The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island branch of the Republican Party will hold its monthly general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, 2001, at Nisky Shopping Center. The public is invited.
For additional information call 775-9259; 775-2823; or 777-8701.

The St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island branch of the V.I. Republican Party will hold its monthly general meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at Nisky Shopping Center next to the Bank of Nova Scotia.The public is invited.
For additional information call 775-9258; 775-2823; or 777-8701.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources will be closed between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2001, on St. Thomas.
The employees will be attending the DPNR's 2nd Annual Employee Recognition Ceremonies.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources will be closed between 8 and 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2001, on St. Croix.
The employees will be attending the DPNR's 2nd Annual Employees Recognition Ceremonies.

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources announces that the offices will be closed between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, June 1, 2001, on St. Thomas.
The emplyees will be attending the DPNR's 2nd Annual Employees Recognition Ceremonies.

St. Croix hosted the third leg of the Caribbean Cup Mountain Bike Series last weekend and the venue provided the opportunity for the Virgin Island's cyclists to shine.
Jamie Keys extended his unbeaten streak, racking up yet another victory in the Elite division, while junior Bryce Scott continued his winning ways by destroying his competition in the cross country race and beating the entire field in the downhill time trial.
The cross country race was held Saturday morning in the Creque Dam valley on a hilly 3.8-mile loop that included many technical ghut sections, exposed ridgeline and fast singletrack. The course was described by Brian Lynn of Antigua as "one of, if not, the best in the Caribbean."
"It's a hard, hard course but still fun and challenging," said Jamaican Declan Hamblin.
The number of laps required for each class depended on their age an ability, with the elite riding five to the cadets riding just one.
The VI Cycling Federation took home five of a possible six gold medals in the race with Keys winning Elite, Bryce Scott winning Juniors, John Harper taking the Veterans B, Craig Scott the Masters and Vincente Pesante, competing in his first race, the Cadet category. John Riggs, also from St. Croix, finished strong bringing home the bronze in the Elite division.
Saturday afternoon brought the downhill time trial. Run on a very fast, technical trail that started from inside the Bodkin sugar mill to the top of Annaly Bay road, the course was spectacular in its difficulty and beauty.
Riders raced against the clock, seeing who would be fastest down the steep chute, filled with twists, turns, rocks and even a jump. Bryce Scott destroyed the field, being the only rider to break the seven minute barrier. Omaro Williams of Antigua followed in second more than 30 seconds behind. Aaron Hutchins from the VI finished third.
"It was an excellent event with great competition," said VICF President Mike McQueston.
The VICF will be sending Keys and other riders to competitions in Puerto Rico during the month of June and then heading to Antigua for the final leg of the Caribbean Cup MTB Series.
Anyone interested in getting involved with cycling should contact the VICF at 772.2343 or email McQuestion .

May 31, 2001 — If West Indian Co. Ltd. officials want to see cruise ship homeporting on St. Croix anytime soon, they should put up the money to do it, according to Gordon Finch of the V.I. Port Authority.
Finch, the Port Authority executive director, was responding to comments made last week by his counterpart at WICO, Edward Thomas, who said a lack of leadership within the Port Authority has caused the territory to lose a chance at being a home base for cruise lines.
Thomas said that with more Eastern Caribbean cruises taking in four to five ports, cruise lines are interested in having a home base in the region. Ports in San Juan and Florida, he said, are becoming too crowded. Because of that, he said the Port Authority should move ahead with plans to develop a homeporting facility.
But in an address to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Finch said that if WICO wants to undertake such a project, it should do it itself.
"If WICO feels homeporting is the thing to do . . . I invite WICO to take up the gauntlet," Finch said.
He noted that current conditions on St. Croix, including the lack of major air arrivals and hotel rooms, would mean such an investment – in the neighborhood of $30 million to $50 million – would "be very precarious at this point to undertake."
Loan and operating expenses for such a project, Finch said, would cost about $4.5 million a year. Considering current traffic, homeporting would have to be subsidized by the government, he said.
Finch, who clashed with Thomas late last year over the Port Authority’s Crown Bay project on St. Thomas, said his agency would gladly give WICO access to port areas if it were interested in funding and building a homeport facility. WICO, Finch said, "inherited a golden goose" when the government purchased the cruise ship dock at Havensight on St. Thomas. He said WICO has never had to fund large capital projects that pay for themselves.
But Finch did say there is a future for homeporting on St. Croix. He noted that the soon-to-be-finished Henry E. Rohlsen Airport project will meet airline arrival needs, and ship fuel costs are low. However, the island still will need more hotel rooms and cheaper airfares.
At a Senate hearing earlier this month, Finch told senators that cruise lines want to be assured of an inventory of rooms at all times and regularly scheduled flights into a locale where they would homeport.

May 31, 2001 — "Radio Free St. Croix," Mario Moorhead’s latest venture on the airwaves, is off the air this week, apparently because of a lack of advertising.
Moorhead started broadcasting on St. Croix’s WAXJ-FM 103.5 in early March. The move was made possible by a $60,000 contract last January between Moorhead and the Virgin Islands Senate. The contract called for Moorhead to broadcast Sens. Adelbert Bryan and Alicia "Chucky" Hansen’s committee hearings live and provide commentary on those meetings plus sessions of the full 24th Legislature.
Moorhead’s $60,000 contract –– with $30,000 paid up front –– is being paid with public funds from the Senate. Along with the Senate coverage, Moorhead was to operate and manage WAXJ-FM 103.5, owned by Hugh Pemberton. But according to a source familiar with the territory’s radio industry, Pemberton has apparently pulled the plug on WAXJ – at least temporarily.
The station has been off the air since Sunday, reportedly because of Moorhead's inability to raise funds to cover the air time for the station’s programming other than the Senate committee hearings chaired by Bryan and Hansen.
On Wednesday, WAXJ was simulcasting programing from Pemberton’s WRRA-AM station.
A call to WAXJ was answered by an employee who said Moorhead was not at the station. The employee said the station was simulcasting WRRA programming "for the week" and that "only Mr. Pemberton could give you the reason for that."
Pemberton couldn’t be reached for comment.
In recent years, Moorhead hosted shows at several St. Croix radio stations, including WSTX, 1290 AM, Mongoose 104.3 and Pemberton’s WRRA.
Although Moorhead was contracted to cover the two Senate committees for $60,000 over two years, that wasn’t enough to cover the remainder of the airtime on WAXJ. The contract is for Moorhead, not the radio station, and reads: "Contractor will operate and manage a radio station broadcasting in the Virgin Islands under the call letters WAXJ-103.5 FM, which will focus on community affairs-oriented programs."
Last February, Moorhead said the least expensive air time that can be bought on any radio station in the territory is $300 an hour. He said the $30,000 paid earlier this year under the contract with the Senate could be gone in a month at the $300-an-hour rate.
Under the terms of the contract, Moorhead was paid half up front with the balance due by Jan. 30, 2002. Bryan and Hansen chipped in $15,000 each from their Senate allotments to pay the first half of Moorhead’s contract.
In the past the Legislature has allotted money from the Senate operating budget — and in some years, $1,000 from each senator's allotment — to nonprofit radio station WIUJ-102.9 FM to air Senate proceedings. That coverage has recently been spotty because of wrangling over a contract between WIUJ owner Leo Moron and Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd.
Moron couldn’t be reached for comment on Wednesday about the status of his contract or if he plans to continue Senate coverage.

JUNE SPECIALS
There are some great diving opportunities for June. Check out the night dives!
Sunday, June 3 – Diving in the BVI's. Another chance to do some diving in the British Virgin Islands. We will be doing two dives near Jost Van Dyke on the north side. You can't dive these sites much in the winter so now is the time to try them.
Wednesday, June 6 – Full Moon Night dive. Join us for a look at the night life underwater.
Saturday, June 9 – Night Dive on the RMS Rhone. We will meet at 2 p.m.. The first dive is at dusk and the second dive is a night dive on the stern section of the wreck. We don't offer this dive often so when we do it books up early. A passport or birth certificate is required. We provide dinner aboard between dives.
Sunday, June 10 – Underwater Naturalist Course. Here is a specialty course to increase your diving knowledge.
Sunday, June 24 – Wreck Dive Sunday. Two dives of local area wrecks. Super day including two dives on two wrecks. The dive sites will be up to the choice of the crew. Bring a snack or lunch for this wonderful diving day as we will not be back until after 2 p.m.
Classes offered in June include:
June 4 and June 18 – PADI certification classes begin.
June 17 and June 20 – Advanced Open Water Class — the night dive on June 20
For information or to book any of our dives or classes call 777-7804 or check the website at http://www.islands.vi/~sawyerdive/
Or you can email sawyerdive@islands.vi

March 30, 2001 – Years after legislation was passed naming the auditorium and cafeteria at Charlotte Amalie High School after two of the school's luminaries — Ruth E. Thomas and Earle N. Abraham, respectively, the marble plaques bearing their names were unveiled Wednesday at the school.
In a ceremony which included remarks by former students, colleagues and "cousins," Thomas was lauded for her many contributions to the school and the community. She served "High School" for 33 years — as teacher, assistant principal and, for the last 13 years, principal.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, who was principal of CAHS when Thomas was assistant principal, said the most important thing about both her and Abraham was that they "cared."
"More than ever before, we need caring people, especially with the young black males," the governor said.
He called Abraham, who died in 1975 a few short months after retiring, a mentor, saying, "None of us who knew him will ever forget him."
Abraham, who worked in the school cafeteria for more than 18 years, eventually becoming the kitchen manager, is credited with introducing local cuisine into the lunch menu. He was remembered Wednesday for being a gentle disciplinarian.
His award was accepted by his wife, Una Abraham.
Thomas, in accepting her award, said she was taught that "You should not accept payment for something that is your duty." Charlotte Amalie High School, she added, "has been my life."
Well-known for her straight-forward manner and dogged commitment to young people, Thomas made a strong statement about restoring the CAHS music room, damaged by a fire in March of 2000.
"The music suite will be finished in August when we come up here," she said, looking over her shoulder at the governor seated to her right. Turnbull promised in April to get the work done after music students testified at a Senate hearing that the room had never been rebuilt.
Thomas's pledge was particularly poignant after the CAHS Symphonic Band, led by Georgia Francis, had played several selections for the Special Recognition and Renaming Ceremony.
Assistant CAHS principal Barbara Callwood, a graduate of the school, said she remembered Thomas, in the auditorium now named for her, running down a list at the beginning of each year of statesmen, senators and other leaders who were High School graduates. Many of them were in attendance Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the accomplishments of the two honorees.
Legislation renaming the CAHS auditorium and cafeteria was passed by the 22nd Legislature, sponsored by Sens. Lorraine L. Berry and Judy M. Gomez, respectively.
Along with Thomas and Abraham, numerous other CAHS benefactors were acknowledged Wednesday with certificates.