RMI is going to Olympics

Journal 6/19/1981

P1 Dropout problem at MIHS graduation Amid the joy of Marshall Islands High School’s 17th commencement, graduates and education officials alike wondered, “Where are the rest?” The class of 1981 finished in ceremonies at the Uliga Protestant Church, with only 60 members, the lowest in many years. Principal Tony Jetnil was the first to discuss the problem, noting that in 1977, 252 students were accepted and 208 showed up. At the beginning of their sophomore year, they numbered 167. By junior year, they were down to 117, and the senior class started with 85. The 60 graduates represent a 29 percent completion rate. Meanwhile, valedictorian for the senior class was Eldon Alik and salutatorian was Alice Hicking.

P7 Jack back Jack Jorbon is back at the bank, now the Bank of Guam, as operations manager. Jorbon worked for Bank of America in San Francisco for the past two years.

P12 Little league opens season The Majuro Little League opens its 1981 season this Saturday at the Rita field at RES. The festivities are scheduled to begin at 9am starting with a parade from MIHS to RES. The parade will include the players of the eight teams as well as the Assumption marching band. President Amata Kabua, Chief Secretary Oscar deBrum, Speaker Atlan Anien and Little League President Herbert Shoniber will deliver remarks.

Journal 6/18/1993

P2 JTPA places 250 youth for job training A program sponsored by the Job Training Partnership Act placed 250 youth in government and private sectors for job training and work experience in Majuro and Ebeye this summer.

P12 Namdrik Elementary graduation The eighth grade graduation last week featured speeches by valedictorian John Kanono and salutatorian Marshall Juna.

Journal 6/18/2004

P2 Trash at crisis point Majuro Atoll Local Government is in a quandary this week wondering where to put trash as the Batkan dump site and all trash bins on island are overflowing with trash.

P14 RMI to be at 2008 Olympics? Visits this week and last to Majuro by two high-level Pacific sports officials have advanced the Marshall Islands bid for Olympic membership to its closet point ever. Rick Blas, President of the National Olympic Committee on Guam, spent two days in Majuro meeting with Marshall Islands NOC, local sports federations and President Kessai Note. At the weekend, former Micronesians Games Council Chairman Bill Sakovich from Saipan spent three days in Majuro, working with MINOC and government sports officials on sports development plans, and meeting with Acting President Witten Philippo and Internal Affairs Minister Rien Morris. Blas said that in its effort to gain Olympic membership, “the Marshall Islands has its hand on the door knob. All it has to do is turn it and walk in the door.”

P16 Basketball fever at ECC Basketballs are flying and feet shuffling this week as the Majuro men’s community basketball league championship will pair long-time rivals Rita Hawks and Brand X in a best of five series at the ECC gym in Delap.

P18 Yacht Club’s spice boys Bill Graham, head judge of last Friday’s Mieco Beach Yacht Club chili cook-off, certainly took his job seriously. After being asked to fill the role by club manager Liz Rodick, Graham researched chili dishes on the Internet and came up with quite a few rules the spice boys were to judge the dishes by, including the fact that real chili has no beans! Six club members entered the hot competition, with judges Ray Bandy, Graham, John Murphy and Billy Roberts voting cruiser Mary Ann Nusbaum and Richard Hickson into a tie for first place. The highlight of the night was the smashing music provided by Jerry Ross, Neal Skinner, Bandy, Darin Haaversen, PK Harmon and Nellie Yetton.