Employees cut loose

SunUte Community Center Director Kristi Garnanez (right) and Motorpool employee Charging Bear Bison

Diamond Morgan, Tyson Thompson and Hope Box have a little fun on the playground equipment

Colors of red, blue and purple, were among 1,500 water balloons

Southern Ute Indian Tribal Councilman Aaron V. Torres distributes playing cards

Youth Employment Program workers, Selena Cook and Stais Harlan

Jake Ryder performs an impromptu harmonica number

Building Maintenance employee Calvin King

SunUte Community Center Director Kristi Garnanez (right) and Motorpool employee Charging Bear Bison compete side-by-side to test arm strength. A new contest added to the annual Southern Ute Employee Appreciation Day festivities, the Strongman/Woman, drew attention as contestants competed in strength tests by lifting weights, flipping tires and carrying water jugs. Garnanez won the women’s division.

Amanda Rockwell (left) and Tim Ryder, both Permanent Fund employees race, carrying full water jugs, about 40 pounds each, in a race of distance, testing strength and endurance.

Diamond Morgan, Tyson Thompson and Hope Box have a little fun on the playground equipment at the Multi-Purpose Facility.

Colors of red, blue and purple, were among 1,500 water balloons filled by Youth Employment Program workers for Employee Appreciation Day.

Summer Youth Employment Program workers, Selena Cook, Stais Harlan and Adele Hight unwind after filling more than 1,500 water balloons.

Southern Ute Indian Tribal Councilman Aaron V. Torres (left) distributes playing cards to participants of the Tribal Council Poker Walk.

Youth Employment Program workers, Selena Cook and Stais Harlan race to stack dice in the "Minute to Win It" competition during Employee Appreciation Day.

Jake Ryder performs an impromptu harmonica number about Employee Appreciation Day. The display won him first place in the talent show and one day of administrative leave.

Building Maintenance employee Calvin King tosses a "shoe" during a match during the horseshoe tournament.

Southern Ute Employee Appreciation horseshoe champions, pictured left to right are 3rd place Olin GoodTracks (SUPF), & McKean Walton, 1st place Anthony Parambo (SUPF) & Anthony Ortiz (SUPF), 2nd place Mitch Durkan (SUGF) & Kelly Jesse (SUGF) and horseshoe superintendent Robert Ortiz.

Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

Ace Stryker | Southern Ute Drum

Christopher R. Rizzo | The Southern Ute Drum

Ace Stryker | Southern Ute Drum

Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

Ace Stryker | Southern Ute Drum

Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

Thumbnail image of SunUte Community Center Director Kristi Garnanez (right) and Motorpool employee Charging Bear Bison

Thumbnail image of Amanda Rockwell and Tim Ryder,

Thumbnail image of Diamond Morgan, Tyson Thompson and Hope Box have a little fun on the playground equipment

Thumbnail image of Growth Fund employees wage war

Thumbnail image of Colors of red, blue and purple, were among 1,500 water balloons

Thumbnail image of Summer Youth Employment Program workers

Thumbnail image of Southern Ute Indian Tribal Councilman Aaron V. Torres distributes playing cards

Thumbnail image of Youth Employment Program workers, Selena Cook and Stais Harlan

Thumbnail image of Jake Ryder performs an impromptu harmonica number

Thumbnail image of Building Maintenance employee Calvin King

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Fri Jun 28th, 2013 , by Robert L. Ortiz | The Southern Ute Drum

Employees of the Southern Ute Permanent Fund, Growth Fund and Sky Ute Casino Resort took a break from their labors on Friday, June 14 to enjoy food and friendly competition around tribal campus. The Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council hosts and the Tribal Information Services Department organizes Employee Appreciation Day annually.

2013 Employee Appreciation Day activity results

STRONGMAN/WOMAN

Men

1st Matt Archuletta (SUPF)

2nd (tied) Jason DeWeese (SUGF)

2nd (tied) Tyson Thompson (SUPF)

Women

1st Kristi Garnanez (SUPF)

2nd Kateri Washington (SUPF)

3rd Amanda Rockwell (SUPF)

TRIBAL COUNCIL POKER WALK

1st Ben Pittenger (SUGF)

2nd Jacob Engle (SUGF)

3rd Leora Lucero (SUCR)

4th Loretta Chee (SUPF)

5th Heather Pavelo (SUPF)

Worst Hand: Julie Smith (SUPF)

TALENT SHOW

1st Jake Ryder (SUPF)

2nd Arianna Delaney (SUPF)

3rd Tyson Thompson (SUPF) & Jon Chavarilllo (SUPF)

4th Gregory Bison (YEP)

HORSESHOES

1st Anthony Ortiz (SUPF) & Anthony Parambo (SUPF)

2nd Mitch Durkan (SUGF) & Kelly Jesse (SUGF)

3rd McKean Walton & Olin GoodTracks (SUPF)

FREE THROW CONTEST

1st Kristi Garnanez (SUPF)

2nd Sam Burch (SUPF)

3rd. (tied) Brandon Williams

3rd. (tied) Waco Wallace

KICKBALL

1st – Growth Fund

Ben Pittenger (SUGF)

Amanda Rockwell (SUPF)

Sergio Valdez (SUPF)

Hailey Herrera (SUPF)

Jake Engle (SUGF)

Crystal Brown (SUCR)

Mury Sutherlin (SUGF)

Kateri Washington (SUPF)

Scott Bohannon (SUGF)

Craig Boss (SUPF)

Lance Tarrant (SUGF)

Cory Wilson (SUGF)

Russ Gartner (SUPF)

Jeff Merchant (SUGF)

2nd – Permanent Fund

Francis Taylor (SUPF)

Jack Frost III (SUPF)

Raylene R. (SUPF)

Garan Shaw (SUPF)

Nick Herrera (SUPF)

Hunter Frost (SUPF)

Rylan Herrera (SUPF)

Kirsten Lopez (SUPF)

Angel Ortiz (SUPF)

Dana Kopf (SUPF)

Danny Powers (SUPF)

Lorelynn Hall (SUPF)

Veronica Laseter (SUPF)

Mick Souder (SUPF)

SUPF – Permanent Fund

SUGF – Growth Fund

SUCR – Sky Ute Casino Resort

Employees cut loose

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