fee of $14 if cart is wanted, and non pass holder green fee, plus cart is $25 per person. Make it a whole day out with your sweetheart having fun in the sun!

The Piñon Hills Golf Course is located at 2101 Sunrise Parkway in Aztec.

For additional information contact the golf course at 505-326-6066.

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Grants High School: no classes tomorrow

Submitted by Avicra Luckey on Tuesday, May 14th, 8:08 pm

Grants High School will not hold classes tomorrow, Wednesday May 15, due to a water main break.

The district is asking staff to show up, but students are asked to stay home. This is for Grants High School only, no other schools in the district are affected.

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Shiprock schools face $4M budget shortfall

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Thursday, May 9th, 2013, 7:56pm

The Central Consolidated School District is facing a $4 million budget shortfall for the upcoming school year. To make up for that loss, a lot of tough choices have to be made. One option is to close the district's only alternative high school.

But students, parents and teachers are spoke out against that proposal.

Closing the alternative high school is expected to save $1.7 million dollars, but students say they don't have anywhere else to go.

"Now you're telling me she's going to be a dropout because Shiprock High won't accept her," one parent said.

"This school has helped so many troubled kids, so many troubled kids that never got the help from Shiprock high school," said a student.

Career Prep is the only high school in the district that provides day care, which a lot of students rely on.

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Farmington mall shooting sparks fears of gang war

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Sunday, May 5th, 2013, 3:27pm

FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) - A recent mall shooting in Farmington has sparked increased policing in neighborhoods amid fears of a new gang war.

The Farmington Daily Times reports that aggressive patrols come after the Farmington Police Gang Unit said the shooting at Animas Valley Mall last weekend was gang-related and has caused increased tension among two rival gangs.

Police have arrested 22-year-old Alejandro Ramirez and 28-year-old Luis Ramirez for the shooting death of 25-year-old Benjamin Vialpando.

Farmington police Cpl. David Karst says the Ramirez brothers are gang members.

Police say more than 600 gang members live in San Juan County, and the South Side Locos are the largest gang in the area.

The gang unit says the next largest gang is Tortilla Flats.

It was unclear if the Ramirez brothers had attorneys.

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