BIA official retiring after 30 years

Steve Tibbetts said he is leaving the job in Elko to retire to a 25-acre plot in Wyoming, his wife's home state.

Tibbetts, who is part Minnesota Chippewa, joined the BIA in Phoenix 29 1/2 years ago and worked as a realty officer in Elko in 1977 and 1978 before he was assigned to Minnesota and North Dakota.

He returned to Elko in 1993 as acting superintendent and was named superintendent the following year.

Wayne Nordwall, who is the BIA's acting director in Phoenix, said he will appoint an acting superintendent while the search goes on for a permanent successor. He says that could take four months or more.

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