Saturday, November 17, 2007

Planting a seed for Alamo

Leaders break ground for mini-mart that will boost economy for community

Audry Olmsted El Defensor Chieftain Managing Editor

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." — Matthew 10:31-32

With these words, the Alamo community and state officials kicked off its groundbreaking ceremony for the T'iistsoh Mini-Mart. The hope is that the mini-mart will be complete and ready for operation by this time next year.

"I read you this Bible verse because groundbreaking is like planting," said Juany Padilla, Miss Alamo Navajo 2007.

The general feeling in the air during the ceremony was of relief, relief that the community will soon no longer have to drive a distance to get their basics needs met.

"Now, we won't have to go to Magdalena to get some gas," said Buddy Mexicano, president of the Alamo Chapter, with a laugh.

Besides offering a gas station, the mini-mart will also have a grocery store and laundry services.

Alamo and Navajo Nation leaders spoke of change in the air and realizing the legacy of their elders during the ceremony.

"There is a new breeze coming across the Alamo Navajo Nation," said Benny Shelly, Navajo Nation vice president.

Shelly said that change is a good thing, and that without a vision, people will perish.

The vice president recalled that it was a vision years ago to have a health clinic in the community.

"That vision came to reality," he said.

Vision and change, he added, take leadership and partnership and working together. Shelly said Alamo needs to prepare for and make room for the youth who will be the leaders someday.

"A new way of thinking leads to a new way of acting," he said.

"We are living our former leaders' vision and legacy," said Earl Apachito, president of the Alamo Navajo school board.

Apachito also announced the winner of the contest that Alamo held to name the mini-mart. Connie Baca won $250 for T'iistsoh Mini-Mart. T'iistsoh means Alamo in Navajo.

The mini-mart is a dream 20 years in the making for the community when a former council delegate proposed the idea to have a place in Alamo for its people to have their needs taken care of. Ryan Gleason, the director of the state's USDA Rural Development, said the state has been actively involved in making that dream a reality for the last five or six years.

"We are extremely happy to be a part of this project and see it through to fruition," he said. "We're so honored to be a part of this."

"The people of Alamo will do business with the mini-mart. I know they will," said Manuel Guerro, Alamo Chapter vice president.

Steve Beddingfield, with Sandia Oil Company, the company developing the mini-mart, was at the groundbreaking ceremony to share in the enthusiasm of the community.

"We feel like we'll be able to do something for the community that will serve you for many years," he said. "We're excited about this."

John Largo, from the Navajo Nation Division of Economic Development, said the mini-mart would bring 17 jobs to the Alamo people.

A manager has already been hired, and the rest of the employees will be hired locally.

The mini-mart will also help Alamo, he said, because the money and taxes generated will stay in the community.

The collaboration for the mini-mart project is between the Navajo Nation Economic Development, Alamo Navajo School Administration Chapter and its trustees, and Alamo Council Delegate George Apachito.

The school board and the Navajo Nation Economic Development funded the infrastructure cost.

Apachito said they are still working out the details for a sewer line and to augment the lagoon system for the extra water that will be used with the laundry services.

The estimated cost for the sewage system is between $1.2 million and $1.5 million.

State Rep. Don Tripp and Sen. David Ulibarri have each contributed $100,000 in a capital outlay bill, and the Navajo Nation has contributed $300,000 to the sewage system.

Currently, the school is paying for the lagoon system that is in place until the tertiary plan goes into effect.

aolmsted@dchieftain.com

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