NEWS BRIEFS

Robber strikes at Stanford Hotel

The Stanford Hotel is the latest victim of theft and robbery incident which continued to plague the island.

Early Thursday morning, an unidentified male walked into the hotel asking for a room to stay. However, he surprised the female employee, who was attending to him, with a knife.

According to a police report, while the victim went through the list of rooms, it was disrupted after the suspect pointed the knife at her. He then ordered her to hand him the cash and fled with $300.

Any information regarding this case may be forwarded to the Crime Stopper Hotline at 234-7272 or 911.

DD Council lobbies for family support grant

The CNMI proposes to develop and implement locally the national Partners In Policymaking training series with grant funding from the Family Support Model Demonstration Projects under Projects of National Significance.

The application is due 17th of May and has been forwarded to Washington, D.C. This grant is authorized under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act administered by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

The CNMI Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council would carry out the program under the executive director who would hire a PIP Coordinator, according to Thomas J. Camacho, GDDC executive director.

The Coordinator will work with the national program for localizing the program as appropriate, training and support as needed to recruit national speakers, said Camacho.

The venue would be a new resort on the island of Tinian.

Participants would be transported there by high speed ferry or airplane for the weekend sessions. The eight topic sessions (8 weekends per year) would be evaluated, revised as needed and replicated over a three-year demonstration program. The program intends to solicit corporate sponsorship and legislative budgetary support for continuing operations.

In 1993 the Council approved to replicate PIP but due to funding constraints the program was placed on hold until other funding is secured.

In 1997 the Council, under its 1998-2000 State Plan Goal indicated the need to continue to support the development and implementation of PIP in the CNMI.

Invitation to artists

The Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture is seeking interested artists, crafts people and musical/dance performers to represent the Northern Marianas in the upcoming 12th Annual Guam Micronesia Island Fair at the Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Park, Ypao Beach in Tumon, Guam from June 3-7, 1999.

The CCAC Office will be selecting 20 individuals (3 visual/contemporary artists, 3 craft makers and 14 performers) on a first come first served basis by submitting a letter of interest, specifying the area of interest they would want to represent the CNMI in the fair.

The GMIF Committee will accommodate 20 delegates that include hotel, ground transportation, and meals during the indicated times. Artists who will be submitting letters of interest should also indicate their willingness to foot own roundtrip air fare.

Letters of interest can be faxed to CCAC Office at 322-9028 or delivered in CCAC Office in Capitol Hill no later than Monday, May 17, 1999 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, please call Cindy Macaranas or Sinforosa Pinaula at 322-9982/83.

Red Cross membership meeting

On Tuesday, May 25, 1999 the Northern Marianas Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its general membership meeting for the purpose of reporting to members and electing persons who will fill in vacancies in the Board of Directors.

The meeting will be held at the Pacific Gardenia Hotel Conference Room beginning 5:30 p.m.

All persons who have contributed time, talent or money to the Red Cross are considered members and are eligible to vote in the election.

For more information, call the chapter office at 234-3459.