Community Briefs – Jan. 17, 2014

As previously announced, CUC is currently experiencing a technical problem with its prepaid machine. The problem is expected to be fully resolved by Jan. 24. Until that time, prepaid tokens can be issued, but only in $50 amounts. For those who cannot afford a $50 token, special accommodations will be made. CUC apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause. [B][I](CUC)[/I]

Navy training at Warning Area 517
[/B] SANTA RITA, Guam—The U.S. Navy will conduct training at Warning Area 517 on Jan 21-24 from 8am to midnight. Meantime, the U.S. Coast Guard will conduct training at Warning Area 517 on Jan 18-19, from 9am to 6:30pm.

The general public—especially fishermen, commercial pilots, and marine tour operators—are advised to stay clear from the area during the times and dates indicated.

W-517 is an irregular shaped polygon comprising of 14,000 nautical square miles of airspace that begins south of Guam and extends south-southwest in international waters. This will affect fishing in the vicinity of Santa Rosa Reef and Galvez Bank. [B][I](PR)[/I]

DPS to block Marpi on Jan. 29[/B]

The Department of Public will be blocking off the northern part of the island, from Marpi north, on Jan. 29, 2014, from approximately 12pm to 3pm. The purpose of this blockage is to dispose of a significant collection of unexploded ordnance that has been collected by the department’s explosive response team. DPS is requesting all visitors to these popular areas of the island to make arrangements to visit either in the morning before the 12pm deadline or after the operation is completed at 3pm. Anyone with questions can contact the Explosives Response Team operational supervisor, Sgt. Anthony I. Macaranas, at 483-5818. [B][I](DPS)[/I]

House committee sets public hearing[/B]

The House Standing Committee on Education is inviting the general public of Saipan to a public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014 at 6pm at the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. The purpose of this public hearing will be to discuss HLI 18-007, which proposes to amend Article 15, Section 2 of the CNMI Constitution to authorize the election of the members of the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents.

Members of the public are encouraged to submit written or verbal comments on or before the date of the public hearing. Contact the Office of Rep. Roman C. Benavente if you have any questions regarding this public hearing and fax comments to (670) 664-8900 or email rep.ebenavente@gmail.com. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]