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Show I Empire strikes back! Monticello City Council - See page 2 Monticello electric system future at a cross roads It appears that nearly two years of wrangling over the elec- trical system in Monticello may come to a head thin evening, May 30, when the Monticello City Council has a special closed session to discuss purchase of the system. The Citys plan to purchase the electrical system from Em-- , Electric has generated a lot of controversy but no electricity, was the focus of extensive public debate for several months in early 2000 and has been tied in legal actions for more than a year. The City Council is ex-to revisit their previous decision to purchase the electri- system and possibly extend additional franchise to Em- pin Electric. The issue has been brought to a head after Empire Electric fold the Council it would take' Colton Mussebnan leaps through the air Monticello Elementary School. at the May 24 field day at Staff photo a number of $125,763 to lina improvements in the elec- - trical distribution network made necessary by construction of the new golf course. At the May 23 City Council Empire officials noti- the City that the three step process would cost Empire Elec- trie approximately $145,000. It rerouting power to Peak Abjyo away from the golf 18-ho- Diplomas presented to graduates Nearly 200 students will receive high school diplomas this week at San Juan School District graduation ceremonies held throughout the district this week. Graduation ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. on May 30 at Navajo Mountain High School. Navqjo Council delegate Willie GreyEyes is the featured speaker at services in which six students will receive their diplomas. Lewis Singer, who will become the new principal at the high school in the 2001-200- 2 school year, will also speak to the graduates. On May 31, students will receive diplomas from San Juan High School in Blanding. Commencement will begin at 5 p.m. Speakers at the commencement include Principal James J. Harris, who is retiring after a long career in education in the San Juan School District. In addition to Harris, seven students will address the gath- ering, including Brittany Nielson, Tyler Perkins, Kerry Bayles, Melita Stringham, Brett Burtenshaw, Mateo Johnson, and Tim Glass. Students at Monument Valley High School will receive their diplomas at commencement services beginning at 2 p.m. on Fri June 1. Approximately 50 students are scheduled to receive diplomas from Monticello High day, School at services which begin at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 1. Retiring teacher Bruce Adams is the featured guest speaker at Monticello High. In addition to Adams, speakers will include valedictorian Nathan Jack and salutatorian Cody Pehrson. Graduation services at Whitehorse High School in Montezuma Creek are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 2. Dorothy Fulton, of the Navajo Nation Tribal Police in Window Rock, Arizona, is le course, extending power to TjiVp to run the city wa-- pump, and providing utilities to the proposed housing development at the golf course . under- - Empire officials said they were willing to do it for $125,763 and added that if the franchise were to be extended to Empire Electric, they could do it at a cost to the City of roughly $57,000. Monticello High Senior Class Some city officials privately $68,000 extortion by Empire Electric. However, Empire cials clarify that it is simply good business. They add that if they are able to provide power to new customers, then the sig- nificant investment in the line improvements would be cost fective. However, they would seek the actual costs if the sys-- It tern is to be turned over to the City in a matter of months, It appears it may be the cul-u- p mination of several years of a fiery relationship between pire Electric and the City of Monticello. The city sold an ag-cing and decrepit electrical sys-a-n tern to Empire Electric in 1980, with an option for the City to buy the system back in the year 2000.. Empire made significant upgrades to the system and en-joyed what appeared to be a positive relationship with the City and city residents, However, when negotiations began for the possible repur-chase of the system, the tranship apparently soured ter extensive and cantankerous public debate. Despite vocal public sentiment strongly in vor of allowing Empire to keep the system, the City Council voted 1 to repurchase the tern. Financial projections esti-tmated that the City could ef-pi-re Em-pect- See page 7 Busy weekend Memorial Day service in La Sal See page 10 -- Useless information - See Caveman, page 13 fifths al rela-meetin- g, The Blue Mountain Rodeo Royafter the was named alty annual competition on May 26. Senior Queen'IS Nicole Benson with . Round-U- p attendant Queen Rowley with attendant Shaylee Grover. af-fi- ed 4-- Jessilee The Junior is Brittany Rowley. I Me I boy Emmitt J. Yazzie Mary Rose Chief & Jensen Yazzie May 19 sys-Loy- er nance the purchase and still clear more than $200,000 a year in profits. The project never got off the ground as four city residents sued the City, claiming the Council did not follow correct public process in coming to the girl Anna Elise Louise & Eric Thayn May 21 boy Ethan Chas Amyiia & Jeff Black May 23 Landen Paul boy Marilyn & Randall Pemberton May 23 (please turn to page 2) Monticello Lo Pr 35 May Hi 21 70 22 72 23 78 24 79 25 83 26 83 27 81 and Sylvanus Livingstone. Adult students will receive their diplomas through the San Juan Adult Education program in commencement services r scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on June 6. The final diplomas will be awarded to graduates from the 32 39 48 44 45 56 Blanding Hi Society Sports d Pr 88 57 Mb 1 Letters . na ii First grade students hop to the finish line at Monticello Elementary School field day on May 24. Staff photo Lo 68 40 81 41 88 52 87 58 90 55 91 52 News Roundup ! in Monticello - See page 9 ed Leading the 30 graduates will be the top two students, Jamie Blue Mountain Academy, located in the San Juan County Jail in Monticello. It begins at 7 p.m. on June 6 at the San Juan County JaiL - state that it sounds like a the featured guest speaker. Whitehorse ffitequas! 2 4 6 8 Community News ... 9 12 Legals Real Estate 13 Classified 14 -- |