FLASHBACK – Mar. 3, 2012

Hopwood Jr. High tutors bicker[/B]

Clashes between two groups of teachers and staff of the Hopwood Junior High School may compromise the students’ access to learning if arguments surrounding the alleged inefficient management of the institution’s principal persist. A group of tutors and non-teaching staff signed a petition seeking the ouster of Hopwood Junior High principal Lourdes Mendiola on grounds that she allegedly failed to address pressing discipline problems in the school. The petition letter was signed by 51 employees of the school, 70 percent of whom are teachers and 40 percent are support staff. Hopwood Junior High employs 85 staff and is home to some 1,300 students.

Saipan Mayor Jose C. Sablan has intensified the island’s beautification program but claimed he could have done more if the budget for his office would be increased. This year, the Office of the Mayor received a $2.1 million in appropriation but Mr. Sablan is seeking a $4 million budget for Fiscal 2001. “There are so many bad roads that needs repair and garbage left lying around the road such as junk cars and large metal trash,” he said. Mr. Sablan lamented that the lack of funds has derailed the implementation of the stray animal project. A building for the Stray Animal Office in Kagman has been built but nothing has been done by the staff since funds are not sufficient to run the program.

Drill underscores the power of support[/B]

Bloodied bodies lied motionless on the ground as a network of law enforcers tried to negotiate but ended up in an exchange of gunfire with four terrorists who hijacked a commercial airplane at the Saipan International Airport. The scene was gruesome and terrifying but it was just play. Not the kind of play that’s done for fun, though. It was conducted to prepare CNMI law and security enforcers for such a situation—if it ever happens on Saipan. Officers from various law enforcement and public safety local and federal government agencies throughout the CNMI pooled their sources and efforts together for the biggest bio-terrorism drill ever held in the Commonwealth.

With rehabilitation underway, the Bank of Saipan disclosed it is running after several U.S. companies it accused of fraudulently obtaining some $5-million in the scheme of a loan, which led to the bank’s unsound condition last year and paved the way to the financial institution being placed under receivership. BoS accused Bert Douglas Montgomery and Dusean Berkich of facilitating the alleged fraudulent transaction, when they were in the process of controlling the bank last year. Montgomery tendered money to JLH Pacific Trust and the Calvo shareholders to acquire majority stock shares of the bank, but JLH and the Calvos contend the transfer of shares fizzled out.

CRM cites CUC for sewage overflow[/B]

The Coastal Resources Management Office yesterday issued the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. a citation over the recurring sewage overflows in Tanapag, saying the situation poses a serious threat to public health and has degraded the nearby coastal waters. CRMO director Joaquin D. Salas threatened the CUC with monetary fine if the latter fails to comply with mandated corrective measures. The citation indicated that it was the “final warning notice.” Salas said the CUC also failed to post advisories to warn beach goers about the impact of the sewage overflows on marine water quality. He declared the overflows as threats to the health of those using the nearby Tanapag Social Hall and the Children’s Park.

The House of Representatives agreed yesterday to take away money originally meant for the Precinct 2 water reservoir project to finance road improvements in Precinct 4, as proposed under House Bill 14-51. The bill stirred debate among minority and majority members, although it eventually gained unanimous support from all 17 lawmakers present during a session yesterday. Minority leader Heinz S. Hofschneider was particularly curious as to why Floor Leader Oscar Babauta was willing to part with the $400,000 that he and former Precinct 2 Rep. Andrew S. Salas fought to secure during the 13th Legislature, during which Hofschneider was speaker.