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All Rights Reserved 2006 Solupress News - www.solupress.com http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2701.aspMalama News for September 19, 2008http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2689.aspDemolition work began today on the old Fagatogo marketplace, which was closed down months ago as a new and more modern market will be constructed in its place.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2688.aspWith the influx of visitors expected in our territory for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts, the Department of Health has issued a warning of dengue fever risk as outbreaks of the serious viral disease are occurring in some Pacific islands including festival participants New Caledonia, Tonga, and Kiribati.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2687.aspAs chairman of the Pacific Basin Development Council, Governor Togiola Tulafono was recently in Kauai, Hawaii to attend the council�s annual meeting which was held on June 25th and 26th. Also in attendance of the meeting were First Lady Maryann Tulafono, Department of Commerce Deputy Director Lelei Peau, and Acting Director of the Department of Homeland Security Tuala Mike Sala. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2686.aspThe Government Accountability Office has released its report covering funding from 1995 to 2007 for the United States and its territories. The GAO, which serves as the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, submitted the report on Tuesday to leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Judiciary.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2685.aspThe total monetary donations made toward hosting the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts surpassed the $400,000 mark, as Young Mart in Utulei presented the festival organizers with their donation to help with hosting the major regional event.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2684.aspA five week course on basic computer skills for parents was completed yesterday with certidicates of completion being presented to those parents who took advantage of the opportunity. The courses were held in the eastern district at Fagaitua High School, and in the western district at the PICED office.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2690.aspLieutenant Colonel Max Galeai was laid to rest today at his family�s home in Leone. His requiem mass was held at the Holy Cross parish in Leone and hundreds of people from the community, including government and traditional leaders, family, relatives and friends attended.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2681.aspA brief ceremony was held this morning to dedicate the new grandstand at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2680.aspThe fiber cable optic project was reviewed last night during a public hearing hosted by the Project Notification and Review System Board. The hearingʼs main focus was to discuss the environmental impact the proposed project would have on American Samoa. Approximately ten members of the public were in attendance, along with members of the PNRS board and officials of the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2679.aspThe Festival Village is really coming together in Utulei, where most of the activities for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts will take place. Construction of the seven Samoan fale on the beach and the 27 on the Samoana High School malae are just about completed.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2678.aspFour lucky students of American Samoa will be heading to China on July 15 to participate in an art project led by world renowned artist Wyland, who was recently on island to paint a mural at the EOB in Utulei. An invitation was sent to Governor Togiola Tulafono last month to offer a rare opportunity for up to six local student artists who will assist Wyland in painting his 100th mural project. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2677.aspFour young American Samoa baseball players and a local coach left island last night for Australia to attend a two-week training course that is being put together by the Baseball Confederation of Oceania.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2676.aspSad news was received in the territory last week, as another Toa o Samoa was killed in action at the warfront in Iraq.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2675.aspSouth Korean food giant Dongwon Group has confirmed that it will buy the seafood division of Del Monte Foods, which includes Starkist Seafood, for $363 million. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2674.aspInvitations were sent out by gubernatorial candidates Utu Abe Malae and Nua Mailo Saoluaga to invite members of American Samoa�s private sector to a dinner that was held this past Friday at the Famous Restaurant in Nuuuli. The dinner had a good turnout, and it opened windows for discussion on how the government and the private sector can work together in the best interest of American Samoa. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2673.aspThe Department of Agriculture is continuing its efforts to eradicate stray dogs in the territory, especially with the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts just around the corner.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2672.aspCost U Less store today became the latest donor toward the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. Today, Cost U Less presented their contribution to the festival organizers at their big warehouse store in Tafuna.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2671.aspMayor Elizabeth Malaepapa Langkilde Kautz was elected Second Vice President and Advisory Board Chair for the United States Conference of Mayors, the USCM, at the organization�s annual meeting in Miami, Florida. The post positions Mayor Kautz on a three year ascent to eventually lead the national organization in starting in June 2010. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2670.aspThe Department of Health and LBJ Hospital are working hard to make sure they are prepared to accommodate the medical needs of the visitors who will be in American Samoa for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts. LBJ Hospital is stocking up with extra medical supplies and staff members of DOH are undergoing training to familiarize themselves with the new mobile MASH units, which are basically tents conveniently power equipped to provide a functional field hospital.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2669.aspAnother big day for the organizing committee of the festival of pacific arts, with donations continuing to pour in from the community.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2668.aspA native of American Samoa has been chosen to fill the post of Command Sergeant Major for the Pacific Regional Medical Command at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii. U.S. Army Command Sgt. Major Tuileama Toatolu Nua has accepted the vacant position and is expected to arrive in Honolulu soon with his wife and children. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2667.aspThe Bank of Hawaii, as the first Platinum Sponsor for the Festival of Pacific Arts, has asked for, and received acquistion rights to name the Festival Media Center in honor of the bank. Located next to the Festival Village at Samoana High School, the Media Center will hereafter be called the Bank of Hawaii Media Center to honor our first Platinum Sponsor. Platinum Sponsors are donors who have given 50,000 USD to support the Festival. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2666.aspMcDonalds American Samoa today presented its scholarship awards to four graduates for 2008.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2665.aspSamoan recording artist Aziel Al Toeaina appeared in the Honolulu federal court yesterday to face drug charges, of which he pled guilty to. Toeaina, who is known as �AZ� in the music industry, was arrested in December when agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized $29,969 cash in three unwrapped packages of Hawaiian Host chocolates. The packages were in a shopping bag that was next to a bag that Toeaina admitted was his. According to court records, a drug-sniffing canine detected the presence of illegal narcotics on the cash that was seized. http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2535.aspThe American Samoa Chamber of Commerce held their third meeting with the organizing committee of the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts last night at the Tradewinds Hotel. At the meeting, the festival committee apprised members of the business community of the progress thus far, with the planning and preparations for the major regional event to be hosted in American Samoa in July and August of this year.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2534.aspCustoms agents have confiscated nearly 400 cartons of cigarettes found during searches of fishing vessels arriving in port over the past few weeks.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2533.aspMembers of the local business community were urged last night to support the underwater fiber optic project, and the government�s efforts to establish a call center industry in American Samoa.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2532.aspThe American Samoa Voyaging Society known as Aiga Tautai, is preparing a traditional Samoan welcome in Manua for the Cook Islands� double hulled voyaging canoe which will be sailing here in July for the 10th Festival of Pacific arts.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2531.aspBeginning June 2nd, the Election Office will be accepting applications for poll workers to work on election day in November this year.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2530.aspCongressman Faleomavaega Eni is hoping that Congress will have enough votes to override a veto by President Bush of the war spending bill that includes provisions for minimum wage studies on American Samoa and CNMI.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2529.aspThe LBJ Tropical Medical Center has been awarded additional funding of close to $146,000 from the center for Medicare and Medicaid, according to a CMS announcement last week.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2528.aspThe Festival Village for the 10th Festival of Pacific Arts is visibly coming together with the Samoan fales being constructed around the perimeter of the Samoana High School field and Utulei Beach Park.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2527.aspFormer Maoputasi faipule Fitifiti Asuega passed away yesterday morning. He was 70 years old.http://malama.solupress.com/malama/news/articles/article2526.aspA native of American Samoa who is teaching in Safford, Arizona, has been honored as one of the outstanding teachers in the area.