Gwendena Lee - Gatewood

10/10/2026

On this Saturday morning, on my own time, I want to share my personal opinion about this campaign ad.

The Washington Post headline shown here says the ad misidentified Jonathan Nez twice. A campaign can criticize an opponent’s record or policies, but it has a responsibility to get the person right. When an ad uses the wrong person’s image, it can make people feel as though members of a community are interchangeable. That echoes the insulting stereotypes that all Native Americans look alike or that all Black people are the same. I’m not saying the campaign intended that message, but it is still troubling and disrespectful.

Jonathan Nez is a sheep herder from Shonto who is speaking up for Arizona’s water and for the people, communities and livelihoods that depend on it. He says he will work with anyone to help protect this vital resource. Water is not a partisan issue. Our ranchers, farmers, animals, plants and all living things depend on it. You can find a substitute for many things, but there is no substitute for water. We should be clear about what is at stake.

Nez says the ad against him cost $700,000. If a campaign is willing to spend that kind of money, it should take the time to verify the facts and the image before putting the ad in front of voters. The mistake does not prove intent, but it raises a fair question about the care behind the message.

Voters are hiring someone to work for the people. We should look carefully at a candidate’s judgment, accuracy and respect for the communities they hope to represent. If a campaign is careless with something this basic, does that increase your trust? It certainly gives voters something to consider before they cast their ballots.

10/08/2026

❤️

10/08/2026

New Vendor Call for an Upcoming Event! Call the events department to register 🌻🍁🍂

Set up time: 12:00-1:00 PM

10/08/2026

Thoughts?

10/07/2026

I believe in free speech. The president has the right to speak, and the press has the right to report what he says. Those freedoms are strongest when they belong to all of us, even when the words are difficult to hear. I see the Constitution in offices, I hear the Pledge of Allegiance as a little girl and saying it, yet here we are now listening to something that doesn’t sound like Allegiance.

We pledge allegiance to one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our Constitution calls for the common defense and the general welfare. So when a president speaks of Los Angeles or San Diego as a small price to pay, we should remember: those are American cities, filled with American lives. Protecting this country means valuing its people, all of them.

You do not have to agree with me about politics to believe that no American city should be spoken of as an acceptable loss. Los Angeles and San Diego are not political talking points. They are home to families, maybe your family live there, workers, children, service members, and people from every party and every walk of life.

Some of those people support the president. Some do not. But when we speak about the safety of a city, every one of their lives matters equally.

As an Apache woman, I was raised to see people as part of a family, a community, and a future. No one’s life should be treated like a piece on a board, moved to advance someone else’s argument.

We can defend this country without treating our own people as expendable. We can disagree about the path forward and still stand together on this: protecting American lives must never become a partisan issue. A strong country does not ask its people to accept harm as the price of proving a point. It asks its leaders to protect them.

As an Apache woman, I carry the memory of what our ancestors endured: lives threatened, families torn apart, and people hunted for a price. They knew the pain of being treated as though their lives and their land mattered less.

And still, our people kept going. They protected their families, cared for their homelands, served this country, and made a future for the generations who came after them. We move forward with grace, even if it wasn’t extended back, but we do not have to forget what history teaches us.

We know where it leads when people are treated as expendable. We do not need to return to that way of thinking. We can choose better: to protect life, respect one another, and build a country worthy of the people who call it home.

“It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe. They can take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego."

10/06/2026

Steady hands and a fearless heart,
you carry your strength with Apache pride.
May laughter ride beside you
and blessings follow every trail.

Happy birthday to our Annie Oakley!
Hope your day was great! 😊

10/05/2026

Congratulations, Broadus, on an incredible 35 years of service with the Fort Apache engines. Your dedication, hard work and steady commitment have meant so much to your coworkers and community. You have given many years to serving others, and that legacy will continue long after your last shift.

Wishing you and your family joy, good health and many wonderful moments in this next chapter. You’ve earned this time to celebrate and enjoy. Thank you for all you’ve done, Broadus, and congratulations on your retirement! 🎉

We are proud to honor Broadus Johnson who is retiring after 35 years of dedicated service with the Fort Apache engines. Thank you, Broadus, for your unwavering commitment, hard work, and dependable service. Your contributions to Fort Apache engines have made a lasting impact and are deeply appreciated. We wish you and your family continued success and happiness as you begin this new chapter. Congratulations on your retirement and best wishes for the future! 🎉

10/05/2026

We always want to see our people find good work and new opportunities. Fort Apache USWFS is accepting applications for 2027 emergency hire seasonal wildland firefighter positions beginning tomorrow.

I may not work for the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, but I’m glad to help share this opportunity. If you or someone in your family is interested, please apply, and tell your friends and relatives who may be looking for work.

Applications will be accepted October 6 through December 18, Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m., at the Rick Lupe Fire Management Center in Whiteriver.

If you need help with resume development or anything like that I do not mind helping as well. The times given might be the time they have personnel allowed to help w that as well.

For more information, call (928) 371-5455 or (928) 371-5471.

10/03/2026

10/03/2026

Well, this is a WOW moment!

The story of Will Nichols and guide Dustin Tenijieth’s extraordinary bull at Maverick Camp has reached 126,620 views on Facebook and landed on the front page of the Fort Apache Scout. That kind of attention says people are interested in the skill, patience, and dedication behind this achievement.

Some may say sharing a story like this is about getting attention. But telling stories is part of what reporters and journalists do: we help people see the hard work, talent, and accomplishments happening in our own communities. When someone achieves something remarkable, they deserve to have that story told and celebrated.

A preliminary score of 451 5/8 inches places this bull among the most impressive taken on White Mountain Apache lands. The final score will be confirmed after the required drying period, but the achievement is already tremendous.

Many people may be part of a hunt, but the story should give credit where the work happened: to the hunter who took the bull and the guide who helped make that moment possible.

Congratulations to Will and Dustin on an unforgettable hunt and a story that has captured the attention of so many. This is a proud moment for our community, and it deserves to be recognized!