Archive - Jun 23, 2012 - Article (News Story)

The Supreme Court in Samoa has awarded compensation and damages of more than 450,000 US dollars to a family in Tanugamamono village whose house and furniture, three cars and farm were damaged in an attack by several people.

It was the result of a customary land dispute involving the families of Afu Famauina Tutuila.

The 17 defendants, who are matais on the village council and include two former government MPs, are jointly responsible for paying the compensation.

HONOLULU (AP) -- The 3,200 people living on a rural Hawaiian island that will soon be purchased by billionaire Oracle Corp. CEO Larry Ellison have a laundry list of what they'd like to see him provide.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- It was hard to find a happy soul at the end of the Rio+20 environmental summit.

Not within the legion of bleary-eyed government negotiators from 188 nations who met in a failed attempt to find a breakthrough at the United Nations conference on sustainable development.

Not among the thousands of activists who decried the three-day summit that ended late Friday as dead on arrival. Not even in the top U.N. official who organized the international organization's largest-ever event.

BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) -- Jerry Sandusky's lawyers said Saturday they asked to resign from his child sex abuse case on the eve of trial but the judge turned them down.

Karl Rominger and Joe Amendola said that as jury selection began they made a sealed motion saying they had not been given enough time to adequately prepare but Judge John Cleland ruled against them after discussion in his chambers.

The American Samoa Visitors Bureau continues to sell the territory as a destination for international travelers and its efforts to create another primary industry for our economically strapped islands appear to be gaining ground.

Besides a record number of cruise ships visiting our port this year ASVB's executive director David Vaeafe reports that a European tour operator, which currently includes neighboring Samoa on its tour packages for frequent individual travelers, is now looking to include American Samoa in its worldwide tour brochures for 2013 - 2014

Local boxing coach, trainer and head of the American Samoa National Amateur Boxing Council (ASNABC), Henry Tavake, told Samoa News that Mapu Jamias took the boxing ring that he (Tavake) was using to train his fighters at the Department of Parks and Recreation compound, leaving him without a ring for his boxers.

Responding to a caller on his weekend radio program, Gov. Togiola Tulafono urged the community to work with the appropriate government agencies if they witness an incident that may affect or impact the life of young children.

The elderly male caller said he was very sad to see a very young child sitting in front of a store in the Western District, early one evening, asking shoppers to sign his church walk-a-thon paper for money donations.

Iopu Siolo, one of the two remaining rugby players charged in connection with the assault of a referee from Samoa during a rugby match last year, was released from jail yesterday after his sentencing.

The last defendant, Tautiaga Iuli aka Pelenato Pua aka Misi aka Barry Tautiaga is awaiting sentencing.

DRUG CASE DISMISSED DUE TO ILLEGAL SEARCH

The Vice and Narcotics search of Faima Fruean two months ago was deemed illegal prompting the government to move the High Court to dismiss the drug charge against the accused. Assistant Attorney General Cable Poag yesterday verbally asked Chief Justice Michael Kruse to dismiss the unlawful possession of a controlled substance charge (methamphetamine) against the defendant.

UTULEI, American Samoa — We all rely on our coral reefs in some way, whether it’s for fishing or the shoreline stabilization it provides by preventing erosion. But what do you do if you notice your reef is sick?  That important question, and many others, were addressed over a two day period during the “AmericanSamoa Reef Resiliency Workshop”held from 8:00am to 12:00pm Monday and Tuesday, June 18-19, at the Lee Auditorium.