RADIO ABACO NEWS

July 2001 Table of Contents

RADIO ABACO NEWS

Highway Accident: The amazing number of accidents occurring on the highway between Treasure Cay and the Airport continued on 20th May when Fisheries Officer Carrol Laing crashed his government truck near Andy's Garage at about 11 pm. He suffered head and hip injuries and was flown to Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau.

Yacht Blaze: A $2 million Viking yacht caught fire in Treasure Cay Marina on 23rd May and had to be untied and towed to a nearby beach to burn out. The boat's captain Tom Gardi was making engine repairs when he smelled smoke coming from the forward cabins of For My Girls. One of the first people on the scene was Jos Konsten, General Manager of Treasure Cay Ltd. Police are investigating.

More Illegal Immigrants: Police and Immigration officers responded to calls from Sandy Point that a group of illegal Haitian immigrants had been spotted in the vicinity. Indeed, initial reports said that dead bodies had been seen in the sea. According to ASP Russell, three Haitians were apprehended walking in the area o possessions were wet and each had about $600 in US currency. They said they had hiked a ride to visit friends in Sandy Point. Next day police and Immigration found more illegal immigrants trying to board the Little Abaco Ferry at Crown Haven, which goes to McLeans Town, Grand Bahama. Eight persons were apprehended but many others ran into the bush and escaped. Three other men were held in custody who had Bahamian status. One of them confessed that he had recently returned to Abaco after serving time in a US gaol. The transportation of illegal immigrants from The Bahamas to Florida is a pressing problem for Police and Immigration officers at the moment.

How Low Can You Go? The Township Committee of Marsh Harbour and Spring City have been working hard to beautify the Airport roundabout in Marsh Harbour. Many plants have been added to the circle to make a good impression on new arrivals to Abaco. During the night of 23rd May a dozen Bougainvillea plants were dug up and disappeared. Town Committee chairman Yvonne Key expressed deep disappointment that such an act could take place.

Bertram/Hatteras Shoot Out: Seventy boats and over anglers and crew took part in the 2001 Bertram/Hatteras Shoot Out held at Abaco Beach Resort & Boat Harbour Marina. The boats suffered rainy and squally weather and one was struck by lightning. On the final day of fishing Pat Thomas aboard the Bodacious hooked a 638 lb blue marlin three minutes before the end of the last day's fishing. It took a mere 25 minutes to boat the marlin which proved to be the top catch of the tournament. The festivities ended with a presentation banquet and a firework display.

Bizarre Fire: Between 2 and 3 pm on 28th May a container caught fire one and a half miles north of Joe's Creek on the S C Bootle Highway. It is believed that the rear brakes of the container were binding slightly and heat caused by the friction set fire to the tyres. The fire spread to the container itself and the truck had to be detached. Traffic was backed up for about a mile. Volunteer firefighters eventually controlled the fire but not before the cargo of vinyl window fittings and doors was completely destroyed.

Sivdas Arangil Scholarship: Rotary Club of Abaco president Sandra Albury announced that a steak out on behalf of the Sivdas Arangil Scholarship Fund had raised some $3,000. The first recipient of the scholarship is Beth Sweeting who will study Art in West Palm Beach. Sivdas Arangil was a long serving Art and Woodwork teacher on Abaco who died last year.

Highway Death: The Labour Day/Whit Monday long holiday was marred when 23 year old Charlotte Wilmore was killed after being flung through the windshield of her rented car while travelling to Sandy Point for holiday festivities. The accident occurred south of Bahama Palm Shores and it is believed the car rolled over several times after a tyre blow out. Four passengers in the car were injured and flown to Nassau for treatment. Miss Wilmore had been seriously injured in another car accident last year.

Highway Death: The Labour Day/Whit Monday long holiday was marred when 23 year old Charlotte Wilmore was killed after being flung through the windshield of her rented car while travelling to Sandy Point for holiday festivities. The accident occurred south of Bahama Palm Shores and it is believed the car rolled over several times after a tyre blow out. Four passengers in the car were injured and flown to Nassau for treatment. Miss Wilmore had been seriously injured in another car accident last year.

Man Airlifted: A Mores Island man was attacked by a man wielding a cutlass after, apparently, dancing with the wrong girl at the holiday festivities in Sandy Point. The man received head and arm injuries and was flown to Nassau. Several days later the police apprehended the suspect in North Abaco in possession of a boat, which is believed to have been stolen. He was remanded to Fox Hill Prison.

Tough Love: Bob and Judy Yanover have provided Prime Time Scholarships to students of Abaco and Eleuthera for several years. The conditions for the all inclusive four year scholarship to Louisiana State University include that the student maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average. For Dundas Town Prime Time that is no problem as she had a GPA of 4.0. John Culmer and Candice Burrows of Eleuthera also had satisfactory grades. Unfortunately, one student from Eleuthera fell below the mandatory GPA of 3.0 for the year and ha
Danger to Parrots: The Bahama parrot (Amazona lecocephala bahamensis) is potentially threatened by a new predator. The Bahama parrot is only found on two Bahamian islands, Inagua and Abaco. The Inagua parrot nests in trees while the Abaco parrot nests in holes in the ground. The Abaco parrot eggs and juveniles are prey to land crabs and feral cats and may in time be threatened by the worst enemy of all: raccoons. Raccoons have been identified in North Abaco and have moved steadily south. They were last seen immediately north of Treasure Cay. It is estimated that raccoons could become a threat to Abaco parrots in the s and the US visited Abaco recently to look at the potential threat and assess the problem.

Golden Harvest Destroyed by Fire: The largest supermarket on Abaco, Golden Harvest in Marsh Harbour, was completely destroyed by fire on17th June. The fire started at about 9.30 am while Sunday morning shoppers were cruising the aisles. According to reports, three transformers near the rear stock room caught fire after the current had 'blinked'. The fire quickly spread to the stock room and the store staff asked customers to leave the store immediately. Firefighters from the mainland and cays volunteer fire departments fought the blaze from 10 am to 6 pm but the entire store inventory, worth about $3/4 million, was destroyed.

Suspected Robber Apprehended: A man was shot in the leg by police after he had apparently attempted to rob a house in Great Cistern at about 11 am on 21st June. Police were called and found Jeffrey Cox, 44, of Dundas Town, in nearby Bahama Coral Island. It is claimed that Cox pulled a knife and resisted arrest. He was shot in the leg during a scuffle with police. Cox appeared before Magistrate Crawford McKee charged with housebreaking, unlawfully carrying arms, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer whilst in execution of his duties. Cox pleaded not guilty and was remanded to Fox Hill Prison until 26th July.

July 2001 Table of Contents