Good morning! There's Good News
US Attorney Sworn Into Position
Wednesday was the formal ceremony to swear in US Attorney James Hurd. He is the first US Attorney nominated by the President and approved by the US Senate. Hurd's comments included high praise for his father, the beacon of his success. James Hurd senior was one of the fabled Tuskegee Airmen in World War Two, and Hurd drew inspiration from his fathers achievements. Chief US District Judge James Watson swore Hurd into his job.
Today's Photo: Melissa Coors and Wylie Whisonant
Current Conditions in Paradise:
Temperature: 84 Degrees at 10 AM
Coors Family Celebrates Virgin Islands
The Coors Brewing Company is giving back to the Virgin Islands in a new way. At a recent announcement, Melissa Coors presented a check for $10,000 to Thomas Brunt of the Chamber of Commerce. The funds will support the advertising campaign in the NY region that will bring more visitors here. Melissa Coors is a member of the Coors family and regional manager in Puerto Rico. Did you know that Coors is #1 in the Virgin Islands? Or that the Coors brand came to the Virgin Islands in 1989 and rose to the #1 spot with 22% of the market. That's Coors helping our Chamber and remember, Coors always says Drink Safely.
Governor Schneider to on the Road
Governor Schneider is in Taipei Taiwan. He's part of a delegation from the Virgin Islands including mocko jumbies and an entourage of officials. Governor Schneider will cut the ribbon to open the international trade fair in Taipei and he will be host to several events related to the Fair. The Governor is courting investors to come to the Virgin Islands to invest in casinos and hotel developments and hopes that he will find more of them at this international trade fair.
Where to put the Narcotics Strike Force
The Senate Committee on Government Operations passed legislation to move the Narcotics Strike Force from the Governor's Office to the Police Dept. The move came amid criticism that the drug unit was rife with corruption. The bill would allow the drug unit to be recreated under the Police Dept.'s control. The senate debate was about the effectiveness of the strike force and ironically about helping the agents all keep their jobs. Lorraine Berry said if there are bad apples in the NSF that remedial action should be taken.
Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John put our a press release saying the pile of dirt along Long Bay Road is not their fault. They filed suit to stop the road work because the paperwork wasn^Òt right. But they say Dept. of Public Works is responsible for the pile of dirt. Grethelyn Piper of EAST says she hopes they will all work together to get ride of the eyesore.
More Busses
Lindel Williams announced that VITRAN will have a new system for increasing the number of city busses it puts on the bus routes. From now on, returning country busses will be redesigned as city busses on their return trips. That means more busses and more opportunities to ride the bus lines.
Audit of Lottery
The Virgin Islands Bureau of Audit and Control put out a report on their audit of the Virgin Islands Lottery. They found several transgressions by individual agents, more importantly they observed that the receipt to a winner doesn't show the calculations or the final payment. There were four recommendations in all. Director of the Lottery Alec Dizon says that all of the recommendations have been implemented including a forthcoming duplicate payment form for winners.
Lieutenant Governor Mapp Pays Summer Workers
The students who are awaiting payment for services rendered in the Tax Assessors Office during the summer have news. Lieutenant Governor Mapp acting as Governor is releasing 43 vouchers to his student aides saying the checks will come later.
Coming Up:
The USS Caron has challenged the people of St. John to a basketball game at Pine Peace at 7:00 PM - and Friday the soccer game is at Winston Wells at 7:00 PM.
How should Christiansted and Frederiksted prepare for the Enterprise Zone. There are public hearings on the new Enterprise zone law on Thursday at the Florence Williams Library and on Friday at the Legislative Conference Room Frederiksted 772-1000.
Dept. Housing Parks and Recreation Dress making class has a new time. The class is meeting at the Winston Raymo Center wed and Friday from 3 to 5:00 PM - Marines are called to report to a party this coming Monday at the 222 Marine Corp. Birthday party set for Nov 10th on St. Croix. 773-0103
Red Cross 79th Birthday.
The St. Thomas St. John Red Cross was chartered in 1918 and will be holding their 79th anniversary annual meeting on Nov 7th from 5:30 PM - to 7:30 PM at Petite Pump Room. If you gave blood, cash or time to the Red Cross, then you are entitled to vote at the meeting which will select the Board of Directors for the coming year.
All Stars Invited to Anguilla
The all-star team of the Virgin Islands basketball players are being invited to compete in an all Caribbean Pro Shoot out on Anguilla from Nov 7th to the 9th. Other teams are coming in from St. Maarten, Antigua, Tortola, Barbados and University of the West Indies. And there will be pro scouts there to hunt for top team players.
Water Island Report
There was a bit of a traffic jam yesterday as two cars in the Downtown Phillips Landing Parking Lot had a hand waving debate over which one of them was going to get out first. There aren't enough cars on Water Island to hold a real traffic jam, so out of respect for people in real traffic jams, we always make our - hand waving debate over who gets to go first take as long as possible to resolve. That way we get the full experience of struggling with a traffic jam.
It's your Good News! You tell us and we'll tell everyone.
