The April 14, 2013 issue of The STAR (Cayo) is online HERE

This Week's Stories:

  • Four Charged For Ten Bullets:
    lena, Cayo led to the discovery of ten bullets and the arrest of all four occupants of the house. It was in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, April 11, when at team of policemen, acting upon information received visited the residence of Kaing Contreras located on Eden Drive in Santa Elena. Armed with a search warrant the police arrived at exactly 3:45 am announcing their intention to search the house. Contreras reportedly invited the police to conduct the search which eventually led to the kitchen where a plastic bag, containing 10 live rounds of FC 25 ammunition was found in a plastic bag on top of the refrigerator. The discovery led to the detention of all four occupants of the house who were later identified as the home owner Kaing Contreras, 27, clerk; Shelly Lemus, 22, domestic and Alvaro Aldana, 19, labourer, all Belizeans and a 17 year old Guatemalan labourer, Angel Ermando Recinos all residing at the Eden Drive house.
  • Vega and Meda Busted With Over One Hundred Pounds Of Weed:
    San Ignacio police is this week reporting the interception of a cargo of over one hundred pounds of western weed suspected to have been destined for eastern streets. The report reaching us indicate that the sun was just setting in the western horizon when shortly before 6:00 pm on Thursday, April 4 San Ignacio police received the initial information of a weed carrying car heading eastward. By the time San Ignacio police got its act together, the car carrying the weed had already slipped pass San Ignacio from Benque Viejo heading full speed ahead in an easterly direction.
  • Police Investigates Police Traffic Accident:
    A four year old boy, the victim of a road traffic accident involving a police vehicle, was today rushed to the Community Hospital in San Ignacio. It was shortly after 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 when police driver/Special Constable Domingo Kan, 46, was driving a black police Hilux with Belmopan license plates B-0145 on Bullet Tree Road heading to the San Ignacio Community on official police duties. In a report to the police, Kan informed that as he was driving on Bullet Tree Road he observed a child dashing across the road in the pathway of the vehicle he was driving.
  • Empowering Education, for Children in Today's Society:
    Students of the University of Belize from the of Faculty of Education and Arts, Belmopan Campus, will hold a community outreach symposium entitled: "Empowering Education for Children in Today's Society". The bi-annual event will be held on April 18, 2013 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the reception hall, Jaguar Building. The symposium is aimed at enriching participants with an understanding and strategies to overcome barriers that negatively impact teaching and learning. Informational booths will be on display about important topics concerning: Career Options, Vocational Programs, Parent workshop for CXC, Workshop for PSE, Motivational Learning, Managing Stress, Behavioral Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder: ODD.
  • Mendez Pleas Guilty To Criminal Charges:
    The court appearance of a Benque Viejo Town pharmacist was fast tracked this Thursday morning when the presiding Magistrate, Attorney Linsbert Willis, was advised by the defense of the intention of the accused to change from a not guilty to a guilty plea. Cesar Mendez, brother of PUP Orange Walk East area representative, Marco Tulio Mendez, was criminally charged back in June of last year with three counts of aggravated assault of an indecent nature committed against a 12 year old female minor. Since the arrest last year, Mendez has consistently maintained a not guilty plea. The next appearance in court was set for Thursday, April 25 as court cases are currently heard only on Thursdays in Benque Viejo Town.
  • Uncle Accused Of Molesting Nieces:
    prison as he stands accused of sexually assaulting two of his nieces. A mother, accompanied by two daughters, visited the police station in Benque Viejo Town where the two minors, in statements to the police informed that the uncle had sexual relations with one and touched the other inappropriately. A medical examination conducted last Friday, April 5, confirmed that the thirteen year old girl was indeed carnally known. She told the police that her uncle, Alejandro Martinez had sexual intercourse with her, against her will, on two separate occasions the last such encounter being in June 2012.
  • Mexico Government Says Drug-Related Murders Down By 14%:
    Mexico's government says there have been fewer drug-related murders in Mexico since President Enrique Pena Nieto came to power on 1 December 2012. It said the number of drug-related killings between December and April had fallen by 14% compared to the same period a year earlier. Mr Pena Nieto says the fight against crime is one of his main priorities. Shortly after coming into office he announced the creation of a new police force. 'Early days' Government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez said 4,249 people had been killed by organised crime gangs between 1 December 2012 and 1 April 2013, a fall of 14% compared to the same four months a year earlier. The government of former president Felipe Calderon stopped releasing figures of drug-related violence in September 2011, but Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said the federal government had continued to keep a tally.
  • US Blacklists Honduran 'Drug Lord' Chepe Handal:
    The United States Treasury has frozen any assets held in the US by the alleged leader of a Honduran drug-trafficking organisation. The US Treasury accused Jose Miguel Handal Perez, known as "Chepe Handal", of smuggling cocaine from Colombia and Venezuela to Mexican drug cartels. Mr Handal and his family have been banned from doing any business with US citizens and companies. He has denied the accusations. "They fell on me like a bucket of water. We are trying to clarify the situation, as we do not know where they originate," he told the AFP news agency. His wife, Ena Elizabeth Hernandez Amaya, and his father, Jose Miguel Handal Larach, have also been blacklisted by the US Treasury.
  • Another Load Of Guatemalan Weed:
    Police is reporting the seizure of yet another cargo of Guatemalan weed making its way into Belize. While the earlier cargo this week was captured by San Ignacio police, Benque Viejo police is claiming fame for this one weighing a few more pounds than the San Ignacio Police seizure. It was exactly ten minutes to midnight on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, when Benque Viejo police received information of a group of male persons waking on the Hydro road towards Benque Viejo Town carrying suspicious cargo "Makapal" style on their backs and strapped across their shoulders. Police rushed to the location where they came upon a group of men on the Hydro Road. Realizing that the visitors were policemen, the men dashed into nearby bushes and disappeared into the night and in the process leaving behind three sacks later found to contain weed, water, food and a few items of clothing.
  • National Agriculture and Trade Show:
    The National Agriculture and Trade Show Committee is pleased to announce the winners of this year Farmers of the Year 2013: Senior Farmer - Mr. George Choj. Mr. Choj is 30 years old of Cristo Rey Road in the Cayo District. He currently owns 25 acres of land of which 12 acres are developed into crop and livestock. Mr. Choj's farm is diversified and mostly based on the Integrated Farming System Concept. His activities involve both Crop (Periurban) and Livestock production through which he maximizes the by-products of each activity to generate income, reduce cost and improve product quality. Woman Farmer - Mrs. Sharon Moody. Mrs. Moody is from Scotland Half-moon in the Belize District and is 28 years of age. Mrs. Moody is a dedicated farmer who has been involved in mixed farming activities for the past seventeen years. Her farm consists of a combination of agricultural activities which include crop and livestock production. Her farm produces an assortment livestock for consumption and for the local market also she is involved in the agro processing of diverse products to include goat cheese, jams, jellies, pine apple, cashew, coconut oil and cohune oil for income generation.
  • Tens Of Thousands At US Immigration Reform Rallies:
    Tens of thousands of demonstrators have rallied across the US in a mass call for citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. The co-ordinated protests were designed to press Congress to act as senators negotiate an immigration reform bill. In Washington DC cheering crowds gathered outside the Capitol, and more than 1,000 demonstrated in Atlanta. Lawmakers are expected soon to unveil a bill that would grant a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants. The push for immigration reform follows an election in which Hispanic voters overwhelmingly supported President Barack Obama and Democratic candidates.
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