FLASHBACK – Feb. 20, 2012

$4M earmarked for American Memorial Park improvements[/B]

A total of $4 million were appropriated by the Legislature for the construction of a visitor center, memorial garden and upgrading of the amphitheater inside the American Memorial Park. House Bill No. 12-288 or the American Memorial Park Projects Appropriations Act of 2000, is expected to improve the state of the Federal Cemetery as well as provide additional activities to the Commonwealth’s tourist and resident community. The approved bill will draw funds from three sources. A total of $1 million will be from unexpected balance of funds from Third Senatorial District Projects approved in Section 5(D)(3) of Public Law 11-119. While another $1 million will be sourced from the Covenant 702 CIP. Finally, $2 million will come in the form of CDA Loan from MPLT as authorized Pursuant to Public Law 11-72.

The Public School System has started leaning towards the implementation of character education as an integral part of mainstream subject areas taught in public schools. The State Board of Education is determined to place character building subjects in equal rank with academic subjects like Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and others. BOE Chair Anthony Pellegrino underscored that the focus on values education is not necessarily an emphasis on religious morals, rather of universal core values such as respect, responsibility, and loyalty, among others as a relevant component to molding disciplined and productive citizens.

MVA seeks use of old radar site[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority asked the Marianas Visitors Authority to vacate its Field Operations Division office to give way to the Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Units’ training. Because of this, MVA officials asked the Marianas Public Land Authority to grant them the old radar facility in Marpi for relocation. In a letter to MPLA Commissioner Bertha C. Guerrero, the MVA said it has considered various options and available alternatives but only the old radar site complements their operational needs. “Although the buildings require some work to be usable, we anticipate the overall expense to be far less than building a new structure elsewhere,” MVA told MPLA in a letter.

The Mariana mallard, a kind of duck that is endemic to the Northern Marianas, has become extinct. This was revealed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, following extensive surveys on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Surveys were also made in Guam. “The Mariana mallard was a large duck with a grayish and green head separated from a chestnut breast by a white collar, a white tail, yellow bill, and orange legs,” a press statement released by the US Fish and Wildlife said. The specie, it said, was originally listed as endangered by the then Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands sometime in 1976. The Service similarly included the duck in its list about a year later. “Excessive hunting and loss of wetland habitat due to natural- and human-caused factors led to the listing.”

FAA to inspect CNMI airports[/B]

The Federal Aviation Administration will hold its annual inspection of all airports in the Northern Marianas as part of efforts to keep all air transport facilities throughout the nation in compliance with U.S. standards. The inspection will particularly look into the Commonwealth’s compliance with the recently implemented security and safety measures at all airports across the United States following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas disclosed that FAA official Ron Simpson will be on Saipan on February 24 to hold a four-day inspection of airports on Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

Board of Regents chairman Vince Seman yesterday admitted that he is a bit concerned about the negative reports being attributed to newly hired NMC president Kenneth Wright.

This, even as he promptly added that the Wright still enjoys the confidence of the BOR. “Of course, I’m concerned but secondhand information is not as factual as firsthand information,” Seman said, referring to a 1994 article published by the Messenger, Passaic Community College’s publication, indicating that the college suffered severely from financial mismanagement during Wright’s time. Wright served as president of the community college from 1985 to 1991. A portion of the article read: “When Elliot Collins became interim president and then president in 1991 of Passaic County Community College, his charge was to turn the college around. Several years of fiscal mismanagement had left the college with a $1 million deficit, and its accreditation also was in jeopardy.”