Archive - May 4, 2012 - Article (News Story)

Samoan professional wrestler Nick Primo, who has ties here in American Samoa and comes from the Filoialii family of Ta’u Manu’a, is back in Japan again on tour with the professional wrestling organization known as Zero-1 Wrestling,

As the Captain of the Pago Pago Aeto fautasi, I thought that I should make some comments to straighten out some statements made by the Samoa Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Malielegaoi. 

When we talk about high-tech fautasi versus traditional Samoan fautasi, do we really know what we are talking about?

Please allow me to give you a brief history of how we got into the fiberglass type of fautasi that we now have.

Dear Editor,

I wish to correct Lewis Wolman’s paraphrasing of my comments during the 4/28/12 Bar Association’s U.S. citizenship panel discussion, which paraphrasing was included in Wolman’s guest commentary  printed on page 14 of the Samoa News, Wednesday May 2, 2012.

To help convince other U.S. carriers to operate flights in and out of American Samoa, the territorial government is seeking a firm or consultants to conduct an “Air Transport Marketing Study” with the project funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.

Procurement Office issued on May 3, a Request for Proposals (RFP) for this project with June 4 as the closing date to accept RFPs.

San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office released a statement yesterday saying it has conducted an examination that confirmed suicide as the cause of death in the case of former NFL pro football star Junior Seau.

Seau’s full name listed in the records released by the Medical Examiner’s Office on Wednesday is Tiaina Baul Seau Jr.

Chief Justice Michael Kruse is urging youngsters like Matafua Mataipule to look out for hard core drug dealers who prey on young people to sell their illegal drugs and make fast money, while in return these young people face the consequences of being in jail.

These were remarks by Chief Justice Kruse when he handed down sentencing for Mataipule, a former Pago Plaza security guard who sold illegal drugs from his workplace.

Saturday, May 5 promises to be a busy day on island, and one of the loveliest events scheduled is an art show and auction to be held at the Tradewinds Hotel in Ottoville.

The show is being hosted to benefit Pacific Horizons School, an Ottoville neighbor.

 Student from all grades, preschool through high school have contributed pieces for the show according to school principal, Caroline Tuiolosega. The show will also proudly feature donations from some generous local artists—Wilson Fitiao, Tasha Lavatai, and Reggie Meredith.

The scourge of Non-Communicable Diseases —also known as NCDs — has hit “near epidemic” levels in the territory according to LBJ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alo Anesi. Sometimes referred to as “lifestyle” diseases— because they are illnesses brought on, not by bacteria or viruses, but by the way people live their lives — NCDs are on the rise here as well as around the world, causing numerous problems for societies grappling with health care issues.

Between January and April of this year, 18 Business students at the American Samoa Community College (ASCC) volunteered to work at the Tax Office assisting members of the public who needed help filing their taxes. This past Wednesday, Tax Office auditor Maryjane Olo visited the ASCC campus to present these students with certificates of appreciation on behalf of her director Melvin Joseph and the rest of the department.

DRUG DEFENDANT PLACED ON PROBATION

A man who was arrested with his son in 2010 where police confiscated a 12-inch tall marijuana plant during a drug raid was sentenced yesterday before Chief Justice Michael Kruse.

Drug defendant Niue Niue who pled guilty to unlawful possession of a controlled substance, namely marijuana, apologized to the court yesterday for his actions.

Niue, who is in his 60s, is represented by Public Defender Ruth Risch Fuatagavi, who pleaded with the court on behalf of her client to place him on probation.