US Virgin Islands
[singlepic id=4817 w=180 h=40 mode=web20 float=left]Good morning! This is Alex Randall with Good News Headlines
We have a new crop of high school graduates
Central HS St. Croix graduated 296 seniors into the world at the schools graduation. Of the graduates over 70 won special honors, scholarships and achievement awards. It took Insular Superintendent Anita Plaskett a full hour just to read all the awards. At Sts Peter and Paul a class of 26 seniors wore the gowns of graduation and there were 6 taking the highest honors. In the Central High commencement address, Attorney Natalie Nelson called for adopting Georgia’s law mandating 2 years of college for all who seek it. She said 2 more years means $20,000 in additional starting salary.
Gov: “President Signed Our Loan”
The Governor is back from Washington and the good news is that the President has signed the law that contains our loan. They are beginning the documentation for the first drawdown. This means our loan is on the way. He met with the National Parks Service and stopped the St. Croix parking lot conversion to a grassy knoll. He’s off next week to Atlantic City to meet with Casino investors for St. Croix.
Child Abuse Awareness Up.
It doesn’t sound like good news that the hearings on child abuse report that child abuse is up 47% over five years ago. The good news is that it is being talked about. Reporting on child abuse is up and more people know that 70% occurs in the home not with strangers, and that there is a law to stop child abusers, but only if it is reported. Senator Petrus said the case load on social workers was unacceptable and would address that in the upcoming Comprehensive Youth bill.
Penny Feuerzeig – Top Editor
Penny Feuerzeig is Gannett Newspapers Top Editor of the Year. She made it to the top ten a few weeks back. Now, she has been selected the best. She was also one of 24 Gannett executives to win the Presidents Ring at the company’s annual meeting.
Boat and Car Care Classes
The St. Thomas power squadron is offering a free safe boating class on Tuesday at the Labor Dept. Building on Tuesday at 7 PM. Everyone who wants to learn more about safe boating, this is your class. There is also help for your car. The Virgin Islands Energy Office is scheduling car care clinics every Friday and Saturday on St. Thomas at Tutu Mall and John Mazda in Subbase. The clinic is June 28-29 on St. John.
CFC Doubles Fund Raising
Combined Federal Campaign, the annual fund raising drive of federal employees beat last year’s fund raising effort. They doubled the amount collected compared with last year. The postal service made the largest contribution followed by the Navy personnel.
Arts Grants
Virgin Islands Council on the Arts is pleased to announce that they have mini-grants to fund summer programs. The deadline is June 21 for grants up to $1500 for community arts. Cxall 774-5984
Calendar:
- The Cultural heritage Institute invites you to a Look at St. Thomas Neighborhoods, then and Now, this evening at 5:30 at the Virgin Islands Cultural heritage Institute. On Kongen’s Gade. This is part of the National Conversation!
- Jesters Troupe is meeting at 5:30 PM at Petite Pump Room to Plan July 4th festivities on St. John
- Nevis Benevolent Society is meeting at Hair So New at 7 PM
- People for Progress having a Caribbean Night get together for the community 6PM across from Sugar Estate Post Office Then they ahave a prayer breakfast tomorrow at Victor’s New Hideout at 8AM
- Lockhart PTA Meeting on Saturday at Brewers Beach at 10 AM for a big bash, picnic, for the graduates, It is the end of school picnic.
- Methodist Church is having a Family Fun week all next week
Our Turtles on BBC TV!
Finally this: Our turtles are making good news, according to the Daily New. A BBC film crew has just completed a movie about the leatherback turtle and its nesting sites on the east end of St. Croix. This is one of the last nesting sites in the world for the endangered sea turtle. The BBC movie a good news television show about the Virgin Islands coming up later this year. It also means more people will want to know more about our ecology. That’s all good news.