Flashback August 20, 1999-2002

[B]August 20, 1999

Interior to probe on-job campaign[/B]

The Interior Department’s inspector general and special counsel are being called in to investigate whether former key insular affairs officials linked to on-job campaign against House Republicans broke the law, the Washington Times reported Wednesday. The Times also disclosed that Allen P. Stayman, former director of OIA which oversees US territories, including the Northern Marianas, plotted to oust the CNMI’s Democratic governor, Froilan Tenorio, during the 1997 campaign.

[B]Shell follows suit; hikes fuel prices[/B]

As expected, Shell Marianas yesterday increased its fuel price by 5 to 6 cents per gallon, a day after Mobil Marianas started its price adjustments. Shell stations on Saipan are now selling premium unleaded gas at $2.059 per gallon, regular unleaded at $1.989, and diesel fuel at $1.829. However, Shell card fuel adjustment will take effect on Aug. 23, 1999.

[B]Teno cautions against lowering NMC tuition[/B]

A proposal to reduce tuition costs at the Northern Marianas College should be carefully studied as it might “jeopardize” operations of the island’s sole higher learning institution, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday. He said NMC has to provide information on potential financial impact of such a plan to see what his administration can do to assist students who might be forced to drop out in view of cutback in government educational assistance.

[B]August 20, 2001

New counting machines ensure accuracy[/B]

The CNMI Commission on Election is now equipped with a state-of-the-art tabulating machines that ensure almost 100 percent accuracy in the counting of votes. The new machines will be used in counting the votes cast in the November 3 elections. The newly-procured tabulation machines have the capability to read 300 ballots per minute and has one out of a million chance margin of error, Election Software and System Corporation official Jason Barnett said.

[B]Monument for local war heroes proposed[/B]

A Memorial Court of Honor that would honor the 50 Chamorro and Carolinian members of the Marianas Marine Corps Scouts who bravely served the US Marines in 1994 may soon rise at the Camp Susupe Park. That is, if the US Secretary of Defense agrees to provide the funds for the construction of the memorial.

[B]Bullet proof vests but no cars for Tinian policemen[/B]

There is good news and bad news from the police department on Tinian. The good news is that all the island’s policemen are now equipped with bullet-proof vests, disclosed police colonel Pete Cruz, Tinian’s Department of Public Safety director. But these policemen may have to patrol on foot, if the department’s remaining two running police vehicles suffer a break down.

[B]August 20, 2002

Bankruptcies seen if user’s fee increase goes through[/B]

The president of Advance Textile Corp. disclosed that his company has filed for bankruptcy and that other garment manufacturers on island would be joining him in the Federal Bankruptcy Court if the Legislature pushes through with increasing the user’s fee to 5 percent. Responding to Rep. Stanley T. Torres’s question why his firm is still not bankrupt after claiming that his company has been losing money, Paul Zak replied that he is-his firm filed for Chapter 11 protection at the Federal Bankruptcy Court on March 11 this year.

[B]Funding woes stop PCB soil treatment[/B]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers temporarily stopped the treatment of PCB-laced soil in Tanapag due to fund shortage, leaving the contractors waiting until the Corps obtains additional money for the project through appropriations for the next fiscal year. John Trela, project manager of the Army Corps’ contractor, the Environmental Chemical Corporation, told the Saipan Tribune they would remain on stand-by until the Corps directs them to resume treatment operations.