Archive - Apr 25, 2012 - Article (News Story)

LBJ Medical Center is proposing new facility fee increases scheduled to go into effect May 21, after the hospital filed official notification on Monday with the government, in accordance with the American Samoa Administrative Procedures Act.

Hospital chief executive officer Mike Gerstenberger said some fees will increase, some remain unchanged, some will be capped, and a few will be lowered. 

Even with financial assistance offered by the American Samoa government, villages in the territory were not rushing to host village groups from Samoa invited to participate in the Flag Day events, prompting the government to look at individual families as hosts, says Gov. Togiola Tulafono.

Questions were raised within the community this year as to why individual families hosted this year’s “siva and pese” groups from Samoa as well as the Samoa Police Band, instead of villages, which has been the usual practice.

The National Park invites the public to celebrate National Park Week, declared by President Obama for Apr. 21-29— by focusing on “Healthy Parks Healthy People.”

National parks all over the U.S. are reminding the public that their trails and other facilities are a great way to increase personal fitness while experiencing the beauty and heritage of your national parks, according to a park service news release.

The American Samoa Swimming Association (ASSA) organized its first multi-sport event at Coconut Point on Saturday April 21, 2012, where competitors ranging in age from 5 -13 raced in the inaugural “Coconut Point Splash & Dash.”

The race at the end of Coconut Point was designed for the open water swim portion on the sami side of the area (inside the reef) and a running trail on the unpaved road, which wound through the sandy coastal lowland forest area of the Point, giving competitors a mixed terrain run. 

PURSUED BY POLICE, JUVENILE JUMPS INTO OCEAN

A 16 year old female juvenile was arrested after police suspected the girl was intoxicated and underage.

Police officers stopped where the girl was in Fagatogo, but she took off on foot and jumped into the ocean at the Marina Dock (Malaloa side).

The juvenile, who is a high school student, is charged with underage drinking, public peace disturbance and resisting arrest.

The American Samoa Bar Association is honored to announce that it will be presenting the first ever Arthur A. Morrow Justice Award to Ipu Lefiti during the 40th Anniversary Law Conference at the American Samoa Community College Lecture Hall on April 28, 2012.

Ms Lefiti has shown true commitment to providing justice to the people of American Samoa. For years, she has been a stalwart advocate to victims of domestic and sexual violence by breaking the barriers of silence and shame through speaking out and reporting.

Legal implications of U.S. citizenship in American Samoa is the subject of a panel discussion of local attorneys during this weekend’s Law Conference hosted by the American Samoa Bar Association.

The conference is one of the events hosted by the association as it marks its 40th anniversary since being established in the territory. Agenda for the law conference — scheduled on Saturday afternoon at the American Samoa Community College from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.— includes a panel discussion of the citizenship issue.

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. military is expected to announce it will transfer up to 2,700 Marines from the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa to Hawaii, Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Tuesday.

The governor didn’t say when the Pentagon would announce the new plan. But he said he has talked with the U.S. Pacific Command in anticipation of more Marines coming to Hawaii. He’s also talked to Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima.

Using Faleolo International Airport (pictured) to travel out of Samoa will soon cost you more. The current departure tax of $40 is most likely to increase to $65 if Cabinet approves the plan. Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Chief Executive Officer for Airport Authority, Magele Hoe Viali, str

Canada-based mining firm Nautilus Minerals said Tuesday it had signed China's Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group as the first customer of its pioneering Papua New Guinean sea-floor mine.

Nautilus, which is listed on the Canadian and London stock exchanges and has offices in Australia, said Tongling had agreed to buy 1.1 million tonnes of sulphides per annum from its Solwara 1 undersea mine for three years.