Around the Islands

Sablan, Ind.-MP, selected the Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee during an organizational meeting of the Education and Labor Committee Democrats.

Sablan also chose the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, which has responsibility for minimum wage legislation, occupational safety and health, and federal employees’ compensation issues.

“I am very happy to have been able to get a place on two subcommittees that are so directly involved in federal laws affecting our people and the health of our economy,” said Sablan.

No Child Left Behind — up for reauthorization by Congress this year — provides federal funds for schools, and also establishes accountability standards.

“It is very important that our schools meet high standards. At the same time we have to make sure that any standards take into account our particular local circumstances,” said Sablan. “And we also have to make sure our schools get all the federal funding they need to meet those standards.”

The Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee is chaired by Dale Kildee, D-Mich.

Workforce issues important to the CNMI are among Sablan’s key areas of interest.

Federal minimum wage law was applied to the Northern Marianas in 2007 with a requirement that the wage increase by 50 cents every year until reaching the national minimum wage.

As a member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, Sablan will be able to focus federal attention on the affect these steady increases are having on the CNMI economy.

The Workforce Protections Subcommittee is chaired by Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.

Tinian to hold hot pepper festival next month

(MVA) — Things are heating up in the Northern Mariana Islands, and it’s more than just the year-round tropical climate.

Tinian is busy planning for February’s annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival in honor of donni sali, a small but potent hot pepper that is indigenous to the island and packs a punch on the Scoville scale.

With the theme “Pika! Pika! Pika!” or “Hot! Hot! Hot!,” the festival will be celebrated on Feb. 14-15 at Tachogna Beach.

Activities include cooking competitions, indigenous craft sales, and live entertainment including cultural dances and Hapi the clown.

Sample a variety of local foods. Catch the umang — hermit crab — races. Make new friends by joining numerous sports activities, including beach volleyball and dragon boat races.

The highlight of the festival will separate the meek from the mighty during the donni sali eating competition.

Tinian is a historical treasure to be discovered, from ancient Chamorro limestone pillars called Taga stones, within walking distance of the Tinian Hot Pepper Festival, to relics from the Japanese era of administration of the islands, to World War II ruins.

Tinian is accessible within minutes of the main island of Saipan via airplane or ferry, or via connecting flights from Rota and Guam.

For more information, contact 670-433-9365 or e-mail [email protected].

Recipe for Kelaguen Uhang/ Shrimp Kelaguen

Ingredients:

2 sm. donni sali, chopped

1 lb. shrimp, peeled

1 sm. onion, finely chopped

3 teaspoon lemon juice

1 cup coconut milk

salt to taste

Boil shrimp. Chop into small pieces and place in bowl. Add all other ingredients. Mix and chill. Adjust lemon juice and salt to taste. Serve chilled on a fresh tortilla.

Saipan Community School honor roll list for 2nd quarter

“A” honor roll – 3.50-3.99

6th grade

Jee Hyun Lee

Alina Yoon

Lydin Johnson

7th grade

Ericka Garcia

Kanani Lee

8th grade

Justin Poon

Ji Min Ryu

Francisco Camacho

“B” honor roll – 3.00-3.49

6th grade

Han Mil Oh

Pedro Tenorio

Seiya Eda

Rena Son

Candice Reyes

Steven Choi

Xuan Jun Lu

Phillip Yoon

7th grade

Eron Constante

Enoch Jr Lim

Valentine Paik

Magdiel Corpuz

8th grade

Yeo Jin Lee

Sabina Calvo

Jonelie Torres

Hee Jin Cho

Victoria Reyes

2008 4th quarter tax returns deadline

THE Division of Revenue and Taxation wishes to remind all CNMI residents that the 2008 4th quarter deadline for filing the quarterly tax returns is on Monday, Feb. 2, from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The office of the Division of Revenue and Taxation is located at the Joeten Dandan Commercial Center.

For additional information, call 664-1000, 664-1043 Compliance Branch, or 664-1065 Collection Branch.

Crime of the week: Armed robbery

(DPS) — Crime Stoppers is seeking the community’s assistance for information on any of the person s responsible for the recent armed robbery at CYC Store in San Vicent.

On Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008, two masked male individuals entered the store and demanded money from the store’s cashier.

Both suspects were armed with knives and were described as wearing brown long-sleeved shirts and khaki-colored masks.

When another employee of the store came to check up on the cashier, a third suspect armed with a blunt object struck the male employee on the chest.

Anyone having information about this and other crimes are requested to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 234-7272.

Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Caller ID is not used and all calls remain anonymous.

(Office of the U.S. Attorney) —Leonardo M. Rapadas, U.S. attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, together with Janet Kamerman, special agent in charge of the FBI in Honolulu, Hawaii, announced the issuance of a first superseding indictment against Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, former Secretary of Commerce James A. Santos, and Joaquina V. Santos.

The former Commerce chief is the husband of Joaquina V. Santos, Villagomez’s sister.

The original indictment charged each of the defendants with conspiracy, wire fraud and theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.

According to the federal prosecutors, Villagomez used his position as a high-level government official to push through lucrative, sole-source contracts between companies owned by his sister and brother-in-law, and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., which was receiving federal funds.

The contracts were for a product called Rydlyme, a descaling agent purportedly for use as a radiator flush in CUC’s power generators.

The first superseding indictment stated that Mr. Santos attempted to have a CUC employee damage existing stores of Rydlyme, as well as additional charges.

In addition to the three existing counts, the grand jury added two charges of bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, the first against Villagomez for accepting a bribe, the second against Mr. and Mrs. Santos, for offering one.

The two additional counts relate to a $15,000 payment made by the Santos couple to the lt. governor the day after CUC made a $50,000 payment for Rydlyme.

The first superseding indictment charged the following five counts:

• Conspiracy, Title 18 U.S.C. § 371, which carries a maximum prison term of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

• Wire fraud, Title 18 U.S.C. § 1343, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

• Theft Concerning Federal Funds, Title 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A), which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

• Bribery Concerning Federal Funds (Two Counts), Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 666(a)(1)(B) and 666(a)(2), each of which carries a maximum prison term of ten years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment is an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Public meeting with Homeland Security

REPRESENTATIVES of the Department of Homeland Security are on-island to discuss the coming changes to the CNMI’s tourist visa program.

There will be a public forum at the American Memorial Park indoor amphitheater today at 2 p.m. 

MHS schedule