Archive - Apr 20, 2012

Dear Editor,

For the last 40 years the American Samoa Bar Association has been working diligently to promote justice in the territory. Anniversaries are an excellent opportunity to review the past and look forward to the future. As we undergo this process, we invite the public to join us looking back on our history, and celebrating our future.

In recognition of his nine years as the chief executive of the territory, Gov. Togiola Tulafono was presented Wednesday with the United States and American Samoa flags that were raised during the two-day 2012 Flag Day celebration at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

After numerous court hearings held before Chief Justice Michael Kruse on the status of a mental health facility in the territory, the American Samoa Government finally held a ground breaking yesterday.

The Behavioral Health Center is to be constructed between the Tafuna Correctional Facility and the Juvenile Detention Center in Tafuna.

A Samoan man, who federal agents say received a package of more than 100 grams of “white crystalline substance” through Federal Express, from a drug source in California, has been charged in the federal court in Honolulu.

Peter Seali’itu Sagapolutele is charged under a two-count indictment handed down Apr. 12 by a federal grand jury in Honolulu. He is accused of knowingly and intentionally conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, about 126 grams of methamphetamine.

As part of its yearly Outreach Program, the Business Department at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) hosted 97 students from the Business Clubs of five Tutuila high schools for a morning of touring the ASCC campus and sitting-in on business classes.

The American Samoa National Olympic Committee (ASNOC) ‘Instant Scratch Bingo’ Fundraising tickets are being sold at this time at various stores around the island in an effort to raise funds to send local athletes off island for sports competition events, such as the upcoming 2012 Olympics, Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games.

The first $1000 instant cash winner is presented here with their cash prize. The first of many $1000 prizes was won this week by Maxine Wulf (Center) of Tafuna.

All thirty participants of the American Samoa Emergency Grant (ASNEG) Program “have successfully completed the core construction training program” in Guam, said Human Resources Department director Evelyn Vaitautolu Langford, responding yesterday to Samoa News questions for an update on the group’s accomplishments.

Guam’s news media reports that the six-month training program is a public-private partnership between the American Samoa Government, the Ukudu Workforce Housing and Training Village and the Center for Micronesian Empowerment (CME).

It was the most successful rugby event ever staged in American Samoa. Major sponsor of the tournament, Frank Gaisoa and his TMO company, and other sponsors, like Blue Sky and GHC Reid as well as the host club, Marist Pago Sports club must be commended for holding such a high profile event. 

The first Pacific Cup Volleyball Challenge hosted by the American Samoa Volleyball Association (ASVBA) took place at the Tafuna High School gymnasium, with teams from American Samoa, Samoa, Australia and Tonga as part of this year’s 2012 Flag Day Celebrations; and, concluded this past Wednesday evening, with teams from American Samoa taking the ‘Cup’ in all 4 Divisions.

The Challenge took place from Monday, April 16 to Wednesday, April 18.

The first Pacific Cup Volleyball Challenge hosted by the American Samoa Volleyball Association (ASVBA) took place at the Tafuna High School gymnasium, with teams from American Samoa, Samoa, Australia and Tonga as part of this year’s 2012 Flag Day Celebrations; and, concluded this past Wednesday evening, with teams from American Samoa taking the ‘Cup’ in all 4 Divisions.

The Challenge took place from Monday, April 16 to Wednesday, April 18.