Journal 12/25/1987
P1 Back in the ‘Nick’ of time
Air Marshall Islands HS 748 plane arrived in the Marshalls last Friday, just in time for the heavy load of the Christmas season. Government officials joined AMI staff for an inspection tour of the 748 and a reception markings its return after checks and servicing in New Zealand. On hand were President Amata Kabua, Minister Henchi Balos, Minister Ruben Zackhras, Chief Secretary Oscar deBrum and government advisor Dr. HM Gunasekera.
P6 Marshalls honor Iroij Joanej Peter
Iroij Joanej Peter of Enewetak died last Friday on his home atoll. The Marshall Islands declared a national week of mourning and flew flags at half-mast. He was very active in the drive to clean up radioactive contamination on Enewetak during the early and mid-1970s. On his return, he told a New York Times reporter: “At one time they took our island. We were not told why. The Americans came and said, ‘we’re going to use your islands.’ But now they have returned the islands to us. We are here and we are happy.”
P20 Nine-to-Five close to women’s title
Nine-to-Five won the first two games of the five-game women’s slow pitch championship series this week. In the second game, Lucia and Hiromi led the winners with three hits each. Pulanga led all hitters with four hits in four trips to the plate, including two homers. Dorothy hit two singes and a triple.
Journal 12/24/1999
P1 First Waikato grads
The first Marshallese graduates from Waikato University in New Zealand have returned to start working in the RMI. This week, the Journal spoke with Deborah Barker, Kino Kabua and Yolanda Lodge, all of whom completed BAs at the New Zealand school.
P1 Dorms a hellhole
Majuro’s block cell jail — which is not known for its amenities — provides better accommodations than Jaluit High School’s student dormitory, according to a parent of a JHS student. Remming Ring, who is also a councilman from Woja, Ailinglaplap, recently returned from a visit to JHS on Jabor, Jaluit.
P20 Lousy weather, great fishing
The current and ocean chop insured that most fishermen in last Saturday’s Marshalls Billfish Club’s Catch-5 tournament didn’t enjoy the ride. But with 20 yellowfin, four qualifying marlin and a host of mahimahi, wahoo and barracuda lining up to be caught by local anglers, it was a decidedly good day for fishing. Bwiji Aliven’s But-Wiser team took half the total cash prize for capturing the most tournament points. Both Aliven and Jimor Kabua, captain of J-II, caught all five fish but for both teams, the wahoo and barracuda were under qualifying weights. J-II came in second, edging out Robin Reimers Team MIMA. But it was Jisam Kaisha and Timony Anok’s Team Bluebird that caught the big fish of the day, a 351-pound marlin.
Journal 12/24/2010
P7 Remembering 4 who died
Hundreds of friends and family members of Anwel Ninne, Kiotak Abitlom Joream, Baby Kaiko, and James de Brueys gathered together Thursday to celebrate the lives of the victims of the small boat that capsized four weeks ago. De Brueys’ younger sister, Andre de Brueys-Cardinale, stood at the podium unable to hold back her tears and said her family “was overwhelmed with how kind everyone has been and to hear what everyone said about our brother. It is so touching — there are no words to describe it. We know he touched many lives out here.” Acting Minister of Education Mattlan Zackhras delivered remarks on behalf of the RMI government: “This is a time to get to know and celebrate the lives of the four loved ones. To many of us they left us, but today they are uniting us as a whole.” Zackhras made the point that WorldTeach teacher de Brueys’ time at Bikarej was highly valued by the community.
P12 Quotable
“I walked around the Runit Dome (on Enewetak). It is completely unmarked. I would have heeded a warning sign, if it was there.”
— Professor Michael Gerrard, Director, Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School following last week’s visit to the former nuclear test site island where thousands of cubic yards of radioactive debris is covered by a huge concrete dome.