Flashback July 02, 1999-2002

[B]July 02, 1999

Continental mulls flight to S. Korea[/B]

Encouraged by the improvement in the Korean market and the easing of economic slowdown in South Korea, Continental Micronesia may begin charter service to that Asian country by the end of the year, according to company president Bill Meehan. “We’re back there, analyzing the market. We potentially will start some charter service. We’re analyzing that,” he said in a television interview. Continental will use the more efficient 737-800 type of aircraft to compete with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

[B]15-cent viewers’ tax stirs Saipan lawmakers[/B]

Saipan legislators yesterday dilly-dallied on a proposal to repeal a nearly one-year law imposing a 15-cent tax on every rental of video tape and each movie ticket because of opposing views over whether the fee is a burden to consumers. An initial voting on House Local Bill 11-15 offered by Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider resulted to 8-7 against it, but ended in a tie after Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes changed his vote twice, prompting the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation to reconsider the action and continue its debate on the issue.

[B]Street naming project sparks racial debate[/B]

The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation failed yesterday to resolve differences on the long-stalled street naming project of the Office of the Mayor as members fought over whether Chamorro or Carolinian names will be used for the plan. This was the same argument when the lawmaking body tackled the proposal last December which ended only after Saipan legislators agreed to provide a 90-day review to consider a recommendation from the Carolinian community.

[B]July 02, 2001

Businesses cry for help[/B]

The Garapan Revitalization Project is not likely to take off in the near future, unless the government extends additional effort to help local businessmen survive the turtle-paced rally of the local economy. Slow business turnout have forced hundreds of small businesses to close down, while a big number of those who are still in operation are already toying with the idea of pulling down the shutter — for good.

[B]Solar eclipse in 2002 as tourist draw?[/B]

On the morning of June 11, 2002, an interesting natural phenomenon will be visible from the Northern Marianas. Next year’s annular solar eclipse is a rare type that will only be witnessed on Saipan and Tinian in the Pacific and in Mexico in Central America, according to Michael Gill, a British information technology expert who is also an amateur astronomer specializing in solar eclipses.

[B]PSS receives fed funds for school renovations[/B]

The Public School System has been granted $400,000 in federal renovation funds meant to assist schools in making emergency repairs and renovations on school facilities. PSS has announced that the financial assistance is open to all public schools on a competitive basis.

[B]July 02, 2002

Faster entry processing urged [/B]

The Korean Airlines voiced out the sentiments aired by its passengers over the inconvenience caused by the insufficient number of officers manning the immigration booths at the Saipan International Airport. This prompted Korean Air management to ask the Department of Labor and Immigration to deploy additional immigration officers at the Saipan airport to fast-track the processing of the passengers’ entry to the island.

[B]PCB excavation in cemetery complete[/B]

The contractor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it has completed the excavation of PCB-laced soil from the Tanapag cemetery. The total volume of treated soil reached about 16,000 tons. The volume of contaminated soil extracted from the cemetery was approximately eight cubic yards, revealed a staff of the Environmental Chemical Corporation who requested anonymity.