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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7 and Channel 5
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The latest Tia Chocolate column is ready for reading!!!
Defiant IV:
The bleeding had begun days ago. For Irma, this was a lifesaver, as it meant sleeping through till morning without having to endure the nightly torture her father was becoming accustomed to. There was no pain to deal with, no humiliation, except having to walk to the outhouse with rags. This she did early in the morning, when she got up early to begin her day.

The San Pedro Sun

Wolfe's Woofers: Circus People
A group of circus people are debating loudly in a restaurant - and of course, someone has to step in and share their point of view right?

Doctor Love: How can we help an addict?
One secret to the success of an addict's rehabilitation is that it is never complete.

Misc Belizean Sources

BWRC Wild Spring Break
The Belize Wildlife Referral Clinic has a new video out that highlights the visit from the University of Florida veterinary school students. The video shows them rehabilitating some wildlife, and then working with iguanas at the Green Iguana Conservation Project. It also has some spectacular video from their student trips to Xunantunich, where the dueling handstands are cool, and DuPlooy's, where they had a rush cliff diving. Daniel Velazquez did a great job on this video. "The Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic hosted University of Florida vet school students for Spring Break 2013; Wildlife Medicine, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Immobilization, the Experiencing the Cultures of Belize, and having lots and lots of fun! All while learning and working in conservation in Belize!"

Galen Eagles Band Visit SE Primary
Feelgood news of the day. The Galen Eagles Band went to Santa Elena Primary School to do some playing for the kids and their families for an early Mother's Day. Thanks, Eagles, for making them smile! "Our Galen Eagles Band having a good time with the children and mothers of Santa Elena Community Preschool...Mothers' Day Style!"

Hun Chi'ik Tours Unveils New Website
This is the month for new websites. Hun Chi'ik Tours has just released theirs. Looking good. "Hun Chi'ik Tours Limited provides tours that are unique, fun educational and above all leave our clients with a memorable experience. to promote greater understanding, respect and appreciate culture and natural beauty of belize."

Belmopan City Map
Belmopan now has a real map, thanks to Technological Advancement Services. Hey, TAS, can you help us with one for Cayo? Looks great. "BROCHURE DESIGN: (inside) The First map on Belmopan City, this side of the map brochure features the map, legend and four ads for businesses in Belmopan.

BNYCF Olympiad Pictures
The Belize National Youth Chess Foundation had their annual Chess Olympiad Saturday. Patrick Jones got the first round of pictures. They always have amazing displays and a unique presentation. "The University of Belize gymnasium in Belmopan was the venue today, Saturday, May 11, for the 2013 National Chess Championship. Hundreds of boys and girls from all over the country, except Belize district traveled to the nation's capital to compete in the championship."

CTV3

Orange Walk Resident Charged For Drug Trafficking
A man from the Village of Carmelita is tonight bars pending charges after police found him in possession of 27.9 grams of cannabis. Yesterday police conducted a search on 23 year old Orlando Choc, Belizean laborer of Carmelita Village in the Orange Walk District and found a transparent plastic bag containing the 27.9 grams of weed hidden in his boxers. Choc was subsequently detained and escorted to the Orange Walk Town Police Station where he is presently incarcerated pending charges.

Traffic Accident Victim Goes Into Coma
There is sad news to report tonight as it pertains to the first form student of Cornerstone Presbyterian High school who was knocked down yesterday as he crossed the Philip Goldson Highway. We understand that 15 year old Jeshua Chan of Patchakan Village in the Corozal District is fighting for his life at the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital. As mentioned last night, Chan was knocked down by a van in front of the schools compound. His parents were notified immediately and within minutes the student was rushed to the Northern Regional Hospital. Chan was later transferred to the Karl Huesner Memorial Hospital where we understand he went into a coma. Due to the accident Chan sustained a broken leg, 2 fractures to the jaw, and injuries to the left side of the brain. According to principal of Corner Stone High School, Albert Zanthing, a number of students who witnessed the accident yesterday had to be sent home today since they were still traumatized. Of note is that the name of the driver of the van has still not been released, in fact the traffic accident was not reported today in the police sitrep.

Controlling The Use Of Pesticides For Healthier Living
On Wednesday we told you about the seminar titled "training for trainers" that the Pesticides Control Board was carrying out for ten field officers of the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association. Three days of intense training culminated today as participants applied the knowledge and techniques they learnt during an evaluation phase which at the end indicated to the instructors if those trained were ready to disseminate the information to other farmers. As each participant received their certificate of completion today, we sat down with Selvin Molina of the Pesticide Control Board who outlined the importance of the workshop and the proper way to use pesticides. Selvin Molina, Pesticides Control Board "About two of them have already presented doing very excellent jobs, applying the technique, applying the knowledge they have been thought so that give us a good heart to go." Irvin Aragon - Reporter "These people will be training farmers, why do farmers across the country need to know about the use of pesticides?" Selvin Molina, Pesticides Control Board "Farmers have the tendency of having to use pesticides because it is being utilized as a weapon, because they have enemies within their fields which are the pest fighting with the crops so therefore one of the tools that they use is pesticides and so they need to be trained on the use of it."

Destroying Belize's History for Land Fill
Yesterday we broke the news of the Maya edifice that is being destroyed in the Village of Nuevo San Juan in the Orange Walk District. When we arrived in the area we observed a heavy machine excavating the Maya Mount for white marl. Sources tell us that the excavation is being carried out by De Mar's Stone Company, owned by UDP stalwart Denny Grijalva. The material obtained from the archeological site is being used by the company who was awarded a contract by Government to upgrade roads in the villages of Orange Walk North represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources Honorable Gaspar Vega. Now, we don't know if the upgrading of roads in Orange Walk North forms part of a political propaganda since Village Elections is right around the corner, but what we do know is that one of the largest Maya structures in Northern Belize has been destroyed and the demolishing will have serious repercussions. Carmelita Perez - Reporting When we arrived in the area today, the scenario was less hostile that what we encountered yesterday when this grey Toyota pickup truck impeded us from getting closer to one of the Maya Mounts that forms part of the Nok Mul Archeological Site meaning Big Hill in Maya. With no one in sight we were able to get closer to the Maya Mount which as you can see is almost completely destroyed and apparently this is the machine that is doing all the damage.

CCC Tops ATLIB Scores
Angel Navidad, that's the name of the student from Bishop Martin High School who topped the English ATLIB examination. But Navidad is not the only student that made the north proud as three students from the Corozal District, enrolled at the Corozal Community College also outdid themselves in the Math and English ATLIB examination. Today we caught up with all three students as they took a break from their CXC examinations. Angeles Itzab, 4th Form student "I would owe this accomplishment to my teacher, Mrs Maria Wade, and my mom for supporting me and my dad for helping me, he gave me some past questions that I would work on that during the weekends." Irvin Aragon - Reporter "Have you thought about your future goals, short term, long term?" Angeles Itzab, 4th Form student "Well, my short term goal is to graduate from this institution and future goals are to plan to become a lawyer in the longer run."

The May 12th, 2013 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • Burke Charged For Slusher's Death:
    Preparations are underway for the Saturday morning, May 11, funeral service in Gales Point, Manatee, for Shaheem Slusher, 19, the latest victim of murder in the western twin municipalities. At around 6:00 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013, after receiving his pay for the week Shaheem left the construction site on Carillo Puerto Avenue in Santa Elena on his way home. He normally rides a bicycle to work but walked home on Friday as he told coworkers earlier that the bicycle had a flat tire. As is said to be customary when returning home after work, he stopped by the Macal River for a wash off swim before heading home. It is reported that on this occasion he came in contact with a man and three females socializing behind the Coconutz bar on the San Ignacio Bank of the Macal River where an argument reportedly first started with one of the females. The argument reportedly extended into a physical confrontation with the girl's boyfriend. In the confrontation the boyfriend reportedly pulled out a pen knife from wearing, flipped out the blade and rushed to the victim inflicting a first stab wound to the right side to the neck.
  • Contrabanding Guatemalan Hens:
    A joint Belize Defence Force and Benque Viejo police operations resulted in the interception of a shipment of 500 live chickens originating from a neighboring Guatemalan village with reported destination to a western village on the Belize side of the border. It was shortly after 8:00 am on Monday, May 6, 2013, near Calla Creek Village on the Belize side of the border, when the joint team came upon a maroon Isuzu Trooper pulling a trailer stacked with wooden crates containing live chickens. The investigation revealed that the cargo of 500 laying hens originated in Santa Rosa, Peten, Guatemala and was reportedly intended to be delivered to an egg production farm in Valley of Peace, a community of mostly Hispanic villagers, located behind Roaring Creek Village near Belmopan.
  • Santa Elena Primary School Open Day Invitation:
    We would like to invite you to attend our School Open Day on May 13, 2013. This is a great opportunity for you to have a better understanding of our school vision and mission; our educational philosophy; our teachers and students at SEPS. For the past three years the teachers at SEPS have been involved in a Teacher Leadership Program, focusing on Educational Leadership and Teacher Efficacy. They strive to be: 'Engaging Teachers who ENGAGE all students'. Come see the changes that have taken place in our school community that has lowered truancy and behavioral problems. Our teachers at SEPS are Education' and children are experiencing the JOY OF LEARNING. At Santa Elena Primary School we are excited to share with the general public skills and strategies they have learned through the Teacher Leadership Program.
  • Two More Stolen Guns In Illegal Hands:
    This week we bring to the public's attention yet another reported but unreported major crime, as no arrest has been made resulting in no official release from the police as the public remains ignorant of another major crime and potential danger lurking out there. We were reliably informed that sometime last Sunday, May 5, the Unitedville home of Belizean laborer, Kent Smith, 51, was burglarized. The identified stolen items include a point 223 semi-automatic rifle; a twelve gauge shotgun and five twelve gauge cartridges. It is strongly suspected that the burglary was committed or masterminded by someone who is familiar with Smith's activities and that the guns and bullets were the specific items of choice.
  • Keynote Address by the Honorable Gaspar Vega, Opening Ceremony for the National Agriculture and Trade Show 2013:
    Ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant good afternoon to all of you. Once again, it gives me great pleasure to address you, at this, my second Agriculture and Trade Show as Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture. This afternoon I am particularly proud, as this new Multipurpose Centre we are using represents the start of a five year redevelopment programme for the Show Grounds. These grounds, all sixty acres, are truly a national asset and we must treat it as such. When you consider the rich history of the Agriculture Show and its prominent place in Belizean culture, then I dare say this is really a National Heritage Site. This year's theme "Stimulating Prosperity in Agriculture and Food Production Through Renewed Public- Private Partnership" captures the essence of the work the Ministry is undertaking. We are very much aware that for us to succeed, the active participation of private sector stakeholders in the work of the Ministry is vital. We facilitate, the private sector invest profitably, Belize and all Belizeans prosper!
  • STAR Humor
  • Your Weekly Horoscope and Lucky Numbers
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Public Notices

Blogs

4 easy ways you can support the San Pedro Sailing club and have fun doing it
The San Pedro Sailing Club is a very worthwhile cause that can use your support. Commodore Andrew Milner identified a need to give the island kids an activity that builds confidence, life skills and offers job potential down the road. The kids also develop a great sense of teamwork. Since it's start the sailing club has done amazing work teaching the kids to sail and raising money to keep the program running. At mainland Regattas the San Pedro crew have come out big winners on many occasions. Many of these kids are come from disadvantaged home and would not otherwise be able to afford such a wonderful opportunity. Here are 4 easy ways you can support the San Pedro Sailing club and have fun doing it. Go Team 1. Join San Pedro Sailing Club facebook page. super easy and totally free. You will get updates on how the kids are progressing, Sunday barbecues, the latest cool prizes they are raffeling off to raise money and where the next Regatta is.

Happy Mother's Day from Chaa Creek!
We think it's a great idea that at least one Sunday a year we take time out to pay extra attention to that special someone who brought us into the world and introduced us to love. So we invite all of you the world over to join us here in Belize in saying a special thank you to mothers the world over. Each one is different, each one is special, and each one deserves our gratitude, respect, and most of all, a simple; Le amamos mam�! Vi elsker deg mamma! Is bre� linn a mh�thair agat! Ch�ng t�i y�u em như vậy! Σας αγαπώ μαμά! Ama maite dugu! 我々はあなたがママ大好き! Rydym wrth ein bodd eich mam!

"When There's No One Around" in Ambergris Caye, Belize
Had a very lazy day yesterday. An early start on the veranda where I knocked out an email to Benny's detailing the electrical appliances that Rose and I want for our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize. We now await the response that will detail the price for each of them so that I can carry out a cost comparison versus purchasing them in the States and having them shipped here. With that done I moved indoors for a sports fest. This started with the Aston Villa v Chelsea match. Swiftly followed by the Huddersfield Giants versus Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Challenge Cup match which led me nicely to the FA Cup Final between Manchester City against Wigan Athletic which I was thoroughly pleased to see Wigan deservedly win. After lunch I spent some time looking at granite colours on line via a neat web site that lets you see how various granites with different wood finishes look. Before we knew it the time had nearly reached 4 pm and we decided it was time to go visit our build in Ambergris Caye, Belize so we got in the golf cart and headed north to Tres Cocos. When we got to the site all of the guys had left because on Saturday they finish at 4 pm so we had the freedom of walking around the house without worrying if we are getting in the way of someone. We really enjoying seeing the guys at work on our house but it is nice to go there when there's no one around.

Will Moreno along with 3 international model scouts are looking for the new model face of Belize - here is a video that some of the models represented by Will Moreno participated in.
El Secreto is a unique barefoot luxury resort surrounded by tropical beauty and bathed by turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean. El Secreto offers 13 exclus... Will Moreno's insight: Have you got what it takes to break into the modeling business in Belize? If you have, then your face could be your future in Belize Model Search. Belize Model Search really can be the first step to a career in modelling. Make sure to enter and see your possibilities increase.

International Sources

John McAfee breaks long silence in interview
John McAfee slides out suddenly from behind a glass door. It's a sun-splashed morning in the eclectic neighborhood where he now lives, and the former software mogul-turned-international fugitive needs a caffeine fix. Now. "I have some stories and things to tell you, sir," he says, rapping his right hand against a coffee table while nervously shifting his feet. "Do you have time for the truth?" In his first extensive interview since he returned to U.S. soil in December, an animated McAfee agreed to meet a USA TODAY reporter at a nondescript apartment building in southeast Portland last week. For four hours, he explained his innocence, engaged in self-deprecation and eviscerated the news media for what he called exploitation. "People ask me how did it feel to kill a man, and I can honestly tell them I wouldn't know because I never have," he says, gazing through piercing green eyes. McAfee is wearing a black hoodie, jeans and flip flops.

Revisiting The McAfee Saga
Billionaire entrepreneur John McAfee went on the run in 2012 after his neighbor in Belize was found shot in the head. Journalist Jeff Wise profiled McAfee from 2007 to 2012, and says he found himself taken in by McAfee's charm. He's written about the experience in Psychology Today. Ultimately, Wise says he was duped. ARUN RATH, HOST: It's WEEKENDS on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Arun Rath. Writer James Salter has a new novel. It's been 34 years since his last. I had a great conversation with him about his legacy and culture of the Kardashians. Well, they come up briefly, so stick around for that. But first, you've likely heard of McAfee security. You may even have McAfee virus protection on your computer. John McAfee, the company's brilliant founder, cashed out, made millions and went on to lead a colorful life in Belize. But then last year... JOHN MCAFEE: I had absolutely nothing to do with the murder in Belize.

From Abigail Adams to Anne Sexton to Maya Angelou, History's Finest Letters of Motherly Advice
"Live to the HILT!" Last year, we celebrated Father's Day with an omnibus of history's finest letters of fatherly advice, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, Jackson Pollock, and Neil Armstrong. Later adding to them was more timeless epistolary advice from notable dads like Ted Hughes, Sherwood Anderson, Richard Dawkins, and Charles Dickens. It's only fitting to honor Mother's Day with a similarly spirited selection of history's finest motherly advice, spanning nearly half a millennium of poignant and prescient counsel from notable moms.