Flashback June 26, 2000-2002

Active campaign pressed vs food-borne diseases[/B]

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has ordered continuous public health campaign on the islands to raise awareness on food poisoning following the recent incident at a wedding reception that downed nearly 100 guests. He said he has asked the Department of Public Health to intensify its education campaign to prevent the incident from happening again.

Nearly three months since the distribution of the remaining assets of the multi-million estate of the late business tycoon Larry Hillblom to his heirs and their lawyers, the battle over his fortune continues in court. U.S. District Judge Alex R. Munson on Friday denied a motion for partial summary judgment sought by a lawyer for Junior Larry Hillbroom against the lawsuit brought by a New York-based journalist last April.

Supreme Court Associate Justice John A. Manglona was sworn into office Friday as he emphasized the need to improve the judiciary’s relationship with the public. During a ceremony held at the Guma Hustisia, Justice Manglona outlined several ways to boost the public’s trust confidence in the court.

Personnel chief relieved[/B]

The Civil Service Commission flexed its newly-restored powers over the Office of Personnel Management on Friday by relieving Mathilda “Keiko” Rosario as Personnel Officer. In a tersely-worded memorandum dated June 22, the commissioners, led by its chairman, Vicente M. Sablan, relieved Rosario of her post as chief of the Office of Personnel Management and appointed CSC Executive Director Norbert S. Sablan as acting personnel officer. The relief took effect immediately.

The Department of Public Health is eyeing the possibility of breaking its ties with Straub Clinic and Hospital due to apprehensions that the health provider would continue to demand on-the-spot payment from CNMI referral patients. Medical Referral Office Administrator Joseph C. Santos said talks are underway at the Department of Public Health about whether to continue present arrangement with Straub, in light of some incidents where it allegedly turned away patients.

In a bid to attract more investors to set up businesses in the Commonwealth, the House Committee on Judicial and Government Operations has recommended the passage of a bill that would pave the way for the creation of a one-stop business license center, to streamline the process in securing business licenses. Rep. Dino M. Jones, committee chairman, said that House Bill 12-103 CD1 is appropriate and necessary as it would eventually expedite the business license application process.

Heinz warns vs. too much involvement in Verizon sale[/B]

House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider cautioned yesterday against too much government interference in the sale of Verizon Pacifica to the Citadel consortium. Although he conceded that security questions remain a legitimate concern, Hofschneider said too much government intervention in what is basically a private business transaction could result in a deterioration of services or an escalation of service rates.

The Historical Preservation Office discovered 11 burial sites at the Hopwood Junior High School in San Antonio since it started its campus-wide excavation activities prior to the installation of the $1.17 million fiber optic project for the E-rate program. HPO Consulting Archaeologist Lon Bulgrin disclosed that Hopwood grounds yielded skeletal remains, old pottery, and other archaeological finds that date back to the latté period. Bulgrin said Hopwood is one of the ancient sites where remains of ancient villages were discovered, adding that artifacts collected are 2,005 years old.