Year in Review, Part II

The Holbrook City Council unanimously appointed Randy Sullivan as the permanent city manager. Sullivan had previously been serving as assistant city manager and finance director and has frequently stepped in as interim city manager during past leadership transitions.

Concerns about the financial future of Little Colorado Medical Center (LCMC) circulated following the passage of a federal budget bill, prompting clarification from hospital leadership. CEO Travis Udall emphasized that the hospital is not closing and remains in a stable financial position. “This is not accurate as we are in a strong and stable financial position currently and are poised for a strong future with investments in more outpatient services and building stronger relationships with our surrounding communities.” It was explained that speculation about the hospital’s vulnerability due to Medicaid cuts was based on outdated data and that strategic planning was already underway to manage changes in Medicaid, Medicare and insurance reimbursements.

The Kayenta Township Economic Development Department officially designated land within the Kayenta Industrial Park for the development of a new Northland Pioneer College (NPC) facility. This milestone marks a significant step forward in expanding educational opportunities and infrastructure in the region. To support this development, Kayenta Township has invested in critical infrastructure improvements at the Industrial Park, including the construction of a new road, installation of sewer and water lines and the integration of broadband-ready utilities. These enhancements are designed to attract new businesses and support long-term community growth.

The Navajo County Sheriff’s Office announced it has become the first sheriff’s office in the State of Arizona to achieve accreditation through the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP), a program administered by the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police. The ALEAP accreditation process involves a comprehensive evaluation of an agency’s policies, procedures, operations, and training to ensure compliance with industry best practices and ethical policing standards. “This milestone demonstrates our dedication to transparency, ethical policing and continuous improvement,” said Sheriff David Clouse.

The Heart of America Foundation made a real difference for families in northern Arizona through a special partnership with the Holbrook and Winslow school districts to bring solar power to families across the region. The mission was to provide off-grid solar systems and school supplies to families who need them most. Each kit included solar panels, a battery, LED lights, a cooler and educational materials, all free for qualifying families. From July 14 to 16, the team installed solar systems in homes across 10 Navajo communities, including Pinon, Indian Wells, First Mesa and Tuba City. Since 2020, Heart of America has installed over 249 solar systems, delivered more than 12,000 education kits and upgraded several school spaces on the Navajo Nation.

The Winslow City Council voted to adopt a new tax rate for fiscal year 2026, which set the city’s primary property tax rate at $1.30 per $100 of assessed value. Staff explained that the total property tax levy for all properties in Winslow will rise from $479,000 last year to $490,000 this year, an increase of $11,000. They added that the new rate equates to 1.3% and is spread across all property owners.

August

Holbrook welcomed a unique piece of its industrial past with the installation of a historic locomotive, the ADA 800, donated by Apache Railway Company to the Navajo County Historical Society. This significant piece of railway history, built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO), is now on display outside the Historic Navajo County Courthouse, located at 100 E. Arizona St., offering residents and visitors alike a tangible connection to the region’s rich transportation and industrial heritage. The ADA 800 served a vital role throughout its operational life, initially transporting lumber to the paper mill in Snowflake. More recently, it was pivotal in carrying massive wind turbine blades. The train has taken on many roles during its years in operation and its final role will be reminding locals and tourists alike of the major impact the railway industry has had on the community.

ZenniHome, a manufacturer specializing in modular housing, closed its operations in LeChee, near Page, reportedly due to funding that was withheld and a project reduction by Navajo Nation administration, resulting in the layoff of 210 employees. ZenniHome was notable for being the only high-tech housing manufacturer operating within Navajo Nation boundaries. According to the company, the loss of funding and a significant reduction in their planned project—from 160 homes down to 80—contributed to the factory’s unsustainable operations, ultimately leading to the shutdown. The funds for the LeChee factory was to come from two grants provided by Navajo Nation, one in the amount of $24 million to go directly to Zennihome for building the factory and another in the amount of $24.9 million that was awarded to Indigenous Design Studio + Architecture, LLC (IDSA), an architectural firm based in Albuquerque, which subcontracted to ZenniHome in the amount of $22 million to construct the 160 homes before the Navajo Nation reduced the contract by half. Once efforts already began, Navajo Nation withheld the $24 million, with President Buu Nygren stating that the funds were to be awarded to expand its facility but the payment was terminated before any funds were distributed due to community objections. Nygren affirmed that these funds remain secure within Navajo Nation accounts. ZenniHome was proceeding with opening a new manufacturing facility in Snowflake, separate from the LeChee operations.

Paleontologists from Petrified Forest National Park partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History to name and describe a new aquatic reptile discovered in the park. The new species is a kind of tanystropheid reptile, some of which have a neck twice as long as the body and tail combined. The study, led by seasonal paleontologist Alaska Schubert, describes the anatomy of Akidostropheus oligos and compares it to other related Triassic animals from fossils that are relatively common from Europe and China but are extremely rare in North America. This study shows that 220 million years ago in the Triassic Period, northern Arizona was a warm, wet place. The tanystropheids that inhabited the area might have lived in swampy ponds or small rivers. The new species itself is named Akidostropheus oligos, meaning “tiny, spiked back bone,” because a single neck bone is remarkably small (less than 7 mm tall, smaller than the average pinky fingernail) and has a unique spike on top.

The Painted Desert Community Complex National Historic Landmark, which includes the park’s northern visitor center and park headquarters announced it would undergo a major multi-year restoration project starting in September. The Painted Desert Community Complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and subsequently as a National Historic Landmark in 2016, due to both its association with the National Park Service’s Mission 66 program and its prominent representation of modernist architectural work by architects Richard Neutra and Robert Alexander. The restoration project will address deferred maintenance work and correct ongoing structural deficiencies, code and accessibility concerns as well as restore select previously modified historic features.

The Holbrook City Council voted to have Roxanne Pergeson, who is employed as the Navajo County Attorney’s Office Victim Services Manager, replace former councilmember Tammy Wood to fill the position until the December 2026 election.

The City of Holbrook reached a settlement agreement in the amount of $250,000 with Anil Patel, the owner of the Howard Johnson’s hotel located at 2608 Navajo Blvd. Patel had filed the lawsuit against the city in February of 2024, after ChangePoint Integrated Health, a behavioral health organization which had planned to purchase the property were denied a special use permit to turn the hotel into a temporary short-term lodging and backed out of the purchase agreement. ChangePoint had intended to purchase the hotel as a temporary housing facility for individuals transitioning out of care by the facility. When ChangePoint inquired with the city as to whether or not the zoning code would permit this use, the previous city administration under the direction of Ted Soltis, had informed ChangePoint that this was a permitted use and the sale was expected to go through at the end of February 2023. ChangePoint was required to go before the Holbrook Planning and Zoning Commission for the permit. Upon review of the development, the Commission recommended denying the permit and several residents spoke out against the permit, with concerns of an increased crime rate and homelessness should residents of the facility no longer be able to live in the housing. After careful review, the decision to deny the permit was upheld by the Holbrook City Council. In the complaint filed by the Goldwater Institute it stated that Holbrook officials were attempting to seize Patel’s property by prohibiting him from using his land as he sees fit by usurping private property rights Arizona Private Property Rights Protection Act.

The Navajo Nation Council voted to remove Heather Clah from her position as the Navajo Nation Attorney General, just weeks after her confirmation, the second time the council has removed an attorney general in the previous eight months. No cause was given before the council went into executive session to discuss the legislation and then voted to remove Clah, with 11 in favor and one opposed. Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren appointed Colin Bradley to fill the position.

September

A youth baseball team made history as the first Native American team to participate in the 2025 Babe Ruth World Series in Branson, Mo. The Na7ive Na7ions team was selected from over 160 players from more than 40 tribes in eight states. The team was chosen after competing in a tournament at Salt River Pima–Maricopa Indian Community near Scottsdale. This historic moment was made possible by former professional baseball player and Na7ive Na7ions founder, DJ Carrasco. Jace Huma, a proud member of the Hopi Tribe, was among the players on the team.

Amanda Childers was crowned the 2025-2026 Nation Teen Miss. Childers was a recent graduate and valedictorian of Winslow High School Class of 2025. In addition to a scholarship, she received and all-expense paid trip to Disneyland and the Dominican Republic, luggage and a year full of fun events. Participants in the event came from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming to take part in the week-long pageant. The program focuses on natural beauty, poise, public speaking and personality.

Coach Melvin Tsosie. concluded 46 years of coaching and service, beginning in Kayenta coaching basketball and spent the majority of his career at the Little Singer Community School, coaching junior high basketball.

Navajo County Fair & Rodeo Board President Rusty DeSpain spoke before the Navajo County Board of Supervisors on efforts being done at the Navajo County Fairgrounds, stating that the fairgrounds host 63 events a year, with the largest event being the county fair. It was noted that in 2024, the fairgrounds generated $878 million in direct revenue and $3.1 to $4.6 million in regional economic activity. He also noted a new skybox in the arena, extension of the pig barns and LED upgrades to the lighting and that plans were in the works to expand the arena.

October

Public Health Director Janelle Linn addressed the Navajo County Board of Supervisors regarding how the changes in federal funding sources will negatively impact the county. Beginning on Jan. 20, of this year, the U.S. withdrew from the World Health Organization and executive orders rescinded Biden-era policies on COVID-19 relief, preparedness and health equity, while a communication freeze was placed on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). One month later in February, there were workforce reductions at CDC and National Institute of Health, which impacted over 5,000 employees. “That filtered down to states and this ended with ADHS (Arizona Department of Health Services) having to let go of 57 infection disease investigators and laboratory employees,” Linn explained. In March, stop-work orders terminated several COVID-19–related grants and reduction in force notices were issued. Linn noted, “Multiple federal grants received stop-work orders and those directly impacted us with the loss of our Health Disparities grant, our ELC (Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity) Surveillance grant and five different immunization grants.” HHS also announced the elimination of 10,000 positions and the creation of the Administration for a Healthy America. She explained that The Big Beautiful Bill, that was signed into law in July, cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid with significant implications for rural and public health. By August, oversight of federal grantmaking was tightened, making for easier cancellation of initiatives. Linn stated the Health Services District is 75% grant funded, and the cuts impacted 20 members of her staff, with seven positions being lost due to reduction in force, three of which were public health nurses. “That’s 14% of my department,” she added.” A total of $984,900 in grant funding has been eliminated, with additional cuts looming. Tribal services will be impacted by the US Department of Agriculture’s SNAP-Ed nutrition funding loss, “There will be impacts to nutritional programs on tribal lands effective Oct. 1.”

The cuts in Medicaid pose real threats to rural care access, with approximately 60% of Navajo County currently on Medicaid. “The Big Beautiful Bill cut Medicaid by $1 trillion dollars,” stated Linn, which will put up to 11 million people at risk for losing coverage, 12,274 of which reside within Navajo County. This cut will also result in further job loss, with 1,408 healthcare workers at risk for losing their employment in the county alone. This will cause further loss in specialty care services and increased risks of rural hospital closures. Medicaid cuts will impact the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) as well. Nutrition, housing, childcare, substance use, mental health, chronic disease and infectious diseases will all be negatively affected. SNAP cuts will result in approximately 2,400 Arizona jobs being lost, with food insecurity projected to increase chronic school absenteeism by 5.4% in Arizona.

Winslow added a “musical road” for drivers cruising down Route 66. Near the 9/11 Memorial on the east end of town the stretch of engineered rumble strip that play the iconic “Standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona” portion of the song Take It Easy when cars pass over it at 35 mph.

It was announced that Holbrook Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Robbie Koerperich would be retiring June 30, 2027, after many years of serving the district.

After months of uncertainty and repeated recruitment efforts, Winslow City Manager David Coolidge appointed Lt. Ernest “Ernie” Cano as the city’s new police chief, ending an 11-month stretch without permanent leadership at the Winslow Police Department. Cano’s appointment comes just days after the Winslow City Council voted to give the city manager authority to hire a police chief without council approval, aligning the position with other department head appointments. Cano has 18 years with the department and nearly three decades of law enforcement experience overall. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bethel University and has led the department as acting chief since November 2024.

Winslow City Manager David Coolidge reported on a revised planned area development that was originally intended mainly for RV spaces but is now being redesigned to include 132 permanent homes, 75 RV sites and a small commercial area. The site will be located on North Road in the lot behind Maverik. Coolidge also described another proposed master-planned community near Mike’s Pike, along the east side of Desert View, which would bring 295 single-family lots. The Circle K on North Park Drive between Mojo’s Café and McDonald’s cleared plan review and the proposed Hampton Inn is planned to go in near The Winslow Hotel on North Park Drive. Meanwhile, renovation of the former Bashas’ building on North Park Drive as well is progressing quickly, with plans to reopen soon as an Ace Hardware.

November

It was announced that 10 community colleges and universities in Arizona will lose at least $13 million after President Donald Trump’s administration cut discretionary funding to minority-serving institutions, alleging the money was tied to “discriminatory racial and ethnic quotas.” The cuts are forcing some schools to end student support programs that improved grades and reduced dropped classes, while shrinking staff dedicated to underserved populations. Federal data shows 23 Arizona schools met the 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold to qualify for Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grants this year, more than most states. Many have much higher shares of minority students and are required to serve a large percentage of low-income learners. Arizona is also home to two Native American-serving nontribal institutions (NASNTIs), or schools where at least 10% of enrollment is Native American.

Navajo County Supervisor Fern Benally told Winslow councilmembers that crews were pulling fiber through newly installed conduit across northern Arizona, marking a major step in the county’s broadband expansion. The work is part of a long-planned “middle-mile” project that will carry high-capacity internet through the region, with Winslow expected to connect through new interconnection points near Holbrook and Joseph City. The middle-mile network forms the backbone for future “last-mile” extensions that private providers can later build to reach homes and businesses.

The Navajo County Attorney’s Office reported on an established court diversion program to provide an alternative method of holding low level offenders, whose offense often has a nexus to substance abuse, or mental health conditions. It was noted that the program effectively redirects limited criminal justice resources, brings about participants’ rehabilitation and gives rise to safer communities. The program diverts criminal cases from formal court proceedings and allows for the dismissal of charges if the program is successfully completed. In the 2.5 years of the program’s implementation in the county, 165 clients have enrolled, 93 of which have successfully completed the program.

A formal bid to remove Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and Vice President Richelle Montoya was introduced by the Navajo Nation Council, the same day a special prosecutor filed a sweeping ethics complaint in Navajo Nation District Court outlining allegations of financial misconduct, nepotism and repeated violations of Navajo Nation law after mounting pressure from chapters and community members who have demanded action. The ethics complaint lays out detailed claims that Nygren misused his Navajo Nation travel purchase card for personal and family expenses, then ordered staff to hide the charges. There were also allegations that staff were directed to perform personal labor and questions arose regarding Nygren’s hiring of his father-in-law, John Blackwater Jr., into a political at-will position. The complaint states that Blackwater was unqualified for the job and related to Nygren within the degree prohibited by Navajo nepotism law.

December

In response to the new SNAP rule requiring many recipients to log 80 hours a month of work, training or volunteering, the City of Winslow human resource department worked with each department to identify tasks that can be done by volunteers and organize them into an easily accessible list that will show the types of jobs available and how many hours can be earned in each. It was noted as a way to help residents meet new federal requirements while also filling real needs in city operations.

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego announced that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) approved Arizona’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) final proposal, clearing the way for the state to begin drawing down funds to deploy high-speed broadband in every corner of the state. Arizona’s State Broadband Office successfully navigated NTIA’s updated program guidance, finalizing a plan that will bring fiber technology to 118,170 locations—more than 70% of the state—with a deployment cost of over $446 million. Under the Kelly-shaped Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Arizona was allocated $993 million in BEAD funding, and as NTIA finalizes its nondeployment guidance, it remains crucial that the state receive its full allocation.

The Holbrook City Council made the decision to forgo a proposed business license ordinance after a number of business owners strongly opposed adding another layer of regulation on local businesses. The council instead directed staff to explore modifying existing utility forms to help track businesses without creating a license requirement.

It was announced that Arizona Medicaid would now provide coverage for traditional healing allowing individuals who choose to do so, seek out Native healing techniques for healing and wellbeing. The previous year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a Section 1115 waiver, allowing Medicaid to cover traditional healing. On Oct. 1, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Arizona’s Medicaid agency, began reimbursing them, making Arizona one of the first states to do so. The initiative “aims to offer culturally appropriate options for eligible members.”

Northland Pioneer College President Dr. Von Lawson announced that NPC will begin offering its first fully online programs next fall, expanding access across the college’s 22,000-square-mile service area. “We want to give people an option,” he said, pointing to parents, working adults, and residents who may only be able to attend classes at unconventional hours.”

North Country HealthCare, Inc., a healthcare provider with clinics across northern Arizona, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows an organization to continue operating while it reorganizes its finances under court supervision. It is often used by businesses and nonprofits facing cash-flow challenges or mounting debt but seeking to avoid closure. Court filings show North Country Healthcare reported tens of millions of dollars in both assets and liabilities, along with more than $15 million in money owed to the organization, largely from insurance companies and government healthcare programs. The filing lists more than 1,000 creditors, including medical suppliers, staffing agencies and financial institutions. The bankruptcy was not expected to impact the clinics in Holbrook or Winslow.