Archive - Apr 17, 2012

Groups and schools in their colorful uniforms gathered early today at Veterans Memorial Stadium for day one of the two-day 2012 Flag Day celebration, marking 112 years since the United State Flag was raised over Tutuila island.

Without a hint of early morning rain, the sun rose as participants in the Flag Day parade assembled onto the stadium’s green field to await the arrival of VIPs, dignitaries and guests for the annual ceremony, attended by several off-island guests.

LBJ Medical Center in American Samoa has rescinded this past weekend the reduction in working hours for certain employees while the hospital is now working on a somewhat “higher facility fees” increase with more information to be released once the fee levels are determined.

Commerce Department director Faleseu Eliu Faresa Paopao passed away in Portland, Oregon over the weekend, after being diagnosed last year with cancer. He was 66 years old, according to a relative.

“Director Faleseu was a strong advocate for the community in ensuring that the mission of the department always put the people and Territory first in our focus,” DOC deputy director Lelei Peau told Samoa News yesterday. “He was a great leader and always wanted the best for the department and territory.”

History was made in American Samoa when the American Samoa Government’s traditional Samoan guest house, “Faletele” was officially opened yesterday, and dedicated to the next generations of American Samoa, according to Governor Togiola Tulafono.

Several days after federal agents arrested four people in Honolulu on a drug case which  identified John Tai as head of a “drug trafficking organization”, Tai pled guilty at the federal court in Honolulu in a separate drug case that was filed last year and included his two younger brothers, Kaisa and Louis Tai, who were arrested in the territory last summer and taken to Honolulu to be charged in federal court.

Chief Election Officer Soliai Tuipine Fuimaono has referred to Attorney General Fepuleai A. Ripley Jr. a request by the gubernatorial team of Save Liuato A. Tuitele and Tofoitaufa Sandra King Young (Save & Sandra), to review a provision of the local election laws governing the resignation of government employees when running for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.

DISTRICT COURT

A total of eighteen people made their initial appearance in the District Court yesterday.

Thirteen are in court for public peace disturbance (PPD) while four were arrested for allegedly driving under the influence (DUI). Police said those arrested for PPD were in drinking sessions and were disturbing the peace.

According to police, among those who were allegedly caught for DUI is Seakerise Tuato’o who police say ran into a electric pole in Ili’ili, over the weekend.

ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Police in Georgia handcuffed a kindergartner with her arms behind her back after the girl threw a tantrum and the police chief defended the action as a safety measure.

The girl's family demanded Tuesday that their central Georgia city change policy so that other children aren't treated the same way. They say the child was shaken up by the ordeal.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- At least 20 foreign women and as many Secret Service and military personnel met at a hotel in Colombia in an incident involving prostitution, and lawmakers are seeking information about any possible threat to the U.S. or to President Barack Obama who arrived for a conference soon after, congressional officials said Tuesday.