This news synopsis will be a bit more condensed than usual for the next several days due to time constraints.

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Specials and Events

Last night's TV news on Channel 7, Channel 5 and CTV 3
Also with the most recent Open Your Eyes, and the Dickie Bradley Specials

The San Pedro Sun

Police Report
On Saturday, June 28th, at around 11:30PM, 35-year-old Jose Alfaro reported to the San Pedro Police Station that whilst he and his common-law wife, Karla Gutierrez were driving home, he was attacked. Alfaro stated that while driving by a store in San Telmo, he slowed down to cross over a speed bump, when he was approached by a person he knows only as “Mike”, and his brother “Paco”. “Mike” was under the influence of alcohol and started arguing with Alfaro, who told him to calm down. Instead “Mike” tried to hit him, but Alfaro blocked the attack. At that moment “Paco” joined his brother and both men started to hit Alfaro repeatedly, causing injuries to his nose and mouth. Gutierrez called the police, at which the attackers fled. Alfaro has requested court action. Police are investigating and continue searching for the attackers.

Filming for La Isla Bonita novela has started
Filming for San Pedro’s first ever novela (soap-opera), La Isla Bonita, has commenced. On Tuesday, July 1st, The San Pedro Sun spotted the cast and crew filming on Barrier Reef Drive. The novela concept started back in the summer of 2013 with Producer and Director Mathew Klinck, Executive Producer Horacio “Chito” Guerrero, Writer Deion Vansel and Coordinate Producer Arlando Smith. The novela promises to be a showcase of the difficulties and secrets of living on the #1 island in the world. Making his acting debut is Josh Nuñez as the male lead, while the female lead is being played by professional actress and former Miss Italy Denny Mendéz. Another local figure acting in the novela is Mrs. Shelly Huber, who is playing the mother of the female lead.

The Elusive Slipper lobster
Ever encountered a lobster tail that is not quite like the others? I have, and with my inquisitive nature, I had to figure out why it was different from the Spiny Lobster we all love so much. My step-dad (an island fisherman) was very helpful, only saying “It’s a cucaracha.” Thanks dad! I decided to do some digging on the internet, wanting to learn more about the bizarre-looking tail. My search revealed that there are more than one species of lobster living in our Caribbean water. The odd lobster I had encountered was a Spanish lobster and is one of the least abundant species in Belize. Just like their cousins (the Spiny lobster), they live in warm tropical waters and are extremely fast swimmers. Slipper lobsters have remarkably thick camouflaged carapace and have two pairs of antennae.

Misc Belizean Sources

Belmopan Youth Summer Camps
This year's Belmopan Youth Summer camps are getting ready to begin. The first 3, tennis, football, and softball, start on July 14th, and the second 3,, basketball, volleyball, and chess, start on the 28th. For more information, contact the Belmopan City Council. Have a fun Summer! "Spaces are still available for the annual summer camp that is slated to begin on the 14th of this month and sponsored by the Belmopan City Council, Hon. John Saldivar and the Bmp. Sports Council. Registration forms are available at the Council or at the Sports council office, Hilltop"

King of the Hills Bike Race
The annual King of the Hill bike race is today. The fun starts at 1:00pm in downtown Cayo. They'll make up to 25 laps around Cayo by the end of the race.

Patrick Jones

Beautiful weather for this weekend
It is a beautiful, sun-shiny, wind-swept Saturday morning in Southern Belize. And the weather is also beautiful in other parts of the country. But rain is on the way. The Belize Weather Bureau says that an increase in moisture is expected later today and tonight brought in by an approaching Tropical Wave. But before the rains come, expect sunny skies with cloudy spells today. Tonight will turn cloudy at times. A few showers or isolated thunderstorms will occur mostly over southern and central areas of the country. Winds over the open sea and along the coat will be easterly at ten to twenty knots.

Body of a man found in Orange Walk
The body of a man has been found in the Playa Blanca area of Orange Walk tonight. The identity of the body has not yet been officially confirmed. Early indications are that the body was buried and efforts are now being made to unearth that body to be taken for post mortem examination. This discovery of the body was confirmed around 10 pm. More details will be posted in the coming hours as they are confirmed.

Man dies in motorcycle crash in Orange Walk
An Orange Walk man is dead following an early morning road traffic accident. The victim has been identified as Marvin Tillett, a resident of Trinidad village, Orange Walk. Details are not yet fully known, but information received so far indicates that Tillett, who was employed by Belize Sugar Industy Limited, was on a motorcycle when it crashed into a pickup truck on the Phillip Goldson Highway. Reports are that Tillett died on the spot. His body now lies at the morgue at the Northern Regional Hospital where it awaits a post mortem examination.

Deon Pitter wins last seat on CWU executive
The Christian Workers Union has elected the last man to its seven-member executive. Deon Pitter, who tied with rival Maureen Mahmud Reyes in elections last December, won 74 of 134 votes today. Reyes received 49 votes; one ballot was spoilt. The Union’s executive was re-organized under the leadership of attorney Audrey Matura-Shepherd following the exit of long-time leaders Antonio Gonzalez and James McFoy under a cloud of suspicion. They were accused of alleged mismanagement of Union finances and general inability to represent the vast majority of workers the CWU claims. Pitter says he will work hard to make the CWU the “best union in Belize,” and this is just the start of his commitment.

Blogs

Arrival in the Fishing Village of Sarteneja, Belize – First Impressions
So, it’s EARLY Saturday morning and I am in the small village of Sarteneja – the coast of the Belize mainland. First thing that struck me is that the village is NO WHERE near as small as I thought it would be. It’s actually quite sprawling with a handful of bars sprinkled along the water, lots of kids and adults swimming in the late afternoon sunshine, a super market, a party store and at least six churches. 2000 people all together and a growing expat population…drawn by the lower prices, the accessibility to the sea, the proximity to Corozal and the Mexico border (SHOPPING) and perhaps more…I have yet to find out. Sarteneja is known for fishing and for the building of wooden boats. Some gorgeous sail boats have been made here. I didn’t see any building but I saw boats everywhere…

International Sources

Caricom to set up commission on marijuana
Caricom heads of government have agreed to establish a regional commission on marijuana to look at the social, economic, health, and legal issues surrounding the use of the drug and to advise whether there should be a change in its current classification to make it more accessible for a range of users. Caricom heads also welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit that Dominica’s Parliament had approved a bill to make the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) the country’s final court of appeal. Skerrit advised that “the move away from the Privy Council would be completed once the President assents to the act, bringing it into force. Dominica will join Barbados, Guyana and Belize as the fourth Caricom member country to give effect to the Appellate Jurisdiction of the CCJ,” Skerrit said. They also recognised that this year marked the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on The Rights of the Child, signed by all Caricom member states. They supported the submission of Prime Minister of Grenada Dr Keith Mitchell who called for an end to the institutionalisation of children under the age of three years in state-run and private homes—and instead, speed up their integration into the family. This was stated in a July 4 Caricom press release.

Videos

Video: 9 Days in Belize, 15min.
Our trip to Belize from May 24, 2014 to June 1, 2014.

Video: Extreme Fishing in Gales Point Belize, 3min.

Video: Belize 2014, 5min.
This was my summer, i was in control of everything, and i made this the best summer of my life. the month i was in Belize i experienced soo many new things, i met some incredible people, and i remember and will never forget each moment i had.

Video: Belize - Mainland Driving, 7min.
Driving along the Belize Western Highway from Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Reserve (Cave Tubing Complex) to Ka'ana Resort just west of San Ignacio, Belize.

Video: Squid in Belize, 2min.