Manumalo HS ‘Adopts’ Pala Lagoon by Blue Chen-Fruean Tion Agency (AS-EPA)
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Purse seiner Lt. Gov. Lemanu P. Mauga, captain falls to a retired US Army offi cer, set- ting down a wreath at the his death 2 VA Memorial in Tafuna last Friday, during a special cer- emony to honor all veterans. USCG explains Port Th e wreath purposely featured fresh red, white, and blue Heavy Weather fl owers, with the inscription: “To all veterans, Th ank You Conditions... 3 For Your Service!” See story for details. [photo: AF] The Blue Empire takes another JV football championship B1 ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM Le faamaonia moliaga C M fa’asaga i se ali’i Y K DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 Faiaoga Lali PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2017 $1.00 Veterans honored during a special ceremony last DPS BUILDING TO GET MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS It’s been a month since a small fi re broke out on the second fl oor of the Dept. of Public Safety’s main building in Fagatogo and now work is being carried out to repair the area that was Friday damaged by the blaze. Th e structure, along with the two small buildings to the east of it (the old by Ausage Fausia Samoa News Reporter jail, which now houses the DPS records offi ce; and the former Naval station bakery, the former American Samoa joined the rest of the nation in honoring home of the DPS Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program), are listed on the National Register of veterans during a special ceremony held at the VA Memorial Historic Sites. Th e designation, according to American Samoa Historic Preservation Offi cer David in Tafuna last Friday morning. Government leaders, veterans, Herdrich, means steps are taken to ensure that the historical character of the building is preserved. families and friends came together to pay tribute to the sacrifi ces Any building that is listed on the National Register, or considered to be eligible, “is protected in the of the men and women in the US Armed Forces. sense that if federal funds are used to do anything to it, then it’s required that the federal agency Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga, on behalf of Gov. Lolo Mat- make a determination whether or not the building will be adversely aff ected by that work.” alasi Moliga, who is off-island, delivered the special remarks. When contacted for an explanation yesterday, Herdrich said the original DPS building had Also present were Fono leaders, traditional leaders and cabinet a balcony on the front, which is the same area that is being torn down (see photo). members — some of whom are veterans. Herdrich said the wall isn’t original so it is possible to demolish that section of the building Military retirees, some dressed in uniform, were also present, and rebuild it to either mirror what it originally looked like, or how it was prior to the fi re. along with offi cers of the American Samoa Army Reserve Unit. Th e rest of the building however, cannot be torn down. It is protected under federal law. The ceremony was organized by the Offi ce of Veterans Affairs “Th ey could do work, but they cannot change the historical character of the building,” Herdrich headed by VA Offi cer Mrs. Rosie Tago Lancaster and the Gov- reiterated. He explained that being listed on the National Register of Historic Sites doesn’t neces- ernor’s Offi ce. sarily mean a building cannot be demolished. Th ere are instances where — if the building is not Wreaths were laid at the Veterans Monument in Tafuna to salvageable and the damage is beyond repair — the building can be torn down, under federal law, honor the service of men and women from the various branches but a Memorandum of Agreement has to be in eff ect, detailing mitigations and data including pho- of the US military. tographs, measured drawings, and other information. “But the DPS building isn’t in that type of After a warm welcome by HTC Malemo Tausaga to welcome ‘unsalvageable’ state — yet,” said Herdrich. “Th ere is damage to the second fl oor and there are other everyone who was in attendance, CCCAS Amanave’s Rev. Iese repair issues involved.” Samoa News understands that there have been suggestions to restore the Aasa, a retired Army Staff Sgt., led the service with a prayer, and building to the way it looked when it was fi rst constructed. In the meantime, the American Samoa hymns were sung by his congregation’s choir. Historic Preservation Offi ce is looking for funds to help get the job done. As for DPS operations, Representatives from the VA raised the US and American cars that are impounded are being stored at the DPS east substation in Faga’itua and the rest of the workforce is being housed at the Lumana’i building — fi rst and second fl oor. Others are working out (Continued on page 5) of the DPS west substation in Tafuna. [photo: Blue Chen-Fruean] C M Y K Manumalo HS ‘adopts’ Pala Lagoon by Blue Chen-Fruean tion Agency (AS-EPA). Samoa News Correspondent The Flames, along with What initially started off underclassmen, teachers, and as a low key pick-a-thon for members of Manumalo Baptist Manumalo High School stu- Church started picking up trash dents turned into something in the area across the street from bigger last Saturday when the the Tafuna Correctional Facility school announced that it will (TCF), heading towards the ‘adopt’ the Pala Lagoon in Lions Park playground. Tafuna as part of its contribution Altogether, more than 20 to the Keep American Samoa trash bags full of plastic water Beautiful (KASB) program, bottles and shopping bags, sty- spearheaded by the American rofoam plates, clothes, soda Samoa Environmental Protec- (Continued on page 6) Page 2 samoa news, Monday, November 13, 2017 Purse seiner captain falls to his death POLICE INVESTIGATION REVEALS NO FOUL PLAY by Ausage Fausia witness told police he ran over Samoa News Reporter to help but the victim was After a thorough investiga- nowhere to be seen, he was tion into the unexpected death already underwater. of a fishing vessel captain last The witness said he ran in month, local police have recom- to the vessel to inform the crew mended to close the case, after members about what happened, they determined no criminal and he also contacted his super- act was involved, and the inci- visor and alerted the port secu- dent was nothing more than an rity guard to contact the authori- unfortunate accident. ties about the incident. The deceased, a 62-year- Two crew members dove old man, was a US citizen and into the ocean in an attempt captain of the US flagged purse to search for the victim whose seiner, Cape Farret. body was found a few moments Reports say the incident later. A rope was used to tie the occurred around 9 p.m. Sat- victim’s waist so they could urday, October 28th, 2017 hoist him up on to the dock. behind the Samoa Tuna Proces- According to what the wit- sors (STP) facility in Atu’u. ness told police, the victim was The man is believed to have underwater for at least 15 to 20 fallen into the ocean and sus- minutes. tained injuries to his head. Other witnesses who were Witnesses told police the interviewed told a similar story victim was allegedly under the to police about what happened influence of alcohol. before and during the incident. It was revealed that on Police were able to obtain the night of the incident, after a copy of surveillance footage dinner and drinks with his col- from the STP/ IT department, leagues, the victim was dropped which provided corroborating off at the STP facility. proof that no criminal act was He was reportedly intoxi- involved and the incident was cated and was swaying while an unfortunate accident. walking — staggering most of The victim’s body was the time — while making his transported to the LBJ Hospital way behind the dock where the around 10:25 p.m that same fishing vessel was moored. night, and he was pronounced The gangway of the fishing vessel the purse seiner’s captain tried to cross before he accidentally fell Police questioned several dead at 10:41 p.m into the ocean and died. See story for details. [photo: AF] STP employees who were According to the report, the working at the time of the victim sustained a deep scalp incident. One of them, a fork- laceration on the right side of lift driver, told police he was his forehead. The exact cause stacking empty fish steel bins of death it undetermined at this Medical School Scholarship when he saw the victim walking time, as an autopsy will be con- past him and on to the vessel. ducted to determine whether the The victim appeared drunk victim died from drowning or because he was not walking blunt force trauma to the head. OPPORTUNITY straight but instead, swaying Samoa News understands and staggering. As the victim that members of the victim’s LBJTMC in conjunction stepped on to the boat, he family arrived in the territory slipped and fell over — head from the US last week, to take with ASG is offering a first — into the ocean, between his body home. full scholarship to the Fiji the vessel and the port. The School of Medicine at the Bannon appeals to Jews to join Fiji National University war on GOP establishment NEW YORK (AP) — Presi- “That’s how we still allow Upon graduation, recipient will receive a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery dent Donald Trump’s former the American government to degree (MBBS) chief strategist on Sunday finance people that have blood called on American Jews to on their hands of innocent *Minimum educational requirement is a Bachelor’s Degree.