Flashback — June 2005 – June 2012

June 10, 2005

Another strong eruption on Anatahan
Anatahan’s volcano unleashed its fury anew in another strong eruption that kicked up ash to 30,000 feet in the air, resulting in an ashfall in the Northern Islands. In a joint report, the EMO and the U.S. Geological Survey said the strong explosion occurred at about 12:08am yesterday. A 7-minute long eruptive pulse sent ash to 30,000 feet in the air. This makes it one of the volcano’s strongest recent eruptions, second only to the record 50,000 feet elevation set by the volcano’s strongest historical eruption last April 6. Tremor levels on Anatahan remained moderate but they began to increase at about 9pm Thursday. At about 12:04am yesterday, two long-period earthquakes occurred.

Babauta’s fate now with jury
The trial of former Commonwealth Utilities Corp. laboratory manager Pedro Babauta concluded yesterday at the U.S. District Court, with the jury now deliberating on their verdict. Babauta is facing charges of conspiracy and false documents that defrauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The charges stemmed from investigation conducted by the EPA. The Division of Environmental Quality assisted in the probe. Each count of the indictment carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, three years of supervised release, and a fine equaling the greater of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense.

June 10, 2008

5 hurt in 3-vehicle collision
Five persons were hurt, including two women who were seriously injured, during a three-vehicle collision that resulted in a van flipping to its side along Beach Road, Garapan yesterday afternoon. Meanwhile, two vehicles also collided at the accident-prone Middle Road-Sugar King Park intersection yesterday afternoon. No one was reported seriously injured. The two women were immediately brought to the Commonwealth Health Center. Department of Public Safety spokesperson Lei Ogumoro told Saipan Tribune late afternoon yesterday that she was still waiting for an update on the condition of the two women. An 18-year-old male, the son of former Tinian senator Joaquin Adriano, suffered a minor scratch on his left arm.

Bottled water prices jump
Prices for bottled water on Saipan are going up, the latest sign of the toll rising utility costs, gas prices and the recent minimum wage hike are taking on local businesses. The Saipan Ice and Water Company on June 1 raised the price of its 5 gallon water jugs by 25 cents, or 5 cents per gallon, the first time the company has increased its prices in years, according to owner Anthony Pelligrino. Meanwhile, one of Pelligrino’s local competitors, Star Water, is poised to boost the price of water delivery by 50 cents for some customers. Pelligrino attributed the price jump primarily to the high cost of electricity on Saipan, saying recent rate changes have meant $30,000 electric bills.

June 10, 2012

Troop store burglary suspect surrenders
Derik Reyes, the suspect in the burglary at the U.S. Army Reserve Center’s troop store in Puerto Rico, Saipan, surrendered yesterday to the Department of Public Safety. Reyes showed up at DPS accompanied by his mother at 12:21pm and was placed under arrest at 12:26pm, police spokesman Jason Tarkong told Saipan Tribune. Tarkong said the mother contacted police detective Roque Camacho yesterday about Reyes’ intent to surrender. At 12:14pm, police detective Jess Norita, who was with Camacho at the time, called DPS Central to inform them about this development. Reyes is expected to be taken to the Superior Court today, Monday, for his initial appearance.

Feds: Overspending led to food stamp cuts
U.S. Food and Nutrition Services Administrator Audrey Rowe pointed to the CNMI’s own overspending that led to the 13.6 percent food stamp benefit cuts beginning May 1, a piece of information that the public wouldn’t have known if not for Rowe’s recent response to Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan’s (Ind-MP) letter inquiring about the benefit cuts at a time when the CNMI needs more aid than ever. The CNMI government gave more monthly food stamp benefits to every household than was approved by and agreed upon with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FNS in the fiscal year 2012 budget. That’s just one of two bad news about the food stamp program in the CNMI.