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Community News Briefs

Alega Beach [courtesy photo]
compiled by Samoa News staff

MAN WHO DIED IN ALEGA IDENTIFIED

The military serviceman who died following a drowning accident in Alega last Sunday has been identified as SFC Albert Chung.

Samoa News has confirmed that the 32-year-old is of Korean ancestry and this wasn’t his first visit to the territory.

Chung was one of a five- member enlistment support team that arrived in the territory last Friday to provide temporary assistance for the local US Army Recruiting Station.

Arrangements for the return of SFC Chung’ s body to his family are in the works, and a special ceremony has been scheduled for next Friday at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna where US Army personnel are expected to be present.

SFC Chung and a group of colleagues were snorkeling in Alega when he was reportedly swept off the edge of the reef. Despite efforts to revive SFC Chung, he didn’ t make it.

NEW SCHOOL YEAR KICKS OFF NEXT MONDAY

Next Monday, August 14, the new school year of officially opens for the students of Manumalo Academy, the first school in the territory to kick start classroom learning for school year 2017-2018.

Other private schools will open their doors the week after, although all public school students aren’ t scheduled to be in class until Tuesday, September 5, the day after Labor Day. Workshops and training sessions for all DOE personnel begin next week.


DOE is coming off a very active summer, with hundreds of kids participating in this year’s Aoga Samoa I Aoaga (A.S.I.A. Program), which is held at various church halls across the island and aims to teach young kids the basics of math, penmanship (writing) and reading in the Samoan language.

AMATA ANNOUNCES $3 MILLION DOT AIRPORT GRANT

Congresswoman Aumua Amata announced a $3 million revitalization grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the Pago Pago International Airport.

“I welcome this continuing financial support for this important project,” Amata said. “American Samoa depends heavily on airport access that can support long-distance travel, and revitalization efforts help ensure a great airport for the future.”

Specifically, this $3,027,755 grant is designated for the Government of American Samoa’s runway rehabilitation project at Pago Pago International Airport.

“I appreciate the DOT’s recognition of this vital infrastructure on American Samoa,” Congresswoman Amata continued. “Thank you also to the ongoing work of Port Administration Director, Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele, and the entire team in American Samoa that is responsible for this improvement effort.”

(Source: Congresswoman Aumua Amata’ s Office, Washington D.C.)